The Salon-Keeper's Companion
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Eric Utne
Food/Refreshments
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Breaking bread together is a time-honored social lubricant, but food can also get in the way of focused group conversation. Whether you gather for breakfast, lunch, teatime, or dinner, it's usually best to wait until everyone has finished eating before starting the group discussion. Most salon-keepers we've talked to feel that the best conversation happens without alcohol. Potlucks tend to work better for groups that already know each other. For a new salon it's usually better for the host to provide the refreshments (and possibly invite contributions to cover the costs).
Participants
Utne Reader Neighborhood Salons are not intended to be the exclusive domain of Utne Reader subscribers. Feel free to invite anyone you think would enjoy the conversation and contribute to the group. Salons can be as small as 5 or 6 people or as large as 20 to 30. A salon in San Francisco called A New American Place has grown to 80 participants. After light refreshments in one room they enter another, listen to a short presentation, break into small groups for 45 minutes to discuss what they've heard, and then reconvene for general conversation.
At the Utne Reader's Altemative Press Reading and Dining Salon, we've found that groups of 12 to 18 participants (approximately five regular participants and 10 guests) seem to work best.
Convenor/Facilitator
The roles of convenor and facilitator are distinct functions. The convenor invites the guests, provides the location, arranges the refreshments, etc. The facilitator, who could be the same person, initiates the conversation, modulates its tone, guides its direction and focus, remains aware of the time, draws out the meek, and gently but firmly quiets the boor, while witnessing and participating in the process.
The first order of business when a new salon is assembled, is to ask the group if anyone is an experienced group facilitator who'd like to serve in that role for this particular gathering. If no one steps forward the convener should facilitate.
The First Meeting
Important goals for the first meeting are to have fun, meet everyone, and draw out the participants' ideas for what the group might do together.
Upon hearing the scraping of flatware against china, the alert facilitator begins to ready him/herself to lead the group discussion. After the dishes are cleared and the coffee or tea has been poured, the facilitator welcomes the guests and announces the beginning of the salon.
Start by asking each person to take a minute and say something about who they are. Just a few sentences should be enough. Then go around the circle a second time asking people what drew them to attend and what they would most like to see happen. Encourage wild ideas. This round could be prefaced by reading the following list of possible purposes for such a group:
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