Host a MiniPLUS

There's nothing better than being around like minded people and especially ones that love Christmas as much as you do. 

Back in 2003 several PlanetChristmas enthusiasts decided they wanted to sponsor a gathering where everyone in our community could come together and learn from each other.  From that sprang what we now call PLUS (PlanetChristmas Lights Up Symposium.) The first PLUS was a huge success and it has grown steadily since.  

Because there are so many attendees at a formal PLUS event, the planning can be overwhelming.  It was quickly determined PLUS could only be held every odd numbered year (find out the latest by visiting www.gotoPLUS.com) and is THE gathering for hundreds of Christmas decorating fanatics. 

In 2004 people still wanted to get together even though the next official PLUS was not scheduled for another year.  A few generous enthusiasts decided they would have local gatherings and invite just a few people in their immediate area to their homes... and the MiniPLUS was born.  They can be any time, any place and any size.

So what's preventing you from having your own MiniPLUS?  Few things can be as rewarding as bringing together like minded people, talking, learning and getting ready for Christmas.  The challenge becomes how in the world do you do such a thing?

Learn from the Experts 

PlanetChristmas brought together several enthusiasts that have hosted and attended more MiniPLUS events than you can count.  Through their collected wisdom we teased out the magic principles that make for a successful event.  These aren't hard rules but suggested guidelines that are proven.  Ready?

Some Simple Guidelines

Think of a MiniPLUS like throwing a small party.  This isn't a once-in-a-lifetime wedding but instead a gathering of people with the same interests.  A simple MiniPLUS shouldn't involve much more effort than what's required to host a birthday party for a five year old or a small family reunion.  Think of it as you're providing the venue and maybe a little food.  Don't worry because the attendees will have a good time no matter what!

MiniPLUS gatherings seem to range in size from 5-70 people, though having more than 30 really does increase the planning and over-all workload of the host.  The general consensus is to keep it small so you can enjoy the fun, also. 

The biggest key to a successful MiniPLUS is having a loose agenda.  You are the host and the facilitator.  Having back-to-back presentations in a very structured environment is a recipe for frustration.  People are there to socialize, associate names to faces and if they're lucky, pick up a few pointers from others.  Don't worry about inactivity because people will fill in the gaps for you.  Your job is to simply provide the place for people to come together.

Once you're committed to sponsoring a MiniPLUS, check the community calendar in our forums.  Pick a date several months in advance that works for you.  Be mindful of other events in your area and don't over schedule.  People don't like it when there are multiple MiniPLUS gatherings in their area on the same dates.

Decide early if you want to charge a fee to cover your hosting expenses.  If serving food, people don't expect to eat for free.  Be careful of pot luck meals because it's not practical for the people coming from out of town.  Attendees realize putting on MiniPLUS events costs money and they're more than willing to chip in and defray your expenses.  Simply post the fee ahead of time and allow people to pay you via PayPal or slip you some cash at the door. 

It's not unusual to have a pre-gathering the night before your MiniPLUS.  Although certainly not a requirement, many people will just naturally congregate at a local restaurant to get a head start on talking.  Some enthusiasts are calling these "Red Cup Socials" but you can view them as just another way to bring people together.

If a PlanetChristmas vendor is close to you, feel free to call them and ask if they would like to supply literature about their products to hand out to the attendees.  Don't get greedy (we save that for the bi-annual PLUS event).

Our Fundamental Rules

Sounds pretty easy, doesn't it?  These are simply guidelines but PlanetChristmas does ask that your MiniPLUS follow our three fundamental rules of:

Positive, family friendly and Christmas centric. 

One Last Request!

Be sure to invite Chuck Smith!