Bringing Together Your Own Salon

“The Salon-Keeper’s Companion,” published by the Utne Reader, provides specific information on the structure and organization of salons. The following information is excerpted from that brochure, written by Eric Utne.

Just inviting a group of people over to talk about what they’re thinking and obsessing about lately does not in itself ensure a successful salon. What follows are a few suggestions from some seasoned salon-keepers about how to have a salon that’s stimulating, involving and might even change the world.

Sometimes a group begins meeting using the salon format and evolves into a council or study circle, or some other form, like a book club, consciousness-raising group, coven or twelve-step program. One thing leads to another.

A place to meet

Salons can happen just about anywhere, but some spaces are more conducive to conversational intimacy than others. Ideally the gathering will take place in someone’s home, in a space just large enough to seat the entire group in a circle. There should be no external distractions (telephones, traffic noise, etc.).

Food/refreshments

Food can get in the way of focused group conversation. It’s usually best to wait until everyone has finished eating before starting the group discussion. Most salon-keepers we’ve talked to feel that the best conversation happens without alcohol.

Participants

Salons can be as small as 5 or 6 people or as large as 20 to 30. We’ve found that groups of 12 to 18 (approximately five regular participants and 10 guests) seem to work best.

Convener/facilitator

The convener invites the guests, provides the location, arranges the refreshments, etc. The facilitator, who could be the same person, initiates the conversation, modulates its tone, guides its direction and focus, remains aware of the time, draws out the meek, and gently but firmly quiets the boor, while witnessing and participating in the process.

The first meeting

Important goals for the first meeting are to have fun, meet everyone, and draw out the participants’ ideas for what the group might do together.

The first order of business is to ask the group if anyone is an experienced group facilitator who’d like to serve in that role for this particular gathering. If no one steps forward, the convener should facilitate.

Start by asking each person to take a minute and say something about who they are. Then go around the circle a second time asking people what drew them to attend and what they would most like to see happen. Encourage wild ideas. This round could be prefaced by reading the list of some potential directions for the group.

It is helpful if the facilitator can be open and sharing from the outset. This will help others to open up. Include your feelings and values, not just your ideas.

The facilitator should check for the group’s readiness to formulate a vision and mission. This could take several meetings, especially if the group is large and the objectives of its members are diverse. Suggestions for a mission could be written by each member and discussed, or a group meditation could be held, or the council process could be invoked. It may be that your group never reaches consensus about what to do together. It may subdivide into a variety of forms.