The Long Table

Parallel themed small dinners across a city on the same evening, anchored by a shared opening and closing prompt.

Overview:

Format type	Parallel themed dinners across a city
Group Size	3 to 6 tables/restaurants of 4-6 people each based on chapter size
Time of day	Evening, 7pm/8pm start
Duration	2-2.5 hours
Cadence	As part of the core rotation (every 2 months)
Pricing	Paid – members cover their own dinner
Lead effort	Medium-high
Ambassador/volunteer role	Best run with 1-2 ambassadors supporting. One ambassador acting as lead for each group.
Best for	Chapters of any size that want a flagship format. The Long Table scales - small chapters can run 3 tables of 4; large chapters can run 6 tables of 6, etc.

Signature elements:

These are the things that make this format distinctively Hemingway:

Multiple parallel tables on the same evening, in different venues, in the same city.
Each table has a theme and a host (a chapter ambassador or a volunteer.)
Every table opens with the same prompt and closes with the same prompt – set by the chapter lead.
Each table host writes a short blurb summary the next day, shared in the chapter Slack so the whole community gets a window into each table.
Members choose their table when signing up – first-come, first-served on the themes.
Optional group meet-up at a venue afterwards.

Run of show:

7pm	Arrive, hellos, get settled, order
7:20pm	Opener: shared opening prompt, each member answers in turn.
7:30pm	Conversation opens up around the theme (starters/mains)
8:15pm	Free-flowing conversation / continue discussing theme
8:45pm	Closing: each member answers closing prompt
9pm	End – optional meet up at a venue across tables

Choosing themes:

You should aim for themes to be specific enough to attract the right people and broad enough to leave room for good conversation. Aim for a mix of evergreen and timely. If you want to brainstorm themes for you chapter, just message us.

Evergreen examples: lived experience, product design, youth mental health
Timely examples: anything interesting in the news, Hemingway sessions recently covered, Slack discussion prompts where we can go deeper

Hosting a table:

Table hosts are super important to the success of the evening. They’re not moderators but gentle convenors. They make sure to lead on the prompts and to make sure that everyone gets heard. They also take notes to share in Slack the next day.

Hosts are usually chapter ambassadors but also feel free to rotate in members who are happy to volunteer. Treat hosting a table is a little honour J