Doll Meets - Public or Private?

How do you feel about going to Doll Meets at someone's private home?
To go to a meet to someone's home would be ok if I knew the person. Its usually much more fun to sit at someone's home, because there aren't too many people and we can concentrate on the dolls and general chatting. I've been once to a private meet a the home of a person I had never met - it was ok, but didn't stay long.

I've been both to public and private meets and both have been fun. Meets at a cafeteria I dislike, because its usually too cramped and one can't stay for too long. Parks and especially picnics in parks are great fun. Last spring we participated the local Hanami with our dolls and had great time and some of the other people were genuinly interested in our dolls - I bet we and the dolls are in tens of photos.

Would you ever consider hosting a doll meet at your house?
Yes, but I invited only people I can call as my friends. I'm a very private person and don't easily invite people to our home. I wouldn't feel comfortable with total strangers nosing around our home.

 

I haven't been to a meet at someone's home, but I would if I could! The lady that generally hosts them in the DFW area is vey kind and funny and everyone seems to have a blast.

I'm not sure if I would host one, private or public. I'm staying with my parents right now, so the house isn't mine. I'm also pretty out of the way and my town doesn't really offer much in the way of photo ops or visiting areas that I know of.

 

How do you feel about going to Doll Meets at someone's private home?
Having only done it once, I have to say that a meet in someone else's house is no less awkward than having a meet in a busy restaurant... though, of course, in different ways. I consider myself a generally respectful person (though kind of an airhead) and so I'm not concerned about tearing through someone's private dominion like a hurricane. I feel that meets in private homes are often far more intimate than public meets and there's a real friendly and casual feel. We also aren't rushed by waiters trying to get the loitering adult-age doll people out of the establishment. I would probably inquire with the host of meets what their personal home-etiquette is; in my family, we take off our shoes at the door and I've noticed that only east-asian households seem to do that... I wouldn't want to be the weird one out walking around in socks when everyone else is clomping around in their shoes and stuff like that.

Would you ever consider hosting a doll meet at your house?
I would be willing to... given my house was in respectable condition. Right now we're having a flooding problem, so I currently cannot offer my house as a location. But once it is cleaned up, I plan on it.



Slightly branching from the topic, I don't really want to make a whole topic about this, but I have a question regarding public versus private meets. This is a public forum and therefore posting about any meet can be seen by any member on the forum that isn't banned. What if someone is planning a meet in their private house and doesn't want a certain person / certain people to attend, but is willing to let anyone else?

 

I prefer meeting new people in a public setting. I get nervous about going to the wrong house. I can't call someone I don't know and ask them for directions. Well, I can, but it makes me really nervous. One of my personal tics is I get super nervous around people i don't know.

After meeting people it's a lot of fun to meet up at people's houses. One year we had a halloween slumber party at the house of a woman I'd recently met. There were about five or six of us ladies, tons of dolls and we spent all night watching anime and doing face-ups!

 

How do you feel about going to Doll Meets at someone's private home?
Personally I think it would be pretty okay. I'm not the most open person in the world, but if I had exchanged some words with some of the people over internet and knew that several others there knew each other from before, I don't think it would be a problem. Now, I've never been to a meet before, but since my country is so small, we have one small national forum for the doll interested where most of the active members know each other personally or have met in one way or another before. I think that if the rest of the doll owners know each other and they welcome me to join their private meets if I show interest, then I would be happy to go and to meet new people in a relaxed and private environment.

Home meets also seems like a perfect opportunity for crafts and actually doing things for the dolls and that's what I enjoy most about this hobby too. But any public meets also sounds nice. It's a good opportunity for photo sessions especially

Would you ever consider hosting a doll meet at your house?
I would. But not before I had been to a doll meet and gotten to know some of the other enthusiasts personally so I knew what and who I was inviting into my home. If I would host my own doll meeting it would probably be a craft meeting. One where I had tables prepared so people could sit down and have space to sew or do face ups or whatever they would please. And of course people could just sit down and talk too.

But on the question aikohaku raised I simply think that if someone wants to host a meet in their private home, where some certain people or a single person isn't welcome, they shouldn't announce it as a meet at all. Then it would be better to contact each person privately with an invitation to a friend meet. But if they absolutely had to announce it as a meeting, I agree with Mariano. That way the host can explain "face to face" exactly why he/she doesn't want that person to come if they show interest.

 

How do you feel about going to Doll Meets at someone's private home?
It depends on the person, honestly. Since I know quite a few people in our local group, I have no qualms about attending meetups if they are held at someone's house. There are a few houses I'm hesitant to go to, but my hesitancy is due to personal reasons - not dislike of the person (ie. certain kinds of pets, in-home smokers, etc.).

For the most part, a doll meet at someone's private home is just as fun and welcoming as a meet in public. That has been my experience, anyway. And if you have questions, you can always contact others you may know in your area how they feel about attending that particular meet. Sometimes, it's just more comforting to go with someone you know in case you don't get along with the others there (in case you don't know anybody else attending).

Would you ever consider hosting a doll meet at your house?
I would, and have. However, being that I live in an apartment, meets at my place tend to be smaller and limited to select people.


Regarding other meets in public places - plan one! What I usually do is find a friend who will come with me, figure out a time/place, and post it for others to see. If nobody comes, at least I'm not by myself. If others come, awesome! ^_^

 

How do you feel about going to Doll Meets at someone's private home?
I'm okay with it after I've gotten to know some of the regulars (if possible, the host too). I get a little nervous about meeting new people and I'm more comfortable in public settings at first. That being said once I'm comfortable, I like home meets as there's more freedom to do dolly stuff - restringing for example - without people giving you strange looks.
IMHO, it works best if areas try to have a few public meets for the newbies/drop-ins sprinkled in along with the home meets. Plus sometimes you can find great photo shoot locations in public areas.

Would you ever consider hosting a doll meet at your house?
Right now I don't have the space. If I ever did in the future, it would *definitely* be RSVP. I might even make it an invite-only thing (I admit to being a little paranoid). With the right people and right circumstances though, it'd be fun. I like hosting get-togethers.

 

I wouldn't really feel comfortable going to a doll meet at somebody's house unless it was someone I already knew personally in real life. I would be worried about safety a bit, but mostly I'd be worried about the situation becoming awkward somehow. I wouldn't hold a doll meet at my home either for the same reasons, in addition to being concerned about theft. However, I would love to attend a meet in a public space, especially one outdoors or at a library where I'd feel comfortable and where it would be easy to leave when I'd had enough.

 

Living in a fairly big city most of our local meets are in public parks (Spring thru Fall), Bubble Tea houses, University rooms. Most live in apartments so big meets in a personal home can be problamatic. However, some complexes have "Party Rooms" and all meets I have been to in these areas have been fantastic because there are no worries. Technically its not someones private home and the area is nice and simple with comfey overtones. I would be cautious in a big city just inviting anyone into my home, party rooms are a good compromise. I also find Bubble Tea houses with there long couches and the fact they encourage board games and other hobbies also a nice ideal place for small doll meets. The owners are familure with the hobby and everyone has a good relaxing time.

 

Meeting up at someone's house isn't exactly something I'd want to do. I'm not comfortable meeting people for the first time in the privacy of a home-- it's a very personal area to meet at, and a little threatening. I don't know who I'm going to see-- and what if something bad happens? I don't have other dolly friends-- if I did, I might be willing to go with one of them so I wasn't alone, but still.

Even if nothing 'bad' were to happen-- what if the person has pets? Burns incense? Just doesn't clean well? I have allergies and some of these things can be so bad I have to leave a house. Public places are generally free of many of these things. Also, if there are many people responding to a meet in a small house... well, I've been to a few non-doll gatherings and bumping elbows trying to cross a room is a little overwhelming. Add some fragile, breakable dolls to the mix and I'd be pretty nervous.


I also don't think I'd ever host a meet in my home-- aside from worrying about similar things, my mind would be on worries of theft (my items, or other people's dolls), breakage of things... or being held accountable for things that happen. What if someone sets their doll down and it falls and breaks? What if someone in the group is sticky-fingered? These are worries in other types of meets-- but when you're hosting you bear more responsibility.

 

I just went to my first doll meet which was a Halloween party in someones home and i went to a meet at a cafe the other day plus I went by myself without knowing anyone there but both were great as everyone was very nice. i might host my own one day but it will be a long long time from now if i have a reason too. would rather someone else host it tho

 

How do you feel about going to Doll Meets at someone's private home?
For some reason I trust strangers ^^U (maybe too much for my own security). I have no problem going to someone else's home for a meet. I think what helps is that my first meets were public, and then I got to know more the people (the regular ones anyways) so I kinda felt comfortable around them, before attempting going to someone's private house. And then the more you know the locals, you'll spot which ones you enjoy being with the most and you can plan small meets through PMs or SMS or what have you.

Would you ever consider hosting a doll meet at your house?
Not really, my apartment is so tiny ^^Uuu If I had a nice decent house, I wouldn't have any problem at all.

 

-How do you feel about going to Doll Meets at someone's private home?
Only if I knew the person in real life. I don't like intruding into someone's personal space and rooms without knowing them. A meetup on "unmarked grounds" would be much prefered. ^^
-Would you ever consider hosting a doll meet at your house?
Even if I were friends in real life with other doll people, I wouldn't invite them. It's not doll related, it's because just don't like people in my flat.

 

How do you feel about going to Doll Meets at someone's private home?

I actually went to my very first ever doll meet here in Colorado at someone's house. Our anniversary meet in February (we just celebrated Year 6 I believe as a group) is held at my now-best-friend's house every year, and I attended my first meet February of 2010 at her house. It was actually very cool. I didn't know ANYBODY, I had only heard of the group through lucky circumstance and joined our Yahoo group (which is the only group we had at the time, now we have a Facebook page too). No one was a super weirdo, and I figured that if I got creeped out at all I could leave. :P I actually made quite a few friends in just that meet and a few of them have become m new best friends out here, and we do monthly movie nights and dolly play times and stuff now. Ultimately, you just have to talk to the people, and use your gut. I didn't have any bad feelings about these people, and my gut was right on.


Would you ever consider hosting a doll meet at your house?

Absolutely. I live at my parents' house, so it might not actually work out, but I would LOVE to host a meet at my house. I've been to quite a few meets that were hosted at people's houses, and they're always fun. It's also great because, unlike public areas, you can be more open, more loud, really connect with everyone, learn more about people, play with the dolls in a safe environment. We do host meets at places like the Denver Zoo, Denver Doll Emporium sometimes lets us host meets there, we've been to the Botanic Gardens and Garden of the Gods and Tiny Town and all sorts of fun places too, but it's always so much easier to actually sit and chat with people and get to know your fellow hobbyists at someone's house, where you can set your doll down on a counter and not have to worry, or you can pose your dolls and someone else's and take lots of fun pictures.

 

I woudl have no problem going to someones house for a doll meet, i'd just be shy.
I would LOVE to host, i love hosting parties and such, and cooking and baking for them, but alas, i live in a tiny town.... i doubt there are many ABJD people here....>.>

 

How do you feel about going to Doll Meets at someone's private home?
I don't mind going to meets at private homes. When I first started attending meets they were in public places. I was able to get to know the people in my area and have since attended and helped host meets in private residences. The one time I went to a home and didn't know the owner particularly well, I was a little nervous, but once I was there and chatting with friends it passed. In my area we try to have meets in public areas simply because we have a few young doll owners whose parents aren't comfortable with them going to people's homes.

Would you ever consider hosting a doll meet at your house?
I would love to host a meet. Unfortunately none of my living situations have been conducive to house guests. I'm hoping that once I move to my own place and don't have parents/roommates/etc. I'll be better able to host doll meets. I would wait until I knew the people in the area before having them in my home, but, like I said earlier: I'm friends with many of the BJD owners in my area so I wouldn't mind hosting them. I know they would be helping me make sure things went smoothly. Heck, many of them are people I've begun hanging out with beyond BJDs!

 

I've been to many home doll meets but to be honest, I don't like them too much. I like to be in public places where I can "roam" the area and get the onlookers staring at my guys. For some reason I love that, it's the same when I cosplay, lol. I love the openness of a public meet. An in home meet just feels too cramped when there are too many people, I also feel awkward if there is food set out as I don't like eating at other peoples' houses.

I hosted one back in 09 and it went fine because I knew everyone that was coming. If someone was coming I didn't know I would have to meet them before the meet was to be held at my home as I don't want "strangers" in my home. Though having 3 german shepherds will make sure that no one will venture where they shouldn't be or take something. lol

 

I prefer private over public (don't like meeting in public places with hoards of dolls). I love going to private homes, especially if it's someone I have a close relationship with, and would host for same.

 

How do you feel about going to Doll Meets at someone's private home?
It doesn't bother me. Most of the meets that I've been to have been hosted at someone's house. The few exceptions have been at cons and at a Japanese garden. Had a good time at all of them.

Would you ever consider hosting a doll meet at your house?
Yes. I have hosted one and plan to again in the future. It was stressful at first as I was worried so much about making sure everything was set up and everyone was happy, but once things settled in, I had a blast.