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HelpHOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF ATTENDEE NETWORKING + EVENT PARTICIPATION
Image via General Assembly
Whether it’s an alumni event registration or a multi-session conference, it’s bustling business as usual for eventprofs – especially during event planning season and awards ceremonies. Event organizers, marketing teams, and other departments are looking for more ways to boost both staff and attendee engagement at events.
Through our own eyes, interesting team building events featured on BizBash, and events we’ve worked all over the globe, we decided to team up with the event fun connoisseurs at Museum Hack to get their perspective on turning up the volume on participation at networking events and other social gatherings. Read through this series of questions and answers to optimize your next event.
Q+A with Museum Hack.
WHAT IS AN EXAMPLE ACTIVITY THAT YOU USE TO MAXIMIZE ENGAGEMENT AT AN EVENT?
We play a game called “Matchmaker,” where we bring guests to a gallery, have them pick a person in a painting, then pair up with someone they don’t know. Then we ask them to make up a story with their partner - how the two people in the paintings they chose met, fell in love, and what happened next. Then pairs share their story with the group! It’s very silly, imaginative, and gets everyone laughing and chatting.
HOW CAN EVENT DESIGN AND EVENT TECH WORK FOR THE AUDIENCE AND THE EVENT MANAGEMENT TEAM/SQUAD?
We upload details to the registration platform Meetup.com to help organize events. Meetup allows us to ask guests to answer a question as they RSVP, like, “please share one random fact about yourself, e.g., I lived in Brazil for 3 months, I have 6 siblings, or I can’t stand licorice.” We then use those facts as clues in Human Bingo, a game where you fill in the spots on your card by finding people with specific traits – this activity gives guests an easy way to engage and start new conversations, and helps ensure we have a successful event with lots of participation.
WHAT ARE 2 THINGS YOU WOULD SUGGEST TO DO PRE-EVENT TO INCREASE YOUR EVENT ATTENDANCE?
First, send an email a few weeks in advance, before potential attendees make other plans. Mention that there a limited number of spaces available for the event and that readers should RSVP and register now to reserve their spot. Send follow up messages a week before the event and the day of.Second, send short, clear messages for your event marketing. Start with the reason people should attend, then include the event details in bullet point format. Make it easy for people to read and easy to RSVP.
WHAT’S A) A UNIQUE CUSTOM QUESTION YOU COULD ASK GUESTS TO GET THE CONVERSATION GOING AND B) WOULD FIT ON A NAME BADGE?
One great question to easily facilitate attendee networking is to ask about a place you’ve never been, but always wanted to go. If you see someone with a name tag that says “Paris” and you had an awesome time there last year, you’ll be more likely to say hi and talk about Paris!
WHAT KIND OF POST-EVENT DATA MEANS THE MOST TO YOU?
The #1 data point (for us) is how many people attended. We also look at whether or not guests invited friends along with them, and approximate arrival times. Finally, we track comments and feedback that come in so that we can improve our next events.
WHAT MAKES A VIP FEEL, WELL, VIP?
Participating in the creation of the experience! Knowing that the event is different because THEY are there - Museum Hack designs tours to be very flexible and open to last-minute changes and customizations. For example, if a guest mentions they love Rothko, we can be sure to take a little detour into the Contemporary section of the museum and share some unique knowledge and experience for that person.
WHAT ARE SOME WAYS YOU CAN REALLY IMPRESS ATTENDEES?
Listen to them! Being light enough on your feet to change things around to accommodate their interests or preferences. Guests are so used to events that are pre-set, and hosts or guides that are set in their ways and unwilling to try some (sometimes weird) new stuff, that gestures like that are super appreciated.
Guest Q+A answers provided by Museum Hack. Visit here to check out their unique events and services.
Impress your event management staff, WOW guests with printable name tags, and have all your future participation materials all packaged and ready to go.
