Possibly going to a Photography Meet-up

[NicoleScraps]

I found a local group of photographers on that meetup website. They meet once a month in a studio to practice, discuss and learn portrait photography. The one lady owns the studio and says in her profile that she loves to help out new photographers, she rents her studio to other photographers, all skill levels are welcome to attend, etc etc.
Another guy who attends is a photography teacher/professor at a local college so he apparently brings along students as volunteers for models.
I REALLY REALLY want to go to this.The next one is this coming Wednesday.
The problem is that my husband usually leans to the side of caution. He has not demanded, but nicely suggested that I should not go to something like this since it was advertised on the internet and I do not personally know any of the people. He wanted me to take the time to enter every member of the group into the court search website to see if they had a criminal record. He also wants me to load myself up with his self defense stuff, pepper spray, taser, etc (all of which are legal for me to carry in my state I should add).
I suggested that we could get a babysitter and he could go with me the first couple of times to silently observe and be my body guard. LOL.
I don't know. What do you think? There are rapes, murders, robberies and other violent crimes on the news every single day. I am not so arrogant that I think that something like that would never happen to me. But at the same time, I still want to trust people. And I REALLY want to go to the meeting.
Have you ever went to something like this? Did you have the same thoughts?

[candidrachel]

He sounds like my husband! The first time I went to photography club which is held in a village pub in the middle of nowhere I told him that it was from 7-9pm when actually it's from 8-10 so I strolled in at 10.30 and he was furious with worry and was about to get the kids out of bed to go looking for me He even rang the pub to see if I had left yet.

I'm sure you'll be fine. I just turned up on my own but most of the others were over 60 anyway.... Could you bring a friend along for moral support?

It'll be fun for you and you'd learn loads

[Sime]

I've run a couple of meet-ups, and whilst caution in anything is always good, I've never heard of anything but good coming from photo-walks. --S

[TheDarkReaver]

Such meet-ups are not always full of murder-rapists, despite what the news says. I've met many a friend through gatherings organised via the internet. It's a great way to find new communities.

Caution is always good, so if you are worried about such a meet then check out the location before hand and take someone with you when the time comes.

[CheaperKings]

You live in WV! You mean you the ONE person here that doesn't have an M-1 Abrams Tank in your driveway?!

[Rolling Stone]

I say pack your arsenal and go have fun.

[Jim Bryant]

Go and if it seems strange to you....leave.

[Algernonep]

I plan on going to a few myself but I'm not going to stay late because I have a wife and kids...

[Nicole]

All the photo meetups I've attended have been advertised on the internet.

If you're saying you found them on meetup.com, why not take the chance to join in their discussions there or ask a question or two so you feel more comfortable? Otherwise I agree with what everyone else has said, just use your common sense. If it doesn't feel right, leave. But don't let "what if" stop you from having fun.

[mad editor]

I belong to a few of these groups. Never had a problem. (biting my lip and resisting the urge to make a comment about husbands. LOL). In fact, I just met up with a whole new group in the woods at midnight! It was a county-sponsored nature walk to watch the meteor shower thursday night.