The pandemic may be coming to a standstill in many countries around the world, but what’s here to stay are virtual events. Thankfully, only the best things that surfaced in 2020 are here to stay in the second half of 2021 as well.
The reason why virtual events have become so popular is their practicality and ability to keep larger audiences connected in real-time. Live streaming is on the rise, with people preferring to live stream than read a company’s blog or social media post.
Virtual events are also a good way to stay connected with friends and family that live all around the globe. Celebrate birthdays, Christmases, and other holidays together with your loved ones by hosting virtual events.
All in all, it’s safe to say that 2021 is the year of virtual events. If you’re looking for ideas to host a fun and successful event, you’re in the right spot!
Here are 10 virtual ideas for different events in 2021.
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1. Virtual concerts
What we didn’t lack in 2020 during the pandemic are the virtual music concerts. If you’re looking to create an entertaining event with musical performance, you can certainly do that with virtual events.
But you need to be doing more than just streaming a video feed, you need to make it immersive and engaging. As a music lover you probably already know this, but creating a good virtual concert will take more than you sitting in your room and strumming the guitar.
First, you’ll need to find the right streaming platform that best suits your needs in terms of audio and video quality, as well as viewer limit. After that, you’ll need to set up your equipment, and by this we mean you’ll need more than just instruments. For the best, immersive experience you’ll need an HD camera, microphone, mixer, encoder, and a powerful internet connection!
What’s left is to find the right time to perform and to gather the audience. It’s not easy organizing a virtual concert, but if you do it right it will pay off!
2. Virtual gala
If fundraising is on your mind, one of the typical ideas is galas. The best part is that galas can become great virtual events. Virtual galas are a perfect excuse to dress up and do a good deed by contributing to a good cause. All this without even leaving your house.
Your organization can create a successful and fun gala by creating a program just like you would for an actual in-person event, invite guests, and introduce a donation ask. Of course, just like in an actual gala event, you’ll need to create a presentation and then promote the gala. While the gala is streaming your guests can share a virtual meal together, much like they would during an actual in-person event.
3. Virtual photo booths
What is one thing that most in-person events have in common? Why, photo booth, of course. Did you know that just because you’re planning to host virtual events doesn’t mean that you can’t have a photo booth?
You can provide a virtual photo booth and watch your attendees get involved and take snaps of their own, their pets, and their family members. Later those photos can be posted on social media with your event’s hashtag. This is a great and above all free way to promote your events and to reach a wider audience.
People will see how fun your events are and next time they will want to attend your events. This is why photo booths can be some of the best ways to engage and involve your audience.
4. Online game nights
You can easily host an online game night full of fun and games, just like you would in a bar. People love gathering for a good game of trivia, bingo, or board games, so why not allow people to have fun.
Apart from having fun, these events are great for socializing and meeting new people, and the best thing is that they can now be done virtually as well. You can organize different types of game nights from online poker nights, trivia, or bingo nights to even multiplayer video games.
In addition to all this, you can also organize team-building game nights.
5. Host giveaways
Giveaways help you sponsor your business. By creating giveaways, you’re generating more exposure for your services or your products, simply put they are a good marketing tool.
Now, giveaways can be done through virtual events and they can make good first impressions, invite involvement and ultimately drive up sales and marketing efforts.
Virtual giveaways are a great way to get people involved by having them share information about the event on social media, or by performing certain actions during the event. This way you’ll increase interest, drive traffic, and maybe even create partnerships with some influential people.
6. Virtual dance parties
If you love dancing, now you don’t have to do it alone. From the confines of your own home, you can assist an actual dance party. And the best part – virtual dance parties are for all ages!
If you’re looking for a way to create your own virtual dance party, you can do it! Find the perfect playlist, prepare your speakers, and set the scene!
You can make different theme parties from the 70s, 80s to 2000s dance parties. Help people connect and share their love for music during these sorts of events!
7. Audio-only discussions
Audio-only social networking app has recently become a very talked-about social media app. It’s basically a social media app where people discuss certain topics or even whatever comes up to their minds. Think about it as Zoom but without cameras, voices only.
This type of app allows people to have conversations whenever and wherever they want. It’s a good way to connect to people all over the globe without the pressure to be seen, just heard.
8. Virtual cocktails
Cocktail parties are always fun. If you are a master mixologist, you can share your knowledge and teach some people how to make some of the best cocktails out there.
Select the platform that best suits you, send some invites just like you would for an in-person cocktail party, choose a couple of popular cocktail recipes (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic), and set the scene with a good playlist, scene, and lighting. Of course, don’t forget the dress code – cocktail attire is important. You can also incorporate some snacks to go with your cocktails.
You can also create a virtual cocktail night where you’ll entertain your attendees with some games, interesting stories, and most of all good cocktails. Above all, don’t forget to have fun, that’s why you’re making this type of party in the first place!
9. Online skills learning sessions
Online skill learning has only become more interesting and fun with virtual events. Some people prefer to learn on their own, while others are more comfortable in groups, and for those people, virtual skill learning events are a great thing.
You can organize virtual cooking lessons, photography classes, pottery classes, workshops, self-defense classes and so much more. You can create lesson plans and various skill levels so everyone has the opportunity to learn from the very beginning.
Socializing and learning a new skill has never been easier than with virtual events. Also, if hosting this kind of event seems a bit daunting, you can learn more about it from online education platforms. How to promote your event, how to price it, and more than anything how to create content that people will want to participate in.
10. Online fitness classes
Some people would love to improve their fitness game but they can’t find anything that suits them and in the right hours. Now, with online fitness classes, people won’t need to rush to get home from work and then rush back out to a gym. What’s more, online fitness classes allow everyone to be in an actual group doing the exercises they love.
For hosting a fitness class that looks professional you’ll need a camera placed in a good spot and with a good angle. You’ll also need a good quality microphone and lighting. For a fitness class to look good and professional, you’ll need a bit of practice before you get it right!
Also, don’t forget to create different workout intensities and good music to make the exercise with your audience more interesting. If anything has been on the rise lately then that’s the fitness industry. So, don’t waste any more time, host your first virtual fitness class.
The ideas for virtual events are many, we only just scratched the surface with these 10 ideas. Of course, before hosting the event make sure you find out what people would like to see, hear and participate in. Getting the right information straight from the source will help you a lot during the process of planning the event.
Now that you have some of the possible virtual event ideas for 2021, don’t wait a moment more, start planning your virtual event!