Get a taste of Tummeling at the Lecture on February 16, 2011, 5:45pm to 7:30pm

Everyone wants to be heard and a magical "community" to appear around their talks, business or web site. But most group formation fails and most presentations bore or drive people away on their phones.

The key is to have a tummler to catalyze conversation and connections. Tummeling is a model for managing in a post-hierarchical setting and is a critical skill set that can catalyze a group and set the tone so it can evolve into community. The communities that fail, whether dying out from apathy or being overwhelmed by noise, are the ones that don't have someone there making the space genuine, cherishing the conversation, setting the tone, creating a space to speak, and rapidly segregating those intent on damage. We don't have a English name for this role; they get called 'Moderators' or 'Community Managers' or 'CEOs', and because when they're doing it right you see everyone's conversation or feel the connected environment, not their careful craft, so this role is often ignored.

How do you create the conditions for conversation for many people? How do people genuinely connect with each other and with you or your company?

Influenced by the web and her community of it's earliest makers, innovative comedian Heather Gold began creating a way to involve the "audience" in her shows, scale conversation and hasten intimacy over a decade ago.  In this lecture she'll show the basic differences between presentation and conversation and the assumptions underneath each. More entertainingly (and usefully) she demonstrates these ideas by creating a great, relevant conversation in the room so that all can feel the difference.

Work directly with Heather and really understand the art of a conversation at the Unpresenting Workshop on February 17, 2011, 10:00am to 3:00pm

(Location to be determined)

About our Speaker

Heather Gold is an innovative artist and web veteran (Apple, SXSWi) who sculpts social space as a comedian, solo performer, speaker and talk show host. She involves the people formerly known as the audience in her shows and shares her insights hosting Tummelvision.tv the leading podcast about the social art of business, tech and culture. Heather often appears in media like NPR, Wired and TWIT.tv and in popular keynotes at places like Google, Web 2.0 and YLE, Finland's BBC. Much to her parents' delight she has degrees from Yale and Northwestern Law.

Unfinished Business Series

Unfinished Business Events are monthly lectures and workshops co-organized  and designed by Torch Innovation, Normative Design, and Strategic Innovation Lab at OCAD. The lectures share perspectives on creativity, design and innovation and the accompanying workshops provide attendees with practical skills that they can use in their teams and organizations.

Free seats for lecture available for OCADU faculty and students with valid OCADU ID at the door.