Easy 7 Steps Guide for the First-Time 7Cups Chatroom Host
Easy 7 Steps Guide for the First-Time 7Cups Chatroom Host
Welcome to the wonderful world of chatroom hosting! Hosting can be a fun, fulfilling experience, but can be stressful and confusing at first. Here's a guide that can help! Also, read this post on who can host.
Step 1: Choose a discussion script. There is a vast variety of discussion scripts at 7Cups you can host. For getting started, you can host a 30-minute pop-up any time of the day! Read about more hosting opportunities here.
Step 2: Study your script. Go through the discussion script you will be hosting to get familiar with it.
Step 3: Decide when. Decide the time and day when you would like to host the discussion/event. You can optionally advertise your event on the community calendar!
Step 4: Find a doorkeeper. A doorkeeper is someone who can open and close our special rooms! All doorkeepers are listed here. Please try to find a doorkeeper to open the room for your chatroom session 10-20 minutes before you start.
You can also find a doorkeeper by
1) Using the doorkeeper request form.
2) If you are a listener, go to the listener support room/teen listeners room and ask for a doorkeeper.
3) Drop a message to the community mod on duty. Find their schedule here.
Step 5: Send invitations 15 minutes before your session. Go to chatrooms and send invitations!
You're all invited to join in ___room for a ____ (name of the session) starting in about 15 minutes! Hope to see you there!
If there is a discussion going on in a room, ask for permission before sending the invitation.
Additionally, you can ask a community mod to set an alert for your chatroom event!
Step 6: Set the banner. The chatroom banner shows the title of the event. Check here to know who can set the banner for you. Or feel free to ask the com mod on duty to set it for you.
Step 7: Spend the first 5-10 minutes breaking the ice and familiarizing with the chatroom environment! Use an icebreaker from the discussion script, or make your own icebreaker. (You may use any icebreaker as long as it satisfies the community guidelines.) Make yourself at home, ultimately these sessions are to provide support and create community, and you're a part of our community! Try to enjoy :)
4 little things to remember for the hosting to go well!
If there are few participants in the room, be your own participant and answer your own questions to encourage engagement! If it's slow, it's always okay to wait until someone joins the room. Welcome them and share the current question with them. Remember, two is a party too!
If there are many participants in the room and the activity feels overwhelming, take your time. Use the welcoming script message for the participants entering the room during the event. Here's an example of a welcoming message.
Welcome everyone entering! We're currently chatting about ___. Our current question is: (state the current discussion question) Please feel free to join us!
If there is a conflict in the room, try to remain calm and professional, message a moderator or a community mod for help, or ask for support in the listener support room (if you are a listener). Also, please read this useful guide on de-escalating conflicts in the community (not just in chatrooms).
In any circumstance, self-care. Make sure you are in good shape to host a session and are feeling calm during the event. If not, there is no problem in politely ending the session mid-way or asking if someone in the room can take over for you as a co-host. Because you matter <3
After you have ended the event, reach out to a doorkeeper or a com mod to get the room closed.
That's it! Heartfelt thanks to you for showing interest in hosting a 7Cups Chatroom Event.
