Reflections on Hosting a Sold-Out Workshop at Hyper Japan
Hosting a workshop at HYPER JAPAN has been an incredibly exhilarating and rewarding experience. It comes with its fair share of challenges and learning opportunities. In this blog post, I reflect on my recent experience as a workshop host, sharing insights, lessons, and the unexpected moments that made it a memorable journey.
The Preparation Phase
Preparation is the cornerstone of any successful workshop. It started months in advance with brainstorming ideas and developing a cohesive and engaging topic. The goal was to create an interactive and informative session that would leave participants with tangible takeaways - specifically focused on how to wrap with furoshiki.
I spent countless hours researching trends, curating content, and designing engaging ways that aligned with the everyday use of furoshiki.
Securing materials and resources was another critical aspect. This included choosing the right materials to make the furoshiki bags, choosing the right design, making the bags as well as sourcing things I needed to use as example ‘presents’ to wrap, everything needed to be seamless and ready to use. Coordination with the HYPERJAPAN organisers was vital to ensure all logistical elements were in place, from area setup to technical support.
In addition to all of this, I also had another significant challenge. I had Covid-19 in the weeks running up to these workshops. I was incredibly worried I wouldn’t make it at all - but I did!
Building Engagement
One of the core philosophies of my workshop was to make it as interactive as possible. When the session begins, attendees often appreciate clear demonstrations where they can engage directly with the content and with each other.
By incorporating group learning, various live demonstrations, and Q&A segments within the workshop itself ensured its overall success. Creating such an engaging environment encourages collaboration and discussion can foster deeper understanding and retention of the furoshiki wrapping styles covered in the workshop.
The Day of the Workshop
The day began with a blend of excitement and nervousness. Arriving early to the venue allowed me to set up and check everything setup in the way I needed for the workshop.
As participants trickled in, the initial icebreaker activities helped set a positive tone. These activities are especially important in easing any tension and making the audience more receptive. Observing their enthusiastic participation was reassuring and set the stage for a productive session.
Delivering the Content
Delivering the content was both the most rewarding and challenging part of hosting the furoshiki workshop. Keeping the audience engaged required a dynamic presentation style, weaving in anecdotes, real-life examples, and humour where appropriate.
Balancing the depth of content to cater to all kinds of learners was another challenge. I sought to provide value to a diverse audience necessitated a flexible approach, offering deeper insights to those who sought this while also covering the basics comprehensively.
Participant Interaction
The highlight of the workshop was undoubtedly the interaction with participants. Their questions, perspectives, and feedback enriched the session, turning it into a vibrant dialogue rather than a one-sided lecture. One memorable moment was the overall group participation, where participants began to support one another. This dynamic provided them with valuable support.
Reflecting on the Feedback
Receiving feedback is crucial for continual improvement. The session ended with a open invitation to please reach out and provide feedback, with a direct ask for participants to share their thoughts on what worked well and what could be improved. I have sought to analyse all feedback provided valuable insights into making any future workshops even more successful.
One of the overwhelmingly positive pieces of feedback was the appreciation for the practical, hands-on approach. Participants valued the real-world applications and the opportunity to apply what they learned immediately.
Final Thoughts
Hosting a workshop at a conference is a fulfilling experience that offers numerous opportunities for growth and learning. It demands meticulous preparation, flexibility in execution, and a genuine passion for sharing knowledge. Reflecting on my experience, I realise that while challenges are inevitable, they are also learning points that contribute to becoming a better facilitator.
The connections made, the knowledge shared, and the mutual learning process make the effort worthwhile. For anyone considering hosting a workshop, my advice is to embrace the journey with its ups and downs, for it is in these moments that true growth and connection happen.