Rooftop Bar

Rooftop Bar

IMPAKT

The Rooftop Bar has been a mainstay of all the hybrid and online-only events that IMPAKT has hosted over the past 3 years. Andrej Kapor has been the bar host of the Rooftop Bar since its inception. The role of the host is to welcome guests who journey (or stumble) into the digital rooftop bar– a Zoom video call that is embedded into the IMPAKT web portal (on the top 'floor')– where guests can join and use as a casual meeting point for discussions, directions, or drink recommendations. Every IMPAKT TV ended in an invitation to continue the conversation in the rooftop bar after the livestream ended.

2. Make it participatory

Having a chatty bar host lowers the threshold for participation. While the chat box, or holding a microphone may be daunting for some attendees, the casual conversation in the rooftop bar can lessen the barrier for joining in.

3. Cultivate Collectivity

Part of feeling like you can join into a conversation is knowing who you are talking with. Giving people the option to be visible and to speak face to face– regardless of location.

4. Create Comfort

One of the main functions of the bar host is to provide guidance, technical support, but also (most importantly) simply a welcoming face that is available to chat with. In our physical spaces, people are always welcoming and eager to chat, and this is something that needs to be consciously recreated in online spaces.

5. Contextualise

During the aftertalks in the Rooftop Bar everyone has the space to share their opinions. We have found that the people who join our events are the type to be well-versed in the topics being dealt with, and eager to discuss. Having a meeting point where people can have informal discussions also allows people to create personal connections to the events and discussions of the program.