Hey Tib! The design works great with all the different photographs and citynames in them! There's a happy man looking at a screen over here (me lol). Yeah, finding free stock-images that work well can be quite a task indeed. Perhaps the Hive community can chip in their shots? I mean... Feel free to use my photograph inside the PSD (The Berlin one) for arranging this.
A few things about the shared criticism, and let me start with that it's always good to express your concerns and speak out/speak up for yourself. If you didn't I probably would've just DM'd you telling you how great the designs look with all the different photographs. While I'm not a meetup host myself, or (can) fund projects, I do want to take a moment and share my thoughts on it. And maybe others can chip in as well. Because I honestly do think that Meetups can be quite beneficial for the entire Hive community, whether you take part in it or not. It's literally (almost) free advertising when people show up.
So, from my understanding, you're saying there is a lack of interaction/communication between the meetup hosts, right? There's also a few people who assume things and let their fantasies go wild by just assuming you're getting paid, which you aren't. Right? I mean... if I'm reading correctly between the lines; if meetup hosts weren't sending you the $18 HBD for shipping compensation, it'd be you paying for it?
Perhaps a feedback system can help both parties (as I can just only assume everyone is too busy, or having other priorities). Promoting the tool is 1, and using the tool is 2. So maybe 2 small survey's that hosts can fill in could help everyone at the same time. One for before (to promote the toolbelt and for the hosts to receive the merch) and one after (for sharing their experience etc to improve).
As for 'free' local advertisement for Hive... Finding a funding opportunity for these efforts and boosting both meetups, isn't this a no-brainer to allocate at least a few HBD for this? Financial support is at its place here IMO. Even if it is the bare minimum that covers the expenses.
Thank you for the comment and the chat we already had two days ago mate!
I think you and @coldbeetrootsoup got it wrong: I am pretty sure that the meetup hosts will cover the shipping costs.
But yes you are right - if I would have calculated these efforts beforehand I am also pretty sure that it would have been covered by the funding. Next time I know better and do not have the hustle to ask the hosts.
The idea with the feedback system is pretty cool. I will have to think about it but the main issue is that the hosts are not responding at all (dms on discord are responded like 10 days later or something like that..) so they will probably do not use a feedback feature either. But yes: I will think about a good solution where I dont have to put too much efforts in to make it work. A poll or something maybe.
Thank you so much for the feedback, input and your encouraging words buddy. It means a lot <3