There’s an irony to Lagosians’ party culture. For people who like to party and know how to throw one, we can also be extremely unreliable about keeping to time and organizing ourselves in a fast-paced city where everybody seems to move on their own time, having your friends all come together for a fun group experience becomes quite the challenge.
So here’s the deal, Lagos is unpredictable and so are the people, but there’s a way to make it happen for you, you too can hack getting all your friends to either go out or come over.
Group Chats
We are always on our phones, it’s become a part of our day-to-day activities. Therefore, still the most reliable way to contact people. So, put everyone in a group chat, no matter which platform, but preferably one where everyone is most active and likely to be more responsive. Remember to keep the Group Chats fun and engaging (maybe schedule routine group calls).
It’s also where you will drop updates on venue, routes, and keep tabs on each other.
Be Clear and Direct
You’ll want to make sure you have a good idea of what to do so that everyone in the group chat will most likely be interested in showing up. Start with a clear invite, not a casual, “meet up by 9:00 pm.” That is most likely to be ignored. Instead, have a group call, and find out everyone’s schedule, then decide on the best day for everyone and settle on a time, meeting point, and main activity —it’s Lagos, there’s always something else to do
PS: All the details should be made clear in the group.
Make Being Early Worth It
Everyone likes a good competition, just because we’re adults doesn’t mean we can no longer gamify our lives. So promise something special for the early birds—a complimentary drink, a token reward from everyone late, and the best seat at the table. It could be anything, but it’s a great way to incentivize punctuality.
Pick a Neutral Meetup Spot
Having a great meetup spot is important and can impact the rest of the night. It’s where everyone gets to settle in and relax with familiar faces or be introduced to new ones. Best for pre-drinks and pre-party meals. A good meetup spot has to be central to everyone’s location as best as possible, it could be a lounge, a parking lot, or a friend’s home.
Stick to the Plan as Best as You Can
Now, Lagos is unpredictable, the traffic, the people, the weather on some days, so hold space and expect that some things won’t go away, but as best as you can stick to the original plan and activities that were agreed on, and make sure to update the group on any changes or delays.
