How to NOT get an invite

So recently, I’ve become members of design-oriented communities such as Forrst and Dribble. I wanted to join them mainly to network with other designer, learn from them, and have the ability for them to critique my work. I used to join forums and message boards for that purpose, but I noticed that most of the active ones nowadays have a younger crowd, and I feel out of place Now, it just so happens that these design communities, or at least the well-known ones, are invite only. This is obviously to prevent random¹ people from joining and hurting the quality of the overall community.

Of course, people always want what they can’t have, and it seems that the more “elite” the community is, the more people want to join. However, there is a right way and a wrong way of going about to get an invite:

The right way:

Showoff your talent! Create a portfolio (if you don’t have one yet) to showcase your best work!
Add yourself to the prospect list. Most communities have this as a way for members to more easily invite people.
Continue to improve your work, people will notice.

The wrong way:

Mass following people in Dribbble just so you get to the top of the Prospects page.
Asking people all over Twitter if they have invites for you. Desperate much?
Having no talent, and not bothering to improve yourself

This is what you look like when you spam, beg, and harass people for invites

Seriously, if you have time to spam follow and beg people for invites, why not take the time to actually improve your portfolio? Did it ever occur to you that maybe the reason why you still haven’t been invited is because you’re actually not that good²? I took a look at the people who are guilty of doing it all the wrong way, and surprise surprise! Their work is mediocre at best, but usually it just sucks. There’s nothing wrong with not being good, because we all have to start at some point. But when you start being loud and larry about it, then that’s just obnoxious.

Good luck trying to get an invite.Error processing request

And by random I meant trolls and people with no talent whatsoever ↩
And by that I mean you blow, a lot ↩

written on January 21, 2011 in Rants, WWW

12 Comments

You might like these posts:

My Blog DOES NOT exist solely for payment

Vegas, here I come

Vote For Me!

Is this what you are looking for?

Improved custom fonts on your site

http://lolitium.net/ nyuu

i didn't know such community exist I use to be so into web designing, but because of school i never got to learn all the new things Now web designing is just for fun and I'm not that passionate over it anymore *sad*

But yea, I agree that people shouldnt bug others for an invite..they should take it as a hint that they need to improve rather it be web designing or whatnot.
Pingback: Tweets that mention How to NOT get an invite | Super Girl -- Topsy.com
http://essencious.org Krystal

That's just the same as those talent shows. Many people on those shows thinks they're amazing when they're really not.

Great post, such true comments.
http://www.cindypepper.com Cindy

Yikes, people can be super shameless. It's slightly ironic, considering that design communities are there for networking, and badgering for invites is pretty much the wrong way to network.
http://obscureconcepts.co.cc Leeza

Much like Cindy said it's not exactly the right way to find others in the same field, especially if you're only looking for compliments. The design (or rather art) world is tough, and most, especially younger people, tend to see the criticism given as rude remarks.

Communities like those you listed aren't there to stroke someone's ego, they're to help ground your ass down when you think you're superior and teach you how to do things RIGHT. Yes, have your own style, but don't think that because you've acquired it that you're entitled to praise.

Love this post. ;]
http://patisserie-rabbits.net Vermillion

Yeah, it's pretty annoying when you see spammage of people trying to get invites to join something. I've never heard of those communities before but I remember with lookbook.nu it used to be like that
http://sheenahfreitas.com Sheenah

I've never heard of those sites before, but the quality of the work on those sites look amazing. It's like inspiration heaven.

I agree though. People who beg for invites can be annoying and look very much like the picture.
http://coloursplash.org Isi

Thank you soo much.

I didn't know much about dribble until you told me about it. It would be a good community to get into.

I find it funny when people go all out for an invite. Begging is really unattractive and that gives other people a bad vibe about you.
http://firsthome.tumblr.com Holly

regarding your comment on first home… i always cooked rice on top of the stove. granted i really don't know how to cook much, maybe EVERYONE already knew the right way to make rice and i was the lonely duck eating the gross stuff from the stove top
http://www.the-artful.net/blog Shiri

I guess that goes with everything in life. Not just about an invite.. but, well, how to get popular on youtube or get noticed as an artist or..how to make friends. Be passionate about what you do and confident, and also be willing to accept negative and positive feedback etc.
http://www.panikku.com Ongaku

Eh, I tend to stay far away from those things mostly because I hate that whole elitist attitude a lot of the people have in them.

That's just me though, I like doing all my stuff more as a hobby except for when it comes to my actual job but I don't really care to be critiqued when it is all up to the client on how they want things done in the long run. Bleh.
http://www.silent-white.com/ Cat

I try to find casual webdesigner forums, and I run into the same problem. It seems to be a mostly younger crowd. That's fine and all, but I feel the same way, that I'm out of place =/

haha, I like the image you included I agree though. Begging everyone for an invite is the wrong way to go about it.