Framing

Framing plays an important role in a successful talkin’ event, as it sets the tone and mood for the evening. The main goals of the framing are:

1. Make people feel welcome & comfortable
2. Encourage people to participate in the games/challenges
3. Let everyone know what talkin’ is and why we do this

Responsibilities of the framer:

1. introduction at the beginning of an event
2. announcing the break & short recap
3. voting and closing at the end
4. make sure new people, that arrive late, know what’s going on
5. (optional: bring certificate for experimenters)

The framer should include the following things in his framing.

Beginning

1. Pacing: make people feel welcome and relax by stating universal truths (e.g. “you came here to [location]”, “it’s Wednesday evening”, “some of you have already been here, others I see for the first time”…)
2. (optional: use a story that fits the topic of the evening to enhance the framing)
3. Idea/goal of talkin’: experiment with social situations, going out of your comfort zone, have fun
4. Preframing: It can happen that… (“you might want to participate but you feel anxious” -> normal feeling, others have that as well, encourage you to step out of comfort zone and try, this is a safe place to experiment, “someone is very funny & you don’t want to go next” -> challenge: try to be as unfunny/boring as possible, …). Invite joyful failure!
5. Let everyone know that this is an amateur/non-professional event, and everyone including the experimenteurs are participants.
6. (if there's a photographer present) Make sure everyone is aware that we're making pictures here and we will put them online. If someone doesn't like a picture just let us know and we'll remove it!
7. (if we’re at a free restaurant/bar) Invite the participants to buy something to drink and eat, so the location is happy.
8. Welcome the experimenters

Break

1. Announce the duration of the break
2. Short recap of what happened so far, encourage people to participate after the break (e.g. “Up to now we have had 2 exercises and some people already volunteered and participated in the games, others haven’t volunteered yet and look already forward to the games after the break. If you haven’t participated yet, I encourage you to try it out after the break and enjoy the fun”)

End

1. Thank the experimenters and the participants for coming
2. (optional: if you used a story for your framing, you can close it here)
3. announcements: other events, t’ plus, other groups, birthday party, etc.
4. voting (open brainstorming) -> if people come up with a name but no topic/idea ask the group until we come up with something
5. find a new experimenter for the next event (“everyone can try himself as the experimenter next time”, “you get support from us: coaching”, “usually in groups of 2”, “as an offer we usually ask the person that came up with the idea first if he/she wants to lead it next time”).
   It may help to mention these things:
   
   1. Emphasize that talkin’ is community-driven and thrives because of the participant’s commitments.
   2. Mention that there will be some support by the team as we will give them feedback to their ideas and provide some assistance if required.
   3. Explain that there is no need to book the location or do the marketing. This is done by the team.
      
6. If you like what we are doing: tell your friends, like us on Facebook/Instagram, join our newsletter, spread the word!

How to handle specific situations?

What if someone arrives late?

If someone walks in while the talkin’ is going on take him/her aside and welcome him/her to the evening. Give a short introduction on what’s going on, and wait until the current exercise is done before introducing him/her to the group.