Hi Csaba When we did the Open Space in Berlin fir the IETM we had to create a circle in a not ideal space no seats and a Raked auditorium and stage. We found sone cushions and blocks from under the stage and created the illusion of a flat circle. At opening I asked the group to use their imagination and create a level space not a tilted one! Here's a video
Sent from my iPhone On 17 Jul 2010, at 15:43, Peggy Holman <pe...@opencirclecompany.com> wrote: > Hi Csaba, > > I can only add one other approach to Lisa's wonderful through answer. When > we ran the OS for 2,100 street kids in Bogota in 2004, they sat on the ground > in a courtyard. We made circles using masking tape, complete with aisles. > Here's a picture: > http://www.flickr.com/photos/78084501@N00/79452635/in/set-1700469/ > > And with people: > http://www.flickr.com/photos/78084501@N00/79452640/in/set-1700469/ > > I have no idea how many roles of tape it took! > > Peggy > > > > > > _________________________________ > Peggy Holman > pe...@peggyholman.com > > 15347 SE 49th Place > Bellevue, WA 98006 > 425-746-6274 > www.peggyholman.com > www.journalismthatmatters.org > > Coming in September > Engaging Emergence: Turning Upheaval into Opportunity > www.engagingemergence.com > > For the second edition of The Change Handbook, go to: > www.bkconnection.com/ChangeHandbook > > "An angel told me that the only way to step into the fire and not get burnt, > is to become > the fire". > -- Drew Dellinger > > > > > > > > > On Jul 17, 2010, at 5:51 AM, Lisa Heft wrote: > >> Hi, Csaba - >> >> I have had (for example) 850 students in a sports hall, where chairs were >> not allowed on the lovely floor. >> >> I do not think concentric circles are required - even though that is >> something I try for in other situations. However as we have shared on this >> list over the years - a circle feeling / formation / presence / indication >> and working 'in the round' is essential. I agree with Barry that you can >> mark the open space in the center or have volunteers standing on the (their >> bodies create it) outline of that free space in the center, to indicate and >> inform that people entering the room are invited to be seated (outside / >> around that shape). You do the same thing for Closing Circle comments and >> reflection. >> >> Csaba - I do not know if your space is similar to other athletic hall spaces >> however I find that in a gymnasium or similar space **sound** and >> **visibility** and **agenda wall space** are the main issues. >> >> - sound sounds like it is coming from everywhere >> >> - when someone stands to name a topic, visibility for them and sound are >> important because the space plays with sound. If people are seated >> (therefore very low) and a bunch of people are standing waiting to announce >> their topic - that may block everyone's vision and it may be hard for them >> to focus on the topic convenors' words (given the sound issue). So you >> might consider having the topic convenors announce at a place at the edge of >> the circle (or two places opposite, with microphones?) in an aisle so the >> line of people ready to announce goes down the aisle instead of inside the >> circle in front of all viewers. >> >> - If you do decide to set up two announcing stations instead of one, and >> because the sound in a sports hall can come over big speakers therefore >> sounds like it is coming from everywhere, you might do something to >> physically / visually indicate (say, if you have two positions from where >> people are announcing their topics) who is currently speaking. Again: this >> can help the focus in such a space - for example you (in the center) could >> turn to and indicate whoever speaks next so the audience can get that sense >> better. >> >> - Agenda Wall can be hung or placed but sometimes sports hall walls are not >> as welcoming to tape and sometimes the halls themselves are more humid which >> is also not so good for tape - so it is a good thing to investigate >> >> Most of all, I may be sharing these ideas based on my own experiences but of >> course your sports hall, your own style or experiences may lead you to do it >> differently. These are just some things I have noticed in a gymnasium / >> sports hall environment. >> >> One other thing - you may not know who in your group of 270-300 students has >> visible or invisible physical disabilities - and when we think of students >> sitting on the ground, it usually feels right and good. Ideally, if people >> pre-register you can ask a question in the registration process about >> whether people have any food needs or mobility or other access issues and >> mention that seating for most people will be directly on the floor. If you >> cannot do this, it might be great idea for your lovely volunteers (or you, >> if you area team of one) to mark some very clear aisles (any certain kind of >> tape on the floor allowed?) for access, notice as people come in if there >> are people with wheelchairs or crutches and so on - where would they go? >> Perhaps a mat on the floor in one section designated for disability access, >> with a few folding chairs on that or room for wheelchairs? >> >> It both helps the people with diverse physical abilities and offers the >> awareness moment to the rest of the student group. >> Just an idea. >> >> Cheers from a star-filled early California morning, >> Lisa >> >> * * ========================================================== osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
