Last week I was writing about some unexpectedly different opportunities that came my way. I ended the week with one very fun assignment I need to tell you about!
Jayne Hannah, Director of Corporate Events, at Teambonding®, contacted me for help with a Hands On Mural project. Teambonding® custom designs team building programs for large corporations, non-profits and universities, meeting and event planners as well as hotel, resorts and conference centers.
There were 130 participants for this particular Teambonding experience. The Hand Mural was just a small part of their busy day. The very organized, Jayne Hannah, knew this mural project was going to have to be done quickly and efficiently, so she had it well planned out. I was allowed to bring an assistant, and Jayne also provided several helpers where and when needed. This event was held in the Rose Kennedy Ballroom at the lovely Intercontinental Hotel in Boston. I could not have had a better team to work with. Chris Smith happily agreed to join me that day, and Jayne brought along 3 other very competent team members. As soon as lunch was over and the ballroom empty, the Hand Mural team flew into high gear, readying the room for their return. We covered the floor beneath the 13 large, round tables with plastic. More plastic went on the table tops. Chairs were moved around. Paint supplies were laid out on all tables. Chris and I had done a bit of prep work the previous day. I had pre-cut 150 twelve inch RocLon® fabric squares for the hand prints and Chris hemmed a 10" x 10" piece of canvas. After a feverish 45 minute transformation of the ballroom, our participants returned.
Jayne explained the project, although they did not know what was going to be done with the hand prints they would be making. That would be revealed later in the day. I gave a quick demonstration of how they were to do their hand print. Each table was given a specific color paint to use. Using a small, foam roller, they would roll the paint onto one hand and stamp their canvas square with their imprint. Wet Wipes and paper towels were at each table for clean up. The Hand Print Team ran around from table to table, assisting where needed. The hand prints came out great!
Next, the participants were given an afternoon assignment, which was a Scavenger Hunt through the streets of Boston. They exited the ballroom in teams of 13, armed with backpacks and GPSs to find clues around the city. As soon as they were out the door, the Hand Print Team once again, sprang into action.
Chris, armed with her hot glue gun, tacked down a rod pocket on the 10" x 10" canvas. Other team members cut out the hand shapes, cleaned up the tables, and picked up the plastic. I sketched out the outline of the shape the hands would form. We were to have the 130 hands form the shape of the company logo of the client.
The logo was projected onto a screen. It looks like a giant comma.
Here you can see the hands all laid out. The center was left blank, for a slogan that would later be placed there. Because we had a limited time frame to do this project, none of us could stop and take pictures of the actual progress! Everyone eagerly pitched in, helping Chris and I arrange the hands. We used a permanent spray adhesive to attach all of these hands, so you can imagine how quickly we were working! Not to mention, how carefully we were working to keep the adhesive from getting everywhere in this ballroom.
This close up shows you how neat all the hands look together! It was important to have them all touching at some point, a key component of the participants team building experience.
When everyone returned from the Scavenger Hunt, the Hands On Mural was revealed!
After a long day, a happily exhausted Jayne and Chris are ready to go home! Chris and I thoroughly enjoyed this experience and the opportunity to work with Jayne Hannah and be a part of this Team Building experience. We look forward to future assignments!
