Key Takeaways
- Strategic Layouts: Match the seating to the objective—use circular formats for brainstorming and pod seating for design sprints to set the right creative energy.
- Reliable Infrastructure: Ensure a seamless presentation by preparing backup power for projectors and a dedicated, separate Wi-Fi network for guests.
- Comfort & Hospitality: Pre-cool the room, seal windows to block Dhaka’s traffic noise, and provide a refreshment area with local tea to keep attendees engaged.
The Role of Coworking Spaces for Creative Communities
Organizing events can be quite challenging at times, even in a smaller space, especially if we consider huge cities like Dhaka, where just getting there often feels like half the job is already done. Now that your attendees have made it to this point, it’s time to make sure everything goes fine afterwards.
With the growing number of startups, freelancers, and creative professionals in Bangladesh, meetings have become an essential part of everyday work. Most of their work involves community meetings. So, if you decided to hold a meeting for your local creative community, for training, or for pitching investors, organizing meeting rooms will be an essential task in this scenario.
5 Tips to Optimize Meeting Rooms for Coworking Events
Setting the Right Energy
Not every meeting needs to take place in a rigid, overly formal boardroom environment. On the contrary, a bunch of heavy furniture may destroy all the creative mood that was raised during the workshop.
It will be smart to talk with the client regarding their objectives before moving anything. It is always a good idea to first understand the purpose of the meeting. A quick conversation with the organizer or client can help determine the most suitable layout. For brainstorming sessions, tables should be arranged in a circle/semicircular format for better interaction. When it comes to design sprints or developer team meetings, pod seating arrangement is a must.
Technical Infrastructure Setup
A blackout during an important presentation is certainly something that shouldn’t happen under any circumstances. Something as simple as a power outage during an important presentation can leave a negative impression. For this reason, consider where the power will come from before bringing any equipment inside. It would be advisable to prepare an uninterrupted power supply for the projector, main computer, and Wi-Fi router. Moreover, creating a separate Wi-Fi network for guest devices would help avoid problems.
It’s also a good idea to ensure the availability of backup boxes containing various sets of HDMI cords, adapters, and multi-plug sets.
Beat the Heat and Avoid the Noise
Dhaka is hot, and a packed room can become stuffy very quickly. Therefore, you should turn the air conditioning on and adjust the temperature to your liking at least half an hour before anyone comes in.
Not only do you have to take care of the temperature, but you also have to pay attention to the noise. Commercial districts of Banani, Dhanmondi, and Gulshan are known for their hustle and bustle. Verify that the windows are sealed so that the traffic and construction noise don’t distract the attendees. If there are glass walls in the room, it’s advisable to draw the curtains, but not too much to keep the place from looking like a cave.
Local Hospitality Counts
While ergonomic seating is important, it’s even more critical that everyone feels welcomed. A discreetly set-up refreshment area in one corner of the room works wonders for this purpose.
Stock it with a thermos of hot water, good quality tea bags, coffee, and local cookies. This keeps participants energized throughout the event and gives them a natural place to socialize between the brief five-minute intervals. It may seem like a small detail, but such hospitality is highly appreciated in our culture.
Buffer the Booking Periods
Lastly, always plan for a buffer period when organizing your coworking events. For a meeting starting at 4:00 PM, consider booking the room from 3:15 PM.
There are many unknowns in the traffic situation, and allowing the organizers an additional 45 minutes to set everything up, connect their laptops to the projector, check that the sound system works, and take a deep breath will help remove a considerable burden from them.
In conclusion, organizing productive coworking meetings does not necessarily involve spending a fortune or choosing a fancy hotel conference room. It merely requires some understanding and paying attention to a few practical details.
