alesandroortiz/Subject: Feedback regarding attendance limit changes

## Subject: Feedback regarding attendance limit changes
Hello,

I have feedback regarding the recently announced attendance limit changes. Before I dive in, I want to note I truly appreciate the email sent this morning regarding this significant update. Communication about significant changes like these keep organizers and attendees happy.

Generally, I understand and agree the update will improve the user experience, since notifications vs. waitlists were potentially confusing. However, this change completely removes waitlists from paid Meetups, and this in turn is even more confusing and presents a new inconvenience for both Meetup organizers and attendees.

From http://www.meetup.com/help/article/868972/ ("Setting up Waitlists"):
"Meetups that require payment in order to RSVP do not have Waitlists available. This is to avoid automatically charging members' credit cards. Organizers can let members know that a spot has become available by using the ‘Email Members’ tool."

The recommended workflow above increases workload for Meetup organizers, many of which have limited time to manage their Meetups, whether it's one Meetup or multiple Meetups. Organizers already have enough to worry about with making their main event a success. From an organizer's perspective, the main benefits of Meetup are the tools provided to make successful events easier and the sheer number of high-quality, potential members who are already users on the product. These benefits feel like they have been and should continue to be the true north for Meetup, guiding decisions which affect Meetup members and organizers

Setting payments is a common practice in Meetups to increase accurate RSVP rates and ensure members are committed to the Meetup. The waitlist update decreases the effectiveness of the paid RSVP as a deterrent for no-show RSVPs. If this wasn't considered when discussing the update internally, the percentage of affected Meetups likely was significantly underestimated.

Here's a real-world example, as an attendee:
Last Wednesday, I became ill. I had previously RSVP'd and paid $5 to RSVP for the QueensJS Meetup, and simply changed my RSVP to No the same day of the event. The most interested members in the whole Meetup group, who were on the waitlist, were automatically notified, and someone paid and reserved the open slot.

The result, with no effort from the organizers thanks to the Meetup product, was someone with high interest in the waitlist got to attend, and low-interest members didn't get an extra email, which likely would have been noise to them since they hadn't expressed interest in the particular event.

After the waitlist update, members nor organizers would be automatically notified. Organizers would need to manually notify a majority of members, and members who are not interested in the event will receive an extra email. Someone who had significant interest may not have the opportunity to RSVP due to no prioritization of interested members in a waitlist. Or worse yet, the organizers do not realize or do not have time to send out an email, and their event is under-attended.

Regarding emails to all members, I already turn off emails for Meetups which frequently send emails to all members without good reason. Meetup should not be encouraging this practice, which drives away users from individual Meetups and the product.

Hope this feedback is useful. Please feel free to reach out if you need further feedback or clarification on any point. More than happy to continue making Meetup awesome.

Regards,
Alesandro Ortiz
PebbleNYC Meetup Organizer, Meetup Member since 2010
	Hello,

	I have feedback regarding the recently announced attendance limit changes. Before I dive in, I want to note I truly appreciate the email sent this morning regarding this significant update. Communication about significant changes like these keep organizers and attendees happy.

	Generally, I understand and agree the update will improve the user experience, since notifications vs. waitlists were potentially confusing. However, this change completely removes waitlists from paid Meetups, and this in turn is even more confusing and presents a new inconvenience for both Meetup organizers and attendees.

	From http://www.meetup.com/help/article/868972/ ("Setting up Waitlists"):
	"Meetups that require payment in order to RSVP do not have Waitlists available. This is to avoid automatically charging members' credit cards. Organizers can let members know that a spot has become available by using the ‘Email Members’ tool."

	The recommended workflow above increases workload for Meetup organizers, many of which have limited time to manage their Meetups, whether it's one Meetup or multiple Meetups. Organizers already have enough to worry about with making their main event a success. From an organizer's perspective, the main benefits of Meetup are the tools provided to make successful events easier and the sheer number of high-quality, potential members who are already users on the product. These benefits feel like they have been and should continue to be the true north for Meetup, guiding decisions which affect Meetup members and organizers

	Setting payments is a common practice in Meetups to increase accurate RSVP rates and ensure members are committed to the Meetup. The waitlist update decreases the effectiveness of the paid RSVP as a deterrent for no-show RSVPs. If this wasn't considered when discussing the update internally, the percentage of affected Meetups likely was significantly underestimated.

	Here's a real-world example, as an attendee:
	Last Wednesday, I became ill. I had previously RSVP'd and paid $5 to RSVP for the QueensJS Meetup, and simply changed my RSVP to No the same day of the event. The most interested members in the whole Meetup group, who were on the waitlist, were automatically notified, and someone paid and reserved the open slot.

	The result, with no effort from the organizers thanks to the Meetup product, was someone with high interest in the waitlist got to attend, and low-interest members didn't get an extra email, which likely would have been noise to them since they hadn't expressed interest in the particular event.

	After the waitlist update, members nor organizers would be automatically notified. Organizers would need to manually notify a majority of members, and members who are not interested in the event will receive an extra email. Someone who had significant interest may not have the opportunity to RSVP due to no prioritization of interested members in a waitlist. Or worse yet, the organizers do not realize or do not have time to send out an email, and their event is under-attended.

	Regarding emails to all members, I already turn off emails for Meetups which frequently send emails to all members without good reason. Meetup should not be encouraging this practice, which drives away users from individual Meetups and the product.

	Hope this feedback is useful. Please feel free to reach out if you need further feedback or clarification on any point. More than happy to continue making Meetup awesome.

	Regards,
	Alesandro Ortiz
	PebbleNYC Meetup Organizer, Meetup Member since 2010