Jackie Summers, the owner of a liquor-brand, used his Twitter account to ask people to join him on a virtual cocktail party a few days ago. Most of his friends belong to the hospitality industry. Due to the coronavirus outbreak, they can’t go to work right now. Jackie attempted to create a perfect way to encourage social distance while giving his pals a much-needed opportunity to socialize. Fifteen people joined the first event, but the next one was much more successful. More than one hundred participants extended their hands. This phenomenal success made him announce that he will regularly organize happy hours until the crisis resolves itself.
Here are some tips for a successful virtual happy tour:
- Keeping it small: You too can arrange something similar. If you require guidance, then you will find it here. You should try to keep the virtual gatherings as small as possible. When too many people come together in a Google Hangout, it will lead to chaos. Eight to ten people should be more than enough. However, if you will be hosting more individuals, then you should consider hiring a moderator
- Get dressed: Since you will be connecting with your buddies online, it’s a good enough excuse to take off those shabby clothes and put on something stylish, trendy, classy, or at least clean and presentable. The act of getting ready, even if it’s just a virtual party will create a sense of normalcy.
- Get comfortable: No matter where the virtual party will take place, make sure that the lighting is bright enough for everyone to see you. You should also keep the ambient sounds as low as possible. After all, noisy children and barking dogs tend to affect the vibe parties. Kitchen tables, front porches, and backyard patios are the best places to convene. Just make sure that you have a stable surface to keep your laptop.
- Choosing food and drinks: Generally, happy hours offer combos. These include beer or lager with tequila shots, dark beer with a shot of whiskey, etc. However, you have to arrange everything at your home. Therefore, you are free to create your personalized version of a classic happy hour. Cocktails like bramble and old-fashioned as well as mock-tails like virgin mojitos and margaritas are easy to create at home.
- Pick the grid: Several digital platforms are available these days for you to use and bring everyone together. You can choose from Google Hangouts, FaceTime, Zoom, Skype, and many more. The best thing to do would be to use the grid-view in any teleconferencing software program. In doing so, you will be able to see everyone in equal-sized boxes.
- Be a listener: Everyone likes to talk, but only a few possess the power to listen. You should be that listener and encourage others to follow your example. Every individual would get a chance to speak while the others listen.
Another tip: The conversations have to be light
Finally, you should try to keep the conversations light-hearted. The coronavirus brought the whole world on the edge. Serious discussions aren’t going to create light-hearted moments. Somber topics will also ruin the party vibes. You can start by asking everyone to share instances or events that happened over the last twenty-four hours that made them happy.
