al13

Purchase pepper spray. You can get the small size that fits on a keychain. Keep it where you can get your hands on it.

al13

I forgot to add, trust you instincts. This person may be a stalker so a photo from your phone to a friend and if possible the same of their car.

Lencho

If in NYC and I am free that day I could attend. Is a fee involved? I'm a senior and have no problem walking around the city.

Stephan G

What do you do at these events?

What is your base that you have so few attendees?

What activities do you need to be personally involved at these events?

Have you conversed with the person at any of the events as to their interest and their sense about the events?

Have you noted the person's interaction with other attendees?

You have left too much room for all sort of speculation.

And what type of information do you require from your potential attendees when they sign up for the events?

I can come up with a number of reasons why the person may be coming to your events. One of them may be that what your events entail. Your event may be small enough to allow them to feel not lost in the big crowd. Or it may be the only thing that allows them to get out of the house, so to speak. It may be that they enjoy your events but are too afraid to be "found out" that they are not as good as those other people who come to your events. Just a few things that come to mind.

Which event venues would you feel you can approach with associates this individual to convey your appreciation for their continual support for the events and use it to "flesh" out their interests in photography?

As to the potential of them being stalkers, it is often that the person is known to the 'target' who turns out to be the perpetrator.

At this point, it is TLI (Too Little Information) that is the bottom of your discomfort. It is not a good place because of the wide range of possibilities it presents.

You will have to adjust your events to the point that they will be safe for you. You do have the responsibility for your safety and the safety of others, being the event manager.

Lastly, do you have a survey for comments post event? A website for Photos from the attendees? What is your follow up stratagem?

gloryg Loc: New York

Thank you everyone for your responses.

I unfortunately did not have anyone I know that could attend. That would have solved my problem. Part of the event was in an area that could be deserted. That was the other issue..

Over 20 people had signed up. That does not mean 20 would come.

One event I had 20 people sign up. Two showed up.

I have cancelled the event. Not because of the person that made me uncomfortible. The area is being closed off for the next few days.

Thank you to the people who offeted to attend.

I am not in New York.

StanMac Loc: Tennessee

Tell them that without sufficient confirmations the event will be cancelled.

Stan

14kphotog Loc: Marietta, Ohio

In my former business, I put 2 stalkers in jail for several years.

BobHartung Loc: Bettendorf, IA

This is a toughie. You might start requiring pre-registration for all future events and cancel the currently scheduled event. Under no circumstances should you place yourself in a position of discomfort. Also perhaps you might try and strike up a conversation with this person and from that be able to support or refute your feelings. Have you ever spoken to this person? Just ideas.

Oldan Strange Loc: Georgia, USA

Trust your gut (always)! Hire an off-duty police officer to accompany you, or, cancel the event.

Quixote Loc: Houston, Texas

As a retired police officer, I recommend you go with your feelings.

Police call this "gut instinct". Science tells us that a person experiencing it has subconsciously picked up on a tangible threat or negative situation that our conscious hasn't yet quantified. It's an innate "survival instinct" left over from caveman days. Unfortunately, polite society pressures us to act and be pleasant to others and that means suppressing those instincts.

I used to tell crime prevention meeting audiences that when they feel threatened (for example in a mall parking lot) to go back to the last place they felt safe. If possible, observe the area from that safe vantage point and generally they'll eventually identify the threat that made them feel uncomfortable. It could as simple as simple as a locksmith helping someone unlock their car, a person putting flyers on car windows, or something potentially dangerous such as an "bad guy" in a parked care intently watching shoppers and waiting for a potential victim.

Always trust your feelings. Don't let "nice" or not wanting to hurt someone's feelings get in the way of your safety.

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

Call the event off "For lack off enough people"

dino21 Loc: McAllen, TX

Since on one shows up at events or confirms ahead of time, maybe a lot of them are uncomfortable with you being there? Probably not but something to consider. Sometimes we tend to blame other people when part of the trouble is ourselves! If that's not it, let someone else handle the organizing aspect.

agillot

cancel this event if you thing you are going to be alone with this person , give a bad cold as the excuse . next event have a rule that at least 3 people must attend or you cancel .

jlocke Loc: Austin, TX

Exactly what I was thinking as I read this. Great book about listening to your subconscious when you get that 'feeling' that something isn't quite right. Many times we are picking up clues that we don't realize fully, but are quite valid.

gloryg Loc: New York

Sorry but your response would not make any sense.

Non attendance is a problem for most groups.

If the people who do not show up have never previously attended any or my events and I have never personally met any of them I would have no way to make anyone uncomfortable.

This my own personal group and I am the sole organizer. So there is no one else to organize.

I belong to another organization that has asked me to be the organizer for the group.

If I was making anyone uncomfortable I would not have been asked.