Micro events are becoming more and more popular in the events industry, and for good reason. These small-scale opportunities are a fantastic way to create a unique and memorable experience for attendees while keeping costs and resources low. But what exactly is a micro event, and how can you create one that stands out? In this blog post, we'll explore the art of a micro event and provide tips on how to plan and execute them successfully.
What is a micro event?
A micro event is a small-scale event designed to create a unique and intimate experience for attendees. These events typically have a limited, invite-only guest list, with anywhere from 10 to 50 people in attendance. Micro events can be anything from a private dinner party, networking mixer, panel or presentation, workshop, or seminar. They are often designed to be more immersive and interactive than larger events, allowing guests to connect with the content and their fellow attendees in a more meaningful way.
Why host a micro event?
There are several reasons why hosting a micro event may be a great choice for your organization. First, micro events can be more cost-effective than larger events, as you can save money on venue hire, catering, entertainment, and your time. Pro tip: since these events are normally smaller, your free corporate office space could serve as the venue. We’ve found catering and bartenders are happy to make any office space their workshop for the evening!
Micro events are also an excellent way to create a more personalized experience for attendees, which helps to build stronger relationships (and increase sales with clients or employee retention depending on your audience for this event!). If the guest list is small enough and your event flow encourages it, there is a chance every single guest can have face-to-face time with the event host.
Finally, micro events are often more memorable than larger events, as guests are more likely treated to an exclusive, intimate, or unique experience.
Tips for planning a micro event
If you're thinking of planning a micro event, here are some tips to help you get started:
Define your goals: The first step with any event is to set your vision and that doesn’t change with a micro event. Before you start planning, brainstorm what it is you’re looking to achieve with this event. Is it to build brand awareness and generate leads - necessitating a really unique experience to get folks talking on socials? Is the goal to provide value to your existing customers, prompting an insightful panel or product demo exercise? Or is it a customer appreciation event and you want to incorporate an attendee gift? Once you know your goals, you can design an event that is tailored to achieving them.
Choose the right venue: The venue is a crucial component of any event, and this is especially true for micro events as you don’t want your smaller group to feel lost in a large space. Look for a venue that is small and intimate, with a unique atmosphere that fits your event's theme and style. For a private dinner, we recommend making sure of the absolute capacity for the venue’s private dining room and making that number abundantly clear to your event’s host before sending out invites. You don’t want to find yourself in a situation where you’re needing to rescind an invitation.
Create a unique experience: Think outside the box for creative ideas that will set your event apart from the rest - peruse social media or event blogs to see what folks are buzzing about these days. Try using hashtags to narrow your search if you’re feeling lost among all of the tweets, posts, and mentions.
Engagement is key: Micro events are all about engagement as it’s much more obvious who is and isn’t participating when the group is smaller, so make sure interaction is at the forefront of your event’s flow. This could include workshops, Q&A sessions, or networking activities. And don’t be afraid to get the conversation started early. A roundtable event serves as a great example - sending conversation starters or prompts a few weeks before the event really pays off. Keeping attendee attrition low is always the goal but this is especially important with the smaller guest count of a micro event - make your attendees feel like their presence is not only welcomed but necessary for the event’s success.
Micro events are a memorable and reliable way to connect with your clients, partners or your own employees. By defining your goals, choosing the right venue, creating a unique experience, making it interactive, and paying strict attention to the details, you can plan and execute a micro event that truly stands out. We encourage you to give it a try and see the positive impact that a well-planned micro event can have on your organization. We consider ourselves experts in this event format, so we are here to help!
