First of all, stop calling 'them' the audience. As you know and say, they are participants.
Your opening question is:
"...how one might go about capturing the feel of an event"
You close with:
"What would you do to help an audience own the experience more?"
The solution is to make the event "ours", like David Weinberger says, and not something you put on and document for "us."
bgavin
· 2 years ago
Good morning, Chris --
You suggest, "Turn your large meals into facilitated games to stretch conversations and relationships even further."
I have done this one easy way. Put table signs on each table encouraging folks to sit by some category. You could use geography or vertical market. It doesn't really matter - simply by trying to identify themselves, folks will start talking.
Another way is to get the speaking participants to eat lunch with the delegate participants. Put their name on the table cards.
Another way is to pose a question to each table...make them work for their lunch. The task can be fun or funny, or it can be phrased like a debate: Resolved: that DRM sucks. {You could do better, I know!}
Have fun -- barbara
Whitney
· 2 years ago
What I found fascinating is the "control the message" section. When you relinquish control of the message, it puts a lot more pressure on constructing an event or experience that is truly excellent and valuable.
If you are the only story, the only message, the only broadcast, then opinion, interaction and feedback are irrelevant. (See most traditional corporations). Those that offer interactivity with the brand or message get the information they need to up their game so to speak, and some people can't take critique that well, so they refuse to hear any of it (does this ring a bell in the political sphere?)
So we're back at the heart of the matter- building an enthusiastic, evangelizing community that will spread your message, bring others into the fold, who will also spread it out further. Take a page from the Mormons.
New media is a religion, and it's catching on quick.
julien
· 2 years ago
i wonder about what steve is saying. i agree that we WANT participants, not just audience, but in fact, most people are very susceptible to staying in TV mode, sitting back and just absorbing. this is enhanced by the laptop, which tends to get you immersed in whatever's on your screen instead of what's happening right in front of you.
whatever the case, calling them 'participants' is certainly a step in the right direction.
All Comments
Your opening question is:
"...how one might go about capturing the feel of an event"
You close with:
"What would you do to help an audience own the experience more?"
The solution is to make the event "ours", like David Weinberger says, and not something you put on and document for "us."
You suggest, "Turn your large meals into facilitated games to stretch conversations and relationships even further."
I have done this one easy way. Put table signs on each table encouraging folks to sit by some category. You could use geography or vertical market. It doesn't really matter - simply by trying to identify themselves, folks will start talking.
Another way is to get the speaking participants to eat lunch with the delegate participants. Put their name on the table cards.
Another way is to pose a question to each table...make them work for their lunch. The task can be fun or funny, or it can be phrased like a debate: Resolved: that DRM sucks. {You could do better, I know!}
Have fun --
barbara
If you are the only story, the only message, the only broadcast, then opinion, interaction and feedback are irrelevant. (See most traditional corporations). Those that offer interactivity with the brand or message get the information they need to up their game so to speak, and some people can't take critique that well, so they refuse to hear any of it (does this ring a bell in the political sphere?)
So we're back at the heart of the matter- building an enthusiastic, evangelizing community that will spread your message, bring others into the fold, who will also spread it out further. Take a page from the Mormons.
New media is a religion, and it's catching on quick.
whatever the case, calling them 'participants' is certainly a step in the right direction.