How to keep the energy of conference participants up?

A successful conference is one where participants are engaged and involved. This requires that they have the energy and motivation to participate. It is therefore important that the conference organiser recognises the importance of creating a careful dramaturgy.

Vary during the conference

Variety is important to keep the energy of conference participants up. It is important to mix it up with different types of activities, such as workshops, discussions and group work. This helps to keep participants engaged and stimulated.

When participants listen to the same type of presentations for a long time, they can get bored and tired. Variety helps to keep participants' attention and stimulate their thoughts. It can also help to reduce the risk of participants falling asleep during presentations. Some examples of how to create variety are:

• Mix up presentations with workshops and discussions. This allows participants to actively participate and learn in different ways.
• Organise group work or projects. This gives participants the opportunity to collaborate and share their knowledge.
• Include social activities, such as networking events or a joint dinner. This helps to create a more relaxed atmosphere and can help to raise energy levels.

Small leg stretchers

It is also important to take breaks during the day. Participants need to move around and get fresh air. Small leg stretches of 10-15 minutes can make a big difference.

When participants sit still for a long time, they can become stiff and tired. Small leg stretches help to keep participants mobile and active. It can also help reduce the risk of participants getting headaches or back pain.

To fit these breaks in naturally, you can schedule them regularly throughout the day, for example after each presentation or after a certain time. You can also offer participants the opportunity to go for a walk or a short run around the conference venue or organise short exercises that participants can do on the spot, such as some simple shoulder movements or back stretches.

Plan exercises where you can discuss standing in a group

Some exercises you can include to get participants to stand up and stay energised are

• "Think tank": participants are put in a circle and given one minute to come up with as many ideas as possible on a given topic.
• "My five minutes": participants are given five minutes to talk about themselves or their work.
• "Two-minute presentation": Participants are given two minutes to present on a given topic.

These exercises are not only good for getting participants moving, but they are also a good way to promote discussion and co-operation. Participants get the opportunity to get up and move around, while also getting the chance to talk to each other about the conference topics.

Have good and healthy food available

Consumption is also important to keep your energy up. Make sure there is plenty of water and fruit to drink. It's also a good idea to serve healthy food, which will give participants the energy they need to keep going throughout the day.

Here are some tips for serving good and healthy food at a conference:

• Serve fruit, vegetables and other healthy snacks between meals.
• Offer participants a choice of healthy dishes for lunch and dinner.
• Avoid serving sugary drinks and foods that are high in fat and calories.

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Some additional useful tips

Make sure that the conference is well organised and that everything runs smoothly. This will help reduce stress among participants and keep energy levels up.

It is also important to plan the conference to include a good mix of internal and external speakers. Internal speakers can give participants a deeper understanding of the company or organisation, while external speakers can provide new perspectives and ideas.

Also pay attention to the needs and wishes of the participants.

Curious about what else you can do at a conference? Here is a full article on what to do at a conference. Want to know more about how we at IVA Conference Centre can help you keep up the energy of your conference participants? You are welcome to contact us!