The success of an event depends on several points. This is why the pressure on an event planner is often high. But one of the main points that can cause stress is the atmosphere during the event. What could be worse than an evening where the guests are bored? Than a study day without any interaction? Than a poorly managed conference? Indeed, hosting a conference is not an easy thing to do. Unless you’ve found a rock star event's host, there are always tips to follow to properly manage the difficult task of hosting a conference.
Eventdrive understands your fears and has decided to calm them down by offering you 5 tips for hosting a conference. So take a little break from what you were doing and pay attention, we’ll share with you our little secrets for running a conference that everyone will remember!
HOSTING A SUCCESSFUL CONFERENCE: THE 5 POINTS TO BE FOLLOWED
Preparing the conference in advance
A good event facilitator knows that the preparation phase is essential, but we felt it was important to remind you of this, as it is the basis of a good conference.
Don’t hesitate to research the topic to be addressed, discuss it with other experts on the subject, or repeat the big day. The aim is to be able to answer all the questions that your audience might ask, or at least as many of them as possible.
Also keep in mind that a good conference follows a common thread, not only throughout the session, but also in relation to the event as a whole. This means that you need to be particularly organized and structure your speeches wisely.
Improvisation is always useful during a conference, as it gives a natural touch to your performance, but it is important to have a solid foundation to make sure you don’t stray too far from the path you have set out.
Stimulate the senses of the guests
What every host wants is for his guests to remember the content of his lecture when it is over. So how do you make it memorable?
One of the best ways to leave a lasting impression on an audience is to stimulate the senses. So don’t hesitate to use music that will leave a lasting impression on them during the lecture. If you want to make them feel a particular emotion, you can also try to tug at the heartstrings to make them feel it.
If you have the budget, you can also make a big impact by diffusing scents according to the subjects you are discussing. This is relatively effective and relevant if you are giving a lecture that deals with cooking, nature or hitting a particular audience. If you manage to have a wow effect, then the bet is won in advance!
Interact with your audience
Another particularly important point is interaction. Indeed, leading a conference means being able to exchange with the participants. If you really want to make an impression on the audience, it is important to involve them in the story you are telling.
The participants should not just be spectators, at the risk of getting bored, or worse, falling asleep! You need to make them real actors. The best way to do this is to ask them questions throughout the session. Also, don’t hesitate to frequently ask if they themselves have any questions. You can also choose to keep a question and answer time at the end of the conference, the important thing being to offer some added value.
By setting up a real exchange with your guests, you will make them feel at home. If they are relaxed, then so are you, and you will have more fun. You then begin a virtuous circle…
Ending on a mysterious note
You have understood it well after having read the first 3 points, a good conference will mark the minds of its audience. Another way to achieve this is by making people think.
It seems obvious that your guests will learn new things on the way to your conference, but you need to take the learning a little further. Don’t hesitate to get your participants thinking by asking questions that will make them curious.
What you want is for the conference to remain a topic of conversation after the event, whether it triggers debates around the coffee machine or is the subject of an agency meeting.
If you manage to trigger this thought process during your conference, then you’ve got it!
Don’t forget to have fun
We have all been to a conference where the facilitator seemed to carry all the misery of the world on his shoulders. Did that make an impression on you? Probably, but not for the right reasons.
It is essential that you are happy doing what you are doing and that you make that clear to your guests.
You can make jokes, run on stage and above all, don’t forget to smile! Of course, the theme and the target of the conference should be taken into account before embarking on a comedy show. Jokes with repetition could be badly seen in a conference on mass extinction, for example…
Hosting a conference is no child’s play, that’s for sure. However, the mission can be made much easier by following a few key points. Keep in mind one thing: a good conference will leave a lasting impression on its participants.
If you want to leave your guests with memorable thoughts, it is important that you enjoy being a facilitator and that you convey that enjoyment throughout the room. Enthusiasm is the key to running a successful conference. If you make an impression on your audience, they will remember you. And if they remember you, they will definitely talk about your performance. To make sure this word-of-mouth is positive, take the time to follow our 5 tips while adapting yourself to the subject you’re dealing with and the audience you’re going to address.
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