Best Virtual Holiday Party Tips
Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic and social distancing the usual expertise and experience that goes into planning a company holiday party has really gone out the window this year. While I hope with the rest of the world to return to being able to celebrate events in person together when it’s safe, the virtual event space has offered an opportunity for creative event planners to create a fun, memorable, and safe holiday party in 2020. Over the last few months since I began performing virtually during the lockdown, I’ve noticed what makes some corporate virtual events on Zoom or any platform smoother and better than others. So, I’ve put together the best virtual holiday party tips.
1. Book a Virtual Stage Manager
The things that seem obvious when planning an in person event can be less obvious but just as important when moving your company holiday party to virtual. We’ve all been on disorganized zoom calls with team members muting and unmuting themselves unexpectedly, planned presentations breaking down when video playback or slideshow doesn’t work, and a lack of general flow. By hiring a Stage Manager for the virtual event you’re going to smooth out most of the wrinkles that come up unexpectedly in virtual holiday parties. Their job is to implement the schedule, spotlighting those who need to spotlighting on cue, controlling videos and music, and handling all of the technical elements of the event so its top notch. I often work with Matt Schick, a TV producer and consultant with a magic background who has been running events for the likes of Fortune 500 companies and charity galas during the pandemic.
2. Keep Things Short & Sweet
Our attention spans aren’t set in stone. Our ability to focus changes circumstantially and virtual events have exposed how short our attention span can become. While a company holiday party can often be as long as four or five hours broken up with cocktail hour, dinner, entertainment, and speeches, the virtual format doesn’t translate as well to a long form event. When hosting a virtual holiday party for your company I suggest keeping things under ninety minutes. Think of it this way, no one will complain that the party was too short but you’ll hear lots of grumbling if people thought it went too long.
3. Small Groups
If possible, break up your event into smaller more intimate groups. While hosting a large virtual seminar has it’s perks, I think leaning into connecting people really pays off. I’ve been asked to perform at virtual company events over multiple dates to keep groups small and it makes the entire event more engaging, fun, and exciting. This might be the best tip for virtual holiday events. It really goes a long way to transform the perception that the attendance of the staff actually matters!
4. Entertainment
Once your leadership, staff, and guests have gathered at your virtual holiday party, now what? My job is to make sure that not only do they have a great time but that it’s a virtual event they’ll talk about for days, weeks, and years to come. By engaging everyone with interactive sleight of hand and psychological magic through the screen, my Virtual Magic Showhas been a hit at company events during the pandemic. Everyone is entertained not only by the magic but seeing their coworkers faces on screen in amazement. It’s fun and exciting for the team in a year when you know as well as I do they’ve been working hard under difficult circumstances.
Alexander Boyce is a sleight of hand artist and magician whose performances have been seen at The Magic Castle, The McKittrick Hotel, The Rainbow Room, Lincoln Center and many private corporate events around the world. He’s performed at company holiday parties, meetings, and theatrical shows in New York City, New Jersey, Connecticut, Brooklyn, Long Island, and all over the United States.
Currently he has been performing virtually for corporate events on Zoom and other virtual platforms.