Your meeting has just been turned into a virtual conference. This is the reality for many of us in the event industry right now. While nothing can replace the all-important in-person meeting, until it is safe for large groups to gather again, virtual and hybrid meetings are here to stay. So how do you keep your attendees engaged during a virtual meeting, and add some fun? MC&A knows just how!
When people have fun, they stay emotionally connected. This connectedness fosters a receptive environment for a company to be able to effectively communicate their business content. Carefully choosing a virtual activity that supports the values and vision of the meeting while also infusing some fun into the day will resonate with your attendees and leave a positive impression.
So how do you accomplish this virtually?
Statistics have shown that one of the downsides of virtual meetings is that attendees tend to have a shorter attention span. Online fatigue is real. One way to combat this is to keep your content-heavy sessions to a shorter time frame, such as 60 minutes per session, and pepper in a variety of short activity segments throughout the day. Or consider hosting a longer activity over a lunch break (and do we have some great ideas for this)!
In June, MC&A officially launched its Virtual Activities initiative to rave reviews! Our dedicated task force, comprised of team members from across our mainland offices, has spent the last several months vetting and testing out oodles of virtual activities. They weeded out the “so-so” and kept only the “That was SO-SO much fun!” Below are a few of our favorites.
Battle of the Bands
Rock out in this fun 75-90-minute music experience complete with costumes and your team’s favorite music genre. Guided by musicians who have played with the likes of Queen, Cher, Smashing Pumpkins and Big & Rich, your team members will create a custom team anthem using your company’s core values and company culture. Participants are split into two to three groups and co-write a custom song to be delivered by the musicians at the close of the program. After the activity, you receive a professional recording of your song post-event to be shared with all the attendees.
Name That Tune
Music: The universal language. We all speak it and it speaks to us all. For over 60 years, the classic TV show Name that Tune, has been played, celebrated and recreated for generations. This high-energy live game show features everything from Mozart to Madonna, offering both the hard-core rockers and the tone-deaf shower singers the opportunity to score a hit. Two teams battle it out on “stage,” attempting to maintain control of the soundboard and win the platinum record by correctly identifying the clues played.
Magician/Comedian/Pickpocket/Camera Tricks
Virtually, he can read your mind! Magician Ben Seidman has been featured on Netflix, Travel Channel and the CW Network. Ben creates a custom interactive and mind-blowing magic show where your guests learn some magic tricks of their own. The show is full of incredible sleight of hand and psychological magic, but there is a catch… one of Ben’s miracles utilizes a live camera trick. Can your attendees spot which illusion is the fake? Or does his sleight of hand rival camera trickery? The magic throughout is visually incredible and each live virtual show finishes with a twist ending. Watch the teaser video here!
Cupboard Challenge
The brainchild of the former production director of Food Networks’ Chopped, our Cupboard Challenge is an interactive culinary journey that builds relationships, leadership skills, trust and confidence. Team members are each assigned a dish to cook from one of five main categories, utilizing ingredients that are staples in a pantry, refrigerator and freezer. They have a set amount of time to create their dish, while team members add twists to the creative process.
Have you participated in any virtual activities lately? What was the outcome? Please share your experiences on TheNetwork!
To learn more about MC&A’s Virtual Activities, contact Patti Parrish-Maddaloni, CMP at patti.parrish@mcadmc.com.
Patti Parrish-Maddaloni, CMP
National Account Executive
MC&A