BEHAVIOR: Exit Trail Patterns
I've been thinking about the markers that people leave in transit or as they exit a location. Here are two instances where the audience are extremely similar but the manner in which alcohol containers were discarded varied greatly. The main differences between A and B were obviously the energy and environment (quiet and contemplative versus loud, crowded and hot) durations (short versus long) of each event. Considering these factors, the question I'm still left with here concerns the type of containers and their possible influences on exiting behaviors. There was only one type of container at the art opening. Does this (along with the event energy and duration) nudge people to organize the disposal of the containers at the time of exit? Whereas in Exit B, the extreme variations in container types does not reinforce, or afford organization.
- Exit A: Art Opening. Ended at 8:00 PM. Wine (red and white) was served. The crowd topped out at around 60 people. Several celebrities attended. It was raining heavily at the time of departure. Exit style was a slow trickle through one door between 7:45 and 8:15.
- Exit B: Live Music Show. Ended at 1:30 AM. Full bar was served. The crowd topped out at around 200 people. It was also raining heavily at the time of departure. Exit style was a mass exodus through one set of double doors at the end of the show.
Why does this matter? During the Exit B, the crowd was anxious to get out of the door but due to the amount of people (and the hyped and inebriated state) it was difficult to move out in a fluid manner which was the case in Exit A. Could a mass act of stacking and organizing the containers (possible in the form of play) calm the crowd at time of exit - also making cleanup and disposal easier?
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