A request

Lisa Heft lisaheft at pacbell.net
Fri Feb 21 18:43:53 PST 2003


Denis --

Don't think Alan will limit himself to dancing -- I foresee singing, as
well (!).

How marvelous that you have been giving this opportunity!  You're the
right person, and this is the right time, I guess, eh?

And outside??? Amazing.  The things that come to mind (you were at last
year's outside event?) are preparing for wind, people being able to hear
each other (you've got that microphone), people needing to get a bit of
protection from too much sun or heat, and people with mobility issues
being able to sit on the ground (or whatever) or walk (or roll) on
uneven surfaces.

Here's what I have found with large Open Space events:

- As Harrison once said, it has also been my experience that it never
takes more than about an hour and 15 minutes for any sized group to
announce and post their topics.  Last year you said it took 1.5 hours.
(you meant creating the agenda, right?) Might be just the same this
year, even though the group has grown.  Somehow maybe peoples' physical
energy? Transitions them from being able to announce to getting ready to
move already.

- My thought is to NOT use more than one marketplace.  The one
marketplace will seek its own level, then that will be that, and it will
all work out.

- If we are providing materials (notes-taker forms, extra paper) in each
discussion area, I find that I put in a lot of miles going around to
those sites to replenish materials after each session or two.  Either
there's a way to put enough materials in each site or other people on
your team can take over this job for you.

- In my experience in large events, any sort of signage I intend to make
(if you will be using signage) has to be made quite a bit larger, with
several signs saying the same thing posted around so everyone can see
them.  This always takes *much* more of my preparation time than I ever
expect.  In one very large (1500) event I made handouts with the
guidelines (principles, law, etc.) for everyone, because we had nowhere
to post signs (it all took place in an airplane hangar - a vast space
with m-a-n-y discussion areas)  Of course, maybe you won't use signs and
you'll just point to a different tree each time to embody it with a
specific principle or law...

I'm interested to hear thoughts from other folks who've done large
events.

Denis - I wish I could be there - I shall be in spirit...

Lisa


Berkeley, California, USA

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