Board game meet ups

Finding your people is a lot easier if you tell them where to go!

A few months ago, a random event popped up on my Friendly Local Game Store’s Instagram - Ladies’ Table, a new Thursday night meant for women interested in board gaming. As someone always in search of more local people to play with, I figured I would check it out. Now, every other Thursday I have a note in my calendar to go to Games & Stuff to meet up with my new set of friends.

I think the biggest question you see from board gamers online is where to find people to play with. The most basic answer is usually “go to a convention”, but those are scattered across the country and usually have a price point that creates a barrier. I have met up with my friends at conventions, but we are also from all over the country so those long weekends of gaming don’t necessarily translate into in-person games the rest of the year. We all need more time to play together than that!

I am very lucky to have a friendly local game store with a LARGE open gaming area right down the street for me. Having this third location that isn’t a convention but isn’t my home means I can arrage to meet up with online friends and strangers in a safe space. Or I can just show up at a meet up.

Of course, not everyone has a FLGS that is local to them, or one that has gaming space. But most of us in the United States have public libraries near by and most public libraries have meeting room space available, usually free to use for something like a board game club.

But that is the real hurdle/barrier - some brave board gamer has to set up that first meeting. Be it checking in with the FLGS manager, talking to the library, or just a casual Facebook Event post - someone has to take that first step. I’m so grateful that my (new friend, then total stranger) Maria did that a few months ago and took that chance that there were other women in the area looking for a place to game. And now we have had at least 8 people show up for gaming nights on Thursdays after work, and it is one of the happiest nights of my week.

So, if you’re scrolling through social media and seeing lots of people talking about playing games and wishing you could be a part of it, maybe you can be the one that brings your community together!

Have you organized a meet up before? Share your expertise in the comments!

And if you happen to be in Maryland on a Thursday night, stop by Games & Stuff for Lorcana Night, Ladie’s Table, or just bring your own friends and enjoy the joyous atmosphere.