BizBash’s Clarie Hoffman recently asked the industry, “What are some of your tried and true methods for sparking conversations and building community?”

Brad Rankin, Sr. Solutions Architect at Opus Agency, answered the call, noting that events should leverage space, transitions, and seeded networking topics to help attendees get the conversation flowing.

1. Use the Space As a Tool
   “Unique venues serve as great conversation starters. Juxtapose your future-forward tech conference with a historical venue in the heart of London. Pull inspiration from C2 Montreal's iconic suspended networking chairs. Encouraging a sense of wonder or risk can persuade individuals to foster deeper connections and bond outside their comfort zones.”
   
   
2. Leverage Transitions
   “Don’t underestimate the value of connections made in passing between sessions. Design fun transitions to move attendees from space to space. We’ve used a mariachi band to lead attendees from the keynote to the expo hall. Secret doors or mysterious signage that lead to unknown spaces offer surprise-and-delight moments for attendees to chat about. This creates natural connections that continue throughout the event."
   
   
3. Seed the Speed Networking Topic
   “Similar to speed dating, plan a fast-paced speed-networking session. Set up small tables with numbered stations and assign pairs or trios to each station for a three- or four-minute business date. Provide a unique topic for each table, and then have attendees rotate tables to keep the introductions happening and the conversations flowing. Ideally, they’ll continue their conversations throughout the event."

Read what other event leaders had to say in this BizBash article.