Comments on: Professional Workshops http://www.plimoth.org/embroidery-blog/2009/02/08/professional-workshops/ The blog for Plimoth Plantation's 17 Century embroidered jacket project. Tue, 15 Dec 2009 02:44:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Rachel http://www.plimoth.org/embroidery-blog/2009/02/08/professional-workshops/comment-page-1/#comment-2687 Rachel Tue, 15 Dec 2009 02:44:23 +0000 http://www.plimoth.org/embroidery-blog/?p=1456#comment-2687 I work in the costume production industry (for theatre, ballet, opera, etc), and this post strikes a chord. I have worked in a couple of shops which had strict "no talking" rules--in these places, unless you had a question for your supervisor or team leader about work, you were expected not to talk. No chit-chat, no small-talk, just working. We all took breaks together at the same time for lunch and midday, and we could talk to one another then in a social manner, but otherwise, everyone was plugged into their headphones or working in complete silence. The first week i worked at a shop with that rule (after years of working only in chatty shops), i was SHOCKED at how much we all got done each day. It's not always possible to enforce such a policy--particularly shops with any kind of volunteer support, as you say--but boy, it sure makes for productive work. I work in the costume production industry (for theatre, ballet, opera, etc), and this post strikes a chord. I have worked in a couple of shops which had strict “no talking” rules–in these places, unless you had a question for your supervisor or team leader about work, you were expected not to talk. No chit-chat, no small-talk, just working. We all took breaks together at the same time for lunch and midday, and we could talk to one another then in a social manner, but otherwise, everyone was plugged into their headphones or working in complete silence. The first week i worked at a shop with that rule (after years of working only in chatty shops), i was SHOCKED at how much we all got done each day. It’s not always possible to enforce such a policy–particularly shops with any kind of volunteer support, as you say–but boy, it sure makes for productive work.

]]> By: Jane/Chilly Hollow http://www.plimoth.org/embroidery-blog/2009/02/08/professional-workshops/comment-page-1/#comment-2534 Jane/Chilly Hollow Sun, 08 Feb 2009 16:31:34 +0000 http://www.plimoth.org/embroidery-blog/?p=1456#comment-2534 Fascinating! I assumed that there would be quiet talk among pairs of embroiders who spend their work day together. Of course if all you do is talk, well, nothing gets done. I still feel that solid friendships would develop among many folks who work elbow to elbow so that when these partnerships were severed, folks would often not be happy. But you are right, very often a professional workshop would demand quiet. It's an interesting point, and one that we probably can't go into except by mining our own experiences. I imagine this is something no one thought to talk about at the time! Fascinating! I assumed that there would be quiet talk among pairs of embroiders who spend their work day together. Of course if all you do is talk, well, nothing gets done.

I still feel that solid friendships would develop among many folks who work elbow to elbow so that when these partnerships were severed, folks would often not be happy. But you are right, very often a professional workshop would demand quiet.

It’s an interesting point, and one that we probably can’t go into except by mining our own experiences. I imagine this is something no one thought to talk about at the time!

]]>