Table Props

Got my mind on the banquet table today to see what kind of props we can use to make key learning points. So, let's see what's on the table, knife, fork, spoon, coffee cup, water glass, plate, centrepiece, side plate, tablecloth, serviette - and then there's the food. What catches my eye is the centrepiece. What is a centrepiece for, exactly?

Let's look at it. Centrepieces aren't really necessary and don't have any real function, but they are usually a part of a banquet. Think back to the last banquet wedding you went to, or evening conference banquet. Someone spent a goodly amount of time on that centrepiece.

A centrepiece is like a rallying point. We all sit around the table in posiitions of equal rank, and the flowers or candles or whatever is in the middle defines us as a group. A group that is separate from other groups and tables. The nature of what is in that centrepiece is important too, as it tends to reflect something about the reason for being at the banquet. Balloons say something very different than long stemmed roses in a centrepiece. A clown doll surrounded by flowers cuts a different image than a paper wedding cake with sparklers.

This makes me ask the questions: "What for centrepieces do we have in our lives? How do we define our groups? What would be in the perfect centrepiece for your family, your work team, your company, your community."

An interesting activity would be ask a particular group to design a centrepiece. They could make them on paper or really go out and make them, perhaps for a culminating dinner or luncheon. Maybe each group could make the centrepiece for their table that best reflects their experiences at the presentation, conference, training or workshop.

Well, that is enough on centrepieces. Tomorrow let's look around for more low effort props and see where the imagination takes us.