I was contacted via email to attend an invitations only interview event. Interviewees were seated in an open room at assigned tables. Hiring managers interested in talking to you would enter the room and sit at your table for an hour or so and ask questions. One question which seemed out of place considering the open venue was my currently salary. I balked at the question and was "challenged" by the manager with, "Do you have a problem with telling me your current salary?". Needless to say, that interview did not go well. The next interview went very well, as I spoke to the hiring manager, team lead and 2 others.
I was told this open room type of interviewing was something new they were trying out. I believe it failed on several levels due to all of the noise from all of the other interviews taking place and the lack of privacy.