What is an idea?
- Jul 30
- 4 min read
Updated: Aug 3
A guide to floating an idea on Butter, for anyone who's sick of "we should do that sometime" going nowhere.
If you've got 300+ pins saved on Google Maps and have actually been to less than 20% of them, this one's for you.
It's not that you don't want to go. It's that turning "I should check that out" into an actual plan takes more than a good intention. It takes people, a date, and someone willing to chase everyone until it happens.
That's the gap between having an idea and actually doing something about it, and it's where most good plans stall out.
An idea is how you gauge interest in a group event on Butter, without committing to anything yet. Float what you're thinking, see who's interested, collect everyone's rough availability, then turn it into a real plan once there's enough momentum.
What an idea includes
A title and description, plus up to four photos if you want them
Claps, comments, and a running list of who's interested
Optional availability from each interested person: weekdays, plus morning, afternoon, or evening
A group chat for the creator and everyone who's interested
A five-day window, after which it's shown as lapsed if it hasn't turned into a plan
How to create an idea*
*You'll need a completed Butter profile before you can create an idea.
Open Butter and tap the + button.
Select "Float an idea."
Add a title, a description, up to four photos and tap Post.
As people express interest, they can share their availability and join the chat.
When you're ready, tap "Turn into a plan" and pick the day and time that works best.
Turning an idea into a plan
Once there's enough interest, review everyone's overlapping availability and tap Turn into a plan. Pick the day and time that works best, then fill in the rest of the plan's details. Butter carries across the title, description, and first photo automatically, and sends an invitation to everyone whose availability matched the slot you picked.
They're invited, not automatically added as attendees, so they'll still need to RSVP. If someone skipped their availability, or was only free at a different time, you may need to invite them separately.
Idea, plan, or club?
Not sure which one you need? An idea is how you plan something without committing to a date straight away. If the date, time, and activity are already locked in, skip straight to a plan. If you're picturing an ongoing thing with regular activities, start a club instead. An idea is for everything in between, when you've got a concept but not the details yet. It's perfect for checking if something sticks before fully committing to it.
A few ways people use ideas
Testing interest in a casual monthly art night
Finding the best weekend for a coastal hike
Working out which weekday suits everyone for coworking and lunch
Gathering a group for foreign film night, then deciding the film in chat
Validating demand before starting a recurring plan or a club
Locking in a dinner spot when the group's set but the date isn't
Why ideas exists
Ideas mean you never have to be the one who commits to organising something before knowing if anyone's actually in. Float it, see who bites, and only do the real planning once it's worth doing.
Butter is the app for finding things to do to meet people
Your place for activity-based social plans - from supper clubs and run clubs to morning walks and creative sessions.
FAQs
Is expressing interest the same as RSVPing?
No. It just means you'd like to help shape the idea. You're not attending a scheduled event until the idea becomes a plan and you accept its invitation.
Do I have to share my availability?
No, it's optional. You can select days and times, or tap Skip for now, and update it later if you change your mind.
What if I only select days, or only times?
Selecting only days means you're free anytime on those days. Selecting only times means you're free during that period on any day.
What happens after I express interest?
The idea appears in Your Edit, and you get access to its group chat. That's where interested people can talk through details while the creator reviews everyone's availability.
Where can I find an idea again?
Open Your Edit and select the Ideas tab. It shows every idea you've created or expressed interest in, including lapsed ones. Active ideas may also show up in Explore.
Why has an idea disappeared from Explore?
Ideas have a five-day active window, after which they're marked as lapsed. They also leave the active feed once they become a plan, though you can still find them through Your Edit or the linked plan.
Does everyone interested receive a plan invitation?
Only people whose availability matches the selected slot are invited automatically. If you skipped your availability, or picked a different slot, the host may need to invite you separately.
Can the creator choose exactly who to invite?
Not during the idea to plan conversion step. Butter works out invitees based on the availability slot selected.
Can a plan created from an idea have fewer spaces than interested people?
Yes. Expressing interest doesn't reserve a spot. Invited people still go through the plan's usual RSVP, approval, waitlist, or ticket process, and that's what determines who ultimately attends.
Can I change my mind after expressing interest?
Yes. You can update your availability or leave the idea at any time. As the creator, you can also edit or delete it before it becomes a plan.
Does an idea need a date or venue?
No, that's the whole point! Those details get worked out once there's enough interest.
Can an idea sell tickets?
No. Ticketing and other event details belong to the plan it eventually becomes.
Why can't I create or join an idea?
You'll likely need to complete your Butter profile first. It gives the creator and everyone else enough context about who's joining the conversation.
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