Make it Participatory

Everyone is a participant

Make everyone a participant. Even events that have a presenter-spectator division are made better by everyone feeling invited to participate. Minimizing the division of roles between presenters and audience can promote active engagement and a more open exchange of ideas.

Be Clear

The quality of audience engagement is only as good as the instructions you give them. Encourage people to interact and make it clear how these interactions can happen. Give clear prompts and offer a clear structure. People need to understand what they can do and how and when they can take the initiative to interact.

Make it fun

Game and play concepts stimulate our brains better than boring ones. Playful approaches and games create welcoming settings that can lower the threshold for participation. Set clear rules and expectations for the space and invite attendees to get creative and have fun.

Language!

The language you use shapes the space. Use the language that includes your potential audience in the best possible way. This is not just about the choice between English or Dutch, but also the choice between colloquial, conversational, academic or analytical approach of your event.