I’ve been to many conferences and have found it quite awkward and hard to enjoy, if I don’t know anyone there and haven’t spoken to them before. Whilst this could just be my social awkwardness, I find the more people I talk to the more I realise this is a widely acknowledged thing. How do you introduce yourself to a neighbour with ease, or even remember their name? What about Events managers too, how do you get your audience communicating and networking with one another without making it obvious and more awkward?

Below the team at Glisser have used their own experiences to pool together some of the best ‘games’ or sessions, that will help to break the ice and go a little way to helping prevent any awkwardness and prepare attendees to communicate with each other and be more attentive throughout the event.

1. Two lies, one truth
This could appeal to a smaller session, or you could split your larger group into smaller groups of five or six. Everyone takes a turn to tell the group two lies and one truth about themselves. The group then works together to try and discover the truth. This obviously can range from easy to hard, depending on how obscure the truths are. Normally this is fun and easy going the truths don’t have to be scandalous, but you do see people trying to beat the group, giving way to a healthy sense of competition. The best thing being it helps you to remember people’s names a lot easier, if this is not the case, you might not remember James from Events.com but you’ll remember he’s got a complete collection of My Little Pony figurines, and you’ll remember to avoid him for the rest of the conference.

2. Chair Yoga
Physically loosen up your audience. Destress them and make them comfortable for the hours ahead or use it as a midday break, to revitalise and reengage the audience. Allowing them to refresh for the next part of the day. Plus it’s a fun way to get people comfortable with each other. I personally am about a flexible as a hard backed dictionary and would thus look ridiculous causing much hilarity, I have no doubt. Anyway, it’s easy to do in a room

3. Being Tricky with Chairs
This is less of a game and more of a neat trick to bring you audience closer to you, literally. Everyone knows whether it’s a lecture, a conference or the bus, the cool kids sit at the back. And generally no one sits at the front. Place two rows of chairs at the front and watch as they are avoided (if not, don’t panic), once everyone has come in and sat down, remove the rows. You have now physically moved everyone in the room forward two rows. If in fact people have sat there, then excellent, no need to do it, but do keep it in mind for the next time you’re talking to front rows of chairs.

4. Storytime
Everyone loves telling stories. At an event to get people used to talking to one another, have them partner up with someone they don’t know. Within their pairs get them to think of one sentence to carry on the story from the each other. For instance, one of them could say: “Once upon a time there was a man at a conference…” to be followed with: “and he was terribly unhappy because there was no free lunch”. Making people remember each other’s names easier, make them laugh and you might even pick up ideas for your next event- free lunch? The most important thing is that it makes people engage with each other, and returns their attention back to your speakers, ready to fully take in, what is being said.

5. The Skittles Game
This was one of my favourites that I have been too. You essentially shamelessly bribe your attendees to share facts about themselves. Buy yourself a good few pack of skittles or sweets with different colours, around 5 per attendee. Get them to pick a handful but don’t eat them yet. Once everyone has a few reveal the corresponding fact they have to say about themselves.

Red- Favourite Hobbies
Yellow- Most embarrassing moment
Green- Favourite destination
Purple- Tell us anything about yourself

Obviously you can change these to fit your preferences. It’s a great game to play in the morning or around mid-afternoon, the added sugar bonus gives attendees a boost and they’re communicating happily.

Now there are so many more places to find great icebreakers and ways to get your audiences/attendees/delegates/candidates engaging and communicating with one another. These were the ones our team have personally experienced and thought were the most effective. Of course, if all else fails to break the ice, use a fat polar bear.