Invite for one night.
Offer two dates. Say which game tradition you will learn and that beginner status is welcome.
Send the text.
Save four seats.
You do not need an audience, a logo, or a yearlong calendar. You need a few people, one clear invitation, and a night small enough to say yes to.
Make the first night tiny.
Choose an arrival time, an ending time, a learning source, and four tiny jobs.
Ask again only if it felt good.
End with a pressure-free check-in. A second date is better than a forced membership pledge.