Let’s talk about it

People are talking about … the fact that people don’t like talking anymore. Multiple studies bemoan the death of conversation. But Paul Spinrad doesn’t buy it. He believes people are eager for face-to-face conversation, especially if prompted by a specific topic.

So he created the prototype of a “Conference Calendar” and published it in print for the month of February. Multiple East Bay businesses agreed to participate in the trial run. A graphics designer friend of Spinrad’s designed the print version, which listed 27 conferences, taking place from Feb. 1 to March 3.

“I’ve always been interested in the Jewish diaspora,” Spinrad said. “Jews created community by reading [and discussing] the same thing.” Coming out of the pandemic, he said, people felt disconnected. “We need to get together and talk more. I love lectures and author talks, but what about peer-to-peer?”

He came up with numerous topics, including “Decision Support” (Feb. 1), “Paranormal Experiences” (Feb. 12) and “Procrastinators Anonymous” (March 3), and recruited six businesses and one library as conversation spaces. Each conference was hosted by a coordinator, and no recording or photography was allowed.

“February was the experiment,” Spinrad said. “We cast a wide net. Some conferences were practical, some were ‘out there.’” One conference, “Language Night: Portuguese”—at Adega Azul Wine Bar in Berkeley—was suggested by the Portuguese immigrant owners.

Overall attendance was mixed, with some events attracting many attendees and others, not. At least three of the venues, Adega Azul, and Oakland’s Mushin Social Club and Discover Community Cafe, signed on for the next round, once Spinrad creates a new calendar.

Besides “Language Night,” Adega Azul also hosted “Decision Support,” “New to the Area,” “Revolution,” “Parenting Teens” and “Prescription Drugs That We Take.” Mushin Social Club hosted “UFOs and Alien Intelligence,” “AI and Early Education” and ”Get-Rich-Quick Schemes.” Discover Community Cafe hosted “Public Banks,” “Paranormal Experiences” and “Practical Fan Fiction.”

Krystle Chipman, owner of Discover Community Cafe, felt excited when Spinrad approached her about hosting events at her venue. “We’re just celebrating our one-year anniversary, and we are all about building community,” she said. Other events that the cafe hosts tend to be mostly creative, such as “Makers & Mocktails: Tin Embossing Picture Frame.”

Events at her space went well; even the one with low attendance produced in-depth conversation. “Starting something is always like that,” she said, noting that word-of-mouth from people who participate is one of the best ways to generate future attendance. She will sign on again with the new calendar.

Like Spinrad, she doesn’t think conversation is dead. “There is a need for third spaces for people to connect,” she said. “Creating intentional spaces [to do that] is very necessary.”

As he tweaks the concept and looks to formulate another series of events, Spinrad sees many promising signs. People have offered to assist. The Berkeley Public Library North Branch is interested in hosting.

He hopes to continue his connections with other February hosts, including Milyar Coffee, Temescal Brewing, Clio’s Books and Kinfolx, as he also looks for more noncommercial spaces, he said. He’ll use the mailing list of the February conference’s attendees to reach out when the new series is ready.

He’s looking for sponsors and advertisers, although he isn’t sure if he will continue to print the calendar. Vintage movie listings inspired its print incarnation and he loved the result, but cost is a factor.

Asked about the ongoing debate on whether younger people have given up on face-to-face communication, he agreed that the younger ones “were a bit awkward” at first.

“But they are all bright people,” he said. An introvert himself, he admitted it can be challenging to show up prepared to talk to strangers. But providing an anchor topic is really helpful, he believes.

“This is a good sandbox,” he said.

To suggest a location for a future conference, email lo*******@*****al.org. To suggest new topics, email to****@*****al.org.