Let's test a silent trade system where each person brings one item tagged with a post it note explaining what they'd trade for. No pressure, just seeing if simple direct swaps work better than complex setups.
I love the idea of a signup sheet for the swap table, Julia! Tracking the most popular traded items will give us such valuable insights to shape future potlucks. Having that interactive, hands on element will make it fun and engaging for everyone to get involved. I'm happy to help you get the system organized when we do the dry run.
I like the simplicity of direct swaps with post its. To improve clarity, maybe add a universal icon code on notes to speed recognition and reduce reading time. Small visuals could ease newcomers into silent trades without extra rules.