State of Awe Digest #7 | Black lives matter, IRL events, climate carbon, long-term thinking and lots of inspiration
The Latest Wonders in Experience Design, Festivals and Gatherings
June 21, 2020
Our aphorism to help with the times: Violent riots and peaceful protests are tsunamis of collective human energy. Unlike the march of uniform waves, the predictable chant of tide meeting shore, these uprisings gather potential not from their first touch with land. No. These movements assemble in far away places, drawing intensity from deep shocks, and unleashing their purifying power in much grander ways. It is a very different type of emotional surge.
State of Awe is a regular trend briefing from experience designer, Jordan Kallman and event brand curator, Tyson Villeneuve at The Social Concierge. This periodic letter covers the latest wonders, most influential psychological movements, emerging ideas, tactile designs and hottest patterns keeping attendees, producers, designers, operators, sponsors, organizers and leaders engaged in the experience economy.
OUR BELIEF: Depth of experience ignites culture, culture values beauty, beauty triggers emotion, emotion deepens understanding, and understanding gives us words for things we had felt but had not previously grasped. Belong and repeat. This loop creates a more beautiful life, well-lived, deeply remembered. We must popularize the way to people’s hearts, charging bonds and linking character, lighting up this circle of experience. Encourage others to join the club. Long live the spectacular.
OUR INTENTION: A long-form digest, this letter is meant as a “Sunday read”, skimming between topics, links and references you find interesting. We summarize insights and lines of inquiry to highlight possible outcomes. Our intention is to serve you trend-driven idea candy that inspires divergent, lateral or combinational creative thinking for your own gatherings.
For new subscribers, you can find all previous digests here (certain ideas are timeless).
Arena of Safety and Security 👮♂️ Protests, Equality of Opportunity and Anti-Racism
It has been almost 4 weeks to the date of George Floyd’s death. A lot has happened, and we can’t name someone who isn't feeling the emotions. It is a historic culmination. You can see what’s happening right now (by the NYT), look back in the context of Kaepernick’s silent protest strife with the NFL, or view a longer timeline of police brutality history in the US. But whatever lens you don to view this movement, this time, this moment feels different. And empathy is winning. Black Lives Matter.
So what happens now? How do we all take part and work through the pain? The raucous consensus is that whatever happens, tomorrow needs to be different than yesterday. And holy smokes it is apparent that the experience world needs a reinvention. Yet, our belief in a solutions-oriented mindset (classic event people) has provided us with a few frameworks we are navigating. Maybe these help:
Diagnose and understand. We are quickly becoming more self-aware. We are taking the time to explore what privilege actually is, particularly in its silent forms. And we are working (this email was helpful) both within ourselves and with our festivals. We are combining pro-audit tips with anti-oppression principles. Here is a statement we made on Friday for one of our events.
The power of gifting. We dug back and resurfaced this Stanford case study on elegant framework for social good (copy of study here). It boils down to this: give “Time, Talent, Treasure or Voice”. Pick at least one. Over the past weeks we have seen great examples: from #sharethemicnow to the Black Thought Project (voice), impossible to ignore provocative art (talent), much needed donations to the right places (treasure), down to simply being present for a protest (time).
🖤 Speaking of giving voice, check out our beautiful insta section below to roll through some of incredible inspiration, all exclusively from People of Colour.
🏳️ Feeling the urge to protest? Us too. Here’s a comprehensive demonstration map.
The insight and inquiry: it’s time to hit the gas pedal. Inclusivity in events can’t be a once-a-year article. Social inequity scientifically kills people. And over here, we know we have work to do. It’s time to challenge silent race structures embedded in our gatherings, to decolonize our festivals, extend bridges to those less fortunate (to attend) and create safe spaces for all. And for those organizing rallies and protests, keep up the brave work. It’s inspiring.
Arena of Safety and Security 🦠 COVID Edition
As we progress further into the realities of the pandemic, it is obvious a divide is materializing. We have those pressing forward on in-real-life (IRL) events, while others are pivoting into the much safer virtual environment. Certain sponsors only want IRL events, while others are supporting new virtual things. Where do you stand?
⛔ With certain brands pulling funding back, gatherers are making tough decisions. For those considering IRL events, will the new protocols be enough to ensure safety?
🏟️ While we haven’t seen bigger event organizations revert to IRL events yet, it is obvious from the data that is being presented, where Live Nation intends to go.
🎭 Meanwhile, a wonderful arts study (great read) is showing that amongst cultural fans only 26 to 39 per cent would definitively return during v1 reopening (not great). While 9 out of 10 in the same study, say they are willing to pay at least part of what they would for a digital ticket or virtual experience. Is this age-related?
🗄️ If we are, as a society, going to IRL events, how might this happen? South Korea implemented a very sophisticated registry for nightlife (many pros and cons). And one for stores. Another take? Proposed compulsory testing for access. If your country’s voluntary app launches, will you register for the chance to gather?
✨ Otherwise, we might all urgently need to channel our loneliness into creativity.
Arena of the Environment
May is the month when global annual emissions peak. This May, the monthly average was above 417 parts per million (ppm). Even with reduced emissions resulting from a global quarantine, this is a never-before-seen atmospheric high. The May average only topped 400ppm for the first time in 2014. The preindustrial average was 280ppm.
🛑 We have 3637 days (less than 10 years) until we pass the 450ppm threshold, the current estimate to keep warming at two degrees celsius (source: Keeling Curve).
🏢 It is relevant even now, but also because air travel for sport, leisure and (especially) conferences create a massive carbon impact. Commercial activity in general, is also a massive impact. Good news, companies are taking action.
🌈 An event industry standard, Stripe, the payment processing company, recently released its plan to invest up to $1M per year (at any price) to be a carbon negative company. Their offset choices are very interesting (read at the above link).
The insight and inquiry: do event organizers have a responsibility to be carbon negative? If so, what steps should be taken? What experiential win-win outcomes for organizers exist?
Theatre of Long-Term Thinking
On June 9th, the tagline “can a poster change the future?” caught our eye. It was accompanied by a call to attend a party in the year 2269 (249 years from now), along with a good looking pin up. Being suckers for both a attractive poster design, as well as long-term thinking, we figured we would give this a brief moment of attention… And considering 2269 hasn’t been able to rally 100 followers in over a year since launch, we recognize that the popularity of long-term thinking might need a boost.
🎪 Why is this important, you ask? Well, starting anything new takes time. But particularly, recurring large-scale gatherings. Establishing a legitimate and sustainable annual festival takes at least a full decade, with music festivals being fastest scaling. But even a quick review of the (not complete) list of electronic music festivals, one can easily see that the vast majority root back to origins measured in decades. This can be backed up by our theory: name a large-scale festival of repute, and we can almost assure you it has been produced for 15 years or more. “Longer than one business cycle” thinking is a must-have mindset.
The insight and inquiry: in a time when we don’t know what is going to happen tomorrow, how can we cultivate a dual mindset? One focused on our immediate needs, while still keeping room for the extended vision and persistence we know we need?
📚 A few nuggets on how to practice long-term thinking. And a few exercises.
⏰ Did you know there is a foundation dedicated to fostering this type of thinking? And they are building a 10,000 year clock to prove it. The Long Now board members also have interesting perspectives on the pandemic.
🔗 How can you be a good ancestor? Put another way, what experiential heirlooms will you leave behind that the next generation will admire?
Arena of Design Thinking 🍞 Maximalist Bread Crumbs
We recognize that these historical moments of change radically alter expectations on what is desirable. The financial crisis of 2008, forever changed the dominant aesthetics of the present moment (must read for designers). How does this crisis change our desire for visual design and style?
◻️ Is this the end of a very long and dominant run for minimalism?
🃏 Do we see a stronger emergence of maximalist principles into the mainstream? Here is a particularly sharp take (big fans). How about this? And of course, this.
➿ Or do we see an expansion of “The Big Flat Now”, which theorizes, “because the internet has made subcultures equally available, we bob between them with ease”?
The insight and inquiry: we do know this traumatic time is going to change our aesthetic preferences. We will need to express ourselves in new ways. How will this affect the next decade worth of wedding florals, ballroom setups, logos and art installations?
Fads and Crazes 📱Meaningful Virtual Experiences
As always, a few quick hits to keep your exploration into virtual experiences tracking in the right direction (we started exploring this back in Digest #4):
👀 The notoriously elite World Economic Forum in Davos will be “open to all” in 2021. The Chairman “recognizes the need for more inclusive and sustainable economies”.
⛏️ Top 10 hacks for virtual events from a lot of people.
✋ Thou must taketh the oath? Nudgestock made attendees take a pledge. Clever and levelling.
💻 Reasons why virtual events are advantageous. And other helpful perspectives.
🤳 One small study highlights that virtual attendance is likely a completely different audience than your IRL community. Raises interesting questions on event-market fit.
👩💻 In our expansive search for online platforms that serve our virtual experience needs, we have come to realize that no one platform can serve all gatherings. In fact, the diversity of event styles each dictate their own use case. We think your ideal solution boils down to three audience expectations, and how each online venue delivers these outcomes: intensity of content immersion, degree of social fluidity and need for exploration and space. Framed in another way, how intimately immersed do your attendees want to be with your content? How dynamic, coincidental and personal do your attendee “networking conversations” need to be? And what degree of space is needed for both exploration and participant capacity?
We have created a short briefing covering each event style. It includes the leading emerging platforms for the more nascent categories. Interested? Read it here. Alternatively check out our visual graphic below.
Beautiful event instas to inspire your next project (from People of Colour)
🧣 Eva Sonaike’s African textiles.
🍭 Nikki Chu’s candy hearts decor.
🌿 Hilton Carter’s outrageous plant immersives (and check out his AirBnB Experience)
🧶 Justina Blakeley from Jungalow's throw pillow storytelling.
👒 Hats so big. From designer Andrea Iyamah.
😷 On point matching mask to shirt ratios from Studio One Eighty Nine.
🏳️🌈 Jade Purple Brown’s colour obsession (just the whole feed).
🕺 Antuan Byers’ wild movements.
🎻 Black Violin’s (sound on) No Justice, No Peace.
Hot morsels to ace your next event conversation
🛩️ Running late? I’ll take a flight please. Flying taxi cab pilot demand to soar by 2028.
🎫 Feeling at a loss? Events not coming back? Go Live Together is advocating for the industry.
🕶️ Mood-altering sunglasses? Science is a bit shaky, but we want to believe.
🎩 Monopoly lover? Need a digital vacation to London? Mega thread with photos from each of the physical Monopoly board locations (UK edition).
🍄 Hail from Canada? Believe in plant medicine? Sign the live petition going to the House of Commons for the decriminalization and therapeutic use of natural plant fungi.
🪑 Want to see what a socially distant theatre looks like?
💆♀️ 9 things you can do when the world is freaking out. Lessons from the stoics.
✈️ A comprehensive travel reopening timeline.
End note
This was the seventh edition of the State of Awe digest, and we want to welcome a host of new subscribers. Our circle is expanding.
As always, critical feedback is welcomed and appreciated. We would be interested to know: do you believe these digest are too long or just right? Comments open below.
If you liked this edition, and think others would too, share with your colleagues and contacts (you can direct them here, or just share this post). It would mean a lot to us.
As Ever,
Jordan + Tyson