How to Start Your Own LEGO Group.
Whether you’re looking to connect with fellow Adult Fans of LEGO (AFOLs), encourage kids to embrace their creativity, or simply share your passion with others, forming a LEGO group is a rewarding experience. Let’s dive into the essential steps to get your LEGO group up and running!
Why Start a LEGO Group?
LEGO is more than just a hobby—it’s a way to connect with others, foster creativity, and build lasting friendships. Whether you're sharing building techniques, collaborating on massive group projects, or just swapping ideas and stories, a LEGO group can be a source of inspiration and camaraderie. Plus, working together often sparks new ideas that you wouldn’t come up with on your own.
Whether you want to create a community-based LEGO User Group (LUG) or an online space for LEGO fans around the world, starting a LEGO group is a great way to bring builders together.
Define Your Group’s Purpose
The first step to starting a LEGO group is deciding what kind of group you want to create. Ask yourself these questions to get started:
Who is your target audience? Are you looking to gather adult LEGO enthusiasts (AFOLs), parents and children, or perhaps a mix of both?
What’s your focus? Will your group be focused on specific types of builds, like architecture, LEGO Star Wars, or custom MOCs (My Own Creations)? Or will it be more casual, with general LEGO building meetups?
In-person or online? Will you meet face-to-face in your community, or are you looking to start an online group where people from all over can join?
Once you’ve defined the group’s purpose, it will be easier to attract like-minded individuals and shape the group's direction.
Set a Foundation for Organization
To keep things running smoothly, you’ll need to establish some basic guidelines and structure:
Group Roles: While you can start as the sole organizer, you may eventually need to designate roles, such as a co-leader, event planner, or social media coordinator, depending on the group’s size and ambition.
Rules and Guidelines: It’s important to have a few basic rules in place to ensure that meetings or discussions stay respectful and focused. This is especially helpful if your group has a diverse age range or is growing rapidly.
Membership Requirements: Decide if your group will be open to anyone or if it will be a more exclusive club with certain requirements (like showing examples of previous builds or focusing on specific LEGO themes).
Find Your Members
Here’s where the fun begins—finding fellow LEGO enthusiasts to join your group! Depending on your target audience and where your group is based, there are several ways to reach potential members:
Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, and Reddit are fantastic platforms to promote your LEGO group. Create a page or a group and share it with local community pages or relevant online forums. Don’t forget to use hashtags like #LEGOGroup or #AFOL to increase visibility.
Meetup Platforms: Websites like Meetup.com or Eventbrite allow you to list your LEGO group as a local event. Many LEGO fans browse these sites to find clubs or interest-based gatherings.
Local Toy Stores & Libraries: Post flyers in local toy stores, bookstores, libraries, and community centers. Many local businesses are happy to support community-driven initiatives by displaying flyers or spreading the word.
LEGO Fan Forums: You can also promote your group on LEGO-specific forums, such as Eurobricks, Brickset, or the LEGO subreddit, to attract more serious builders.
Plan Your First Meetup or Event
Once you’ve gathered a few interested members, it’s time to host your first meetup or event. Here are some ideas to make it a success:
Casual Meet & Build: For the first event, keep it low-pressure. Host a casual meetup where everyone brings a set or MOC they’re working on. This allows people to mingle, share building tips, and get to know one another.
LEGO Swap or Marketplace: Encourage members to bring LEGO sets, pieces, or minifigures they’re willing to trade or sell. This can be a great icebreaker and gives people an opportunity to find unique parts or figures for their collection.
Theme-Based Build Challenge: Kick off your group with a fun build challenge. Choose a theme like “Space Exploration” or “Medieval Castles” and ask members to create something on that topic. You can even host a friendly competition and offer small prizes.
Collaborative Build: For groups that are more advanced, consider starting a large-scale, collaborative build project. Members can each contribute to a piece of the overall creation, such as a cityscape or a giant spaceship.
Keep the Momentum Going
Once your group is established, you’ll want to keep the energy high and the members engaged. Here are some ways to keep your group thriving:
Regular Meetings: Set up a consistent schedule for meetups, whether it’s once a month or bi-weekly. This keeps members engaged and excited about the next event.
Host Special Events: From LEGO trivia nights to themed build competitions, organizing special events will keep things interesting and attract more members.
Collaborate with Other Groups: Partnering with other LEGO groups, especially if your focus is different, can open up new opportunities for collaboration and learning. You could also collaborate with other local hobby groups for bigger events, like maker fairs.
Online Presence: If your group is community-based, don’t neglect an online presence. Create a group chat or social media page where members can share ideas, photos of builds, and tips between meetups.
Connect with LEGO’s Official LUG Program
If your group grows into a consistent and passionate community, you may want to explore becoming an officially recognized LEGO User Group (LUG). LEGO’s LUG program offers benefits such as exclusive opportunities, discounted sets, and the chance to participate in global LEGO community events.
To qualify, you need a minimum of 20 members, regular activities, and an active online presence. You can find more information on the LEGO Ambassador Network (LAN) site.
Starting a LEGO group is a rewarding way to bring people together over a shared passion for creativity and building. Whether your group is small or large, local or global, the connections you form will be just as rewarding as the creations you build. So, take that first step, and before you know it, you'll have a thriving LEGO community at your fingertips!
Build, Display, Repeat.
