Use of Space After Hours

Business/Operations Policies & Best Practices
1

Hi All!

Our space is currently only open from 8am - 6pm. I am about to start moving in to a system where folks can leave after 6pm and our space will just be unstaffed.

I have been receiving many inquiries about after hours events (ending later than 6:30) and wanted to know what your typical protocol is. Since these aren’t always members looking to host late night meetings, I can’t decide if the space needs to be staffed until they are done. Does anybody else staff the space for specific events or do you trust these non member users to leave at the end of their time?

Thanks!

2

We are typically unstaffed 6AM - 9PM without issue as members keep an eye on the place as your community grows.

···

On Wed, Sep 26, 2018 at 5:03 PM, [email protected] wrote:

Hi All!

Our space is currently only open from 8am - 6pm. I am about to start moving in to a system where folks can leave after 6pm and our space will just be unstaffed.

I have been receiving many inquiries about after hours events (ending later than 6:30) and wanted to know what your typical protocol is. Since these aren’t always members looking to host late night meetings, I can’t decide if the space needs to be staffed until they are done. Does anybody else staff the space for specific events or do you trust these non member users to leave at the end of their time?

Thanks!

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Richard Stuart
Ten Below Coworking
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3

What small business moves into a space that closes at 6pm?
Certainly nobody who has deadlines that merit the occasional all
nighter.

Miles Fidelman

···

On 9/26/18 6:03 PM,
wrote:

[email protected]

Hi All!

      Our space is currently only open from 8am - 6pm. I am about

to start moving in to a system where folks can leave after 6pm
and our space will just be unstaffed.

      I have been receiving many inquiries about after hours

events (ending later than 6:30) and wanted to know what your
typical protocol is. Since these aren’t always members looking
to host late night meetings, I can’t decide if the space needs
to be staffed until they are done. Does anybody else staff the
space for specific events or do you trust these non member
users to leave at the end of their time?

Thanks!

–

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-- In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice.
In practice, there is. .... Yogi Berra
4

I understand you are asking a question specifically about non-members after-hours use, whether you should offer that unstaffed.

My opinion on that is a clear and absolute NO for obvious reasons ----> 1) liability and 2) you must incentivize being a member (for that reason we charge much higher fees to non-members for single-use situations).

Ky Ekinci
@OfficeDivvy

···
5

We also communicate ourselves as staffed during biz hours. Members are almost always there before and after we are "open" but we can't guarantee it.

We set up a process for earning trust and getting a key, which allows for re-entry after hours. The important part with our process is that it clearly shifts 24:7 access from being a perk to a responsability, akin to a neighborhood watch.

But your question wasn't about member, it was about meetups and events. In my experience most Meetup organizers don't want to pay a rate (there's always cheap or free space somewhere else) that would justify late night staffing.

So we link this to our neighborhood watch keyholder setup. It goes like this:

- meetups and groups organized by trusted keyholder are easy, since someone in the group knows what to do at the end of the night.
- if a group doesn't have a keyholder, it's their responsibility to connect with a keyholder who is interested in their event and willing to "co-host" with them. That helps ensure some internal member buy in too, instead of just having randos using the space.

This way, there is always at least one trusted member around who is invested in the event AND the shared space, and can help make sure end of night procedures are followed.

Hope this helps you, Miles!

Alex

···

On Sep 26, 2018, 7:53 PM -0400, Miles Fidelman <[email protected]>, wrote:

What small business moves into a space that closes at 6pm? Certainly nobody who has deadlines that merit the occasional all nighter.
Miles Fidelman

On 9/26/18 6:03 PM, jessie...@gmail.com wrote:
> Hi All!
>
> Our space is currently only open from 8am - 6pm. I am about to start moving in to a system where folks can leave after 6pm and our space will just be unstaffed.
>
> I have been receiving many inquiries about after hours events (ending later than 6:30) and wanted to know what your typical protocol is. Since these aren't always members looking to host late night meetings, I can't decide if the space needs to be staffed until they are done. Does anybody else staff the space for specific events or do you trust these non member users to leave at the end of their time?
>
> Thanks!
> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Coworking" group.
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to coworking+...@googlegroups.com.
> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout\.

--
In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice.
In practice, there is. .... Yogi Berra
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6

I have a common model with both Alex and Richard - my space is entirely
automated with no staff on-site. I should add that I'm opening next month,
so I'm anxious to see how it works.

Basically, it goes like this:

   1. Office hours are 6am to 9pm 7 days a week;
      1. There are opportunities for off-hour or entire-day reservations
      for events, retreats, etc.
   2. Using Wordpress as a front-end, I advertise the site, package
   pricing, perks, events, etc.;
   3. Interested people become members by signing up through the Wordpress
   site;
   4. Once payment is made, members are forwarded to the Office R&D
   back-end membership relationship management platform (similar look-feel to
   front-end for consistency);
   5. Members are sent a confirmation email that contains a link to an app
   from SaltoKS that allows them to sign-in to the app and open the door;
      1. Email also contains wifi credentials (one password at the moment,
      coming feature will be unique password integrated with my current Unifi
      system);
      2. Users can also have an RFID keyfob with a $25 deposit;
      3. A coming feature will be a PIN in the email that allows them to
      enter it on the keypads to gain access;
   6. Account management, payments, etc. are all managed by Office R&D
   system;
   7. The space and entrance to it are covered by CCTV for site security
   and member safety;
   8. Coming feature will be automated voice announcements (pleasant and
   polite) reminding members of closing time or other important notifications
   9. Cleaners will be in at 10pm daily and replenish coffee, juice, etc.
   supplies.

The entire space is automated meaning that trust/verify rules are in place
for its operation. Insurance costs are lowered based on the sophistication
of the security controls. Members can earn trust over time and be able to
host off-hours events, etc.

At the moment, I just got my furniture delivery and am finishing out the
space, so I'll share what I learn with you folks as things move along.

I would encourage you to trust your members and verify the trust. I think
we're all aiming to build something new and exciting and trust lubricates
the growth experience.

Cheers,
Trevor

···

On Thursday, 27 September 2018 10:33:40 UTC-4, Alex Hillman wrote:

We also communicate ourselves as staffed during biz hours. Members are
almost always there before and after we are "open" but we can't guarantee
it.

We set up a process for earning trust and getting a key, which allows for
re-entry after hours. The important part with our process is that it
clearly shifts 24:7 access from being a perk to a responsability, akin to a
neighborhood watch.

*The Neighborhood Watch Method for Coworking Space Security | Alex Hillman*
<https://dangerouslyawesome.com/2014/07/the-neighborhood-watch-method-for-coworking-space-security/&gt;

But your question wasn't about member, it was about meetups and events. In
my experience most Meetup organizers don't want to pay a rate (there's
always cheap or free space somewhere else) that would justify late night
staffing.

So we link this to our neighborhood watch keyholder setup. It goes like
this:

- meetups and groups organized by trusted keyholder are easy, since
someone in the group knows what to do at the end of the night.
- if a group doesn't have a keyholder, it's their responsibility to
connect with a keyholder who is interested in their event and willing to
"co-host" with them. That helps ensure some internal member buy in too,
instead of just having randos using the space.

This way, there is always at least one trusted member around who is
invested in the event AND the shared space, and can help make sure end of
night procedures are followed.

Hope this helps you, Miles!

Alex
On Sep 26, 2018, 7:53 PM -0400, Miles Fidelman <mfi...@meetinghouse.net > <javascript:>>, wrote:

What small business moves into a space that closes at 6pm? Certainly
nobody who has deadlines that merit the occasional all nighter.

Miles Fidelman

On 9/26/18 6:03 PM, jess...@gmail.com <javascript:> wrote:

Hi All!

Our space is currently only open from 8am - 6pm. I am about to start
moving in to a system where folks can leave after 6pm and our space will
just be unstaffed.

I have been receiving many inquiries about after hours events (ending
later than 6:30) and wanted to know what your typical protocol is. Since
these aren't always members looking to host late night meetings, I can't
decide if the space needs to be staffed until they are done. Does anybody
else staff the space for specific events or do you trust these non member
users to leave at the end of their time?

Thanks!
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In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice.
In practice, there is. .... Yogi Berra

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