So, you’ve decided to host a Big Lunch! And because you’re clever you’re going to use the More Human platform to make your event the gathering of the year with minimal workload and stress.
Not satisfied with already making your event creation a cinch, here are some of our tried-and-tested tips for before, during and after the event to help you on your path to hosting glory. (We’ll happily accept baked goods as a thank you.)
Before the event
🤓 Prep yourself
Being a host is very rewarding but might feel a little intimidating if it’s your first time. Making sure you feel prepped on the agenda for the event and are confident and ready to lead will help you take control of the group. This will, in turn, help your attendees feel relaxed and safe. Take deep breaths, read through your task list, make sure you’ve completed any before the day actions and channel your inner Nigella (the ultimate host) You’ve got this.
🗨 Communicate
Keep a check on things like weather, travel strikes, plagues of sharks falling from the sky or other issues that might affect your event. Be sure to communicate via the attendees tab in the platform any changes to plans as soon as you possibly can. Remember, there are things that even you (the hosting champ) can’t control so stay calm and polite if anything goes wrong and communicate any plans or decisions clearly.
👩🏼🤝🧑🏻 See who’s coming
Knowing who’s coming to your event and how to give them the best experience possible is the secret to social success. Look at your RSVP lists to see if your guests have any accessibility challenges or needs that you might be able to help them with. Things to look for are new attendees, attendees with physical or cognitive challenges or people attending alone. Being aware of the individual needs of the people in your group is important so you can check in with those who might need more attention regularly as well as balancing your time between the other attendees.
During the event
🤡 Make yourself easy to find
Make sure it’s really easy for people to find the exact location of your Big Lunch by utilising the What3Words feature in More Human, which provides an exact location (to the nearest metre) Put any arrival information in your event description and let people who might not have met you before know how and where to find you. Try to wear an item of clothing or an accessory that makes you stand out (full sequin suits get extra points).
🤝 Instigate social connections
There are tons of great reasons to hold a Big Lunch and one of them is bringing people together. Sometimes your attendees will need a bit of help to get to know each other so here are some things that you can do to help build connections and in return feel all warm and fuzzy:
If your attendees don’t really know each other perhaps you could buddy them up in pairs and intro them before the event so they don’t feel lonely
Introduce people as they arrive to the group with an interesting fact about them
prepare some ice-breaker games or conversation starters to help everyone get to know each other
After
🙏 Thank everyone
Sending your attendees a message after the event, using the More Human platform, to thank them for taking part is a nice way to round things off and get feedback (don’t be scared, you nailed it).
📅 Make it regular
Meeting with the same people on a regular basis to do something fun is good for mental health, well-being and feelings of belonging. Be inspired by the More Human library of ready-to-host activities and select one to run regularly. You have the power to connect people just by clicking a few buttons to list a new event. You’re literally a superhero.