FAQ

Why passive?

It allows friends to let others know their plans and show they're interested in others joining without the pressure of a hard RSVP.

Give me an example?

For instance, you go to a lot of shows. You get a lot of, "Oh I would have gone if I'd known", after the fact. Or you may have bought two tickets to have company but you're not yet sure who will be free and who's into that show. Toovn shows a select social circle that you're going and what your awareness intent is without it being pressure to react or commit.

Are my events public?

No. Events are only visible to those in the social circle (hoop) they're shared with.

Are my social groups (hoops) public?

No. Hoops are private and only visible to members who have been explicitly invited.

Is this an RSVP app?

Not really, but mainly no. The app is meant for passive notification. Friends can show interest or ignore without turning every event into a commitment workflow. Think of it as "just putting it out there" of what's happening.

So I can't make one-off event invites for my general friends?

You can. It's not the main goal of Toovn but a lot of us have big celebrations that go beyond the regular social circles we have. Recognising this, as well as the usual "just putting it out there" approach, you can also create one-off events that are shared with everyone you choose from all social circles. We call them universal events. Perfect for celebrating a monumental birthday. And for those of you using Toovn just to avoid this type of thing, there's an option to switch off receiving these one-off invites (we won't judge).

Wait, what's the difference between a regular event and a universal event?

A regular event is shared with a specific social circle (hoop) and is meant for more regular, everyday plans. This will be 95% of most people's events. A universal event is a one-off event that can be shared with friends from any of your hoops. Ideal for big occasions that need to be shared with a wider group. If you're constantly using universal events, you might want to consider how you've organised your social circles in the app.

Can I use my normal calendar app?

Yes, this is one of the best ways to use Toovn. (Technical bit: Each user can subscribe to a private ICS feed so events appear in calendars they already use.)

How can I know about new events in my hoop, or interest from friends?

You can turn on (or off) notifications for new events and interest from friends. If you sync with your regular calendar, changes will be reflected there too. You can also see all of this in the app. Different strokes for different folks.

Can I distinguish between close friends and acquaintances?

Yes. This is exactly what hoops are for. Each is a social circle that consists of members and events shared with that circle. You can have a hoop for close friends, one for acquaintances, and so on.

So it's just an event calendar?

Not exactly. Everyone will use it differently, it can be an event calendar. But it's at its best if used as an event diary of what you're up to, shared with a social circle, when you want (or are open to) others joining. When a social circles pools their event diaries together, it becomes a big pool of awareness and opportunity.

Can clubs use Toovn?

Yes, while it's intended for everyday friends and family groups, it's perfect if the events are internal and not meant to be public. A work social club, for instance, or a running or book club.

Anything you think it's especially good for?

Concerts, cinema, and hikes! We kept not being sure who wanted to go to shows but admitted we were reluctant to send a group text every time we bought tickets to shows we were going to anyway, or were wondering if non-regulars wanted to join a semi-organized trip up to the mountains at the weekend. Toovn is perfect for that kind of thing.

Does it work with just three people?

Yep, it can make sense to have a social diary for a small group. Even two people groups can work for some things.

How do you pronounce Toovn?

Too - Vee - Ehn

How is this service making a profit?

It's not. It's still in early stages and we're weighing up future options that balance not selling user data with a service that people find worth in paying a small amount for.

Any little hopes?

Yes! You know when a friend is having a rough few months and turns down or ignores lots of invites? You want to still invite them and make sure they know they're welcome, but you feel like you're making them feel worse by flooding them texts about what's happening? It would be nice if Toovn could also help with that. As in, keep someone in the loop without expectations of a response.