Are you looking for ways to make your next conference more engaging?
Entertainment is the most commonly used engagement strategy, with 40% of event planners choosing it for their events.
Getting attendees to put down their phones and focus on your content is more challenging than ever. Incorporating entertainment into your agenda is a great strategy to keep your audience attentive and energized throughout your event.
Here are our top 10 conference entertainment ideas that will wow your attendees and make your event memorable.
1. Live Music Performances
Have you considered incorporating live music performances into your conference agenda?
Scheduling musical performances during breaks, meals, or networking sessions can create a lively atmosphere, keeping energy levels high and providing a break from presentations.
Consider aligning the music with your conference theme: for a western-themed event in Texas, country music could add a fun touch; for a classic corporate event in New York, a pianist might be more fitting.
2. Interactive Workshops
We've noticed that attendees are increasingly interested in having workshops included in conference agendas, as they find back-to-back general sessions boring.
Interactive workshops offer fantastic entertainment for conference attendees by providing engaging and hands-on experiences.
In the past, we've hosted interactive workshops like tequila tastings, painting classes, and perfume-making sessions, all of which were highly enjoyed by participants.
Here are eight additional workshop ideas that your attendees will love.
3. Magicians or Illusionists
Inviting a magician or illusionist to your conference can be a great way to entertain your attendees.
Their performances can break up a long day of sessions and provide moments of unexpected fun.
To fit a magician into your conference theme, match their performance style with the overall message of your event.
For example, if your conference is about innovation, feature a magician who performs tricks that symbolize creative thinking. For a teamwork theme, choose a magician who involves the audience to highlight collaboration.
4. Games Shows
Who doesn’t like some friendly competition?
Incorporating gamification into your event is an excellent way to keep your audience engaged and entertained. Gamification has been shown to boost engagement and motivation by making learning experiences more interactive and competitive.
You can liven up your conference with entertaining competitions like trivia or Jeopardy, involving the audience for even more engagement and participation.
Encourage your attendees to pay close attention during presentations and offer them an opportunity to test their understanding of the discussed topics at the end.
5. Celebrity Guest Appearances
Inviting well-known figures from your industry or relevant to your conference theme can attract even more participants and create buzz for your event.
For instance, HubSpot's Inbound 2024, a widely attended annual conference, features keynote speakers like Ryan Reynolds and Serena Williams. Their presence undoubtedly boosts ticket sales.
While your budget might not stretch to Ryan Reynolds' level, you can still brainstorm other celebrities who could deliver keynotes, participate in panels, or host meet-and-greet sessions to make your event more appealing.
Check out more marketing strategies to boost your conference attendance.
6. Interactive F&B Stations
Don’t you love when events let you assemble your own salads, nachos, or tacos? Consider incorporating the same idea into your conference to boost attendee engagement.
These food and beverage (F&B) stations offer more than just personalized food for your attendees—they provide interactive experiences like live cooking demos or themed tastings.
For example, at past events, we've featured a walking champagne tower, a mobile bar, and a mixology bar, all of which were incredibly popular!
It’s a win-win — attendees get to customize their meals (or drinks) and chat with other attendees in line (these stations also become great hubs for networking.)
Tie your conference theme into your F&B stations to make your event even more impactful.
For additional examples, explore our article on 8 tips for customizing your food and beverage event menu.
7. Photo Booths with Props
Looking to add that perfect touch to your upcoming conference?
Photo booths are a great way to get your attendees to share pics from your event. We love offering attendees a variety of props related to the conference theme or industry for an added touch of fun. For added excitement, consider setting up a 3D photo booth or an AI photo booth for your attendees to enjoy.
Additionally, photo booths serve as natural icebreakers, prompting attendees to interact while capturing lasting mementos of their conference experience.
8. Virtual Reality Experiences
Have you ever experienced virtual reality?
Incorporating virtual product demos, exhibits, and VR-enhanced presentations can be a great way to engage your attendees at your next event.
Hosting a product launch event? VR demos offer your guests immersive experiences in simulated environments, helping them interact with products as if they were physically present.
Looking for more? Here are 6 Interesting Ways to Incorporate AI into your next event
9. Wellness Activities
Incorporating wellness activities into your conference agenda helps keep attendees engaged and feeling good throughout your event.
For instance, you could kick off your event with a morning mindfulness workshop or wind down with a relaxing stretching session at the end of the day.
Research published in the Journal of Applied Psychology found that practicing mindfulness helps increase emotional intelligence (EQ). This is especially valuable in leadership roles, where the ability to understand and manage emotions can significantly impact success.
These activities also give attendees a chance to pause and appreciate the experience, which we know is hard to do given the fast-paced environment of conferences.
Have you heard of corporate wellness retreats? Check out our blog on how these retreats provide a valuable opportunity to recharge your team.
10. Stand-Up Networking Sessions
Including stand-up networking sessions in your conference agenda is a great way to help your attendees connect and meet coworkers across different departments.
Almost 80% of professionals consider professional networking to be important to career success. To support this, consider incorporating activities like speed networking or 'human bingo' into your events.
Speed networking lets attendees make quick connections with multiple contacts, while "human bingo" adds a fun twist to discovering similar interests.
Let’s Plan Your Next Conference
GoGather has years of experience in conference logistics and event management services, crafting memorable experiences for high-profile brands.
Unlike other event management companies, GoGather works closely with you to create experiences and activities that are creative, streamlined, and smart. Let’s brainstorm your next event together.
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