So, these talks… what are they like?

The doors open for Jclub at 7:30pm ET. It’s a time to mix and mingle, chat about previous Jclubs, or share a cool thing you learned about this week.

Talks begin promptly at 8pm ET. A presenter is introduced, factually or non-factually, by an attendee, and the introducer is also introduced (again, factually or not) by another attendee.

The presenter has the floor until 10pm ET. Talks tend to range in length from 45 minutes to 2 hours, and how they’re shared with the group definitely ranges depending on the speaker and the topic. You can present using a slide deck or speak extemporaneously. You can do demos, show example videos, or bring visual or tactical aids. There’s no one way to do a Jclub talk, so approach it as you like to prepare and present information, and in a way that’ll be impactful for what you want to share with the group.

Throughout the talk, attendees are encouraged to ask questions as the presentation progresses to engage directly with the material. Virtual attendees make liberal use of the chat as a sidechannel for commentary and questions.

As the presenter wraps up, there’s usually some debrief time for everyone to reflect upon what they learned, and everyone is encouraged to submit their takeaways to the Jclub website, jclubtakeaways.com.

How to attend

In-person Jclub attendance is limited by the discretion of the hosts. A signup sheet will be distributed as part of the talk details for local attendees to indicate that they'll be joining in person.

The virtual living room of Jclub is always open to all. You’re invited to join us anytime you’re available.

Sign up for the Jclub mailing list!

Getting on the mailing list

The best way to keep up with Jclub is with the Jclub mailing list, sent roughly on a weekly cadence, to inform members of upcoming talks. We definitely won’t spam you or sell your email address.

Join the Jclub mailing list!

Present at Jclub

The longest running part of Jclub, the thing that started it all, is informal presentations given by enthusiastic presenters. This could be you!

At the core of every talk is a presenter with passion and an interest in the topic they’re sharing about. You don’t need to be an expert to give a talk, and you don’t have to prepare for months to present: you just need to be excited to share, and to get other people excited about the topic, too.

We love first-time and long-time presenters on all kinds of topics. We try to keep the variety of talks and people presenting varied throughout the year, so take a look at past talks to see what’s been shared recently and get yourself on the schedule. Luke and Ma’ayan will reach out to request a short description of your talk and add you to the calendar!

Sign up to share your topic with us!

Sign up to host Jclub

Starting in 2023, local Jclubbers will have the option to gather in person groups to attend hybrid Jclubs. A local speaker that opts to present in-person to a hybrid audience may host in their home, or be hosted by a Cambridge-area Jclub member.

Tips for hosting IRL Jclub

  • Your house, your rules: you get to decide how many people your house can hold, and if there are health considerations you’d like your guests to know about. Luke and Ma’ayan will distribute a signup list ahead of the talk, and we’ll reserve up to two “comp tickets” for you to invite any friends not familiar with Jclub to join us!
  • Jclub attendees will be in your home from 7:30pm-10:00pm ET, we will aim for everyone to be out the door 10:15pm ET. A Jclub regular (usually Luke or Ma'ayan) will arrive at 7:30pm ETto help you greet guests and set up tech (mic and a power strip). Talks begins at 8pm ET.
  • You are not required to supply food or beverages, but feel free if you wish to.
  • All attendees, in person and virtual, must be miced if they choose to speak.
  • All attendees will be required to bring laptops so have your wifi password handy for everyone.

Interested in hosting a Jclub gathering? Let us know!