House of Tea @38C3

This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong.
====== Recapture and Ideas ======

**To save memories, observations and findings from last year and also collect ideas for the next event.**


===== 38C3 - Recapture: =====


==== Memories ====
{{ :photo38c3:ima_3880c84.jpeg?200|}}
- Shared infrastructure!!!

- Disco teapot.

- The projector at the ceiling.

- Books and how they were treasured.

- A "spontaneous" literary session, which actually brought a couple of beings together. There was already a session. As it was not possible to create a second session at the same time in the Fahrplan, they created a room House of Tea 2 to announce it. It was nice to see, at least four or five beings still found themselves and joined more or less spontaneously.

- Some sessions would just look for each other and spontaneously decide to move, to settle, to start. fascinating!

- The amount of cushions and carpets was fantastic, always something available to cozy up on, especially the larger pillows!

- cuddles, people resting.

- Our decor was just about perfect, veery cozy! splendid lights, thanks f.! <3

- The music was fantastic, thank you Jérémie <3

- amazing contributions of tea! we had enough tea (and quite some leftover)

- in the end the shoe situation was very much manageable. (i did once or twice push them in with my foot, but rarely were more than a couple square meters occupied by shoes outside of the space... like 15-20 pairs max...). the mix of shelves and dedicated areas worked well.


==== Observations ====
{{ :photo38c3:7ce7e6eb814e7dfc.jpeg?200|}}
- It was hard to realize how many sessions happened in our space, because they blended in so much. Which is good, but it does not make it easy to find them.

- There was at times barely enough space to have self-organized sessions. This is fine, but we should communicate that HoT is a rather crowded space for self-organized sessions

- sometimes organizers/participants to sessions appeared frustrated.

- Ventilation was NOT good.

- dishwashing was chaotic. many people put stuff in it. impossible to track when water had been changed, ways of "closing" the wash evolved but still imperfect. major safety/health issue.

- Helped a sight impaired being. Explained the concept of joining a table and be served some tea there. Offered a cup and gave it to them. Then guided them to a place right next to where we stood to not need to navigate through our space and later back. Helped finding a cushion on the floor and gave orientation about position and size of the table. Immediately the beings at the table took over and welcomed them. I told them to raise a hand, if any problems emerge. This was welcomed with great relief, but comes with a commitment after offering it. Later I asked, if I can leave and the beings at the table said they already spoke about how to get out and it is fine. And by the way, the replacement floor guidance system is working very well (from a not very representative poll of one).

- The overflow area was working great as shared infrastructure. It was not really used by us but by a lot of other groups. Additionally there emerged some nice little pockets, where beings could find rest. We may want to rethink the whole side to make it more comfortable there, although it is "outside".
===== 39C3 - Ideas: =====
{{ :photo38c3:1000014427.jpg?200|}}
What projects to show. What deco to bring. What to change. What to keep. How to do things.

- Are power banks for deco compatible with fire regulations? If so, do we want to organize a recharging infrastructure and take care about it?

- A sign we can put on the tables (or hang from the cables) to announce sessions. Who wants to talk about a certain topic, puts it on a table and waits for beings to join the discussion. May be possible with LED. Or just a laminated paper to write on, sticked into a small holder. < how about something that can be suspended to our structure, hanging above a selected area... (could slowly light up 10min before an activity, and mark it when fully lit up)

- Additional Gaiwans and an info sheet for 工夫茶/gōngfū chá for the more rare Chinese teas

- at least 10 more teapots (if not 20) + at least 20 more infusers.

- more robust plan for dishwashing, including lids, and maybe timetable of when it has been done and when it was changed, to track water cleanliness?

- more different playlists

- a proper bookcase, that could be shared as part of the "soft separation" between the coffee nerds

- clearer signage, including for the wash, the deposit and the sessions

- more actively fundraising during the event

- better display (enabling better sorting) of the tea

- much more tulle for the "ceiling" and maybe a mix of tulle and taft?

- disco-teapot used completely differently?