Six Ways To Make Your Event Interactive
By Nicole Orabona
Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past few years, you’ve likely heard heard the word “interactive” bandied about in regards to everything from theatre to technology. It’s easy to see why, having interactive elements allows participants, audience members and guests to play and become part of something beyond being observer. It’s no longer enough to just be a spectator at an event, it is much more fun and memorable to be PART of it. When planning your next event, whether it be office party or birthday shindig, consider applying these tips to make the event interactive. Your guests will thank you.
1. Pick a Theme
The easiest way to tie an event together is with a theme. This will help guide your choices for venue, decor, food and more and is an easy way to get guests immersed in the event. Decades, movies, and literature are good places to start. Encourage guests to dress in costume or in clothing suggestive of the theme to get them excited and engaged before the event even begins.
2. Engage the senses
Create an environment that engages participants 5 senses from the moment guests arrive. Visuals such as posters can tell a story, establish characters, time and place. Play sound scapes to immerse guests in the world, or have an old record player, tape deck or cd player they can find and play something on, it will make a fun surprise when they discover it.
3. Facilitate Play
Have some means for guests to let loose and play! If possible, separate them from the people they arrived with to encourage them to meet and interact with new people. Have a game or activity for them to play with their new group, such as a mystery or puzzle to solve. Tie the games to the theme! Create an easy art project participants can make and take home as a souvenir.
4. Hire Performers
To fully set the scene, hire performers to interact with your guests. Aerialists and dancers can provide entertainment for the night, while actors can become part of the environment if you want the event to be more story based. Trained interactors have the tools needed to improvise with guests and make them characters in a story themselves, making an experience they’re sure to remember.
5. Supply Libations
While you obviously don’t want guests to get TOO fast and loose, a little liquid courage can go a long way. One drink can help loosen people up and make co-workers less self conscious in front of each other. To really make it hands on, have a bloody mary bar or make up a specialty cocktail they can garnish themselves.
6. Embrace Technology
Chances are everyone is already going to have their smart phones in their hands or pockets. Create mini photo booths or interesting backgrounds. and supply props they can use to take photos. Don’t forget to come up with a hashtag they can use throughout the night! Create a scavenger hunt of things they have to find and take photos of or silly activities they have to do and record. First person to complete them all wins a prize!
If you’re interested in a fully interactive event without the responsibility of organizing, trust Live in Theater to plan your experience. You can pick one of our historical unsolved murder mysteries for your and your guests to solve. We supply theme, actors, venue and even food and drink if you like. Visit our private experiences page to learn more!
