What is your preferred method or app to group chat? (2 Viewers)

[Sap]

Currently, we have a group text chat of 10 guys to try get games going. Very hard when a few of them say they can’t.

There are a few more outside this group that could be added, but I feel a group text chat with 15-20 is too much and there are better methods to approach this.

My thoughts were Discord, Slack, maybe a Facebook group chat.
What would you recommend?

Thanks.

 

[doublebooyah85]

what’s app seems the most popular
Then signal and telegram

 

[johnjohn]

whatsapp / telegram / signal

we moved off whatsapp after meta acquisition.

 

[rrobyrrroby]

WhatsApp

 

[doublebooyah85]

I still find spamming friends via text is best. I have those apps but I often forget to check them.

If I have a cash game I’m trying to build I’ll do a group text or maybe have 3 group texts with 3 different groups.

I’ll send out the details and end the text with DO NOT REPLY PLEASE. So people don’t get annoyed. Then I’ll follow up w individuals the next day/leading up to game day.

I also usually send the texts during lunch time, 3-4pm ish or late late evening. Those are the best times to get peoples attention. I bet if Tommy shared PCF website traffic it would also show that’s when people visit the site.

Most my friends appreciate hosting and putting a game together. They know it’s a lot of work and don’t mind the group texts. Ending it with a simple do not reply has really helped avoid it become a nuisance.

 

[louBdub]

Signal is what our entire club uses.

All hosts can control their own games, flyers, etc. So much control inside the app, plus it’s secure, unlike WhatsApp which is owned by Meta….

Plus the Club chat, where shit talking occurs

 

[Dodger]

We use the Band app. I find it extremely easy to use. I can schedule games for multiple dates in advance, and guys are asked to RSVP within those events. So I can see ahead of time what the player count may look like. I can also place a limit on number of players and the app will automatically create a waitlist if we go over that cap.

Outside of the scheduling/RSVP features, I can post reminders/updates or message individuals or groups of individuals directly within the app.

If a regular wants to invite a new player, he just uses the invite feature within Band. No need to start a new group text because we added one guy. New player gets all the updates and can see the calendar of future games.

Finally, you can set quiet hours as an admin or as an individual - meaning you won’t get notifications during the times you set. This is important as guys don’t want their phones constant pinging with notifications if they are at work or late at night.

 

[CraigT78]

WhatsApp even though there's like two guys I know who refuse to use it because of Facebook.

 

[Rhodeman77]

Mostly texts. I have a text thread with most of the regulars that get first choice. After a few hours I send out a bunch of individual texts to the next level of players. If I still have a seat or two left I will post in the FB messenger chat or the FB private group. I try to avoid those last options as there are some people in those groups that I would rather not have play in my home.

 

[MrBoosh]

We use GroupMe for our league members communication. There is a board for the group to chat it up. And we can send out calendar events and members can rsvp if they will make it or not. It is simple but gives us a place for our league to communicate.

 

[JoeBGo]

Telegram

 

[buffalojim]

What's wrong with a text group chat? What's the benefit of a separate app?

 

[RocAFella1]

 

[Rhodeman77]

What's wrong with a text group chat? What's the benefit of a separate app?

A lot of racist people out that get upset when they are in a text group that is green.

They want their Blue chats, or no chats. You know who you are!

 

[Dodger]

What's wrong with a text group chat? What's the benefit of a separate app?

Adding/removing people from those chats can be a burden. Often have to create a new thread. Also, for some, there is an annoyance level with a group chat. A separate app is easier for some folks to turn off notifications, or to check at their convenience.

Lastly, some apps provide more features than just messages - such as creating events on calendars, RSVP tracking, etc.

 

[Highli99]

Love what’s app for poker stuff. It’s encrypted!

 

[buffalojim]

Adding/removing people from those chats can be a burden. Often have to create a new thread. Also, for some, there is an annoyance level with a group chat. A separate app is easier for some folks to turn off notifications, or to check at their convenience.

Lastly, some apps provide more features than just messages - such as creating events on calendars, RSVP tracking, etc.

Well this I understand. I can't remove people from a couple of my group chats. I really dislike group chats so I just mute all notification from it. That works.

 

[BleedingChips]

I have been using GroupMe and Overall pleased with it because I can create events inside the chat. People can post photos of the game and I always include a cash out report to show who was up or down for the night.
Many pros that are similar to what has already been mentioned by others.
Cons:
-some people don’t want to download another app
- doesn’t have a waitlist or maybe attending feature
-removing users gets time stamped in the group so I feel like a jerk when I remove someone.
Overall I am happy with it.

Another user in a different thread recommended Partiful app and I am very tempted to switch to that in the future. It sends invite in a text and list is specific to that event plus only a phone number is needed to signup/register…solves most of my problem with GroupMe.