How to start an in-person community for creators with Brett Dashevsky

What if the key to creator success wasn’t locked away in algorithms or follower counts, but in real-life connections? 

Brett Dashevsky has made a name for himself in the creator economy by leaning into in-person networking as the secret ingredient to his growth. 

For Brett, it all started with a simple mission: connect creators in real life to foster collaboration and growth. His platform, Creator Economy NYC, does just that through events, meetups, and panel discussions aimed at uniting creators, marketers, and entrepreneurs. 

In this blog post, we’ll unpack Brett’s journey from corporate life to community-building, explore his strategies for starting and sustaining an in-person creator network, and learn why he believes real-life connections can transform your career. 

If you’re ready to build a network that thrives offline and opens up new paths for collaboration, inspiration, and growth, keep reading.

Step 1: Define your community’s purpose and goals

Building an in-person community starts with a strong foundation. Brett emphasizes the importance of having a clear mission and purpose from the start. For him, Creator Economy NYC was built around a simple yet powerful goal: producing a place where creators connect and collaborate.

By understanding exactly who he wanted to serve and why, Brett could design events and experiences that brought lasting value to his community.

“Creator Economy NYC really started with a bar meetup… I knew consistency was key. The more we gathered, the more traction we got, and soon enough, we were attracting brands and sponsors that wanted to support our events.” - Brett Dashevsky

If you’re starting your own in-person creator community, take time to think deeply about why you’re building it. Are you looking to create a space for learning, networking, collaboration, or support? 

Perhaps you want to target a specific niche within the creator economy, such as freelance graphic designers, content marketers, or videographers.

What you can do:

• Define your mission: Summarize who your community is for and why it exists in one or two sentences. This mission keeps you focused and ensures that every event and decision serves a clear purpose.
• Set clear goals: Outline a few measurable goals, like hosting monthly events, reaching 50 members, or landing a sponsor by month six.
• Visualize success: Picture your community’s impact a year from now. Write down what members will gain, how often you’ll meet, and the kind of feedback you’ll want to hear. 

Step 2: Start small and stay consistent

Launching an in-person community doesn’t require a grand event or a massive budget. Brett’s journey began with casual bar meetups, where he gathered a small group of creators, marketers, and entrepreneurs. 

His focus wasn’t on immediate scale; it was on creating a reliable, consistent space for connections to grow organically. This approach laid the groundwork for larger, more structured events as the community expanded.

“Don’t over-engineer it. Publish over perfect. Start with a small group; traction will come with consistency.” - Brett Dashevsky

The more familiar people become with your events, the more likely they are to spread the word and invite others, giving you an expanding base of regulars and new faces.

What you can do:

• Start with monthly meetups: Pick a day each month and stick to it. Consistency in timing helps attendees plan and builds anticipation for the next event. 
• Choose an accessible, casual location: Find a setting like a local coffee shop, bar, or community space that doesn’t require formal arrangements. 
• Experiment and gather feedback: Keep each initial event simple and focus on what people enjoy. Afterward, ask attendees for feedback on the venue, format, and topics.

Step 3: Pay attention to the details

Creating an environment where attendees feel valued and engaged starts with focusing on the small but essential details.

“Name tags, pre-event emails, and making sure people know what to expect are small but powerful details that create a welcoming environment.” - Brett Dashevsky

A personal touch goes a long way. Setting a friendly tone from the outset helps break the ice and encourages even the most introverted attendees to open up.

What you can do:

• Greet attendees personally: Arrive early and take the time to welcome each attendee. A simple greeting can set the tone for the event and make people feel valued from the moment they arrive.
• Designate a few “connectors”: Ask a few trusted community members to help introduce newcomers and facilitate conversations. These “connectors” can make a huge difference in helping attendees feel included and engaged.
• Create cozy, conversation-friendly spaces: Choose a venue or set up seating arrangements that encourage small group conversations. Avoid overly formal setups and aim for a layout that fosters easy mingling and interaction.

Step 4: Leverage the power of serendipitous in-person networking

One of the standout elements of Creator Economy NYC’s success is Brett’s belief in the “power of serendipity.” Real-life interactions have led to some of his biggest professional breakthroughs, including his current position at Kickstarter. 

By creating spaces where people can meet face-to-face, Brett provides a foundation for authentic connections that digital spaces often lack.

“Meeting the Chief Strategy Officer of Kickstarter at one of my events led me to my role there… these in-person encounters create trust and often lead to collaborations that wouldn’t happen online.” - Brett Dashevsky

What you can do:

• Follow up after the event: Send a message or an email connecting people who didn’t get the chance to meet but might benefit from knowing each other.
• Encourage “conversation starters”: Provide prompts or questions at each table to spark discussions. It helps attendees find common ground faster.
• Host mini breakout sessions: Introduce small group discussions on specific topics.

Step 5: Monetize your in-person community

Once you have that foundation, attracting sponsors who see the value in your audience becomes much more achievable. 

For Brett, monetizing with sponsorships enhanced the community experience. By carefully selecting partners aligned with his audience, he could elevate the quality of each event without compromising the focus on genuine connections. 

“Soon enough, we were attracting brands and sponsors that wanted to support our events.” - Brett Dashevsky

The added revenue allowed him to expand the event’s reach, invest in better venues, and bring in notable guest speakers, ultimately adding value to the community.

If you’re building a creator community, keep in mind that sponsors are looking to gain exposure to a dedicated audience.

What you can do:

• Define your audience value: Document details about your audience—such as their demographics, interests, and goals—and use this information to approach brands that would benefit from reaching them.
• Create sponsorship tiers: Offer different levels of sponsorship, like “Main Sponsor” or “Supporting Partner.” Each tier can come with distinct benefits, such as logo placement, speaking opportunities, or exclusive access to event attendees.
• Offer brand integration opportunities: Design event features that allow sponsors to engage directly with your community, like sponsoring a networking lounge, a hands-on demo, or a dedicated Q&A session with their team. This approach makes sponsorship feel like a part of the event rather than an ad.

Build your own community and monetize with Teachable

Building an in-person community for creators can unlock incredible opportunities—whether it's new collaborations, professional growth, or simply expanding your circle. 

As Brett’s story shows, the benefits of connecting with others face-to-face go far beyond what online networking can offer. 

Ready to turn your knowledge and passion into something more? With Teachable, you can make the most of your in-person events by creating and monetizing online courses, workshops, memberships, and more. 

Teachable provides everything you need to take your community to the next level—from easy course-building tools to integrated marketing support.

Start building your community both online and offline. Sign up for a free plan on Teachable and see how you can start creating, teaching, and connecting today.