In reply to Andy Christian.

I’ve seen groups have better luck picking a day/week of the month (3rd Tuesday, for example) and ALWAYS sticking to that day.

Yep, best practice #25 of 25:

- http://mikeschinkel.com/blog/25-best-practices-for-meetup-organizers/

However, I'm working this one a little differently. We've got a very focused meetup (only coders and wanna-be coders, no end-users) and I'm trying to get everyone who is interested in the meetup engaged; setting a day/week of the month will necessarily ensure that certain people will never attend. And that's what I'm trying to avoid.

but eventually people start scheduling other things around your meetup, rather than complaining that your meetup interferes with their other plans.

In my experience running meetups having organized well over 50 meetup since 2007 there are things that simply cannot be scheduled around; for example other meetups that pick the same day/week of the month but that have higher priority in the minds of some members. Or family obligations. Or school courses. Or yoga classes, et, al.

So I am aware it's a lot more work to not set a consistent day/week of the month but our objectives require it. Doesn't mean I can't vent about human nature though. :)