HOSTING
THOUGHT EXPERIMENTS IN PUBS
THOUGHT EXPERIMENTS IN PUBS (TEiP) is expanding!
Inspired organisers from around the world are bringing TEiP to new locations.
If you’d like to join the network of hosts, please read on…
Note: this is for hosts outside of London. The London setup is in the works :-)
A NOTE FROM THE FOUNDER, Bonny:
I’m so glad you’re interested in hosting TEiP somewhere new :-)
These events are really rewarding to organise, and they create much-needed spaces for people to come together and think differently.
TEiP is the result of experience, enthusiasm, a bit of luck, and a lot of work.
The TEiP format and ethos draw on my years of experience as a group facilitator in a range of unlikely settings (e.g. Hearing Voices Peer Support Groups, Prison Philosophy Discussion Groups, Occupational Therapy Groups, etc.). These roots make TEiP tangibly different from other ‘Philosophy Meetups’, and I think they’re part of what makes it so appealing.
TEiP works because of how conversations are held, not just the format itself.
Since launching the pilot event in 2023, I’ve nurtured and grown the community in London, learning as I go and refining things along the way. I’ve written over 250 original thought experiments on 120 themes, hosted over 130 events, and met over 6,500 people.
TEiP London now sells out every event, sometimes over a month in advance.
I’d love to share TEiP with more people, and I’m open to doing that in two ways…
Depending on your intentions and circumstances, there are two ways to host TEiP:
FREE LICENCE: as a volunteer host, running free events, with a free licence (more info)
PAID LICENCE: as a paid host, selling tickets for events, with a paid licence (more info)
The licence is an agreement to:
uphold the ethos and spirit of TEiP
clearly credit TEiP as the origin of the concept and materials
and use the format and materials in line with the framework
It’s made in good faith, with the intention of both generosity and fairness, and it works on trust.
If you’re interested in hosting, get in touch to discuss and read the full licence terms.
The licence includes:
Permission to use the TEiP concept, format, and materials
Access to a library of Thought Experiments
Access to a host membership area with resources
Inclusion in the TEiP network
Connection with other hosts (WhatsApp group, quarterly network meetings)
Ongoing support and guidance from Bonny and the network
Optional use of shared TEiP branding and identity
Occasional promotion via socials
Bonny’s evolving ‘Guide for TEiP Hosts’
FREE LICENCE: FREE EVENTS, VOLUNTEER HOST
TEiP started as a free event, and stayed that way for over a year.
It is possible, and very rewarding, to run these events for free. The materials are minimal and inexpensive.
All you need:
A sign (can be as DIY as sharpie on cardboard)
A way of gathering the group’s attention (I use a meditation bell)
Your phone (I imagine you already have one)
A venue willing to host you for free (Often easier than you think if you can draw a crowd. I’m happy to share what’s worked for me.)
A way to promote the event (Meetup charges an organiser fee, but there are lots of platforms where you can list events for free, e.g. Luma).
A free licence!
The free licence allows you to run TEiP events on a voluntary, non-commercial basis.
It includes an agreement to:
uphold the TEiP ethos (warmth, openness, curiosity, inclusivity)
clearly credit TEiP and its origins in your core event description or “about” context
use TEiP materials in line with the framework
If this sounds like something you’d like to do, get in touch and we can talk it through.
PAID LICENCE: TICKETED EVENTS, PAID HOST
It is possible to make some money as a TEiP host by selling tickets for events.
If you choose to charge for events, a paid licence is required.
The model is designed to be fair and non-restrictive:
10% of gross revenue from TEiP events
This includes ticket sales, donations, sponsorship, or similar income
If you earn little, you pay little. If things take off, your contribution helps support the wider TEiP network.
To keep TEiP true to its principles of accessibility, tickets should remain low-cost.
The paid licence includes the same core agreement as the free licence:
to uphold the ethos and spirit of TEiP
and to clearly credit TEiP as the origin of the concept and materials
You can run both paid and free events under a paid licence.
If this sounds like something you’d like to do, get in touch and we can take it from there.
What Counts as Paid:
Free events - free licence
Any payment (including donations) - paid licence
Inspired formats and independent events:
TEiP is a structured, licensed format designed to support a growing network of hosts while maintaining clarity around its origins and identity.
If you are inspired by TEiP and want to create your own version, you’re very welcome to do so.
We simply ask that you:
use a clearly distinct name and framing
do not present your events as TEiP or part of the TEiP network
and do not use TEiP materials or format in a way that would reasonably be recognised as a TEiP event
This allows related ideas to evolve independently, while keeping TEiP clear and recognisable.
If you’d like to explore becoming a TEiP host,
I’d love to hear from you.
