OTL Entertainment Guide
Membership Clubs for Things to Do, Meeting People and Making Life More Interesting
Explore membership clubs, social groups, book clubs, business networks, service organizations, walking groups, creative communities, and local clubs across the US and UK for things to do, people to meet, and reasons to leave the house that sound better than “I needed paper towels.”
Looking for a club that gives you something to do?
Membership clubs can be a wonderful way to add structure, fun, purpose, and connection to your calendar. Some clubs are built around shared interests. Some are about professional networking. Some focus on volunteering. Some are for walking, reading, speaking, gardening, creating, learning, or simply showing up with other people who also decided that staying home again was not the entire plan.
At OTL Seat Fillers, we are absolutely a membership club for finding things to do. OTL members receive access to the private members-only area, where complimentary ticket invitations will be offered when available in active OTL locations.
But are we the best club for meeting new people? Not necessarily. OTL is more of a “go have a great night out” club than a formal networking circle or social mixer. You can bring a guest, enjoy a show, and make real plans, but structured mingling is not really our lane.
Still, because we are a club-based organization, we are fascinated by other membership opportunities. So we pulled together a guide to clubs, groups, organizations, and communities in the US and UK that can help you find things to do, meet people, build skills, support causes, and make the calendar look a little more alive.
Start Here: Meetup, Event Groups and Local Discovery
If you are not sure what kind of club you want, start broad. Platforms like Meetup and Eventbrite can help you search by interest, city, hobby, age range, activity type, professional field, or level of social bravery. Some days we are “networking lunch.” Other days we are “silent book club with minimal eye contact.” Both are valid.
Meetup
Meetup is one of the easiest places to search for social groups, hobby groups, walking clubs, singles events, brunch meetups, writing circles, board game nights, tech groups, language exchanges, and local communities.
Eventbrite
Eventbrite is useful for workshops, talks, creative events, community gatherings, classes, networking sessions, pop-up events, and local experiences that may lead you to a new group or club.
Local Event Calendars
City calendars, tourism boards, arts councils, community websites, libraries, and local publications often list clubs, talks, festivals, outdoor events, and public programs that can help you find your people.
OTL Event Calendars
OTL’s public event calendars are separate from private seat filler invitations, but they can be a helpful starting point for concerts, comedy, theatre, festivals, family events, and local things to do.
Good to Know
Meetup-style groups can vary widely. Some are casual. Some are very organized. Some are active for years. Some appear to have been abandoned sometime around the invention of sourdough starter. Check recent activity before you commit.
Book Clubs: For Readers, Thinkers and Snack-Based Discussion
Book clubs are one of the easiest ways to meet people because the conversation starter is built in. You do not have to open with “So, weather!” You can jump straight into “Was that ending brilliant, confusing, or a personal betrayal?” Much better.
Bookclubs
Bookclubs helps people start, organize, and join book clubs, with tools for scheduling meetings, voting on books, and keeping the group moving.
Silent Book Club
Silent Book Club is ideal for readers who like community without mandatory icebreakers. Bring a book, read with others, and chat if you feel like it.
Goodreads Groups
Goodreads Groups can be a good fit for online discussions, genre-based communities, reading challenges, and finding fellow readers without leaving the couch.
Library Book Clubs
Local libraries often host book clubs, author talks, writing groups, film discussions, lecture series, craft sessions, and community events. Search your local library calendar for current groups.
- Best for: Low-pressure conversation, regular meetups, shared interests, and people who like having homework that involves novels.
- Try it if: You want connection, but you also want the topic of conversation to arrive pre-packaged.
- Check first: Meeting format, book choices, age range, location, online vs. in-person, and whether new members are welcome.
Speaking, Learning and Personal Growth Clubs
Some clubs are less about “hanging out” and more about becoming the kind of person who confidently raises a hand, tells a story, leads a group, gives a toast, learns something new, or stops saying “I’m terrible at public speaking” as a permanent identity.
Toastmasters International
Toastmasters is a classic choice for improving public speaking, communication, leadership, storytelling, and meeting confidence. Many clubs welcome guests before they join.
u3a
u3a is a UK learning community where members explore interests, share knowledge, and join local groups focused on curiosity, activities, and connection.
Adult Education Classes
Community education, continuing education, arts centers, museums, local colleges, libraries, and council-run classes can be great places to meet people while learning something useful or wonderfully unnecessary.
Writing Groups
Creative writing groups can offer accountability, encouragement, feedback, and fellow humans who understand the emotional journey of deleting one sentence for 37 minutes.
Service Clubs and Volunteer Organizations
Service clubs are a strong option if you want your social time to have purpose. These groups often combine regular meetings, community projects, fundraising, volunteering, leadership opportunities, and friendships that form while people are doing something useful together.
Rotary International
Rotary clubs bring people together for community service, professional connection, local projects, and global initiatives.
Kiwanis International
Kiwanis clubs focus heavily on serving children and communities, with local clubs and service opportunities around the world.
Lions Clubs International
Lions Clubs are service-focused groups known for local projects, humanitarian work, and community involvement.
VolunteerMatch / Idealist
Idealist VolunteerMatch can help you search volunteer opportunities by cause, location, organization, and type of work.
Doit Life
Doit Life is a UK volunteering platform for finding charity, nonprofit, and community opportunities.
Local Nonprofit Boards and Committees
Arts groups, theatres, animal rescues, museums, youth programs, neighborhood associations, festivals, and community organizations often need volunteers, ambassadors, and committee members.
Connection Tip
Volunteering can be one of the most natural ways to meet people because everyone is focused on the same goal. You are not just “networking.” You are packing supplies, greeting guests, planting flowers, ushering patrons, raising funds, or helping something happen.
Business, Professional and Networking Membership Groups
Business clubs can be practical and social. You might find clients, collaborators, mentors, referral partners, workshop buddies, or people who also understand that “quick email” is rarely quick.
Local Chambers of Commerce
Chambers often host networking events, business breakfasts, ribbon cuttings, community programs, workshops, expos, and local business resources.
BNI
BNI is built around referral networking, with local chapters for business owners and professionals.
SCORE
SCORE offers free mentoring, workshops, and business resources for US entrepreneurs and small business owners.
Federation of Small Businesses
FSB offers UK small business membership resources, events, networking, and support for self-employed professionals and business owners.
Enterprise Nation
Enterprise Nation is a UK small business community with events, resources, support, and founder-focused opportunities.
Industry Associations
Search for associations in your field: marketing, hospitality, tech, theatre, nonprofit leadership, real estate, wellness, finance, education, tourism, or the creative industries.
- Best for: Professional connections, referrals, visibility, learning, and local business support.
- Try it if: You want relationships that combine community, career, and collaboration.
- Check first: Membership fees, attendance expectations, category exclusivity, meeting times, and whether guests can attend before joining.
Walking, Fitness and Outdoor Groups
If sitting in a meeting sounds less appealing than moving through fresh air, outdoor clubs can be a wonderful way to meet people without staring across a table wondering who will break the silence first. Movement is an underrated social lubricant. Comfortable shoes help too.
parkrun
parkrun offers free, weekly community 5K events where people can walk, jog, run, volunteer, or spectate in many locations around the world, including the US and UK.
Ramblers
Ramblers is a UK walking charity with local groups and guided walks across Britain.
America’s Walking Club / AVA
America’s Walking Club supports noncompetitive walks, fitness, friendship, and local walking club events across the US.
Outdoor Classes and Community Activities
Outdoor retailers, parks departments, local councils, recreation centers, conservation groups, and community organizations often host hikes, classes, stewardship days, and beginner-friendly outings.
Creative, Gardening, Community and Hobby Clubs
Some of the best clubs are built around doing something with your hands: planting, painting, crafting, building, repairing, cooking, dancing, singing, acting, writing, photographing, or making something that did not exist an hour earlier. When everyone is focused on an activity, conversation feels easier.
National Garden Clubs
National Garden Clubs can help US gardeners find local garden clubs focused on education, projects, plant sales, community beautification, and social connection.
Community Gardens
American Community Gardening Association can help people search for community gardens and growing opportunities.
RHS Gardening Groups
RHS community gardening can help UK gardeners find local gardening groups, affiliated societies, and community opportunities.
Choirs, Art Clubs and Maker Spaces
Search locally for community choirs, pottery studios, improv classes, dance groups, makerspaces, theatre groups, photography clubs, craft circles, music groups, and creative workshops.
Low-Pressure Idea
Activity-based clubs are great when you want to meet people without making “meeting people” the whole assignment. The project gives everyone something to focus on, which keeps the social pressure from entering its dramatic solo.
UK Community Clubs Worth Exploring
The UK has a long tradition of local societies, institutes, community organizations, hobby groups, and member-led activities. Some are national networks with local branches. Others are hyperlocal groups that meet in village halls, libraries, cafés, churches, pubs, studios, parks, and community centres.
The WI
The Women’s Institute has local and virtual WIs across England, Wales, and the Islands. Check current membership details and local branch culture before joining.
u3a
u3a groups are built around learning, shared interests, and member-led activities, making them a strong fit for people who want community and curiosity.
Local Councils
Find your local council and search for clubs, social groups, arts programs, fitness classes, volunteer opportunities, older adult programs, and neighborhood events.
Community Centres
Community centres often host exercise classes, craft groups, hobby clubs, support groups, social activities, children’s programs, talks, workshops, and local events.
Life Needs Intermission
How to choose the right club without accidentally joining homework with strangers.
Before you join anything, think about what you actually want from the experience. A club can be wonderful, but the right fit matters.
- Want friends? Choose recurring groups where the same people show up regularly.
- Want things to do? Look for calendars with frequent events, classes, outings, or performances.
- Want professional contacts? Try chambers, BNI, industry associations, or entrepreneur groups.
- Want purpose? Service clubs and volunteer groups are a strong place to start.
- Want low pressure? Book clubs, walking groups, parkrun, library events, and casual Meetups can feel more relaxed.
- Want entertainment? That is where OTL Seat Fillers happily waves from the back row.
More Membership Club, Social Group and Things-to-Do Ideas
Use the feed below as a starting point for more club ideas, social groups, local activities, community events, and ways to make your calendar a little less “same couch, different day.”
These public listings and outside resources are separate from OTL Seat Fillers member invitations. OTL membership provides access to the private members-only area, where complimentary ticket invitations will be offered when available in active OTL locations.
OTL Seat Fillers
OTL is a club for things to do, not a formal social club.
OTL Seat Fillers is a membership club for people who love live entertainment and want more opportunities to get out. We work privately with participating venues and event partners to help fill open seats when available, and members receive access to complimentary ticket invitations through the private members-only area.
It is a wonderful way to add theatre, comedy, concerts, dance, special events, and other entertainment to your life. It is not designed as a networking club or formal social group, but it can absolutely make your calendar feel more alive.
And sometimes that is exactly what you need: a show, a laugh, a night out, and a reason to say, “No, I am not staying in tonight. I have plans.”
Learn How OTL WorksMembership Clubs FAQs
Membership clubs for things to do are groups, organizations, platforms, or communities that help members find activities, events, social opportunities, learning experiences, volunteer projects, business connections, hobbies, or entertainment. Examples include book clubs, service clubs, business networks, walking groups, creative clubs, Meetup groups, and OTL Seat Fillers.
OTL Seat Fillers is a membership club for live entertainment opportunities, not a formal social club or networking group. Members receive access to the private members-only area, where complimentary ticket invitations will be offered when available in active OTL locations. Members can bring guests to many events, but OTL is designed more for things to do than structured mingling.
Clubs that meet regularly are often best for meeting new people. Book clubs, walking groups, volunteer organizations, service clubs, business networking groups, creative classes, community gardens, choirs, hobby groups, and Meetup groups can all make it easier to build connections over time.
Some membership clubs are free, while others charge dues, event fees, class fees, donation requests, or membership contributions. Before joining, check the official organization source for current pricing, renewal terms, guest policies, cancellation rules, and any required commitments.
Start by deciding whether you want social connection, things to do, professional networking, volunteering, learning, fitness, creativity, or entertainment. Then look for clubs with recent activity, clear meeting details, welcoming language for new members, a comfortable location or online option, and a schedule you can realistically attend.
No. Public club listings, event platforms, social groups, business organizations, volunteer opportunities, and outside membership clubs are separate from private OTL Seat Fillers member invitations. OTL does not manage those outside memberships or events, and all details should be confirmed with the official organization source.
