Put Down the Phone, Let’s Get Active!

In recent posts on gamification and IoT we talked about some ways to use technology to better engage modern event audiences. While the tech is here to stay and it is important to integrate it into events, every new twist you add does not have to involve technology.[Tweet "Every new twist you add to events does not have to involve technology. #GovEventsBlog"]

In a recent survey, 99% of respondents said that in-person meetings have helped them succeed in their careers. Meetings are seen as critical to business and personal success and the rise in spending on attending them (both in the general market and the federal market) backs up that belief. Attendees want more than a technology-heavy experience (they get that in other facets of their work day). They want experiences that are uniquely real world. So how do event planners keep events fresh without making them a virtual reality experience?[Tweet "How do event planners keep events fresh without making them a virtual reality experience?"]

This article does a great job of walking through the principles behind the Active Participatory Model and we wanted to see how these elements could apply to government events.

• Storytelling - framing your event around a theme may not be enough. People like stories - they like seeing characters they can relate to (one reason "reality" TV is so popular). Think about framing your topic in terms of a storyline - a CIO, frustrated with not being able to ensure true security on her network. Give the CIO a name, talk about challenges she has (and likely your audience has). Have presentations throughout the event speak directly to your embattled CIO character. For example a breakout session on securing the cloud could start out with, "As I sat down with Mary CIO to talk about her issues this is what I heard and here's where X technology can help..." This continuing storyline will keep people engaged throughout the event and help tie all of the content together.
• Small Groups - following keynotes or deep technical sessions, have attendees break into small groups to continue discussions while the content is still fresh.[Tweet "Following keynotes or technical sessions, have attendees break into small groups. #GovEventsBlog"] This can lead to collaborations to solve problems or draw new connections between attendees that will extend beyond the event. These small sessions become a kind of directed small talk which can be more meaningful for all involved.
• Allow for breaks - to get people to unplug from their phones and truly engage in the event you have to give them plenty of time to plug in. Build in many breaks that allow attendees to check email, make a call, or just get fresh air. When coming back together after the break make an effort to get everyone focused back on the task at hand through a quick interactive audience poll or even a brief video intro to the next topic. These create a clear delineation between when you can focus on the world outside the event and when you need to focus on the event.

We'd love to hear what techniques are working for you to get people more actively participating in your events. Share your thoughts in the comments.