Social Potluck Comes to the Glenmore Neighbourhood of Kelowna!

Social Potluck has been fortunate enough to receive a UBC Okanagan Sustainable Community Development Grant to hold the Social Potluck project in the Glenmore neighbourhood of Kelowna.
For five evenings in May, 2011 I will cook dinner for participants in exchange for a story. Those stories will be turned into a performance which those participants can attend with a guest for free as long as they bring an item to share for our giant final performance/potluck.

Dates and locations to be determined.

I am currently accepting names of interested participants.


Observations so far...

Glenmore is a large area. Using the official city map Glenmore is a sprawling area which travels from "Old Glenmore" near downtown, which is what most locals call Glenmore, north to Lake Okanagan and along Glenmore Rd. until Scenic Rd. on the right and Begbie Rd. on the left, and East to where Scenic Rd. becomes Sexsmith.
From what I can tell Glenmore is for the most part a place to have a residence. There are two small malls, one pub, a handful of take out restaurants and a few sit down restaurants. There are no civic community buildings or organizations that I can find. Churches and schools fill the role of being community centres, renting spaces to groups for events. There are numerous parks.
There are a number of large farms on the outskirts supplying fruit and vegetables.
I look forward to hearing the stories of the people who live here.

Final Potluck Performance!

On April 3^rd, 2010 in the beautiful loft of the Vernon Community School's Carriage House the first official test of the Social Potluck project came to end. It was an evening filled with food, stories, and a real sense of community.

I admit that I have a considerable bias as I was the one who organized this crazy project but judging by the feedback I feel I can stand by my comments with confidence. From my perspective as performer/host I could not have been happier. Despite my considerable nerves as I madly tried to get everything ready in time I was able to forget that feeling as soon as the guests arrived. Luckily, considering I gave people only two weeks notice as to the date, almost everyone who attended the small dinners were able to attend the final event. As soon as people started arriving I stopped feeling like I was putting on a show and started feeling like I had arranged a huge family gathering as there were hugs, gossip, recipe exchanges and addendums to stories we told two months earlier. These weren't participants in a show or project, they were my friends. I can't explain how moving those first ten minutes were to me, and this was before I started performing.

I won't dwell on the performance too much but I did try out a few different approaches to storytelling for the first time. I wanted to present a variety of story techniques to help tell as many stories in as many different ways as possible so I strayed into new areas and techniques for myself such as having hidden pieces of gossip, having the guests silently reading a story, creating appetizer story surprises, improvising a soup and story at the same time and trading desserts all while having people eating and sometimes talking. I was happy with the variety but I do look forward to the opportunity to try these techniques again knowing they do work to see how I can improve the performance and the experience.

I enjoyed the performance, actually, to be totally honest I was relieved to start the performance as I knew the material was great. If my techniques didn't work I knew I could just stand there and tell these amazing stories and everyone would be happy because they not only are great stories but they are stories about and by people who are in the room.

There were a few wonderful unplanned moments. There were great moments when someone gave away that the story I was telling was theirs. Suddenly that story was even more interesting as people started to watch this person's reactions to their own story. Sometimes the guests saved my skin. The most memorable instance was the lady who pulled a twelve foot three prong extension cord out of her purse so I could plug in my electric burner (I had brought a two prong cord and never checked). It was a team effort. I was just there to let others shine.

I would be remiss if I did not mention the food. Oh my, was there ever a lot of food. Next time I need more tables and plugs. Not only was there a lot of food brought but there was a lot of food consumed. There were only scraps left by the end of the evening but I can assure you nobody left hungry. I should add that I gave no direction as to what kind of food to bring just like I gave no direction as to what kind of story to tell and once again the participants delivered with an amazing variety of food. There was enough mains and dessert. Because the food was so great and because I heard people asking about recipes I have added a recipe/story exchange to the webpage so people can share their recipes.

Looking through the questionnaire responses I noticed many people remarked on the sense of community that was created through this project and I am beside myself happy that they felt that way. When I had initially conceiving of this idea I debated if a final performance was necessary. The small dinners were fantastic and so intimate and moving. I knew I could not recreate that in performance but simply by having a performance it allowed people an opportunity to gather again and be reunited. It also allowed for a glimpse of what kind of stories other dinners told. These guests all shared a similar experience even if they were at another dinner. A community was born based on shared experience. Judging by how much conversation there was in the lulls, the breaks and afterwords I think most people would agree with me.

My performance was intended to be a celebration of people who came to the table. I still wish I could have told or acknowledged more stories. As it was, only about thirty percent of the stories told at the small dinners made it to the final performance. This was not an issue of merit as every story could have been its own show. My goal for further editions is to increase the representation in the performance without increasing the length of the event. Two hours, including eating, is perfect, especially since I want to allow people the opportunity to stay after the show to eat and talk more.


It is over a week since this event took place and I am still amazed at the good will exhibited by the participants. There were so many generous, kind and interesting people involved that I feel truly blessed to have been able to meet everyone of them. While I have created this project to bring people together to celebrate the role of the table and stories in our community and our lives I feel that it is I who is benefiting the most. For that, all I can say is "thank you."

The Creation Process

It has been a fascinating few weeks as I have been attempting to figure out what I am going to do with all the great stories I have collected. There is so much material, so many interesting anecdotes, thoughts, ideas, images and gestures. I listened to all the recordings and took down copious notes.

I tried to find themes, common topics and ideas.


Then I threw out everything I thought I was going to do. I realized that I was trying to force an idea on the show. Before we began I thought about using the perspective of an alien to "interpret" the stories but it was a gimmick and not necessarily true to the piece. I had to figure out what the whole piece, the whole structure (as I am also creating a structure that needs to be replicated), the whole Social Potluck project is "about." This is not easy. You would think it is but it isn't.


I have gone back to the drawing board and rather than force a show out of the material I have focussed on what the whole project is about. Now that I think I know what that is (I'm not telling-it is my secret. I'll be interested what spectators think it is about) I am back to creating categories, groups, etc… that reinforce the goal of the perspective. In class we discussed creating our "sandbox," which is the set of rules we work by, and I am really happy with my sandbox. Now I just need to fill it.


I have arranged for the Vernon Community Music School to donate the use of their loft to the project in exchange for me MCing their fund-raising concert. It was an excellent show and I was glad to help. I was also glad to have their beautiful space.


April 3^rd is the date booked and now I am in a mad rush to create my set pieces, props and rehearse the show. This is the disadvantage of being a one person organization. I would rather write this blog than do the work I need to do, and there is a lot of work to do.

I am rehearsing whenever I can. I still have classes, lambs to deliver and a life to live but it is coming together. I will be interested to see what happens the next time I create this project as I won't have to recreate the structure, just the content. Presently everything feels a little overwhelming.


Two and a half weeks to go. I'll let you know how things turn out.



Gabe

 

"Social Potluck"


with
Gabriel Newman

Photo from Morning Star online

Local actor, writer and academic Gabe Newman invites the
public to his table to share their stories in the Social Potluck.

 

"The dinner table (or family/communal eating venue) is the most important performance venue in the world..." A great meal in exchange for stories becomes fodder for Gabriel, who is working on his master's thesis in performance art at UBC Okanagan, with Social Potluck as his thesis. Gabriel will share this story while in the midst of this study of exchanging cooking for stories. "Everyone has something to bring to the table..." so bring your brown bag lunch! Check out Gabriel's blogspot at http://socialpotluck.blogspot.com/

February 28

Monday 12:30-1:20pm

Lecture Theatre

 

The Kalamalka Speakers Series has been organized to bring Okanagan College and the Vernon community together to participate in and enjoy informal talks presented by Okanagan College instructors, former instructors, students, and community members. 

 

All Welcome to this free event ~ Free parking during the presentation

 

For more information please contact Okanagan College's Kalamalka Campus Library
250-545-7291 Local 2247

Picturing a Social Potluck

A profound "thank you" to Kindale who was so kind as to offer me their space. They were excited and supportive of the project AND they were willing to barter my services for the use of their facility.

Their kitchen was fully equipped with all the cutlery, utensils and cooking implements I needed. They also had a large table.

A Hungarian Paprikas Krumpli, a type of Gulyas (Goulash or stew). It is Hungarian comfort food, at least it is for me. I did add some red cabbage for colour.

A loaf of bread, otherwise how are we to "break bread" together? This is an easy recipe that makes a very tasty and aesthetically pleasing loaf.

I served some local cheeses (Happy Days Goat Dairy's soft cheese, Village Cheese's Hot Pepper Cheddar, Triple Island's Gouda and Dutchman Dairy's Aged Cheddar. The cracker's weren't local I'm afraid but I did want to highlight some of the fantastic cheese that is produced around here because... well, because I like cheese.

The microphone is set up, the food is ready, so all we need are the guests.

First Dinner

On January 23^rd, 2011 Social Potluck conducted its first dinner. It was a pre-test test with colleagues and friends; a dress rehearsal of sorts. The objective was to try out cooking in a new location, test the receptiveness of the food and to see if the format of the evening works for both myself and the guests. While there are things I will change as far as how the evening runs (like finish cooking before the guests arrive) the overall conclusion is that these dinners are a wonderful, entertaining and enlightening way to spend an evening.

I almost, almost, felt guilty doing these dinners as part of my thesis project because I enjoyed myself so much. While I was admittedly a little unorganized and distracted since it is hard to cook, serve and run the evening I couldn't help but notice how natural the gathering felt. At first the guests were a little nervous but that was quickly overcome once the first brave soul said, "I'll start because I'm nervous and I'll only feel more nervous if I have to wait to tell me story." After that first story the group felt like a bunch of old friends that were genuinely curious about each other. I am always amazed what can happen when someone puts themselves out there and takes a risk.

The stories that were told were incredibly varied; there were near death experiences, stories of coincidence, ineptitude, awakening and brushes with fame. Afterwards, I had to wonder if they were all true because they were all so… incredible and different, I guess, than my own experience even though I could see myself in most of those stories.

The most frequent question I get with this project is, "What kind of story do you want?" After this first dinner I'm realizing that the answer has always been, "What kind of story do you want to tell?" because I am not looking for a particular story. I have other projects in mind where I want to explore one idea or topic but for this project I am wondering what kind of story will people tell when they can decide the topic. Usually, when I am creating a project I will interview people looking for a particular story. Essentially, I am asking for people to "tell me the story I want to hear."This is quite typical as it is how our news, entertainment and anthropology functions. Rarely is the the question asked of the interviewee, "What story do you want to tell?"

On January 29^th I will host the first official dinner. I am very excited to hear the stories that people want to tell.

 

 

So, you want to be part of a social potluck?

Hello and welcome to the Social Potluck blog. I'm guessing you have heard about this project and either want to join up or would like some more information before signing up. That is completely understandable. If you want to sign up simply send me an email at socialpotluck@gmail.com stating that you would like to add your name to the list of possible participants. On Friday January 21^st I will put all the names in a hat and draw out the guest lists for the dinners. If your name has been selected I will contact you with the date and location for the dinner. I will also then send you a consent form so you are up to speed on what will happen. If you aren't selected don't worry as I will be doing the project again later in the spring so there will be another chance.

If you want more information the following blog posts will give a pretty thorough description of the project up to this point. I'd recommend starting from the oldest and working backwards.

If you don't want the in-depth description here is the Coles notes version of the project and what it means to you.

Who?

Gabriel Newman is a storyteller, actor, director and writer who lives in Vernon British Columbia. He has created numerous storytelling events in Vernon such as Ghost Tours of Vernon and Farm Tales, Tall Tales and Other Yarns as well as theatrical events such as Rumours of a House which took place at and about Vernon's Caetani House. He is currently completing his MFA in performance at UBC. Social Potluck is his thesis project.

What?

The philosophy of Social Potluck is that the dinner table is the most important performance venue we have as a society and that everyone has something to bring to the table. So in order to explore that I will be conducting a Social Potluck project which will combine local food and stories into a theatrical production.

On the evenings of January 29^th and 30^th as well as February 4^th, 5^th and 6^th at 6:30 pm I will be hosting dinners for 5-10 people (this is where you come in). The dinner doesn't cost anything but participants must be prepared to share a story (preferably a story you tell often, if you can't think of what that is just ask your family, they'll know. If you are still stuck don't worry something will come to you while you listen to others) with the rest of the diners. Before the meal starts we will take turns sharing our stories (which I will record as my memory isn't very good). Afterward we will eat and talk. No pressure.

After all the dinners are completed I will take all those stories as well as whatever occurred while we ate (what I can remember) and I will try to create a theatrical performance which will be performed in late March/early April. If you took part in a dinner then you are welcome to attend free of charge but you must bring some food to share as well will have a big potluck at the end of the performance.

So there you have it. It is free, it is fun, it will be tasty, local and about you. Well, to be completely honest I can't guarantee what I land up using for the final performance as there will be around 25-50 stories told, not to mention everything that is discussed after the meals are over. I may not tell your story, or I may combine it with other stories or I may change it. I don't know so you need to be willing to have your story be used as inspiration for artistic creativity.

Where?

Aha! The dinners will be in a secret location which will be disclosed when your name is selected. The dinners will be held in a non traditional space but don't worry it will be homey and comfortable.

When?

Dinners are held on the evenings of January 29^th and 30^th as well as February 4^th, 5^th and 6^th at 6:30. The final performance will be held late March/early April at a yet undisclosed location (let me know if you know of one I can have for free).

Why?

Because it will be a chance to eat good local food while talking to interesting strangers who live in your home town all while contributing to a theatrical performance. You may never think of dinner parties the same way.

How much?

Free, this project is based on barter. You are paying me for the meal with your story because your story has value to me. Later when I perform for you, you will pay me by bringing food for everyone to share. I think it is a fair trade and I hope you do to.

To Sign Up?

Send an email to socialpotluck@gmail.com to sign up or if you have further questions.