Want to know some top strategies for creating interactive events? Whether you are planning a birthday, wedding, or corporate holiday party, your goal is to deliver a fun and memorable experience for all your event guests to enjoy.
As you make decisions about your party’s overall design and theme, we encourage you to think about how you can incorporate details that get your guests talking. We are now living in an age where your party guests appreciate a true experience. And by delivering a great experience, your event is sure to shine!
Not sure how you can make your occasion impress your guests? We’ve put a list together of top party strategies that can help your party-goers mix and mingle.
Why it is all about the experience?
No matter what the event occasion is (fun, networking, team building, marketing, learning, or something else altogether), people desire interactive and experiential events. If you can add some fun elements to your event, it will leave a lasting emotional impression and be a huge success. Incorporating enjoyable activities has many benefits, including:
- Sets mood and evokes positive emotions
- Reduces stress
- Boosts energy
- Facilitates conversations
- Encourages smiling and laughing
- Increases enthusiasm and excitement
- Builds personal and professional relationships
- Improves concentration and creativity
- Creates lasting memories
- Increases guest satisfaction
Top interactive event strategies
1. Provide hands-on activities, movement, and games
Whether a social occasion or a corporate one, there are wonderful options to have your party-goers roll up their sleeves and bring them together for the sake of having fun. You can include hands-on challenges at your party that will get them both smiling and talking.
Look at tablescape options that encourage this, such as build-your-own floral bouquets or design-your-own Lego Minifigure. Karaoke or charades may be another activity that will get party guests energized and moving. Think about assigning each table a song that they must dance to when it's played. If your venue has an outdoor space or a large indoor space, perhaps you can have some games like corn hole or giant versions of games like Jenga.
2. Make the menu work for you
Consider using your menu to make your event more interactive. Be clever in incorporating food and drink experiences and provide social opportunities.
For family gatherings or work celebrations, offering a signature drink with tableside cocktail preparations can offer entertainment and put your guests at ease to chat. Instead of using a ladle for your meal’s sauces, have guests paint their dinner plates before serving the main course. Offer a bruschetta, burger, taco, or mac-n-cheese bar. Add an informal dessert such as a candy station or ice cream bar. Things like this can help bring guests together and mingle while enjoying the menu.
3. Make the guests the stars of the show
Put the spotlight on your guests and get them grinning and chatting. Not only do photos and videos provide your guests with something to do, but it also sets the stage for people to have some fun and capture these moments at the same time.
Photo and video booths, including 360° spinning ones, are popular and offer a fun way to capture memories at all kinds of events. Alternatively, you may opt to place a custom-themed backdrop for either photos or videos. Challenge the guests to capture specific moments of the event, making photo-taking more game-like. Attendees can share photos online or you can provide an instant printable camera to display photos for everyone to see. Video messages and interviews can also be so much fun and are perfect for any type of event, social and corporate. These also make for sharable keepsakes after the event.
4. Create visual experiences
A great way to add interactivity to your party is to use captivating exhibits and experiences that provide a powerful visual statement. We live in a time where many events are shared via social media, so experiences that provide great visuals are key.
Having a fun display wall where guests can contribute or interact is such a fun activity. For social gatherings, you can have your guests share things like marriage or retirement advice. Have your corporate party guests participate in a graffiti wall. Perhaps incorporate some sort of interactive wall, social media wall, or even an edible wall.
Think about other aspects of your event that could make a visual impact. Perhaps you consider your food and beverage, signage and branding, decor, and entertainment as opportunities to incorporate large impact. Rethink conventional aspects of your event and ramp them up to create more visual impact. For example, instead of a traditional guest book, think about an alternative object like a large photo or a piece of furniture.
5. Technology is the way
No doubt we are in a time where technology is growing. Consider utilizing technology in your events to create amazing experiences for your guests. Think about virtual components, live streaming, and gaming to your in-person event that would add fun impact.
Utilize QR codes to help guests share photos or other content. Think about the use of drones or wearable technology. Consider more immersive technology like virtual reality, augmented reality, or holograms. Adds images, sound, or effects that truly make a wow impression on your guests.
Ready to find your party venue?
We hope we have inspired you for your next party to influence your guests with interactive activities. Check out EventUp, the leading global venue marketplace, for your venue search. EventUp makes finding an event space of any type or size easy. From bowling alleys to concert venues and everything in between, EventUp has what every event planner is looking for.
