Valentiny Elevator Concerts

I'm obsessed with NPR's Tiny Desk Concerts series. The idea of bringing big-name musical talents to play live, intimate performances around a small, cramped desk at NPR music headquarters makes me squeal with delight. So when we were brainstorming surprising new ways to celebrate Valentine's Day at IDEO, a lightbulb went off in my head. I wondered: "What if we turned a small, awkward space in our studio (in this case, a tiny, creaky, platform elevator in an unloved corner that connected the 8th and 8th and 1/2 floors of our studio) into a pop-up performance space?"

Several designers in our community at the time were also musicians. It was easy to find performers. Going from "Tiny Desk" to "ValenTINY Elevator" was a snap. Taking the theme to the next level meant serving tiny foods and drinks, getting a graphic designer to create tiny, heart-shaped show programs, and keeping the duration of event to a tight 15 minutes. We added uplights, foil curtains, and paper hearts to transform the formerly bland space into a pop-up nightclub on the cheap.

At the start of each Valentiny Elevator Concert, 60+ IDEOers would jam themselves into 300 sq. ft. of standing-room-only space while the musical act — up to 5 performers — crammed themselves into the elevator. The show would begin by raising the elevator awkwardly — and loudly — to half height. And it would end by lowering back down awkwardly — and loudly — to the floor.

We held in-person Valentiny Elevator Concerts from 2015 to 2020. We tried to keep the ritual alive during the pandemic via Zoom, but the charm and power of this ritual came from all the physical constraints of the space, the janky elevator, and the miniature food and drink. Without those, it was just another Zoom call.

It was a good reminder: Just like elevators, rituals have their ups and downs! We loved our Valentiny Elevator Concerts while they lasted.