Q1: What are your thoughts on recent research findings suggesting that the average person spends up to six years of their life attending boring events? Does this statistic surprise you?
It sadly does not surprise me, because I know how much effort we need in persuading some clients to perk up their events.
Q2: In your opinion, what are the main factors that render an event or meeting boring, and why does this still happen so frequently?
One thing would be ignoring the planned schedules and prolonging them to unbearable lengths. Some people just love to hear themselves speak, even if no one else is really interested. Speeches should be well prepared, short and powerful, and speakers carefully selected and engaged. Meetings have more possible pitfalls in that matter, yet with events, we can communicate the messages with many other tools; they need not be so literate. If a company or a person needs to hand out all of their history in a long speech, or worse, many similar speeches, something is very wrong with the corporate communication itself, and no event can make it better – it will be just another speech, speech, music, speech, music, awards, speech event. Try to read the room or just believe your event managers when they tell you not to exceed the maximum of 3 minutes (there’s a reason for those radio edit durations, believe me). They are usually right and the only ones sincerely telling you the truth – they are not on your monthly payroll, and you probably hired them to make your event better, not worse.
Q3: What elements are, in your view, crucial for creating engaging meetings? Would you say there is a “formula for success”?
A bit of provocation and small surprises, a lot of opportunities for human interactions, a pleasant set-up that caters to all basic needs, and last, but not least important, good wine and dine.
Q4: How do you approach event design from the participant’s perspective? What must an organiser do to prevent attendees from mentally checking out within the first ten minutes?
I am a very impatient person, so I always think about whether it would bore or annoy me and what would actually make me tick. I also try to keep it vivid, visually attractive and to the point. Making it as comfortable as it gets within the circumstances is also key.
Q5: What modern practices or tools would you recommend to organisers aiming to create more inclusive and dynamic events?
I don’t know if you’d call that modern, but I recommend travelling. A lot of it, to as many diverse cultures as possible. Visit events, festivals, museums and exhibitions with your eyes open and learn from others. I use travel for inspiration as well as for education, and always come home with new ideas that can be implemented in our events. The technology is nowadays as almighty as it can be, but without a good idea, energy and a capable crew, it’s worthless. Do whatever you need to, but never let your inner child rest, and challenge it constantly. That’s how you get results.
“We are the happiest when we manage to implement small surprises into congresses to keep the participants awake, such as flash mobs, cheerleaders, a concert during coffee breaks or anything that keeps the ’normal’ away from the schedule, yet still keeps them on track.”
Q6: How crucial is the role of spontaneous interaction, informal networking, and unexpected moments in crafting a memorable event experience?
Ask yourself what you actually remember after an event, and the answer is on the plate. Everything that creates pleasant memories with the possibility of networking is a must-have at the events, so creating an environment to achieve it is one of the goals every event manager should be going for.
Q7: Can you name a best practice case – either one of your own events or one you attended – that was truly extraordinary and remains a testament to the idea that “no more boring meetings” is not just a slogan but a tangible reality?
We are the happiest when we manage to implement small surprises into congresses to keep the participants awake, such as flash mobs, cheerleaders, a concert during coffee breaks or anything that keeps the ’normal’ away from the schedule, yet still keeps them on track. Also, keeping a client who was at first reluctant to all novelty, but later wouldn’t even consider other options and leaving a lot of space for creativity is the confirmation that lately comes our way more often than we imagined. This is exactly why we still persist despite all the hardships this line of work is setting us up with – #PiranaTeam is here to defy boredom and battle the normal, hoping for many more challenges to come our way :)
Q8: In your experience, which event format is the most boring?
None, if you know how to handle it.
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