Activity 3C: Observe and record

We were asked to choose a location where we have not been before.  This was our primary site and we had to choose a Bingo hall, Football match or Casino. We were then asked to choose another location that we would do it as part of our everyday activities. This was our secondary site and we could choose out of the list given (coffee shop, public library, bus or railway station etc) or one of our own choosing that we encounter regularly. This activity could be completed in a group or with a friend and it was not to be done alone.

Once our primary and secondary choices were made we had to spend some time in the different locations watching people going about there business and observing how they behaved. Also we had to think how we felt being put in a situation where we were made to feel uncomfortable.

Our primary site was the main focus of this assignment and the secondary site provided practise in observation, therefore we had to record our observations in both sites in a way that was appropriate, being careful not to annoy anyone or invade their privacy.

Here is my results…….

A group of us went to the Bingo as our primary site as none of us had been there before. After explaining we were students and as part of our course we were here to observe, the staff were very friendly and helpful. We just needed to sign up and didn’t pay to get in (which was good being a student !). 

We made our way through to the main hall passing through a small room with gambling machines. This room was very noisy with a very “casino like” feel to it. It was all lit up with bright lights flashes at you trying to entice you to play.

At this point I felt quite nervous to carry on into the bingo hall as I began to feel quite out of place.

We carried on into the bingo hall where there was already a game started. This made us very unsure of what to do/where to go/ where to sit. I felt quite threatened and scared to do something wrong as other people coming in seem to know exactly what to do.

There were two levels to the bingo hall therefore we decided to sit upstairs. This gave us a better view to observe and also gave us the chance to take some sneaky photos.

The staff interact with the players quite a lot however, not as much whilst the game is in play. They come round with change and to call out the callers’ numbers.  I got the feeling that their role is to encourage people to spend money but not in a pressurised way, more in a persuasive way as they are in an environment they are comfortable in.  It’s a very uniformed environment I suppose this makes it much easier for the customer to feel like they’re in an environment they understand. The seating layout is designed to be more personal for the customer rather than a very impersonal “church like” experience. The atmosphere is very repetitive as its noisy/friendly with chattering then when the game starts its deadly silent/serious and full of concentration. In between games its like a muttering of disappointment mixed with how close it was to winning/ getting ready for the next game starting. Almost like a circle of expectation, disappointment, daily life going round and round.

My secondary site I choose was a dance class, which I encounter very much as my daily activities. I didn’t manage to take any photos for this site as it wasn’t allowed due to children being in the class.

As this was a more social activity I found it very different to the bingo hall. The first thing I found was I wasn’t nervous at all about observing in this site as I was so familiar with being there. As the dance class is extremely busy if parents and there children are a little late they don’t have a choice where to sit its just where ever there is a space free. However you do get some groups of parents coming early enough to get “their table” and saving it for the rest. Also being a weekly class you start to see people not wanting to sit at a certain table because they know who normally sits there. Almost scared to take that table because they know it’s someone elses territory.  I found in some families the children now just get dropped of and then it’s a case of the children doing the same thing they keep seats for there friends coming in. The atmosphere it very noisy/friendly with parents chattering away over a coffee whilst there children are up dancing. The children behave very responsive to the teacher as they’re wanting to learn more steps and are enjoying themselves.

Activity 3D: Discussion

The primary site we easily discussed as a group finding out what others thought and felt. Most of the group felt the same on the way into the bingo hall (being nervous and scared). However one of my classmates felt quite excited to be going and ended up getting a free book and staying to play a game or too after we left. Another classmate felt the same as me almost, like an outsider. I think this was because the majority of people playing bingo were older ladies and as we are young people customers were obviously wondering why we were there sitting watching and not playing. I think also some people were curious as to why we were taking notes.

As a group we were more than enticed to go back as they came round with deals on other games and free games as we were new members.

The secondary site I discussed with my family. They were intrigued to know what I found out and I was surprised to find that they agreed with me but admitted that they would have never noticed themselves. This just shows you that majority of people don’t think to observe others. After this assignment I have found myself observing people without noticing im doing it, I suppose that is a good thing but I am going to start observing people and situations more thoroughly. Especially with being an interior designer I think it would really help me understand my clients needs better giving them a more suited design.