There's a space that I love in Miami, Lagniappe. I love it because they have music every night, and they attract talented artists. I also love that the listening room is small. So small that it's not uncommon to be sharing a couch with a stranger. The place is so popular that people arrive hours early to claim a decent seat! Is it the music or the venue? Both.
When we bring people like us together, to experience something bigger than ourselves, and inspired to take action - connection happens. Space amplifies the "connections" between one another.
A small space of twenty to thirty people gathered to listen to music feels intimate, close, and focused. By contrast, a stadium of twenty to thirty people gathered to listen to music feels disconnected, distant, empty.
A stadium filled with thousands of people singing along with their favorite artist feels inspiring, energizing, and as if you're part of something bigger. How about a small space packed with hundreds of people and nowhere to move?
If you want to bring people together in a way that inspires them to act, consider the space. Consider where your tribe likes to assemble, how they like to gather, the size of the groups when they do congregate, and whether or not you're bringing them together for a focused and intimate experience, or helping them see the bigger picture.
Below, I’ve included a useful chart made available by Apartment Therapy by way of Priya Parker’s book, “The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why it Matters.”
Size matters.
