Gathering Plan
Vision is the bottleneck of talent. Most talent is wasted because people do not clearly know what they want. It’s not a lack of effort but a lack of direction. There are many capable people in the world, but relatively few that focus on what matters. ~James Clear, Author of Atomic Habits
Create your gathering plan as a Google doc, Google slides, or pdf. It's up to you. But, I would consider building on your Google slides from your outline.
Your file name or header should contain the words "Your Name Gathering Plan SP24."
Add to your end of semester deliverables.
Add to your project management website.
Just Start! Think Progress/Iteration Over Perfection!
Take Action! Make Decisions!
When you come to a fork in the road, make another decision!
The Road Will Reveal Itself. Take A Step And Trust The Process!
Constantly iterate your plan over the course of the semester.
It may grow and/or shrink over the course of the semester. Don't worry about "getting it right." The creative process is messy.
For your plan, you will be building upon your outline!
YOUR Motivation / Intentions—YOUR Why
An intention is a commitment to a process.
Why are you doing this?
Does it connect with your manifesto? If so, how? If not, why not?
What are you exploring or discovering here? What questions are you asking? Do you love your idea? Does it feel right on instinct? Are you willing to commit to this gathering(s)? Are you willing to live, sleep, and eat with this gathering(s)?
Influences
What gatherings have resonated with you in the past, positively or negatively? What gatherings are you modeling or reacting to or filling a void?
Your Gathering's PURPOSE / Your Gathering's WHY
Brainstorm your gathering's purpose by answering the following questions:
Why should you gather?
What is your gathering about?
What are your gathering's theme(s) or conceptual underpinnings? (Think 1 to 3 hashtags.)
What is your gathering's "elevator pitch"? Think phrase or 1 sentence maximum.
Using the answers to the above question, draft a short, gathering description? Write a 200-300 word paragraph that addresses four of the six essential questions:
why (see motivation/intentions and influences above)
what (see related projects, research, design, and development below)
who (see target audience below)
where (location/venue),
when (date(s) and time(s), and
how (see resources, project milestones/plans, and risks & challenges below) about your gathering.
Share a Draft of Your Purpose With Us.
Your Gathering's AUDIENCES
Brainstorm your gathering's audiences (who and size) by answering the following questions:
Who is this gathering for first?
Who not only fits but also helps fulfill the gathering’s purpose?
Who threatens the purpose?
Who, despite being irrelevant to the purpose, do you feel obliged to invite and why?
Are your guests equalized or will there be various assigned roles? i.e. speakers, presenters, moderators, etc.
Who cares? Who will care? Who is your first audience? Yes, I'm asking this again :)
What size will your gathering be?
Share a Draft of Your Audience's Makeup With Us.
Your Gathering's ROLES
What roles do you need for your gathering? Collaborators, Advisors, etc. (People and their roles).
Be Specific. First & Last Names and URLs if available
Will you be the host?
As a host, how do you get your power right?
How do you not abandon your guests while ensuring that your power serves them?
How do you strike that balance?
Who is this gathering for first?
Your Gathering's LOCATION (Physical or Virtual)
Brainstorm your gathering's location (physical or virtual) by answering the following questions:
Where will you gather and why?
How do you choose a good, purposeful location for your gathering?
How can your venue embody your purpose?
How do you want your guests or attendees to act?
Do you want to break people of habit, tradition, or ritual? If so, how?
Share a Draft of Your Gathering's Location With Us.
Your Gathering's DESIRED OUTCOME
Brainstorm your desired outcome by answering the following questions:
What is your desired outcome of your gathering?
What do you want your first audience to experience when they gather?
How do you want your guests or attendees to walk away at the end?
How do you want them to feel?
What do you want them to say about your gathering to others?
Share a Draft of Your Gathering's Desired Outcomes With Us
Create a Temporary Alternative World
How do you get people to be present at your gathering?
How do you get them not only out from behind their screens but also not thinking about those screens?
What happens when people are freed, even goaded, to leave a gathering that is not serving them at any time?
Competitive Analysis / Related Gatherings
Research similar gatherings and draft a comparative analysis.
Compare and contrast at least 3 similar gatherings to yours.
Who or what are your competitors? How will it be positioned (branding) and differentiated (market and competitors or like works)?
Identify elements to emulate, modify, or add to your own gathering.
Key Resources
Including, but not limited to:
Materials & Vendors List
Include URLs or physical addresses if necessary
Technical requirements
Software, hardware, and other equipment
Budget
Include materials costs, software/hardware costs, work for hire costs, shipping costs
You should decide what kinds of resources are most appropriate for your gathering. (What assets do you require?)
Milestones / Plans—The How
A plan is the definition of a process. How are you achieving this?
Break down your milestones into actionable tasks using a system of your choice. I highly recommend Personal Kanban. Another system that is popular with students is the Bullet Journal. However, neither is required if you have another system with prioritization as a focus. If you do have another system, please share it with the instructor.
All actionable tasks should start with a verb (i.e. write, call, email, build, code, collect, etc.), and can be completed in a day.
Also, be specific with your tasks. (For example, "take 20 photographs" is more explicit than "take photographs". "Take 5 photos of tigers, 5 photos of bears, 5 photos of lizards, and 5 photos of cats" is more explicit than "take 20 photographs".)
For more info, visit Process Website / Project Mgt.
Research
Including, but not limited to, brainstorming (free writing, word lists, and mind maps, card sorting technique, SCAMPER technique, storytelling exercise, word lists, etc.), readings, screenings / viewings, exhibitions, talks, tech research, material research, visual research, collection, interviews, observation, etc.
You should decide what kinds of research / reference / influences are most appropriate for your gathering.
Design
Including, but not limited to, design sketches, process maps, drawings, wireframes / schematics, storyboards, comps, mood boards, concept boards, screenshots, videos, diagrams, images
You should decide the most appropriate medium of delivery and which processes are most appropriate for your gathering.
Checklist for Development
Make a copy and edit to suit your gathering.
Priming
What are the expectations of your audience?
How and how often will you communicate with your audience before your gathering?
Ushering
Your audience is arriving, but your gathering hasn't started yet? How will you usher your audience into your gathering?
Launching
But what do you actually do at the opening of the gathering? How do you launch well?
Once you bar the housekeeping from your opening, what should you actually start with?
Questions that the audience may be thinking:
What do I think of this gathering?
Am I in good hands?
Is the host nervous?
Should I be?
What’s going to happen here?
Is this worth my time?
Do I belong?
Do I want to belong?
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