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.

• What are your strategies for survival given the current condition?

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.

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

• 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)

• a range of formats (keynotes, guided discussions, chill-out rooms, physical education…)

How do we want to be together?

• how do you like to connect with people when you can't be physically co-present?
• what kind of place can we create together? what are its qualities?

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?

• 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)

• 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?