Unsolicited Advice: Seven Tips for Throwing a Cannabis Event That Doesn’t Suck
Words of wisdom from an experienced canna-event attendee.
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In my thirteen some odd years in the cannabis and drug policy space, I’ve attended over a hundred events, ranging from International cannabis conferences to tiny apartment get-togethers. Here’s what I’ve learned.
1) The main space in the event should be a place where people can have a conversation.
You need to give people a chance to actually make meaningful connections. It’s amazing how many “networking” events I’ve been to where loud music or other distractions make it impossible to actually talk shop.
I’m a nerd who loves panels and presentations, and I know a lot of people love live music, but forcing all your attendees to sit through any of these things is a good way to drive people away. Find a venue that has some sort of divided space so people can talk amongst themselves without distracting others from whatever content you have planned.
2) Speaking of space, have a lot of it!
I don’t know about you, but after the last couple of years I’m not quite sure I’ll ever be comfortable again at an event that requires me to shout directly into someone else’s face to have a conversation. Flashy locations are cool for Instagram, but I would much rather be in a spacious venue that could use some work around the edges than a hip spot in a trendy neighborhood that's packed to the rafters.
People having enough room to move around should be a top priority in venue selection.
3) Think of accessibility in every sense of the word.
While we’re discussing venues, accessibility needs to be at the forefront of your thoughts. I mean this in every sense of the word; obviously you should be thinking of people with disabilities as you pick your venue and plan your event, but you should also consider how everyone is going to actually get to the location. It’s easy for people with a reliable car and the means to pay for parking to not put much thought into this, but you really have to keep transportation in mind regardless of whether your spot is urban, suburban, or rural.
Ticket costs are another important thing to consider when trying to make sure everyone can attend your event. I’ve seen tickets for standard networking events in the cannabis space range from $0-$150. It should go without saying that you should seek whatever means possible to keep the cost of admission down.
Above all else, communicate all information regarding the venue, transportation and costs to guests well before they would be coordinating their travel plans to the event. Simple graphics that show transportation and parking options in the area can go a long way. As long as it’s presented in the right manner, it’s impossible to go overboard with the amount of information you provide regarding logistics to guests.
4) Account for the fact that not everybody will be able to attend in-person.
No matter how well you plan your event, it’s a simple fact that some wishful attendees simply aren’t going to be able to make it. Luckily, there’s a ton that organizers can do to allow for their event to live on long after it ends. Hire a writer to write a recap for your website and social media pages, or make the effort to livestream (or at least record) what you can.
If you do livestream, make sure you can find a way for the at-home audience to ask questions and engage in the event (while being sure to implement safeguards to keep trolls away). With modern technology, all of this is feasible even on the tiniest of budgets.
If done right, these concepts can be a source of additional revenue and/or buzz, helping make your next event an even bigger success.
5) If you're serving alcohol, you should make efforts to accommodate cannabis use.
It’s a little absurd to be hosting a cannabis-focused event where the only intoxicant available is alcohol. Obviously social consumption laws remain a thorny and complicated topic, and many venues remain skittish about being seen tolerating people smoking weed... but you still need to find a clever way to account for this.
It doesn't need to be a formal statement or policy; just have a game plan on how to co-exist (at the very least) with people lighting up.
6) If you're giving out awards or prizes, transparency is key.
Prizes and awards are a great way to attract people to an event, but there also a great way to alienate people if there’s any room to believe that shenanigans are afoot.
Ultimately, It's fine for an award or prize process to follow whatever rules the organizers see is fit, but be open about it! If there’s a voting process for awards or prizes, make that clear. If you’re just handing out awards to people you like, be honest about that too.
You’ll also want to be sure that any contests or raffles are following applicable state and local laws. You’d be surprised how much paperwork you need to fill out in some places just to run a legal 50/50 raffle or bingo night.
7) Don’t take money from bad people, and be clear where the money is going.
I get it: It’s hard out here in the cannabis space. Funding for events can be hard to find, and sometimes the people with the most cash to splash are also the ones who are up to the shadiest stuff. Everybody has their own personal line — and we shouldn’t tolerate purity tests — but expect consequences if you don’t weigh the implications of what logos you're putting on your flier (or who you’re letting put your logo on a flier, for that matter). Find companies, organizations, and people you can trust to share your values and stick with them.
Just as importantly, make sure you’re transparent about where the revenue from an event is ending up. It’s fine to try to turn a profit on an event... just as long as you’re honest about your intentions.
These thoughts are based on my experiences of attending 100+ cannabis events over the years, and do not reflect on any particular individual experience. I’ve also never actually thrown a cannabis event myself, so it’s completely possible I have no idea what I’m talking about.
While this column is for unsolicited advice, I am considering doing a mailbag column at some point in the near future. So if you have a question for me, drop me a line.
Next week’s topic: Answering the difficult yet reasonable question of “what dispensary should I shop at?”
Don't forget to hydrate your guests or provide them with non-infused foods. Having people pass out in the corner because the event host skimped on basic safety and hospitality meaures is not a good look.