So on Monday I helped to host We Can’t Go On Meeting Like This. It was a little experiment in creating a different kind of evening meeting.
A little over 20 people showed up in the basement of the Adam Street club. They did so with very little idea of what they were letting themselves in for. And we as hosts hadn’t entirely decided either.
After Oli Barrett did the welcome I introduced a few improv games around a theme of throwing imaginary balls and bits of information or noises around the room. Ok, you had to be there. But I thought it was fun and there are lots of things we can learn about ourselves and each other from these apparently simple or pointless games. I say it was fun, but perhaps not for one or two people and it was interesting to explore why.
Stephen Wrentmore picked up the the theme and then Trish Stevenson changed the tempo with an activity exploring what questions everyone in the room was asking in their lives at the moment. And various other things happened, including a process for almost everyone to end up on the floor having pretended to die.
I think we established it could be really engaging to meet people without ever having to ask, or find out, “what do you do?”. And I think most, but not all, enjoyed it a lot.
From which I think we concluded we should do it again. And next time aim for something altogether different.
If this sounds remotely intriguing, you sign up here for updates on future “We Can’t Go On events.
Oh and if you’re not in the London area and feel like you might want to stage one of your own, I’d be very happy to share ideas with you…
