Please go out of your way to talk to newbies and make them feel welcome and included.
There were 2 newbies at Durham this weekend, and when I arrived (about half an hour after doors had opened, don't know how long they'd been there by that point), both of them were sitting on their own at separate tables, while everyone else was standing/sitting around in groups, chatting.
As is my way, I went to each of them in turn to say hello, have a little chat, to try to make them feel more welcome and less nervous. There's only one of me though!
This isn't a criticism of event hosts, by the way ... they've got loads on their plate setting up the event as it is, so it's not easy for them to also try to get the newbies mingling with the group.
Think back to your first co-event, especially if you didn't already know someone there.
Did you have a great welcome and feel included? Great, please help give other newbies the same experience.
Did you have a not-so-great welcome and felt like you were left to your own devices? Sorry to hear that, please help ensure that future newbies have a better experience.
It's a daunting experience to be a newcomer entering a room full of people who mostly all know each other, and we want our newbies to enjoy their experience and come back for more (as indeed many have), so let's all do our best to talk to them, introduce them to others, and make them feel included. I know it can be hard for some of us to do that, but a simple "Hi, I'm xxx, I don't think I've met you before, is this your first event?" is an easy way to start. Ask them where they're from, how they heard about the events, etc.
If you're not comfortable doing that alone, take someone along to greet the newbie with you!
This also applies to other attendees (especially non-regulars) if you see them sitting/standing on their own ... they may be socially awkward/anxious and just in need of a helping hand into some interaction.
This is also why I like having name badges for all event attendees, and I'd encourage all hosts to do that too ... it really helps!
