blueprints

When Something Goes Wrong—And It Will | 281
probably decide to go on. For one thing, if the person is or was really close
to the organization, he or she would probably want this. (Don’t say this,
though, if you don’t think it’s true.) For another thing, people often want to
be in company after a catastrophic event, and poetry is uniquely suited to
helping people process strong human emotion. Something like a poetry reading
might be precisely what your community requires.
However, you don’t want to make this decision hastily or automatically;
take into account the feelings of everyone involved, including poets, participants,
constituents, audience members, and your board and staff. When the
immediate drama is over, check with your poet or poets; if they are game to
do something, circulate quietly among the audience and participants. If
people are simply in the mood to leave, they will begin to do so—and there
is your answer. But if they seem to want to stay behind and be together, you
can proceed with your event, though gently and probably differently, in a
way that acknowledges and even incorporates what has happened. If your
event is a reading, your poet will probably give a different reading than she
had originally planned. If it’s a workshop, she may switch lesson plans, perhaps
working explicitly with elegy or catastrophe.
If there’s a little time between your community’s tragedy and your
event, you might incorporate a reading or other kind of brief celebration
into the event in honor of the person. If he is or was a poet whose work
received a lot of critical attention, it might even be appropriate to incorporate
some sort of panel about the work. But don’t be overly self-indulgent
as an organization. Be loving but dignified and restrained.
Fire, Gas Leak, or Similar Problem During the Event
This is simple but not easy. If you experience a fire, smell gas or chemicals,
or have any similar kind of problem, evacuate immediately. Again, it’s
probably a good idea to designate in advance your calmest board or staff
member to be in charge of this while your next calmest person calls the fire
department or emergency services. The point person should very calmly
make a general announcement about the problem and give instructions
about how to proceed. Your staff and board members should then circulate
among your participants, making sure that everyone is heading steadily and
calmly to the exits. You are responsible for making sure everyone gets out
and for checking the restrooms and other anterooms before you leave
yourself.