CraftLab with Rob Bell

Introducing CraftLab with Rob Bell

What is it?

CraftLab with Rob Bell is a two day event specifically designed around the creation and crafting of compelling content for talks/speeches/sermons/lessons/scripts and messages.

How does it work?

You bring whatever ideas, outlines, series, scriptures, research, word studies, commentaries, hunches, topics, and stories you’re working on with you, along with some way for you to take lots of notes very quickly.

At 9am on the first day Rob will start by picking the first person who will give a twenty to thirty second overview of whatever it is they’re working on (A talk on suffering, a series on the Gospel of John, a story that might turn into a short film, a theme in the book of Exodus, a month of sermons on faith and doubt, how to grieve, etc.) and off we go. Rob will ask questions, push back, suggest, poke, probe, pull ideas from the group, assign different people to find different things online, and gradually, right there on the spot, a talk/message/script/outline/something will grow before our eyes. Then on to the next person and then the next person and then perhaps back to the first person for a minute because we’ve realized that some common themes have emerged and then on to the next person-for the next two days. 

How long are the sessions each day?

9am to 9pm with proper breaks, of course, for surfing, tacos, and sleep.

Will we get to your specific talks/outlines/ideas?

There are no guarantees that we will get to whatever talks you are working on specifically, but there is the guarantee that the communicating principles, insights, and truths that will be flying around the room will be totally applicable to your content.

What’s the goal here?

The goal is three-pronged: One, that you leave at the end of the second day loaded to the gills with significant content, outlines, structures, notes, ideas, and specific directions and questions to work on to more fully flesh out your talks.

Which leads to the second goal: This isn’t just about the series/talks/messages that you have coming up, it’s about the art and craft of communicating. It’s about developing muscles and routines and practices to consistently generate compelling messages that first move you deep in your bones so that you then have something worth telling others about. The intended result, then, is that you leave with your bucket full for months and months and months to come so that six months after participating in this event people who listen to you on a regular basis will be asking you “What happened? You’ve been on fire for a while now!”

Which leads to a third goal: That you never, ever, ever again have that dreadful, clammy, panicked feeling the night before you are going to be speaking because you don’t have anything to say. 

So this is just for pastors?

The bulk of the work we will be doing will be geared to pastors giving talks in local churches, but the principles, insights, and truths about communicating will quickly take us into universal lessons about spirituality and the creative process that will be applicable to all kinds of people who create all sorts of different content in all kinds of settings.

Is there anything we should do to prepare?

Yes, it’s highly recommended that you watch Rob’s Poets, Prophets, and Preachers film series, which you can get here: http://www.robbell.com/pppdvd

So when is it?

Join us for two full days on either:

January 22/23, 2013

or

January 28/29, 2013

How much is it?

$500. You can register here: https://www.robbell.com/craftlab-register

How many spots are there?

50 at each event.

What if I can’t make this one?

There may be more…

Where is it?

The Pacific Edge Hotel

Laguna Beach, California, USA!!!

Where do we stay?

At the Pacific Edge, here’s the link to get you the special rate for this event (do not register for surfing through the hotel):

https://booking.ihotelier.com/istay/istay.jsp?groupID=891826&hotelID=15292

What’s the closest airport?

Orange County Santa Ana John Wayne airport is about 20 minutes away. LAX, Long Beach, and San Diego airports are around an hour with no traffic, half a day if traffic is bad. Best bet is to take a shuttle/taxi/car service to your hotel, eliminating the need for a rental car.

Where do we eat?

There are countless restaurants in either direction within easy walking distance, from the pricey to Taco Bell to Wahoo’s, which you have to eat at if you haven’t before. There’s also a Whole Foods a few blocks away and a Ralph’s grocery store across the street from the Pacific Edge.

Hold on, did you say breaks for surfing?

Yes. On the second day we’ll go surfing. We’ll bring in some pro surfers to give lessons for those who’ve never been–bring $50 for instruction and board/wetsuit rental. If you already surf, there are lots of shops that will rent you a board so you can join us. And yes, it will be as great as it sounds.

What if I get a spot but then something comes up and I can’t make it?

You can get a refund up to ten days before the event, at which point it becomes a credit towards a future event.

This sounds like it will be a blast.

Yep.