Hosting a dinner gathering on Fanju involves five steps: choose a specific theme, apply as a host, review guest registrations, choose a public restaurant venue, and run the dinner. Fanju provides the platform infrastructure — you provide the theme, the curation, and the hosting. The result is a small, intimate dinner where everyone belongs at the table.
The theme is the most important decision you make as a host. A specific theme attracts compatible guests and sets the tone for the entire dinner. Bad theme: 'interesting people in Shanghai'. Good theme: 'Shanghai product managers who have worked at both Chinese and international companies'. The more specific your theme, the better your table will be.
Submit your host application at fanju.app/hosts. Include your proposed theme, your city, your background, and why you want to host. Fanju reviews host applications to ensure quality and safety standards are maintained.
When guests register for your dinner, you receive their profiles. Review each registration carefully. Confirm guests who fit your theme and will contribute to a good table dynamic. Decline registrations that do not fit — this is your most important job as a host.
Select a public restaurant that fits your theme. A founder dinner might work well in a modern restaurant in a business district. A singles dinner might work better in a relaxed, atmospheric restaurant. The venue should allow conversation — avoid places that are too loud or too formal.
Arrive early, greet guests as they arrive, facilitate introductions, and keep the conversation flowing. Your job is not to entertain — it is to create the conditions for genuine connection. A good host asks good questions and makes sure everyone has a chance to speak.
As a Fanju host, you are responsible for maintaining the safety boundaries that make Fanju dinners trustworthy. These are non-negotiable:
Anyone who meets Fanju's host requirements can apply to host. Hosts need to be based in a Fanju-covered city, have a clear dinner theme in mind, and be willing to review guest registrations and run the event responsibly. Visit fanju.app/hosts to apply.
A good theme is specific enough to attract compatible guests but broad enough to fill a table. Examples: 'Shenzhen startup founders under 35', 'Shanghai finance professionals who love hiking', 'Singapore newcomers from mainland China'. Vague themes like 'interesting people' attract everyone and no one.
Fanju recommends 6–10 guests for a dinner gathering. Fewer than 6 feels like a small group date. More than 10 makes it hard for everyone to have a real conversation. The sweet spot is 8 people — enough diversity, small enough for genuine connection.
When guests register for your dinner, you receive their profiles including occupation, interests, and dinner goals. Review each registration and confirm guests who fit your theme and will contribute to a good table dynamic. You can decline registrations that do not fit.
Choose a restaurant that is public, accessible, and has a private or semi-private dining area if possible. The noise level should allow conversation. Avoid restaurants that are too loud, too formal, or too casual. The restaurant sets the tone for the dinner.
Confirm attendance with all guests 24–48 hours before the dinner. Have a waitlist of 1–2 backup guests if possible. If someone cancels last minute, decide whether to proceed with the remaining guests or reschedule.
Hosts are responsible for: choosing a clear theme, reviewing guest registrations, confirming the venue and time, communicating with guests before the dinner, running the dinner smoothly, and ensuring the safety boundaries (public restaurant, no advance payments) are maintained.
