I like this idea, the only thing that may get in the way for me is the fact that I play in a band, and some of my Friday nights MAY be taken up by that. BUT... I think honestly, we can just kinda play it be ear. Each month we could pick out a couple dates and take a vote on which will work best for the most people. So this month could be one date, while the next might be different. What do y'all think?

I agree with Rinzler. I am over an hour from Houston. I work full time...therefore, me leaving my job...to drive to Houston for dinner...then back again in the AM to explore...not only is that costly...but, I likely wouldn't show up for dinner. Hahaha.

Posted by TheRippinator1234 So this month could be one date, while the next might be different. What do y'all think?

Are you asking us to go on a date?

Cat's outta the bag now huh? Lol.

Just referring to the literal 'date' of when we would all meet up!

In Tulsa, we met at around six in the evening, and went out right after a quick bite. Usually we were not there too long, and left as soon as it got dark, or close to it. We would finalize some plans, and then leave, as well as getting to meet some new people if they ever showed.

The point Rinzler and I are trying to make...exploring after 7pm, when it starts getting dark is mostly pointless if you're focused on photos...which most explorer's are.

Most meets are in the AMs (like with Astro's meet)...it just makes more sense that way.

Posted by tiffers The point Rinzler and I are trying to make...exploring after 7pm, when it starts getting dark is mostly pointless if you're focused on photos...which most explorer's are.

That's not true. I always prefer to explore at night and my photography is usually much better when there is little to no light.

I'm on board with just about any time. So long as I know ahead of time schedule around it.

Posted by tiffers The point Rinzler and I are trying to make...exploring after 7pm, when it starts getting dark is mostly pointless if you're focused on photos...which most explorer's are. Most meets are in the AMs (like with Astro's meet)...it just makes more sense that way.

Johnny's motive here is less exploring and more meeting people. If you can't make the meet&greets because you're too far away to justify it...then you're too far to justify it and don't have to come. The problem with Houston being SO massive is that no one is going to be able to please everyone because we all live so far from each other. Even for me, driving to downtown is a 40 minute drive.

I like that Johnny is doing just meeting up for dinner or something. It's a good approach, in my opinion. The meet&greets I host are very borderline for being actual, star worthy, events. That isn't his goal in this. Hell, people might not even get together and explore at all the next day, who knows? But at least we'll know who each other are.

Yeah, the initial focus for these meet-and-greets is on just that, to meet new people and say hello to people in the hobby that you already know. I definitely want to see this thing change and get better over time, but let's take it meeting-by-meeting for right now.

As far as the timing and location go, I picked the pizza place at random simply as a central, solid, cheap place to eat. I picked 7pm because I figure it will give the people who need to drive for a while some wiggle room. As exploring isn't the main function, daylight wasn't really that big a consideration for me. Plus, like fatwax, I tend to shoot at night, or at least in locations with no light anyway.

I realize that no solution will make everyone happy, but as there isn't a consistent meetup over here, I want to try and get something going that we can build on and make work for our area. If you look at the DFW, and apparently Tulsa, meet-and-greets, you'll hopefully get an idea of what I am thinking of. But once we get rolling, I expect that we will change it into something more suited for our area and our community.

I'm in for a meet up since I haven't met anyone either (similar to Ripp) and to discuss some potential spots to hit in the near future. Let us know a rough date!

Only thing I would change is maybe to have it in midtown, perhaps at Star Pizza? Minor suggestion though, I'll be there no matter what.

I'm going to counter that and ask it not be moved, this time. Especially if you're going to be there, anyways. I live in the southeast suburbs of Houston. Downtown is already like a 40 minute drive and it would be like an hour otherwise.

Not to be me-me-me but I will for sure be there this time, maybe we could start a running list of different (eating) locations we'd wanna meet at, though?

It could really help Johnny with just being like NEXT ON THE MEETING PLATE: THIS PLACE.

Out Moshe: If that is the pizza joint I'm thinking of, I love that place, and haven't been there in forever! It'd be an awesome meeting spot. If it's allright, though, perhaps we could use Star Pizza for next month's meeting? I super appreciate any suggestions like that, I just feel like for the first one I wanted to try and be as close to the center of the city as possible.

So, it seems like everything is sort of firming up, I'm going to go ahead and make the event. I definitely don't mean to shoot stuff down, but I figure we have a pretty complete time/location/day set here and ought to get this show on the road. If we can keep this going, we'll have a bunch of opportunities to mix stuff up!

Have fun. Houston is too far to drive for pizza.

PIZZZAAAAAAAA, I usually only have mondays and tuesdays off, buuuuuuuut, i do get off at ten most nights. do they have arcade games there?

Posted by sunwulf PIZZZAAAAAAAA, I usually only have mondays and tuesdays off, buuuuuuuut, i do get off at ten most nights. do they have arcade games there?

O_O ...Aaaaaactually, that's the last Friday of the month. Joystix is super nearby and their free-play happens that night. Serendipity perhaps? That's totally an option if we decide on not exploring for whatever reason.

OHMYGODILOVEJOYSTIX!!!!

FUCKING HELL I LOVE THAT PLACE

I am in Pearland, and will try to make any I can. If I don't it is because I work at Best Buy, and have my own business. Most of this month looks to be out for me, of my clients has a bunch of work to be done, and he pays in advance. I see the possibility of a new camera this month too. Hopefully I'll make enough to get the new D5500, it does look like I'll be making that much!

Tiff and Ghost: Sorry to hear that you guys might not make it, hopefully you guys can make the future iterations!

Also, I just posted the event listing, it will be at Frank's Pizza on 417 Travis St, 77002 at 7pm.

Here's the link to the event: http://www.uer.ca/...nt.asp?eventid=753

Again, I'd go for some exploring. I've been really bored lately and been itching to go on a UER trip, get a motel for a night maybe two, and could easily schedule that around trying to also attend a meet up. Nothing sucks worse than going on a long car ride just to strike out actually exploring.