Explore the top four engagement trends emerging this fall below, then head over to the full report for more cultural moments, speaker recommendations, entertainment trends, and talent recommendations. 

No-Edit Creators

After years of being inundated with highly edited, attention-grabbing content, a new wave of creators is gaining popularity by sharing unfiltered, raw videos with little to no editing. As a reaction to the exhaustion caused by overly stimulating videos, where flashy graphics and sounds pop up every 1.5 seconds, creators are opting for more simple, raw content to soothe audiences. 

Event planners can embrace the no-edit trend with:

• Authentic, unedited content
  • Share glimpses of the event planning process, from venue selection to set-up. Audiences love a BTS moment. 
  • Conduct unedited interviews with attendees, speakers, and sponsors to capture genuine reactions and insights.
  • Encourage real-time Q&A sessions between speakers and audiences.
• Intimate content sessions
  • Design small, in-the-round stages and fireside chats to boost the authenticity factor. 
  • Organize hands-on workshops with limited availability to foster a personalized experience and drive the FOMO factor.
• No-frills social media
  • Use Instagram Stories, TikTok, and LinkedIn to share unfiltered, behind-the-scenes content that captures the energy and atmosphere of the event.
• Audience-generated content
  • Invite attendees to share their own unedited experience using specific hashtags.
• Partner with creators
  • Collaborate with influencers and industry thought leaders to share their POVs (more on this below) 

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Vibe of the Season

From the ubiquitous ‘hot girl summer’ to ‘sad girl autumn,’ we are no strangers to naming the moment. But this year, instead of embodying personas, we’re declaring seasonal vibes. Starting with Brat Summer setting the tone for the warm season, the rise of Demure Fall and Goth Winter (inspired by Beetlejuice) is emerging, shaping fashion and lifestyle trends for the upcoming seasons and declaring the vibe for people to rally around.

Corporate events can leverage the seasonal vibe trend, too. Stay attuned to the latest season, and have a bit of fun by:

• Adopting the seasonal vibe language in your marketing, descriptions, social media, and scripts
• Creating branded merchandise that reflects the vibe of the season—think tote bags, hats, and stickers
• Aligning your aesthetic with the vibe of the season
  • Brat Summer could feature lively, social activities like outdoor cocktail parties, bold color schemes, and playful gamification.
  • Demure Fall could focus on intimate conversations and fireside chats, providing a more subdued, reflective atmosphere with understated, elegant decor, soft lighting, and warm, muted tones.
  • Goth Winter could invite attendees to participate in avant-garde workshops and artistic breakout sessions with dark, dramatic lighting, bold patterns, and moody colors.

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Creator Coverage

After the Olympics enlisted popular content creators to cover the Games, the DNC and RNC both enlisted a similar strategy to have over 70 creators in attendance to cover the event and pull young voters. While the role of social media creators has continuously risen in entertainment over the years, their experience and coverage at larger public events are being prioritized, making them even more powerful public figures. 

In our events—from sales kickoffs to user conferences—we can empower content creators to boost our community by:

• Building a physical “creator platform” on the event floor where creators have a seat in the middle of the action 
• Providing a dedicated creator lounge for them to work, mingle, and recharge
• Hiring content creators as moderators, panelists, or Q&A hosts
• Giving them all the tools, resources, and guidelines needed to amplify the impact, including messaging guidelines, event materials, and onsite tech support
• Creating exclusive content opportunities like access to behind-the-scenes experiences or interviews with key speakers
• Encouraging collaboration among creators by organizing exclusive networking events and social activities

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Join a Club

While we have talked about the massive rise of book clubs in the last year, we are now seeing a rise in other kinds of clubs to find community, specifically run clubs. Many are flocking to this community-centric group for new connections. The desire to find a close group united over shared hobbies is leading people to flock to these low-pressure hobby clubs to fill both their personal and social cups. 

We can bring community-centric activities into our events by offering:

• Tried and true community runs, sunrise yoga, and group meditations, potentially hosted by your sponsor ecosystem. Wellness and lifestyle brands bring a fresh, B2C feel to a corporate event.
• Casual, low-pressure social activities like city tours, creative workshops, even bingo (which is totally in right now)
• Plenty of informal networking space, like cafés and lounges 
• Hobby-based breakout sessions, putting attendee groups together around shared interests, like gaming or reading
• Community-based meetups, luncheons, or ancillary events to boost belonging at your event

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Want More?

Head over to the full report to explore more engagement and entertainment trends and listen to and learn about emerging talent.