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I remember Upcoming.org from 2003, back then it was a problem needing a solution but within a few years it was already pointless like plancast or the variety of

I remember Upcoming.org from 2003, back then it was a problem needing a solution but within a few years it was already pointless like plancast or the variety of other event listings and invitation systems. There are events your friends want you to show up. Whether that message is sent via Facebook, email, text, paper, or face to face is irrelevant. If you are wanted there, you will be there. There are events you want friends of friends to show up. Facebook facilities this quite well, and if you don't have a Facebook account to do so but they still want you there, well, you'll likely be there. Then there are events you want strangers to show up. Facebook serves this quite well. If the events require a ticket, Eventbrite's got that covered. If it's a business event then your Gcal or Outlook has it covered. In this landscape, where does upcoming.org, where does an anti-Facebook solution stand? And is it enough to cover payroll? Because snobbishness aside--I don't own a TV because TV atrophies your brain when I can create art because I'm artist--this... really isn't a problem anymore.

lhl 12y ago
The scenario where Upcoming excelled, or at least the one that that seemed to "convert" users and why I think 10yrs later it's still so fondly remembered (looking at the response on Twitter has been nice) is when Upcoming told you about that event that you didn't know about and would have kicked yourself for missing ("if only I had known this thing I would have loved to go to was happening last night!"). Over the years I experienced this first hand many times (regrettably, also a lot of "can't go, too busy working on Upcoming"), but I haven't seen anything since that's provided the sort of social+interest-based serendipity that Upcoming did in its heyday. A lot of times in the past few years when I've been traveling I've wish there was something like Upcoming that could recommend the most interesting things to do in a city that night (like 4SQ or Yelp for events).

lhl 12y ago

The scenario where Upcoming excelled, or at least the one that that seemed to "convert" users and why I think 10yrs later it's still so fondly remembered (looking at the response on Twitter has been nice) is when Upcoming told you about that event that you didn't know about and would have kicked yourself for missing ("if only I had known this thing I would have loved to go to was happening last night!"). Over the years I experienced this first hand many times (regrettably, also a lot of "can't go, too busy working on Upcoming"), but I haven't seen anything since that's provided the sort of social+interest-based serendipity that Upcoming did in its heyday. A lot of times in the past few years when I've been traveling I've wish there was something like Upcoming that could recommend the most interesting things to do in a city that night (like 4SQ or Yelp for events).