The future of conference events is immersive, highly personal and experience driven.

91% of conference attendees say they want more interactive and participatory formats (Freeman).

So how do we, as event organisers and experience makers, add small, meaningful moments without creating a conference of forced 'ick'?

Below are 7 Tiny Ways to create small, intimate moments for your participants to connect and enjoy, without any forceful 'ick'.

Have a Dream Room

You've heard of quiet rooms, but why not have a dream room? A quiet space decked out in fairy lights, sensory smells and mysticism for people to enter and spend a few quick minutes processing in a magical wonderland.

Try blocking out windows, adding fairy lights in jars and adding a waterfall soundscape for something fun.

Decorate your own Name Badges

Nothing connects people more than an arts and crafts table. Allow people to sit and decorate their own name tag. Sharing scissors, stickers, or coloured textas is an easy way for your conference attendees to meet, chat and share some creative flair before the event begins!

Ask Folks to use their 'HERO NAME'

Rather than use standard name tags, ask people to choose who they would want to be known as that day. It could be 'Spider-Man' 'Elsa' ,or 'Michelle Obama'. If everyone knows they are there as alter-egos, it's an easy conversation starter and a great way to get out of remembering someone's name.

Coffee For a Stranger

Give everyone 'coffee cards' that they can only use on someone else. That way, they have to choose a stranger to buy a coffee for, starting up a conversation and providing some much needed caffeine.

Compliment Cards

On arrival, everyone receives a range of 'compliment cards' to distribute during the day. You've got nice shoes, or You seem like a nice person can be given or received by someone throughout the day - no questions asked.

Phone Booths

Have 2 old-world-phone booths at either end of the conference. Give people the opportunity to 'discuss with a stranger'. At any moment the phone can be picked up by strangers at either end, sharing thoughts and opinions on the speakers of the day

Surprise

This is a bonus one for you to let your imagination go wild. But add some form of surprise to your attendees. Surprise is a deep human connector, and a fantastic way to spark connection between strangers experiencing this moment together.