Gathering Online
Due to the uncertainty of the Covid-19 pandemic measures, it can be beneficial to plan events to happen 100% online, then improvise if something can happen in person.
A few notes from discussions with FoAM network members during autumn 2020.
"Start where you are."
What works for you in online gatherings?
For example:
gathering people from around the world
more focus and intimacy, less social mingling
fostering a sense of belonging to a distributed community
don't need ice-breakers as much. people are happy to jump into conversations.
What are the "essential services" in online gatherings?
For example:
clear purpose, instructions and rules of engagement
tested (and retested) setup
good hosts (prepared, knowledgeable, engaging everyone, keeping the rhythm)
a redundancy of competent and agile technical support staff
interesting worthwhile content and inspiring speakers
more regular check-ins to make sure people are comfortable, engaged, connected
DIVERSITY
redundancy of modes of engagement/channels of communication. have multiple alternatives to engage with people with connectivity problems. redundancy in modes of engagement - be prepared to change mode/direction of conversation. have backup plans if things go wrong (what is the minimum? text based chat, sms, letters)
"we're struggling with this together" -> so "let's try stuff"
How do we want to be together?
Design process
Think about:
How can you simplify the design? What is the minimum that would make it work?
What are the most appropriate platforms for the purpose, content and atmosphere?
Pick the appropriate platforms and Play With The Medium. (eg. for some things Zoom is the best there is. for others it might not be - be clear what the purpose of each session is, and decide on the platform accordingly).
How can the participants be more engaged? (eg. moving between formats, contents, group sizes)
How can you make the experience lighter, surprising and more playful?
A few playful examples
How could the participants 'make the space' together?
online multiplayer games
connected performances (multiple camera angles, sonic experiments, ambient webcams…)
create a map (d&d, choose your own adventure…)
VR, AR experiments
listening spaces (cameras off)
“no talking” spaces
sharing a familiar situation remotely - people engaged in the same physical activity (kitchens, bars, reading rooms, fitness rooms…)
togetherness through physical objects - DIY kits sent by post beforehand
silence is sexy
embrace the glitch & delay
think about having sufficient breaks (some with activities)
Commit, prepare, then improvise (and+and)
Be clear on the purpose and code of conduct for the gathering and each of the sessions, yet make your goals more flexible/adaptive (min-max)
Spend enough time planning and crafting clear instructions, then be ready to improvise when things don't go as planned
Trust in people's capabilities to self-organise when the purpose and rules of engagement are clear (instructions are important, but don't micromanage).
Some things you design might not work. How could you incorporate the 'not working' as part of the process, rather than seeing it as a failure?