5 Tips to Create an Unforgettable Conference Experience
Conference Event Production .
Our recent photoshoot with Chris Kemp Photography to showcase our Corporate Event Package at Silchester Farm sparked thoughts on what makes a conference unforgettable. The rustic, yet contemporary, setting of the Cow Shed isn’t what usually springs to mind when imagining your corporate event or conference, but its uniqueness will certainly ignite inspiration and creativity among delegates and organisers. Virtual events have taken centre stage during the pandemic, but it’s time for live events to reign once again with a refreshed vibrancy, to be more engaging and energetic.
Below, we explore 5 tips to create an unforgettable conference experience for your delegates and guests.
1. A Conference that Suits its Surroundings
It can be all too enticing to assume the fastest production set-up for your conference will be the best option. In fact, taking the time to plan a bespoke conference solution that fits seamlessly within your venue will reap rewards on the day. A high-gloss stage surround with blue LED stage lighting will be a great choice for your city-centre corporate venue, but a softer venue in the countryside will require some pre-planning to create a corporate set-up that’s sympathetic to the backdrop.
For Silchester Farm, we created a stage frontage that mimicked the beautiful rustic wood textures of the walls and surrounding farm buildings. Still slick and smart with a pristine black carpet, the warm LED lights framed the speaker area in a stylish and toned-down manner. Up-lighting highlighted the pampas grasses foraged from around the farm, tying into the venue’s stylish design and providing softness among the sharp lines of the screens.
2. Focus on the In-Between
An overreliance on presentation and guest speakers can often result in an uninspiring conference experience. Rather than focussing all of your time and energy on the presentations themselves, prioritise creating connections and nurturing relationships by dedicating time between presentations for quality discussions between delegates and colleagues.
Meeting break-outs should be just that – a break-out! Make the most of the rest of your venue with fun activities that inspire team-building and discussion such as a mobile casino. A countryside venue like Silchester Farm boasts the space and facilities to host an array of activities from archery to clay pigeon shooting. Or, a cookery or cocktail masterclass can be a fun way to conclude your corporate event, promoting conversation about the
conference you have hosted.
4. Smart Use of Social Media
Social media will create a wealth of opportunity at your conference when used correctly. By creating a unique, relevant and descriptive Hashtag, you can spread the word about your event and collect content once it’s over to shout about it some more! Make sure all the key players of your conference know your hashtag by highlighting it throughout your venue. Why not illuminate your hashtag in LED Light-Up Letters? This stylish and bold option will create a wonderful photo back-drop too, ensuring your hashtag is pushed further.
Another way to keep your audience engaged through social media is with a custom-built social media wall, shown on screen throughout your event. This clever feature pulls real-time posts, photos and tags associated with your event into a feed to show the buzz around your live corporate event.
By giving your guests an array of curated photo opportunities throughout the venue, you can encourage delegates and guests to spread the word about your corporate event and key messages. By branding various components of your corporate event, you can ensure that your guests’ photos feature your logo as much as possible: show your logo on all screens between content, create custom logos for water bottles and napkins, or talk to your event production company about a logo wall backdrop for photographs. You can see a logo wall we created on a recent blog post from the Restaurant Association Gala Dinner.
5. Food & Drink to Inspire Delegates
By fulfilling all of the senses, you can be sure your event will last in memory. Taste and smell contribute hugely to the success of an event, and by tantalising your guests taste buds with delicious food and drink between presentations you’ll no doubt leave a lasting impression!
A generic sit-down meal won’t spark creativity, but versatile food options served in innovative ways will! An array of street food vendors will portray a food festival feel within the grounds of your chosen venue: imagine the smell of various cuisines enticing your guests to a vibrant outdoor market with live cooking demonstrations and tastings.
Are you inspired by our corporate set-up for Silchester Farm? Get in touch now to book your next conference event at this glorious Hampshire Farm Venue.
