Part 1.
So how many should you have to your Pigfest?
The number of people you have over to the Pigfest depends on your physical layout, the number of chairs and tables you can get your hands on, and your comfort level in moderating a discussion.
The largest Pigfest I hosted had 26 participants. On the one hand, it was exciting to have that many people contributing to the discussion. There was a lot of energy, a lot of food, and a lot of folks who wanted to enter the discussion. The challenge was trying to manage the conversation. I had difficulty keeping eye contact with everyone. I like to see everyone's face so I can see if someone really wants to speak. Their face and body language usually tells you that ... unless, of course, they simply raise their hand to speak. With so many at that Pigfest, I felt I couldn't manage the participation. I also think that some folks might have been a wee bit intimidated to voice their opinion in front of that many people. The physical layout was kind of awkward too. Having nearly 30 people in your basement can be kind of challenging from a set up standpoint.
The smallest Pigfest I hosted had about 15 participants. That size worked well. I was able to easily connect and interact with everyone there. There seemed to be enough people to give it energy without being overwhelming to manage.
I am going to try something new with the next Pigfest. I am going to invite a much smaller group. I am shooting for ten people. Part of me wants to see how well it works with a smaller group. I wonder whether the conversation will go deeper since people will have more air time. I am also trying a different location in the house. I plan on hosting it in the living room. The living room is a much smaller space so I will be constrained. The downside, of course, is that I have a long list of people who want to come. Ten at a time barely dips into that list. Trade offs ... always trade offs.
My friend Jim is the master host. I have seen him effectively moderate a Pigfest with thirty to forty people. Amazing. One day I may get that good ... but not now.
Comments