Transition breaks: those five, ten, or 15-minute windows between sessions that would normally be reserved for walking from room to room in the event venue. In the virtual world, however, these breaks are now open space to fill for attendees tuning in from home. In the past year and a half, we’ve seen a lot of ways to fill these windows in your event agenda. Keep reading for a few of our favorite ways to jazz up session breaks.
A live entertainment set: As we saw at Unbabel’s LangOps Universe 2021, an upbeat music loop can be a great way to let attendees step away from their computers or get work done during transitions while staying connected to the event. Virtual events allow organizers to access entertainers from around the world—we’ve seen DJs, electric violinists, pianists, jazz bands, and even comedians and magicians take the virtual stage.
Trivia: Friendly competition is a great way to keep attendees active while social distancing. Guests can break into virtual teams and send their answers via chat to replicate the in-person experience. There are tons of other games to give your attendees a rest between content, including Jeopardy, Code Names, Scattergories, and Bingo.
Virtual gift cards for a snack or lunch break: For the ultimate break, send conference-goers a virtual gift card to buy themselves a lunch or snack from home! Some of our favorite options include: UberEats, Postmates, Seamless (best for favorite local restaurants!), DoorDash, or even Instacart for quicker, DIY cooking ideas.
Tarot card readings: Give attendees a glimpse into what their futures hold with a virtual tarot card reader or fortune teller. This memorable idea allows for a more personalized, one-on-one experience.
Mixologist: Who doesn’t love a mid-event pick-me-up? Mix up your sessions with an on-screen mixologist there to lead a cocktail break. With a shopping list shared in advance, attendees supply their own ingredients and can follow along to create their favorite drinks from home.
Time for sponsors: In-between sessions is the perfect opportunity for event sponsors to get creative with their activations. From something as simple as slides looping, music playing in the background, to a branded video to an interactive demo, making the most of session breaks with the help of sponsored content is a win-win for both organizers and attendees.
Networking: Networking is a simple yet effective way to break up content and allow attendees to replicate the in-person event experience. Virtual platforms like Hopin allow for different interactive formats—from “speed networking”-style meetings to pre-arranged meetings with potential customers or clients.
Want cred to be involved in mixing up your session breaks? We’re here to help!
