6 Minutes of Witchcraft: Classroom Event Etiquette

Last updated on: February 26, 2020 at 1:56 pm by Laura Tempest Zakroff

6 Minutes of Witchcraft: Classroom Event Etiquette 2020-02-26T13:56:17-08:00 Laura Tempest Zakroff

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

As things begin to warm up here in the Northern Hemisphere, the festival/event/convention season is kicking off. Time to see old friends, meet new people, discover new practices, build traditions, shop for shiny things, and make the most of your time and money. It’s also a great time to freshen up on event etiquette, especially the parts that involve classes, workshops, rituals, and other presentations – so that you (and everyone else) can have a good time. And not be THAT person.

Photo by Manja Vitolic on Unsplash

Who’s THAT person?
A couple years ago, my partner and I went to see Jackson Galaxy speak – on our wedding anniversary. Because that’s what crazy cat ladies do. Before the Q&A section began, Jackson very clearly outlined he was NOT going to diagnose anyone’s cat – and to NOT ask him to do that. This was not the place or the time, so please for the love of all that is furry and purrs, DO NOT ask that of him.

The first lady who got a hold of the microphone, began to ask him about her cat’s problems. He reminded her of what he just said. She continued anyway with her story. He interrupted her again. A third time she plowed ahead deeper into her backstory, much to the exasperation of the rest of the very crowded room until an event organizer moved the microphone along to someone else.

I’m sure she meant well. Maybe she thought that buying a ticket to the event entitled her to getting a personal answer to her problem, despite what was clearly stated in the description and repeated very clearly. Maybe there were other issues at play with her that weren’t immediately obvious. But nonetheless was clearly frustrating for Jackson as well as the 300+ people in the room.

How Not to be THAT person
This episode focuses on some basic event etiquette *especially focusing* on classes, lectures, workshops, rituals, panels, etc. It’s vital to listen, be respectful of teachers and guides – as well as your fellow students/participants. I break down the most common kinds of presentations found at events, and what one can typically expect format-wise. Then I talk about some other crucial tidbits to keep in mind (and there’s more notes after the video):

I didn’t define these things in the video – but a comment is basically adding information or sharing a story – it feels like you’re adding to the discussion, but keep in mind that not all classes are set-up as a conversation. Your experience is absolutely valid and interesting, but unless the format of the event is set-up for sharing, please save it for later. This is a great away to avoid being hexed by your fellow classmates. A question should directly relate to the material being discussed, and doesn’t require an extensive backstory to get to the point of the question. Think of it like Twitter meets Jeopardy! – is it under 140 characters, in the form of a question, and applicable to what’s being discussed?

Photo by Edwin Andrade on Unsplash

Also, “for later” is up to the presenter. For me personally, events are crazy. I’m vending, teaching, performing, and usually herding some cats. I’m also probably hungry or ready to crawl into a cave (introvert). So email tends to be the best format for me to be able to absorb what’s being said in a comfortable setting. So it’s best to ask a presenter if you catch them after an event, “Is this a good time to talk?” rather then railroading them as they try to get somewhere (or hide for a bit). Even if they’re sitting quietly somewhere, don’t assume that’s a sign that they’re free. They may be preparing for a ritual or collecting themselves. If they’re at a booth, don’t interrupt an active customer to ask your question – and don’t block the booth either. Basically – be respectful of their time and energy.

For teachers, I recommend setting guidelines up front – it does tend to help control the wave – regardless of whether you have 20 or 200 people to corral. And to event organizers, do consider having roundtable discussions – guided by experienced moderators. They can provide such a valuable opportunity for folks to be able to share in an environment that’s designed for it.

Obviously there is also a LOT to be said about issues and protocol regarding consent, hygiene, expected behaviors, and other human interactions. Most medium to large size events (as well as groups) have a clearly stated policy about these things especially, so you need to be sure to read them fully before attending – so you know the rules and your rights in these situations. This will help prevent awkward moments and also give you direction on what to do with potential situations that may be problematic.

Previous Post

February 24, 2020

Sigil Witchery: The Uplifting Sigil

Next Post

March 4, 2020 6 Minutes of Witchcraft: Money, Magic, & Getting Paid

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Art Books cats cauldron month community contest Events home Metaphysics Modern Practice Movement Myth & Folklore satire sigils Tradition travel Uncategorized video

Select a Month May 2026 March 2026 January 2026 September 2025 August 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 August 2024 June 2024 May 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 February 2023 December 2022 November 2022 September 2022 July 2022 May 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz