Eventgoers are dying for adventure.
In our annual TRNDS 2024 report, 61% of event attendees told us that they wanted to focus on trying new things, exploring new places, and meeting new people in 2024. If you’re an event organizer looking to give the people what they want, workshop events tick all the boxes.
Workshops allow you to create unique and memorable events where teachers and students can connect in new settings and learn new skills. But if you’re new to workshop events, developing ideas and getting the logistics in place can seem daunting.
Don’t stress — we’ve done this before! So we created this guide to support you every step of the way.
Read on to find out why workshops are an amazing way to boost your events business, get interactive workshop ideas for learners of all ages, and get pro tips to make your workshops more engaging.
Workshop ideas to boost your next event
Ideas for different types of workshops you can organize
Interactive workshop ideas to break the ice
Workshop activities to get people up and moving
Creative workshop ideas for children
Hands-on workshop ideas for all ages
Virtual workshop ideas for remote learners
Workshop ideas for brainstorming
Workshop games to give learners a break
Fun end-of-training activities
11 ideas for hosting a more engaging workshop
![A Beekeeper talks to seated event attendees](https://www.eventbrite.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/image12-min-1-preview-30x16.png)
Why choose to host a workshop for your next event?
If you’re looking for event ideas that will be good for business and create some amazing experiences for your guests, it’s time to consider workshops.
Why are workshops in high demand? Because people want to learn.
A lot of that demand for new skills is driven by the world of work. According to researchers at PwC, 53% of workers say they need more specialist training to do their jobs well. Workshops give event organizers the chance to help workers develop those new skills.
But workshops aren’t all about upskilling employees. They’re also an opportunity for attendees to learn for fun.
A recent Gallup poll revealed that 61% of Americans say hobbies are an important part of their lives — and we’ve already mentioned that event-goers are looking to try new things in 2024. Hosting a workshop is the perfect way to build on those hobbies, explore new ones, and tap into existing communities to create a unique and meaningful hands-on experience for attendees.
Best of all, you can adapt workshops to fit almost any format, location, industry, or community. You can even take your workshop online — where demand has driven rapid growth. The virtual learning market is expected to generate $1 trillion in revenue by 2030.
With the right workshop idea, you’ll be able to capitalize on sky-high demand to be a part of this event’s vertical, too. But if you need a hand coming up with ideas, don’t stress. We’ve got you covered.
![Hat maker steams new hat he's creating at event](https://www.eventbrite.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/image3-min-1-1-preview-30x16.png)
Ideas for different types of workshops you can organize
The first step when planning your event or workshop is to decide what format to follow. There are many types of workshops, each catering to a different audience or sector.
To help you get started, we’ll break down a few of the most common types of workshops.
1. Corporate workshops
Corporate workshops are the perfect way to bring together clients, companies, or industries for a large-scale business-to-business (B2B) event. As a result, corporate workshops can also double as networking events — offering opportunities for you to connect with new clients.
Corporate events and workshops generally focus on team building, upskilling in a particular area, or combining the two.
Examples might include virtual or in-person workshops focused on newer business tools or important management areas like integrating AI content, active listening, managing social media, or inter-departmental strategy. For example, organizer Genius Goals is hosting a virtual Conscious Business Workshop that includes a workbook, a plan template, and a three-hour live workshop.
Alternatively, you could set up corporate team-building workshops with fun activities like an escape room, scavenger hunt, or a boot camp.
2. Educational workshops
Educational workshops are a brilliant way to connect teachers with students outside the classroom. These workshops enable students to learn new skills and apply them in real-life contexts — and workshop participants don’t have to be young students.
Educational workshops can be built around learners of all ages and backgrounds.
If you’re looking for educational workshop ideas, you could set up art classes or a graphic design workshop for high school students, an IT skills workshop at a retirement community, or a storytelling workshop for all ages.
💡Pro tip: Demonstrations work well in educational workshops, so arrive prepared with a volunteer or a professional to assist. Also, don’t be tempted to overfill your event, as too many attendees can limit how effective your workshop is.
3. Craft workshops
Craft workshops adopt a unique, hands-on learning approach that combines live demonstrations with guided tutorials to create a truly interactive experience.
Popular examples include painting workshops, pottery classes, basket-weaving workshops, cross-stitch, and woodwork.
Craft workshops are a great opportunity to collaborate with local artisans to create immersive experiences for attendees, get the creative juices flowing, and share your passions with workshop attendees.
4. Training workshops
Training workshops are perfect if you’re working with regulatory bodies or industry groups that need to run training sessions around new tools or changes to laws that practitioners must be aware of.
For example, you might see training workshops designed to update lawyers on changes to state law, teach dog shelter owners a new method of dog grooming, or train office managers on a new cloud tool they’ll have to use.
These workshops can be adapted to suit learners of all ages in various environments and combine theoretical seminars with practical exercises to create a holistic learning experience.
![Event guests talk and laugh](https://www.eventbrite.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/image14-min-1-preview-30x16.png)
Interactive workshop ideas to break the ice
Icebreakers are essential at workshops — particularly if you’re running corporate events or interactive sessions where attendees must chat and work together.
Here are a few of our favorite icebreaker activities you should try out at your workshops.
5. Have attendees share a little information
This workplace activity requires very little planning. Event organizers only need to come up with one or two lighthearted questions for attendees to answer.
The goal is to get everyone to share a little bit about themselves. It’s a great way to start conversations and learn about one another.
6. Find out when attendees completed a specific action
This activity aims to engage and prepare attendees to participate in the event. You’ll want to keep the question light and fun when you ask when the last time they completed any ordinary action was.
💡Pro tip: If the meeting is virtual, the question can be along the lines of the last time they wore work pants. Other actions could be the last time they went to the grocery store or had dessert before dinner.
The goal is to keep it light and allow everyone to get to know each other better.
7. Envision the event space as a map of the world
Your attendees may have grown up in different states, cities, or countries. The same may also apply to their current residency if your classroom is virtual. Some individuals may have also traveled to get to your in-person event.
To help break the ice and make it easier for attendees to form connections, have attendees visualize the space as a world map and stand in the area representing where they’re from. Have them share one or two items about their lives in their home cities, states, or countries.
8. Create an interactive puzzle
You must put in a little work for this fun and engaging activity. For example, create a jigsaw puzzle using a template and jumble the pieces together. Depending on the group size, you can create multiple puzzles or have everyone work together to assemble the pieces.
Give everyone a specific time limit to ensure your event stays on time and track.
9. Have an indoor snowball fight
All you need for this engaging workshop activity is paper and some creativity. Write down five questions on the slips of paper and hand them out to your attendees. After they write down their answers, have everyone crumple their paper into a ball, then start your snowball fight.
After a couple of minutes, have attendees pick up a snowball and try to guess who wrote the answers to the questions.
💡Pro tip: Responsible for your venue clean-up? You can also adapt this workshop idea into a post-workshop cleaning game by getting your workshop attendees to sort their snowballs into the recycling bin. You can then give a small award to whoever scores the most points.
![Artists stand on stage painting at an event](https://www.eventbrite.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/image8-min-1-preview-30x16.png)
Workshop activities to get people up and moving
Workshops don’t have to revolve around PowerPoint presentations. People like to learn by doing and getting their hands dirty, so why not begin your workshop with some fun activities to get them out of their seats and have a laugh?
Here are a few active workshop ideas we love to help inspire you.
10. Hunt for the secret spy
Get your attendees enlivened through this fun game. Pick one team member as the secret spy and let the others discover who it is. This game will get attendees working together and help to build communication skills.
For a unique take on this idea, check out The Dinner Detective Cincinnati and their recent Dinner Detective Murder Mystery Show. This dinner experience saw organizers secretly hide among guests before kickstarting a murder mystery for them to solve.
You could replicate that dinner experience at the start of your workshop to get people up, moving, and laughing.
11. Create fun challenges
You’ll need a bowl and sticky notes for this engaging workplace activity.
On the sticky notes, write down a question (nothing too serious) or create fun challenges for attendees to complete. Have everyone pick a sticky note from the bowl and try to accomplish the challenge. It’s a great way to get everyone’s energy levels up for the remainder of the event.
12. Use your five senses
Energizing your attendees doesn’t necessarily mean having loud and boisterous workplace activities.
Sometimes, participants need time to prepare for the event mentally. In this activity, attendees focus on using their five senses. Incorporate items with different textures for touch or sounds for hearing. Once attendees are energized mentally, they’re ready to get the most out of your event.
13. Play a version of Simon Says
A game of Simon Says is a fast and simple icebreaker that will get your guests up and moving. Not only will attendees be ready to participate in the event, but this workplace activity will also be heaps of fun.
Have your team stand in a circle with their hands on the shoulders of the person in front of them. Have them jump forwards, backward, and even side to side.
💡Pro tip: To create a sense of community (and ensure plenty of laughter), mix and combine the commands to keep everyone guessing at the next move.
![Event organizers talk to a group of seated children](https://www.eventbrite.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/image10-min-1-preview-30x16.png)
Creative workshop ideas for children
Teaching children can be very different from teaching adults; you’ll have to adapt the interactive elements of your workshop to suit the age of your target audience.
Here are some of our creative workshop ideas to ensure young guests have an amazing time.
14. Make slime
This is one of our favorite creative workshop ideas for younger attendees still old enough to execute this task. Making slime teaches them to follow directions and work together, all while having fun.
Don’t forget to bring confetti and glitter for decorating the slime. To keep this workplace activity relatively mess-free, it’s a good idea to skip using any colored dyes.
Want to see slime done right?
Take a look at The Westport Library’s upcoming Rainbow Slime Lab. Their multicolored slime tutorial reached a particular age group, and parents were requested to stick around — encouraging family engagement and helping parents make new memories with their children.
15. Have fun with hats
A student’s age doesn’t matter with this fun workplace activity — all you need is a box of hats. Have your participants collect different types of hats from the box (for example, party hats, baseball caps, fedoras, or straw hats.)
Have the students pull hats out of the box and act out their purpose. It’s a fun way for children to relax and get to know each other.
16. Personalize keychains
Students of any age will love participating in this fun and engaging activity.
You’ll need to supply several items like beads, tassels, and even plastic figurines. You’ll also need thread and the metal circles typically found on keyrings. Pour the objects onto a table and let your young team get creative.
17. Create personalized storage boxes
Whether students want a place to stash their special belongings or create a gift box for a family member, this workplace activity will keep them engaged.
You can find plain boxes in any convenient size or type, and from there, let students run wild with their creative ideas. Be sure to have plenty of crayons, stickers, and other accessories on hand so they can decorate their boxes.
18. Combine essential oils
This workplace activity is geared more toward older students, but young ones can also participate. All you need are some essential oils and empty, small misting bottles. Let students mix the various oils to create unique scents they can wear or gift to others. Make sure there are no allergies to certain oils or fragrances before beginning.
If you send materials to workshop participants in advance, you can make your essential oils activity a virtual or hybrid workshop.
Carnelian Circle’s Magic of Essential Oils event is a great example of this event theme. It’s educational, crafty, and focuses on the health and wellness of attendees.
This idea also works great for an adults-only workshop. But if you’re looking for more creative workshop ideas for adults, read on for some of our favorites.
![A group of event attendees chat while holding drinks](https://www.eventbrite.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/image11-min-1-preview-30x16.png)
Workshop ideas for adults
When you’re working with adults, there are a few directions you can take in a workshop. You can incorporate more grown-up and practical activities or introduce fun games and activities to induce childhood nostalgia.
No matter which direction you choose, here are some great workshop ideas to inspire you.
19. Hold a rock, paper, scissors tournament
This workplace activity can get a little loud, but it’s also a great way to build team spirit.
Have attendees pair off with the winners moving on to other players. Instead of sending eliminated players to the sidelines, have them cheer on the winners. By the time only two players remain, they’ll have a large support section.
20. Start doodling
You’ll need several blank pieces of paper and colored pencils. You’ll also need to create a set of drawing instructions. This workshop for adults’ goal is to get them working together as a group.
Have everyone doodle on their postcard without finishing it. The postcards go back into the pile, and other attendees complete them.
You could even introduce drinks into the mix. Take a look at the Fox Tale Fermentation Project. Their Drink and Doodle series allows guests to draw together while enjoying craft beers and tasty snacks. What’s not to love?
Want to find more unique workshop ideas?
![People at a cat skeleton articulation workshop](https://www.eventbrite.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/image5-min-1-preview-30x16.png)
21. The question game
Whether you have a large team or a small one, chances are that some aren’t on a first-name basis with all of their co-workers. This workshop activity can help bring teams closer together.
Have attendees write down two or three questions, and then put the attendees into pairs. Attendees then answer each other’s questions and get to know each other better. Perhaps there are commonalities that everyone is unaware of, but the idea is for people to learn something new.
22. Make a square rope
You’ll want to take this activity outside or hold it in a large space.
Divide the group into two teams and give them a rope. The objective is for the teams to work together to see which one can create a square with the rope. Set a time limit, and don’t forget the blindfolds!
💡Pro tip: You can divide attendees into groups of four so that each person in the group will end up in a corner. Make this game more challenging by handing out the rope initially in a twisted form.
23. Create a problem-solving activity
If you’re holding your event during excellent weather, take your team outside for this workplace activity.
You’ll need two ropes, some string, and something sturdy to tie the ropes to (look for a couple of poles or older trees.) Tie the ropes to the poles or trees and add the string. The goal is for the team to create a rope obstacle.
Have everyone try to make it through the ropes and strings without touching anything. It’s a great way to get everyone working through a challenge together.
![A chef shows guests how to make pasta](https://www.eventbrite.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/image13-min-1-preview-30x16.png)
Hands-on workshop ideas for all ages
According to researchers at Harvard, some students learn more when doing hands-on activities — so it’s worth incorporating hands-on exercises into your workshops to help guests learn by doing.
Here are some great collaborative exercises to get hands moving and brains thinking.
24. Create a coat of arms
Give participants a sense of pride and encourage them to engage with one another in this workplace activity.
You’ll need paper and something to draw with. Have attendees create their personal coat of arms — it doesn’t have to be historically accurate. At the end, have everyone show off their artwork. It’s a great way to ensure participation throughout the rest of the workshop.
25. Who can build the tallest structure
When people work as a team, they can accomplish amazing things. This engaging workplace activity encourages teamwork and a lot of laughter.
Grab a bag of marshmallows, uncooked spaghetti noodles, tape, and string. The goal is to use the items to build a towering structure.
26. Make a historical timeline
You’ll need a large sheet of paper and something to draw with.
Think about a project your team has recently completed or another milestone event in the company. Have participants draw the timeline, pausing to share experiences along the way. It’s a great way to build team spirit and encourage a sense of pride and accomplishment.
💡Pro tip: Want to make your timeline activity more challenging? Take it outside. Getting your workshop participants outside and working in trickier conditions will encourage problem-solving, get attendees up and moving, and give everybody fresh air.
27. Play cross-the-circle
All you need are willing participants for this hands-on workplace activity. Have everyone stand in a circle, with one person in the center.
The individual in the center asks a simple question. Everyone who can answer gets to cross the circle. The last person to cross the circle moves to the center to ask the next question.
![Event organizer films speaker on an event stage](https://www.eventbrite.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/image4-min-1-preview-30x16.png)
Virtual workshop ideas for remote learners
Just because you’re not hosting an in-person workshop doesn’t mean you can’t use interactive elements.
Virtual workshops can be just as engaging — you’ve just got to introduce the right activities to get your guests chatting. Here are a few of our favorite ideas.
28. Host a mind-mapping session
This fun virtual workplace activity helps to build stronger teams.
Give participants a subject and tell them to write down similar words. These words can then be turned into themes, which produce a more productive and creative workforce.
29. Virtual sketches
Having attendees submit virtual sketches is a great way to break the ice and create excitement for the rest of the event. You can give your team a topic to sketch or allow them to use their creativity.
For inspiration, take a look at event organizer Katie Woodward and her Sketching Reflections event. This online workshop walked participants through the sketching process step-by-step via Zoom. Registrants could also catch the workshop on-demand afterward if they missed it.
30. Include virtual polls and anonymous voting
Online events can make attendees feel a little disconnected. To keep everyone engaged, take a minute to conduct a poll or allow for anonymous voting.
You can ask attendees how the event is going or if they want to make any minor changes. The goal is to let your team know that their opinions matter.
31. Host virtual quizzes
Quizzes are a fun way for attendees to learn and encourage new ideas.
Quizzes can also help break the ice. Keep the questions simple so the event keeps moving along. It’s also a good idea to include one or two silly questions to keep the mood light.
32. Conduct a temperature check
It’s a little harder to gauge your audience’s reactions to virtual events. Prolonged screen time can contribute to eye strain, and you don’t want to lose them partway through the event. Along with reading facial cues, take a moment to ask everyone how they are doing.
💡Pro tip: Sometimes, the best workplace activity is allowing everyone to take a short break. When they return, they’re ready to engage with the rest of the workshop.
Want to see how it’s done?
Fun Trivia and Social Events’s Adult Game Night Virtual Online Trivia event is an online-only quiz that enables guests from all over to go head-to-head — with virtual breakout rooms for each team to chat over their answers.
Looking for more ideas to get brains fired up? Read on because we’ve got you covered.
![Event guests chat after an event lecture](https://www.eventbrite.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/image1-min-1-preview-30x16.png)
Workshop ideas for brainstorming
If your workshop requires some creative thinking, you’ll want to incorporate brainstorming activities.
This will get the creative juices flowing and put your guests in the right frame of mind to develop some innovative ideas. Get inspired by some of our favorite ideas.
33. Brainwriting
Brainwriting is a quick and simple workshop activity where you get your guests to write down their thoughts. This could be a list, a mindmap, a chart, or anything in between.
This engaging workshop idea gets everyone to participate in a low-pressure environment. The goal of the activity is to get participants more comfortable sharing their ideas. It can translate to improved productivity at work and create a comfortable work environment.
Have team members work on each other’s ideas to encourage collaboration.
34. Give your team random words
Chances are, your team has several great ideas hiding in their brains. This workplace activity helps bring these ideas into the open and allows everyone to feel heard.
Toss out a random word and encourage everyone to come up with associations. It’s also an excellent team-building activity.
💡Pro tip: Keep your word association activities relevant by creating a theme. You could even let your attendees vote on a subject or a set of words beforehand so they’re dealing with associations that they feel passionate about.
35. Answer who, what, where, when, and how
Have your team answer the who, where, what, when, and how of the problem or idea you give them to encourage teamwork.
This questioning stimulates various thought processes and gets your team thinking outside the box.
36. Create a mind map
Come up with a problem or a basic topic, and let your team devise various solutions by mapping associated ideas with some large paper and markers.
It’s an effective way to encourage participants to work together, and the exercise is a useful strategy to learn; it can help your team improve their productivity with tasks in the future.
![Event guests mingle outside an event venue](https://www.eventbrite.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/image6-min-1-preview-30x16.png)
Workshop games to give learners a break
When you work hard, you get to play hard. That’s why it’s important to include workshop activities that let your group put tools down, switch off, and have fun.
If you’re looking for fun activities to give learners a break, here are some of our absolute favorites.
37. Play “Catch Me If You Can”
Just like The Dinner Detective Cincinnati’s murder mystery events, this idea starts by designating one team member as the catcher. Everyone else is then a spy — ensuring no one knows the other players’ roles.
Everyone works to figure out who the catcher is without revealing their role in the game. It’ll keep attendees energized and help break the ice.
Historic Camden had a great take on this for their Escape Room: A Spy Among Us event. Not only did participants need to try to figure out the spy in the room, but it was historically themed to create an immersive, educational experience.
38. Tag
Instead of players working solely, create teams. Don’t forget to have a safe zone, and let the teams try to tag each other out of the game.
Not only does this activity help build team spirit, but it also helps to keep everyone engaged.
39. Hold a dance off
Get everyone into small groups (around three to four people), and designate one person as the leader. When the music starts, the groups must follow their leader’s dance moves.
Want to see how this activity can be scaled up for a larger event? Take a look at Red Bull North America Inc. and their Red Bull Dance Your Style Tampa Qualifier. This next-level event saw dancers from all over Florida go head-to-head in a freestyle battle on the dancefloor to earn a place in the National Finals.
Your dance party might not be that glamorous, but you can enhance the vibe with a dancefloor space and lights to get people in the party mood. It’s a fun workplace activity that inspires camaraderie and allows for showcasing various leadership opportunities.
![Two event guests take notes at dinner table](https://www.eventbrite.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/image9-min-1-preview-30x16.png)
Fun end-of-training activities
Ready to slow things down after a long training session?
It’s good to have some winding-down activities that bring your event to a close and give guests a chance to chat. Here are a few ideas worth checking out.
40. Mingle and gather feedback
At the end of the workshop, you want your team to leave with positive energy. Give everyone a post-it note, and have attendees deliver messages to each other.
Having everyone share their notes fosters a feeling of inclusion and team spirit.
💡Pro tip: Don’t have time for a post-event mingle? Send out a post-event survey. If you’re using event registration software like Eventbrite, you can email your surveys out automatically to registrants — enabling you to collect feedback to improve your workshops.
41. Write letters to your future self
This workshop activity encourages participants to focus on what they learned during the day. Have them write a letter to themselves detailing how they will use the information to inspire action.
![Two artists chat while painting](https://www.eventbrite.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/image7-min-1-1-preview-30x16.png)
11 ideas for hosting a more engaging workshop
No matter what types of activities you’re looking to incorporate into your workshop, you can always take steps to make those activities more engaging.
Here are some sure-fire ways to make your workshop guests happy.
1. Make your content relevant
First and foremost, to earn people’s attention, you need to deliver helpful content. How do you learn exactly what they want out of your course? Ask them!
Conduct initial research with your target customers to shape your course content, or send a pre-event survey to your attendees to pinpoint problems or topics they’d like to explore.
On the day of your training or workshop, give a brief overview of what attendees will learn and how those skills will help them achieve their goals.
💡Pro tip: Want to simplify the event planning process? Try out Eventbrite’s integration with Mailchimp. It enables you to send out survey reminders before your event, so you don’t have to worry about remembering to send it out to attendees.
2. Skip the traditional presentation
People learn in various ways. Some are visual learners who prefer pictures, videos, and diagrams, while others respond to the spoken and written word, music, logic, or even physical activities.
To create an inclusive learning environment, combine traditional teaching methods with audio and visual presentations, written handouts, interactive tasks, and group work.
For example, you could start your workshop with a quick PowerPoint, then move into a clip from a relevant podcast. Later, you could have attendees draw short comics based on what they have learned and ask a few to present their comics to the rest of the group.
When thinking about hosting a virtual workshop, consider software like Zoom or Google Meet that allows your students to chat and interact with one another. This way, the workshop feels more like an integrated experience than a lecture.
3. Update the room’s layout
Training rooms are often laid out in the same way — rows of tables and chairs. Challenge the convention and surprise your attendees by perhaps providing beanbags instead of chairs, standing podium tables, or tables with just a few seats to encourage small groups.
Your venue can also have an impact on engagement. A space full of light, color, and texture can prove far more inspiring than a bland, windowless meeting room.
A virtual workshop can even include breakout groups or teams to allow attendees to discuss topics or play games in smaller, more intimate numbers. Platforms like Zoom enable presenters to create these separate virtual rooms for attendees to enter without completely leaving the presentation.
![Performer in blue make-up dances at event](https://www.eventbrite.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/image2-min-1-1-preview-30x16.png)
4. Use props
Props can make teaching even more engaging. These can be practical and represent your subject matter (think scales, an abacus, or a mannequin), or they can be silly (try a rubber chicken or magic wand.)
Props liven up your session and will help people remember what they learned. Your training or workshop might be serious, but people learn best when interacting and having fun.
5. Play games
Need to keep your attendees focused? Tap into their competitive sides and gamify your workshop.
Puzzles, riddles, crosswords, memory games, and ordering tasks are great ways to keep your attendees engaged and on-task.
For an added challenge, impose a time limit. Introduce a quick quiz at the end of each content section, helping to recap what they have learned, and offer a small prize for the winner.
💡Pro tip: For online workshop ideas, consider games attendees can access via a shared link, such as Scattergories or online bingo.
6. Tell a story
Whatever you’re teaching, try to make it relatable to everyday life by using real examples, case studies, and creative metaphors.
People will sit still for hours watching a movie — why not use some cinematic tricks as engaging workshop ideas?
Storytelling is central to the way our memories work. We search for narrative not just in the media but in everyday life. If you can find a way to integrate the information in your course into an overarching narrative, attendees will be more engaged and have something to look forward to during breaks.
7. Set the tone with music
Music can set the mood and energize attendees before your session and during breaks.
Play something upbeat to pump them up, and lower it back down to let them know it’s time to start. You can also use music during the session. For example, soothing melodies help people concentrate while completing tasks or group work.
💡Pro tip: Provide some instruments and let people jam between sessions. It will be fun and help build camaraderie between attendees.
8. Limit presentation length
Give them too much, and their brains will shut off. Succinctness is particularly important for virtual events — online attendees will have more potential distractions than those attending an event in person.
Make your session a maximum of two hours or schedule plenty of short breaks if it takes place over a day. Give attendees a chance to get up, walk around, and grab a cup of coffee. Give them time to write and organize notes, and assist them by providing pens, pads, sticky notes, and highlighters.
Our new and improved online event tools can help you plan an enjoyable event that doesn’t overwhelm your virtual audience.
9. Recognize and award attendees
Attendees will be more motivated to complete the course if their efforts are recognized and they have something to show for it. Let attendees know that they will receive personalized certificates to mark their participation.
You should also consider extra incentives for standout students, such as a competition or small prizes. Again, tap into those competitive streaks!
10. Create unique resources
Using unique resources can help keep your team engaged. Some ideas include using industry data or discussing your experience in the field.
💡Pro tip: Bring in a keynote speaker for an expert perspective. This is a great way to introduce fresh ideas into your workshop and add a bit of star power.
11. Check understanding by integrating polls
Polls are often an invaluable tool for event planners. Integrating polls into your event lets you know if the information resonates with attendees.
The poll can also let you know when it’s time to move on to the next topic.
Get ready to lead a workshop your attendees won’t forget
Workshops are in high demand, and they’re also highly rewarding. You just have to make sure to incorporate the right activities for your audience to keep everyone engaged, learning, and having fun.
Looking for more fun workshop activities? Explore Eventbrite to check out what’s going on and get inspired. From there, you can create your own custom workshop event page, start selling tickets, get up to speed on event promotion, plus everything in between.