Hey Tib! The design works great with all the different photographs and citynames in them! There's a happy man looking at a screen over here (me lol). Yeah, finding free stock-images that work well can be quite a task indeed. Perhaps the Hive community can chip in their shots? I mean... Feel free to use my photograph inside the PSD (The Berlin one) for arranging this.

A few things about the shared criticism, and let me start with that it's always good to express your concerns and speak out/speak up for yourself. If you didn't I probably would've just DM'd you telling you how great the designs look with all the different photographs. While I'm not a meetup host myself, or (can) fund projects, I do want to take a moment and share my thoughts on it. And maybe others can chip in as well. Because I honestly do think that Meetups can be quite beneficial for the entire Hive community, whether you take part in it or not. It's literally (almost) free advertising when people show up.

So, from my understanding, you're saying there is a lack of interaction/communication between the meetup hosts, right? There's also a few people who assume things and let their fantasies go wild by just assuming you're getting paid, which you aren't. Right? I mean... if I'm reading correctly between the lines; if meetup hosts weren't sending you the $18 HBD for shipping compensation, it'd be you paying for it?

Perhaps a feedback system can help both parties (as I can just only assume everyone is too busy, or having other priorities). Promoting the tool is 1, and using the tool is 2. So maybe 2 small survey's that hosts can fill in could help everyone at the same time. One for before (to promote the toolbelt and for the hosts to receive the merch) and one after (for sharing their experience etc to improve).

As for 'free' local advertisement for Hive... Finding a funding opportunity for these efforts and boosting both meetups, isn't this a no-brainer to allocate at least a few HBD for this? Financial support is at its place here IMO. Even if it is the bare minimum that covers the expenses.