Episode Summary

Bernie and Emily are back together in this episode to tackle a familiar headache: running events in your coworking space that don’t just fill seats—but build something real.

If you’ve ever posted a “networking night” with free drinks and been met with silence (or worse—randoms who ghost the next day), this one’s for you.

Together, they walk through the first phase of their European Coworking Day event series, designed to help independent coworking operators run events with purpose—not gimmicks.

You’ll learn the three-part framework they use to create momentum, attract the right people, and avoid burnout.

You don’t need to run ads or invent a vibe—you need to understand why your event exists and who it’s for.

This episode is the blueprint.

Whether you're planning a lunch-and-learn, a member mixer, or a launch day for your space, this conversation will help you go from “hope they show up” to “can’t wait to be there.”

Timeline Highlights

[0:19] – Why European Coworking Day isn’t just about the day

[1:01] – The real cost of skipping community for ads

[2:16] – Events with a clear outcome beat free food every time

[3:35] – Understanding what makes people actually show up

[6:33] – Yoga, beer, and court cases: a story of values in action

[8:28] – Start promo with your inner circle, not your newsletter

[10:29] – '90s rave posters and standing out on LinkedIn

[13:25] – Personalised invites > Slack dumps

[14:44] – The 30% rule of attendance (and how to plan for it)

[16:03] – Why reminders aren’t annoying—they’re respect

[18:56] – Connecting before converting: why it’s the only way

[21:05] – Community Builders Cohort and the 12-week rhythm

Event Strategy That Works

Bernie and Emily unpack how most event struggles come from missing one key thing: a clear outcome.

People don’t show up for vague vibes.

They come for a purpose—like “find a project partner over coffee” or “meet other freelancers who live nearby.” Without that, even free pizza won’t save you.

The Gimmick Trap (And Why You Should Avoid It)

Not all “community” is created equal.

Bernie shares the fallout of a corporate coworking space that sold yoga and beer but lost the trust of its members during COVID-19.

Meanwhile, local spaces survived—because people chose community over contracts. If your space vanished tomorrow, would anyone fight to keep it going?

Promotion Without Burnout

Forget blast emails and generic LinkedIn posts.

This episode explains how to make event promotion a daily ritual—like texting your inner circle with a real invite, not a copy-paste.

Think rhythm over rush.

Bonus: the 90s rave poster trick and how to become unmistakable online.

Reminders = Respect

People are busy.

They forget. Reminding them isn’t pushy—it’s helpful.

The duo discusses their promo system using Luma and why sending “still coming?” emails might be the most respectful thing you do all week.

From Connection to Commitment

Want to sell desks?

Start with the connection.

Emily and Bernie make it clear that people join coworking spaces because they feel something, not because of the amenities list.

Host better events.

Tell better stories.

Build real community.

That’s the strategy.

Links & Resources

* Running Events In Your Coworking Space

* Register for European Coworking Day, May 2025

* Coworking Values Podcast on LinkedIn

* Join The Coworking Community Builder Cohort

* Join the 8k Members in the LinkedIn Coworking Group

* Connect with Bernie on LinkedIn

* Connect with Emily on LinkedIn

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit coworkingvaluespodcast.substack.com