We’d hope – and we’re certainly not the only ones to hope so! In fact, a survey by CensusWide for PromoLeaf revealed that 72% of people prefer in-person events to virtual events.
While virtual events are COVID-safe, cheap for organizers, and comfortable for participants, they don’t satisfy many of the participants’ wants and needs. On the other hand, live events facilitate networking, deeper connections (thanks body language and all), and a better environment for demos of products and services.
This isn’t surprising to most of us, I’m sure. We have experienced Zoom calls with muted mics & cameras turned-off; awkward ice-breakers games; feelings of alienation from coworkers and event participants; distractions in the household.
We also remember the demos, tastings, games & contests that we loved at live events. Not to mention all the cool stuff we always got – the pens, the notebooks, the fidget spinners, the gift cards, the USB drives!
That said, not everyone got to enjoy live events equally. Many young people started (maybe even finished) school and work without these experiences. Others experienced very little of them. They still long for them, and it shows.
Should we organize events in 2022?
So, if we’re given the opportunity to give them these experiences, we should. If we can organize some innovative, safe and engaging events, we should.
You don’t just have to take my word for it! Here’s what Colleen Brzozowski, director of venue sales at Sodexo Live had to say: “The power of in-person events will help organizations drive their ROI, and that being face-to-face generates greater collaboration and a sense of community. The silver lining of the pandemic is that attendees are viewing live events with a new sense of appreciation and thus enabling planners to drive better engagement rates.”
Erik Holmen, CEO of SplashThat, was optimistic, too: “I think we are all hoping for and expecting a bigger comeback of in-person events in 2022. A survey we recently conducted at Splash indicates that a comeback is coming: 50% of respondents said they plan to host more in-person events in 2022. I hope event and field marketers take this as an opportunity to host more events that are small, intimate, targeted, revenue-generating machines.”
How can we help?
We add value, increase engagement, and create entertainment at your events. Let our success stories from 2021 speak for themselves!
- Birthday parties: kids like being active, and they love being active with their friends. When they get a chance to participate in a friendly MultiBall competition, they are more than thrilled!
- Football in the City & Mini Champions League: Soccer tournaments are fun, but they are long. MultiBall can spice up your fanzone or reward your players after their games.
- Team buildings: effective team building is fun & related to work somehow. Ax throwing might not be the ideal team building activity for an accounting team; nor will trust falls improve relations in a law firm; but MultiBall for a soccer team building? That’s a whole different story.
Seems interesting? Don’t hesitate to reach out here.
Dincoy C., (April 14, 2021), “Will You Prefer In-Person or Online Events in 2021?”, LinkedIn, Retrieved February 15, 2022 from https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/you-prefer-in-person-online-events-2021-chala-dincoy/
PromoLeaf, (February 5, 2020), “The Surprising Truth about Virtual vs. In-Person Conferences”, Retrieved February 15, 2022 from https://promoleaf.com/blog/the-surprising-truth-about-virtual-vs-in-person-conferences?version=300af43&apiVersion=5340d88
Callif D., (November 17, 2021), “Digital Vs. In-Person: The Future Of Brand Experiences”, Forbes, Retrieved February 15, 2022 from https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesagencycouncil/2021/11/17/digital-vs-in-person-the-future-of-brand-experiences/?sh=7214c8962eb8
Julia Charles Event Management, (n.d.), “The Future of Live Events”, Retrieved February 15, 2022 from https://www.juliacharleseventmanagement.co.uk/the-future-of-live-events/
Hoffman C., (December 13, 2021), “What’s Your Biggest Hope for the Industry in 2022? 15 Event Pros Share Their Thoughts Ahead of the New Year”, BizBash, Retrieved February 15, 2022 from https://www.bizbash.com/production-strategy/opinion-experts/article/21940485/predictions-for-the-event-industry-in-2022
Gorvett Z., (January 11, 2021), “Why virtual team-building activities feel agonizing”, BBC, Retrieved February 15, 2022 from https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20201229-why-virtual-team-building-activities-feel-agonizing
