Room Set-Up Questions

[Jeff Aitken]

Kathleen,

I always forget to say one or two things during the opening, and it works out fine. If I were in your shoes, with 300 people in a short time in a tight space, I would be sure to talk about "when it's over it's over" and the corollary "when it's not over it's not over".  I like to remind folks that if the first session that's scheduled for a particular space is not over when the second one is trying to gather, the folks in the first session ought to find another space to continue their conversation.

Best to you in what should be a lot of fun and learning.

Jeff Aitken
Petaluma river valley
San Francisco bay area

-----Original Message-----
>From: Kathleen Osta <kathleen at vitalclarity.com>
>Sent: Apr 6, 2006 5:35 PM
>To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
>Subject: Re: Room Set-Up Questions
>
>Thanks, Harrison, for affirming that 4 concentric circles is okay - and 
>for the suggestion to identify additional space options. We may have 
>some possibilities there. I will explore them.
>
>I do have quite a few lap tops, it's true. Because this session is in 
>the middle of a more traditional conference, I wanted to be sure to get 
>their notes recorded since the OS ballroom has to be re-set for a 
>keynote and we can't stay in that room past noon. Guess I could have 
>some of the lap tops set up in an adjacent courtyard area where they'll 
>be picking up their box lunches (and probably continuing their 
>conversations). Whaddya think?
>
>ko
>
>On Apr 6, 2006, at 5:50 PM, Harrison Owen wrote:
>
>> You have your work cut out for you! Four circles are fine -- just as 
>> long as
>> you leave enough room in the center so that folks can move about when 
>> they
>> come up to post issues. My rule of thumb is MORE SPACE! You might save 
>> a
>> little bit with fewer laptops -- for a group that size (300) my number 
>> would
>> be 15, maybe even 10. However, you are cramming a great deal in a small
>> time/space slot. So you may need the additional ones to deal with the
>> traffic. If it were me, I would be looking around for some additional 
>> space
>> -- anywhere. In the coffee shop, out of doors, down at the corner bar. 
>> The
>> problem with using just the "big room" is that you will have a lot of 
>> chair
>> shifting, noise, confusion and general hubbub. It will probably be OK 
>> -- but
>> I would still be on the lookout for some more space. Even a little bit.
>>
>> Harrison
>>
>> Harrison Owen
>> 7808 River Falls Drive
>> Potomac, Maryland   20854
>> Phone 301-365-2093
>> Skype hhowen
>> Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com
>> Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org
>> Personal website www.ho-image.com
>> OSLIST: To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the
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>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of 
>> Kathleen
>> Osta
>> Sent: Thursday, April 06, 2006 3:31 PM
>> To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
>> Subject: Room Set-Up Questions
>>
>> Hi there,
>>
>> I'm doing a 4-hour Open Space session for 300+ people in a hotel
>> ballroom that is 80 feet x 150 feet. Using a to-scale room diagram, it
>> looks like I may have to have 4 concentric circles because I plan to
>> have several aisles, e.g., at least 7. I've never had that may
>> concentric circles and wanted to know if that's workable.
>>
>> I also plan to have about 21 lap tops in the News Room in one corner of
>> the room, which will chew into small group space around the perimeter
>> of the room.
>>
>> Since I won't have quite enough space around the perimeter of the room
>> for all 18 small groups, about how many can I put in the middle of the
>> room (once the space is cleared because people have taken their chairs
>> with them)?
>>
>> Experience input requested, please. Thanks.
>>
>> Kathleen Osta
>>
>>
>> Kathleen S. Osta
>> Vital Clarity
>> 15 Hunters Way
>> Asheville, NC 28804
>> 828-253-8343 office
>> 828-231-5565 cell
>> 828-253-8284 fax
>> www.vitalclarity.com
>>
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