5 Fun and Easy Ideas for your Virtual Offsite or Happy Hour

By virtual magician Ryan Kane

Zoom fatigue is real. If you and your team are jumping from one virtual meeting to the next, finding fun, easy, and free ways to make your virtual happy hour or meeting stand out is a game changer.

Here are five ideas to try out at your next virtual event.

Add a Theme

Choosing a simple theme for your virtual happy hour or team offsite is a simple way to add some flavor. This Wednesday’s virtual meeting, you’re going host to a masquerade! Maybe your end of the month meeting will be a circus (as if it isn’t always)!

Virtual backgrounds make this super easy for people to take part in. Plus, the more spirited members of your team will have an opportunity to really accessorize and decorate their home office. “Why yes, Priya did dress up all three of her cats as cowboys for the end of Q4 virtual barn raising happy hour.”

This is a extremely budget friendly option which allows team members to participate as much as they feel comfortable with. You can also build hype and excitement for your next virtual meeting by allowing people to vote to decide the next theme.

Find Something to Celebrate.

Even a small, a tiny award or moment of recognition can go a long way. Look for award which do not exclude other team members. For example, an “Employee of the month” award will make one person happy, but at the expense of the rest of the team who also worked hard. However, taking a moment to recognize Hector as “Most Active in Chat” is a small win which everyone can agree with.

Create a Sharable Spotify Playlist

Many virtual activities benefit from background music. Plan ahead, and designate someone to create a special playlist just for your group. Rotate the DJ around each meeting, so everyone who wants to can have their turn choosing the tracks. In the meeting, your guest DJ can share the music with all Zoom participants by going to share screen > advanced > share audio only. They will likely need to turn the music WAY down on their end (so that it is barely on). Otherwise, it will be too loud on everyone else’s’ end. Also, double check the share screen settings before you launch the meeting.

After the meeting, music apps such as Spotify will let you share the playlist for all other team members to enjoy on their own time.

Play a Challenge Game

At the top of the meeting, designate that (at some point during the meeting) Kevin has to secretly remove the succulent plant off the shelf in his background. But if he get’s caught, he loses. Whether he succeeds or is caught, he then picks another participant to a similar challenge. Maybe Mohammad has to close that closet door, or Sophia has to put on that jacket on her dresser.

This is silly bit of business to keep people engaged and to playfully shift the spotlight onto team members who might not normally be the center of attention.

Start a Zoom Journal

At the end of every meeting, have the group decide on several quick answers to questions. Things like “what is the word of the day?” “Who was saved the ship this week?” “What are the secret lotto numbers this week?” “Advice for future generations” 

Have a designated scribe write these down into a shared document. In a few months, take a look back. Your team will enjoy reminiscing about that one budget meeting where the advice was “You cannot expense BTS tickets, PAUL!”

About the Author

Ryan Kane is a magician, comedian, and author based in the San Francisco Bay Area. He has spent the last year performing for audiences virtually all over the world as a virtual magician. Before that, he performed physically.

Companies including Louis Vuitton, Wells Fargo, Microsoft, Costco, Intel, and more have called upon Ryan Kane’s engaging magic, charming wit, and professional guidance to make their events successful. As a virtual magician he can provide that missing element to your virtual event.

Planning an upcoming virtual event? Contact Ryan Kane to learn more about what he can do you for you.