How to Make 8 Hours Feel Like 2
Let us look at two similar statements.
“That was a fantastic seven-and-a-half-hour conference.”
“That was a fantastic conference, I really liked when…”
The difference is not the length of the conference. It is the design of the experience. So how do you go from a conference that feels more like prison sentence to an intriguing, fun filled time away where guests do not want to say goodbye?
Participation Beats Observation
Without a doubt, you are more likely to keep your attendees engaged with the subject and speakers when they feel like they are part of the experience, rather than just observing the experience. This is achieved through the promotion of audience involvement. Picture a keynote speaker flipping though slide after slide, talking for 1.5 hours straight… ok, we can hear you snoring already. We would be too! Consider adding in moments that encourage your attendees to get involved with the subject periodically throughout the day.
Why not dedicate one slide to a poll about the subject and take votes from your audience? This will wake them up again, encourage them to think back on their experiences and knowledge, and feel part of something bigger than themselves.
Poll not your thing? Do not worry there are hundreds of ways to get your attendees involved! A great option is to run a 60 second problem solving challenge. Propose a question or problem to your attendees and put a 60 second timer up on the screen, instruct your attendees to discuss the question/problem with the people in their row/at their table. After 60 seconds, you can either reveal the answer and see which groups got it correct, or ask for responses from the attendees if it your chosen problem/question would lead well into further discussion.
Movement Matters More Than You Think
It seems odd to say that movement is one of the most important parts of a conference, but did you know that movement boosts BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) which is known to encourage the growth of new brain cells (neurogenesis), and strengthen synaptic connections (neuroplasticity). These two unique points provide a perfect environment for learning! Now, standing up and down and going to fetch a cup of coffee isn’t enough to get this incredible BDNF magic flowing, you need real movement and an increased heart rate for it to properly begin producing (though these small movement breaks can also help your attendees stay focused!).
So how much could you get your participants moving in let us say… 20 minutes? Or how about 10 minutes? No, let us narrow it down even more and say we only have 5 minutes before the next keynote speaker begins. Does not seem like a lot of time, right? But when you start to think about it, you can achieve so much in only 5 minutes!
Pop on an energetic song and invite your attendees to groove along with you, run a simple scavenger hunt, or what about a five-minute stretch routine to help your attendees reset their nervous system before the next lesson? For higher energy groups, you might also find they would be up for a more intense energy session like Zumba, skipping rope, or a five-minute jog around the area. When your movement break has finished, you can rest assured that your attendees will feel more alert and ready to immerse themselves into whatever topic is up next.
Death to the Endless Slide Deck!
Let us return to the scene that we discussed earlier, that presenter with that endless flow of slides. No, wait! Do not fall asleep on us again – we are going to try and help you fix this scene! Now, it is not to say that slides do not have a place within a conference setting, in fact they are a wonderful way to share information and visuals tying in with the topic you are speaking about. It is the reason the most common method of presentation is a slide deck! However, there is a clear difference between slides and endless slides.
But how can we mix up our ways of presenting to keep things feeling fresh?
A fantastic option is to invite key members of your group to contribute as part of panel style discussion. This can also tie into our earlier point about audience engagement as you can encourage them to propose questions they would be interested in hearing your panel discuss. You can even invite special guests to be a part of your panel to generate excitement and anticipation for your presentation.
Want something more personal? Host a small group workshop or roundtable! This can be a terrific way to promote discussions, give you a better ability to answer questions, and create a more community-based atmosphere. This would be best done with either a boardroom style seating arrangement or a classroom style seating arrangement as these two layouts can allow attendees to see each other clearly as well as offering more of a group layout (rather than presenter > attendee layout).
Still not feeling it? Try something unique! Take your attendees outside and host a walking discussion, run roleplaying scenarios to discuss different interactions, or book our spinney for a proper fire side chat and give your attendees something special to remember. The options are endless!
Keeping these points in mind, you can press go on the Conference Time Machine and leave your attendees yearning for the next event. If you are ready to smash your next conference experience, give us a call and we will help you find the perfect dates for your event!