Thanks to @socialtech and @ebizmediatv for filming Meetdraw6. If you missed it take a butchers at what happened…

MeetDraw Six from eBusiness Media on Vimeo.

It’s a hard life working for eBusiness Media – we sent James to the beach to drink beer, enjoy a BBQ and mingle with some of the best creative minds in the South Coast.

I heart 6

I like the number six. I always have. It’s one of my favourites. Well certainly in my top ten, but then I guess it’s in every top ten.

• Six is the smallest perfect number.
• There are six strings on a standard guitar.
• A coffin is traditionally buried six feet under the ground.
• Six, in Latin, is sex, a fact that I’ll never forget ever since our Latin teacher made me shout it out as loud as I could (while counting to ten) as he hung me by the ankles out of a first floor window.
• A client of mine once said “all Mexicans have six sides”. With hindsight, she might have said “hexagons” but it was a dull meeting and I was staring out of the window and not really paying much attention.

Six is also, of course, the number of degrees of Kevin Bacon, and while we’re on the subject of meat, it looks like number six was quite possibly the best Meetdraw yet?

A fab evening

From the comments we’ve had via twitter, email and face to face, it seems that everyone enjoyed it.
It may have been the sunny weather, the stunning seaside view, or the great venue that tipped it, but for sure, all these things together form the very best of what Bournemouth has to offer. Add to that our mix of Meetdraw digital animals ready to chat, share, drink and have fun together then you can see why it was such a fabulous evening.

Spirits were high throughout the evening as the crowds increased, and there was an overriding feeling of determination and a sense of togetherness despite the less than cheery economic prospects that loom large.

With all our holidays, job changes, honeymoons (congratulations Mr Seys) and sabbaticals getting in the way, it’s been trickier than usual to organize Meetdraw and it certainly wouldn’t have been possible without all those who came forward to help, volunteering their time, money, or both.

Thanks again

We’d like to thank these people again, so could the following please stand up and take a bow:

• Nick (who spent 4 hours on BBQ duty and burnt his hands) & our chefs Rachel, Kriss, Tom and Neil
• Lou, and her fabulous helpers from The Green deli
• Lulubelles cakes for some seriously scrumptious cakey treats (it seems 8 is the record to get into your mouth at once)
• Folk for supplying the BBQ, food, pink plates and branded beers
• Redweb and especially Damian for the design work you may have seen here and there
• Dorset Design Forum & Creative Advantage for paying for the venue (keep an eye on DDF, there’s some big changes happening soon!)
• And our new friends from Bristol AdLib recruitment who sponsored the rounder’s tournament and the sandcastle competition, as well as being jolly good chaps and very nice to talk to

We need you

MeetDraw is an event run for, and by, our local digital community and we’re always on the look out for new volunteers to help each time and help share the love. So, give us a shout and let us know if you’d like to be part of future plans.

Meetdraw 7 ?

Yep, of course, but you’ll have to wait for the Autumn. And it’s going to be a student takeover. That’s right, we bumped into a group of students who reckon that they can put on a Meetdraw that puts all others to shame, so we’ve called their bluff and challenged them to prove it. The bar’s been raised now, so let’s see if they feel the pressure?

Now let me see, seven?… hmmm, there are seven fundamental types of catastrophes. Good luck (-;

Meetdraw 6 is hours away and the weather forecast is improving all the time. We hope you’ll come and join us on the beach for an amazing BBQ, our favourite local foodie stands, a rounders tournament, and the usual networking buzz and chit chat.

We’ll also be handing out prizes for the best meat themed sandcastle creations. So come along, bring a beer or two, and get some sand in your pants!

Only 9 days to go until the next Meetdraw! Go over to our Facebook event page to let us know if you’re coming. Remember we’ll provide the food but you bring the beers.

Photo by Mosesxan ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/mosesxan/1303451263 )

OK; so technically they’re not grills, they’re barbeques.  But Thursday 22 July 2010 does look set to be the best Meetdraw yet, as we make the very most of the sizzling Bournemouth summer!

Whip out your shorts, dust down your office-white legs and come join us at the Branksome Dean Community Rooms where we plan on steaking over the beach at around 7pm, with food sponsored by the good soles at Folk.

Pure rump roast? Nothing butt!

You bring your booze; we bring a band of happy chefs who will be waiting to cook for you!  Plus there’ll be a couple of guest stalls too! Including Lou from the Green Deli and Louisa from Lulubelles Cakes. Yum!

Fancy getting involved in the barbequing action yourself and being one of our chefs?  Lettuce know!

Are you a game bird?

Great! – Then we have a super sandcastle building competition for you!  – And most probably a rounders tournament for those feeling eggstra energetic.

We won’t let the rain foil your fun!

Even if it’s more drizzling than sizzling, there will be cover inside the Community Rooms thanks to sponsorship from Creative Advantage and the Dorset Design Forum, so don’t let any baaad weather put you off!

So, where do we meat?

The Community rooms are at Branksome Dene Chine, set back slightly up the cliff.  See the map (PDF) for details. There’s also loads of parking if you’re planning to drive.