vol. 2, no. 9 | Fans of the Company
We got so many new fans this past week.
And by ‘week’ I mean the period from Sunday the 6th to Saturday the 12th. Paperwork is always a Sunday–Saturday recap, whether or not I get to sending it out on Sunday.
And by ‘fans’ I mean paper fans. Lauren S.’s mom-in-law was at PowerPoint Party No. 28 and rightly noticed that it was very hot in here, so she kindly mailed us paper fans that we can pass out to prevent people from passing out.
We still aim to figure out the heat thing, but in the meantime, we’re so grateful for the gift! And please help yourself to one the next time you’re in here (maybe Tuesday?).
—Ivan
Happenings
This week:
Glint: Language, Tuesday, July 15
True, personal stories, told live, without notes. Pretty much exactly like The Moth, except without the competition, on Tuesdays instead of Fridays, and everyone knows each other (or is about to). Our next theme is “Language.“
Do you have a story of words, interpretations, confusion, or translation? Curses, mother tongues, or grasping the meaning of things? Whatever your interpretation, we want to hear it.
The current lineup is me, Madeleine, Mary Ann T., Katie, Jim, Gabriela, and Michael. We’ve still got storyteller spots left, so if you’re interested in telling, reply letting us know.
$10, or free for tellers and members.
Note: Cuppa will NOT be open during this event! I made an error in the last issue!
Creative Coding Demo Day. No. 12, Saturday, July 19
Demo days are where people share creative coding projects at any state of progress—or just watch people give demos. They’re relaxed events where people can get to know each other (and their projects).
Norton’s been hosting these for a few years and they’re how we met Mason and Jacob and Will and Alex and Trevr (of Kidney Thieves fame).
Future Weeks:
Offsite: Make & Tell, Thursday, July 24
Make & Tell is a seasonal event series hosted by The Made Shop, and it’s the event that inspired our In the Making series. We’ve paused In the Making for the summer because Make & Tell is back! And we so heartily encourage you to go. It is where we first met Justin (who convinced us to start The Company), and where, a summer later, we met Michelle (who convinced us The Company was worth it).
$23.18
Offsite: The Mile Long Table, Saturday, July 26
Speaking of Justin, last summer he went to an event called Longer Tables, where he ate a meal outside with strangers who became not-strangers over the course of the meal. There he met a guy named Ryan, who he later introduced us to. And Ryan later introduced us to Sam and Elliot, along with a guy named Tim who runs the Longer Tables organization. This summer, on July 26, Tim is setting an even longer table—a mile long table, in fact—and there’s still room at it.
A bunch of us are going to go and support—sitting at different spots and meeting up afterward—and so should you.
Mary Ann’s Book Club: Principles for Dealing with the Changing World Order, Monday, July 28
This is a book that Lexi has been talking about for a very long time, and once you start reading it you’ll see why. You’ve got plenty of time if you start now, especially if you only read the bold parts.
Read the Change You Wish Not to See in the World →
Nostalgia
Do you remember the mild salsa class? How Norton meant to not be there for it but missed his bus home and so decided to dance? The good rainbow? How we spent the whole class on the basic step, and it got very advanced? How elsewhere another group of us saw Kidney Thieves’ first show ever?
The morning mail delivery of fans from a kind fan, on the day with Will? The outing to Film on the Rocks for Legally Blonde?
The big lunch, where Alex fixed the always-on lightbulb by finding and climbing a ladder, and unscrewing it with a kitchen towel? How he sped up the fan unwrapping process? How Livvy said “We need to stop joking!” and it was the funniest thing?
That evening, the even tinier watch party?
Do you remember the 100° day, with the ice cream outing? Jessica’s brief return-to-Company? The Worknight with the strangely-worded tasks that must have been a joke? How at the end we fared Alex well?
Or the day with Chris and Jim? That big, blustery thunderstorm that rolled through? That we stood at the windows and admired the trash taking flight?
The premiere of Key Lime?
The Friday at Cuppa with what must have been a first date? The first first date to have happened?
Do you remember how that evening fourteen of us met up to see Kidney Thieves’ second show? Fans from The Company? Fans of Trevr?
Bureaucratic Minutiae
At Worknight: Alex got clean for Ivan and read two chapters for Ivan, Jessica S. created a surprise sentimental obligation for Ivan, Livvy worked on filing Ivan’s taxes, and Ivan uploaded Paperwork photos for himself while having no idea what was going on.
We have a time clock. Partially because, hey, we’re a Company! And mostly because we love having a physical record of (almost) everyone who’s been in the space. People punch in and out when they visit. At the end of each month, we stack up all the cards by visit count in the Fibonacci sequence. Here’s the data for June:
1 visit: 50 people
2 visits: 12 people
3–4 visits: 7 people
5–7 visits: 6 people
8–12 visits: 3 people
13–20 visits: 3 people
21+ visits: 3 people
Total people: 84
People who came more than once: 34
Other notes:
No notable moves this month!
This is the first month ever where every single column was less than the previous month. Summer break, baby! Stop by for some quiet hangs.
Note: We don’t generally record visitors to Cuppa if they are only stopping in for Cuppa. Many people came through the space that are not represented here!
Inevitably: incomplete and messy data.
Finally, a reminder that The Company is a member-supported gathering place, and if you know any of us, you’re welcome to pop in any time for free (outside of events). If you know that one of us is here and you’d like to come by, reach out and we can let you in.
Photos
—
This issue of Paperwork was written by Ivan, and shot by Beth, Ivan, and Lizzie. Photo selection and editing by Ivan and Livvy. Editorial support was provided by Livvy, Norton, and Michelle. This issue, and The Company itself, was made possible by the support of our members, Halie, Drew, Justin, Mason, Lexi, José, Mary Ann B., Trevr, Allyson, Lizzie, Madison, Melissa, Elijah, Michelle, Jim, Jacob, Mark, Sabrina, Beth, Dani, Chris, Will, Rebeca, Sarah, Mary Ann T., Alex, Jessica P., Jessica S., Mike, Ben T., and Sam.
Do you know anyone in the Denver area who might be looking for creative community? Feel free to forward this email along to them. Everyone loves Paperwork.
😘