In today's interview, we asked Roxane from Something New Prague a couple of questions about their event management. Read this energetic interview and we are sure that by the end, you will want to come to their events yourself!
Can you tell us what events you organise and when you started?
Founded in October 2022, Something New Prague is our project of heart that unites diverse individuals through unique events, creative workshops, language sessions, and social mixers. Our mission is to create meaningful connections and inspire creativity within the Prague expat and local community. Our organisation is a bit of a Jack of all trades as we introduce new topics a little bit at a time without going too deep into it, keeping things accessible for anyone.
We cater to both extroverts and introverts by creating a structured yet welcoming environment, perfect for solo participants who may not know anyone but want to meet new people on the spot. Our events are designed to be inclusive and friendly, making them ideal for anyone. You might go home with some new skills too! Our events are designed to cater to a wide array of interests, ensuring that everyone finds something new and exciting to participate in.
How did the idea to organize this project come to you?
When I first arrived in Prague I was finishing my master's degree in mathematics. During my studies, I always had a lot of ideas for events or projects that I wanted to develop but the pressure and intensity of the studies always held me back from really developing those.
Maxime, my partner and co-founder of Something New, and I would have long enthusiastic conversations in cozy coffee places about all the things we could try out when the studies were finally over… And so said and done, two weeks after finishing the degree the very first Something New events were a fact: French Conversation and Speed Dating. Just for the fun of it and out of our own curiosity.
We published the events under the name “Something New” without any plan in mind. Other events came up over time as we got more ideas and opportunities, and the rest of the organisation grew organically and still does.
How do you find partners and artists for your events?
A lot of the artists and partners we have actually met at our events! Things usually seem to go very naturally through the people we meet and referrals. There are so many creatives in Prague! We always keep our eyes open for possible collaborations. We are lucky to have so many talented people on board.
Do you have a marketing plan? How do you make your strategy?
Our marketing plan is quite organic and community-driven. We use a mix of social media, partnerships, and word of mouth to promote our events.
Do many of your customers come back? How do you keep them engaged?
Yes. We are proud to say many people come back, creating a sense of community. We keep engagement by consistently offering new events and experiences. We always try to make people feel welcome and valued.
What is the main challenge you are facing?
Time! There are so many things we want to do and directions we want to go in. We do our graphic design which usually takes up a lot of time and limits the speed with which we can work. Another challenge is that we don’t operate from a specific place but a little bit all over the city, this brings both opportunities and challenges but it does take some effort to find a fitting place for some particular events.
What motivates you to continue with this project?
Two main things keep us motivated: the variety and the community. As our organisation is very versatile and flexible we take on projects from mug painting to tarot reading to self-defense…and the list goes on. Even we don’t know what might be the next venture, which makes it a very exciting and enriching project for us to work on. It evolves with us as we evolve as organisers discovering new things in life. Not limiting us but enriching us in our personal life.
Prague has come to feel a lot smaller for us in the past three years. As we are a small team we are present at almost all events, living a lot of new experiences along with the participants. We have met so many different people along the way that we can now call our friends. Every event feels like a safe space for us and without this feeling, Something New would not have gone on for as long as we have. We want to take this opportunity to thank all our partners as well as the people who stood by us along the way, some from the very beginning. Even just by bringing their good mood and positive energy to every event.
Do you have any advice for beginning organizers who wish to do their laboratories and workshops?
Organize things you would like to participate in yourself!
Do you wish to tell our readers anything else?
Fun fact: We even have a Something New Baby! A couple who met at one of our speed dating events welcomed a baby boy last year.
If you liked this interview, check out others we have on our blog page. If you wish to use the same ticketing system as Something New Prague, see what BOOM Events can offer you and let us know if you have any questions or doubts.