There’s plenty of “down” time at meetings and conferences- assembling for general sessions, luncheons, galas, award sessions, and breaks between speakers. But don’t let the word “down” fool you. These are great opportunities to build community.
Here are five fun and interactive ways to transform “down” time into “up” time.
Real-time Texting
Project provocative questions on your presentation screen, then encourage attendees to use their smart phones to text their responses. Their replies appear on the screen in real-time for everyone to share. Questions may be thoughtful, pointed, or just fun. For example, “In three word or less, describe your sales technique?” Or, “Saints vs. Patriots … and by how many points?”
Fan Cam
Just like the jumbotron at the sports arena! Have your camera operator scan the crowd at intervals and land on specific individuals. Then post pre-scripted captions that fit the image or mood of the subject. For example, after landing on a man with a few days of stubble the caption could read, “Be brave … don’t shave.”
Gamification
Build participation by assigning points throughout the conference for attendance at keynotes, workshops, break-outs, networking events and social activities. You can even mount a few “Flash” meet-ups at the onsite Starbucks for bonus points. Or create a scavenger hunt to drive more traffic to an expo hall. The more events your attendees join, the more points they earn. At the end of the meeting, attendees with the most points receive recognition and fun gifts to reward their participation.
Crowd-Sourcing
Ask your attendees for “video selfies” answering a specific question. For example, “What are your personal and professional goals for next year?” Attendees email their videos to a central location prior to the conference. Your media team can now use these clips throughout the meeting to give the event a personal touch.
Activity Lounge
Sitting in sessions all day is exhausting. Provide attendees with a space to re-energize and re-charge. Equip it with foosball and air hockey tables, picnic tables with board games, a half court basketball court and maybe a few hammocks for those who really need to chill out. Then watch the level of enthusiasm grow and personal networking skyrocket.
So when you’re planning your next meeting, and you feel like all of the “important” parts have been finalized, take a look at your “down” time with new eyes.
Your attendees may report that the “down” time was the best and most productive time of the entire event.