A Tweetup is defined as: A group of friends on Twitter (social network) that are planning to meet up. A request by a user to meet with friends via Twitter.

Tonight is Hamilton’s first tweetup: The Big Tweet! (details below. you should come!) Because this social phenomenon is so new, when I went looking for the proper way to host a tweetup I came up empty. So we  decided that free food, custom cupcakes and access to drinks was the right way to go. Even less is commonly decided about how to behave at a tweet up. The online consensus on the subject is that “…most people act a fool at tweetups. And that’s not acceptable, though it is hysterical.”

So kitestring scoured the net, asked some buddies and put their heads together to come up with our own pointers for tweetup etiquette. As always, take any advice with a grain of salt.

kitestring’s official list suggesting tweetup etiquette:

A. No one cares that you’re a twitter veteran. What does that even mean? Whether or not you consider yourself a Guru, this is a time to forget your mantra and go unscripted. Leave your feathers at home and don’t boast your net-savvy experience to less acquainted users.

B. Refrain from overly talking about talking. We’re here in person to meet one another and make real connections, so there is more up for discussion than your blog or tweet topics.

C. When you meet someone new that you click with, make the effort to follow them on twitter afterwards.

D. Keep tweeting about the tweetup to a happy medium. Don’t sacrifice a conversation with a real live twitter follower in the flesh by ignoring them to love your android phone…. it will still be in your pocket when the conversation is done to document the happening.

E. If it’s never good to drink and dial, it’s probably a bad idea to drink and tweet. Remember that everyone probably has something close to an iPhone and that picture of you hugging the porcelain can be immortalized as the highlight of the tweetup, spreading in the matter of seconds, possibly visible by your Mom through her facebook account the following morning. Just saying.

How I love cultural phenomenons! I promise to try and have fun… but I can’t promise that I won’t be studying the behaviour of the (140) characters in the room.

CLICK HERE to register!

The Big Tweet
Thursday, January 28th 2010
Beginning at 6:00 p.m. until……
The Pheasant Plucker, 20 Augusta Street, Hamilton
Question? Contact meg@kitestring.ca

About the Author: megan
It's a beautiful day in the neighbourhood for this young creative professional who blogs about her adventures in downtown Hamilton, cultural treasure hunting, phenomenon analysis, and timbit experiments.

Comments