What Actually Happens at a Clubhouse for Adults?

When I tell people I own a clubhouse for adults, one of the first questions I get is, "What do people actually do there?"

It's a reasonable question.

Most of us understand the idea of a coworking space. And we have some idea of what a social club is, although that usually involves a restaurant, a bar, or somewhere people gather for drinks.

But a clubhouse for adults?

That takes a little more explaining.

When Adam and I created Maeve House in South Austin, we wanted to build a place where adults could work, gather, and spend time together. A place where people could develop friendships, participate in activities, and become part of a community.

Not because they shared a profession, belonged to the same industry, or were trying to accomplish something together.

Simply because they enjoyed being there.

So what does that actually look like?

Working Alongside People, Not Necessarily With Them

Let's start with coworking, because it's the part most people are familiar with.

Although even coworking can mean different things to different people.

During the pandemic, virtual coworking sessions became popular. People would join a Zoom call, set a timer, and spend a couple of hours working independently but simultaneously. It's sometimes called body doubling, and it can be a wonderful way to find focus and accountability.

But that's not generally what happens in a physical coworking space.

At Maeve House, members bring their own work. Some run businesses, some work remotely for companies, and others have projects that need their attention.

They're not necessarily collaborating with one another. They're simply sharing a place to work.

Someone might spend the morning answering emails while another person is working on a presentation. Someone else might be taking meetings or concentrating on a project.

For much of the day, everyone is doing their own thing.

And that's exactly how it's supposed to work.

The community happens around the work.

People chat while getting coffee. They take a break together. They sit down for Lunch Club and find themselves in conversations they wouldn't have had at home.

Over time, the familiar faces become part of the workday.

You can have the independence of working for yourself or remotely while still enjoying the everyday presence of other people.

And if you need a quiet day to concentrate, that's perfectly fine, too.

So, What Does a Social Club Do?

This is where things get a little more interesting.

When people think of social clubs, they often picture places built around eating, drinking, or entertainment.

And those are perfectly lovely ways to spend time with people.

But they're not the only ways.

At Maeve House, our Social Membership is built around the idea that adults should have a place to do things together.

Sometimes that's playing a game.

Sometimes it's making something, learning something, or trying an activity you've never done before.

Sometimes it's simply sitting around a table and talking.

The important part isn't any one activity. It's having a place where those experiences happen regularly, with people you have the opportunity to get to know.

Think about how easy it was to participate in things when we were younger.

There were clubs, classes, sports, and activities. We didn't necessarily know everyone when we joined. We showed up because something interested us, and the relationships developed along the way.

As adults, we often have to create those opportunities for ourselves.

We have to make the plans, find the people, choose the activity, coordinate everyone's schedules, and hope it all comes together.

At a clubhouse, much of that work is already done.

You can simply show up and participate.

A Week at Maeve House

One of the things I love about Maeve House is that there isn't one particular way to enjoy it.

Our weekly gatherings offer different ways to spend time together.

On Tuesdays, Founders Club brings business owners and entrepreneurs together to support one another through the challenges of building businesses and navigating life. Sometimes there's a workshop, sometimes a mastermind conversation, and sometimes an opportunity to work alongside one another.

Wednesday's Lunch Club is much simpler. People gather around the table for lunch and conversation. There's no presentation, no agenda, and no particular topic everyone needs to discuss.

Thursday evenings are Fun Club.

Depending on the week, we might play Mexican Train Dominoes, host trivia, pull out the bingo balls, or spend the evening laughing with Cards Against Humanity.

It's become a regular part of the week for a wonderful group of members. Some even joined Maeve House specifically because they wanted a place to come play games and have fun on Thursday nights.

Friday's Golden Hour Chill is an opportunity for members to gather informally at the end of the workweek.

And Saturdays bring a different collection of experiences through our Mind & Body Series, shared lunches, and afternoon gatherings. Some activities are creative, others are reflective, and some are simply opportunities to try something new.

None of these gatherings requires you to be particularly good at anything.

You don't need to know how to play the game, have experience with the activity, or arrive with someone you already know.

You can just come.

You Don't Have to Do Everything

One of the things that surprises people about Maeve House is that members have access to all our gatherings.

That doesn't mean we expect them to attend everything.

Quite the opposite.

Some members love Thursday Fun Club and rarely miss it.

Others enjoy Saturday workshops.

Some come primarily for coworking and join an occasional gathering when something catches their interest.

And some participate in a little bit of everything.

There's no attendance requirement and no ideal version of being a member.

The point is to have a place that fits into your life.

I think that's particularly important for adults because our lives are already full of responsibilities, obligations, and competing demands.

Community shouldn't become another thing we're failing to keep up with.

It should be something we can return to when we're ready.

It's Not About Networking

There's another distinction worth making.

When people hear about a clubhouse that brings together business owners, professionals, and interesting people from different backgrounds, they sometimes assume it's a networking club.

It isn't.

Of course, members talk about their work. They share ideas, offer support, collaborate, and sometimes end up working together.

Those relationships can be wonderful.

But nobody is here to be someone else's potential customer, client, investor, or referral.

Some members enjoy talking about business. Others are delighted to spend an evening where nobody asks what they do for a living.

Both belong here.

The purpose is to get to know people as people.

Whatever opportunities grow from those relationships are simply a possibility, not an expectation.

The Best Part Isn't on the Calendar

I can tell someone about our clubs, workshops, games, and gatherings.

I can explain coworking and Social Memberships.

I can walk them through a typical week.

But the thing I most want people to understand is harder to put on a calendar.

It's what happens after someone has been coming for a while.

The first time you attend a gathering, you might not know anyone.

The second time, you recognize a face or two.

Eventually, you walk through the door and someone is happy to see you.

You pick up a conversation from the week before.

You remember something someone told you.

You notice a new person arriving and invite them to join you.

At some point, it stops feeling like an event you're attending and starts feeling like a place where you belong.

That's what we're building at Maeve House.

The coworking, the games, the workshops, and the shared meals are all ways for people to spend time together.

But the real purpose is what develops between those moments.

Familiarity.

Friendship.

Connection.

A place in your week that you look forward to returning to.

Come See What It's Like

If you've never belonged to a clubhouse for adults, I understand why it might be difficult to picture.

It's not quite a traditional social club, a coworking space, or a place you visit for one particular activity.

It's a place where you can work when you need to work, join in when something interests you, and gradually become part of a community.

And the easiest way to understand it is to experience it.

If you're curious about Maeve House, we'd love to welcome you through the yellow door.

Come tour the House or request a Guest Pass to join us for a gathering.

You don't need to know anyone before you arrive.

That's part of the point.