Why Boredom is the Enemy of Conferences?

November 6, 2024

Why boredom is the enemy of conferences (and what to do about it)

Conferences should inspire, build networks and stimulate big ideas. In reality, they’re often a test of survival.

You know the drill: big lights, dull PowerPoints, and speakers talking at you while your attention slowly drifts away. Next thing, you’re plotting when you can leave.

But, boredom isn’t just a nuisance. It’s a proven productivity killer. Our brain’s processing power starts to crash when we’re bored. Think you’re retaining any insights from your marketing hero after that? Think again!

Psychologist Dr Sandi Mann explains "Boredom is essentially a search for neural stimulation that isn't being satisfied." And considering our attention span is shorter than a goldfish, (about 8 seconds), conferences recycling stale formats have lost their audience from the start.

But, what is the science behind boring conferences, and how can you make them FUN?!

Death by PowerPoint: The science behind conference boredom

When we get bored, our brain's default mode network kicks in. If you’re wondering what that is, it’s responsible for daydreaming and essentially stops our brains from processing information. Not ideal at a conference.

Alas, it happens more than you think. According to a 2018 Prezi report; "71% of professionals admit to daydreaming during presentations, while 39% confess to falling asleep at some point."

Our brains can only handle so much information before they explode... I mean, overload. So when a conference follows a tired routine, the cognitive load - and attendee engagement - don't stand a chance.

Experiential sessions can combat this. It’s not just about keeping people entertained. Active learning techniques like participation, humour, play, and interaction can have up to 50% higher retention rates compared to being lectured.

Same old, same old: The lazy conference trap

Let’s talk about the elephant in the conference room: predictability. One of the main reasons conferences become dull is that they’re stuck in a loop.

A 2019 survey from EventMB found, “49% of event planners said that 'keeping attendees engaged' is their biggest challenge,” and we might know why:

…keynote, break, panel, lunch, repeat until energy levels are on the floor.

Routine kills engagement. When people know what’s coming next, they mentally check out. The element of surprise, on the other hand, jolts us back into attention mode.

We’ve made it our mission to throw out the old and tired playbook to make sure the audience doesn’t just attend, they actively engage!

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Bearded Kitten’s recipe

There are three key ingredients to breaking free from the boredom trap:

Bravery: Don’t be afraid to break the mould.
Design: Transform spaces into something extraordinary.
Fun: We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: fun is the ultimate event hack.

Banishing the boredom at Intuit Mailchimp’s 2024 ‘From: Here, To: There’

For Mailchimp From: Here, To: There 2024, the audience needed to have fun, but more importantly, they were engaged, learning and remembering. In true Bearded Kitten style, we made sure this wasn't another cookie-cutter conference.

We shook things up to keep brains alert, and energy high, and attendees plugged in from start to finish. We designed a space where learning and fun came hand-in-hand, creating moments that had people talking long after the conference was over. We might have won an award or two as well...

Here's a taste of what we did to banish the boredom:

Dedicated networking & product demo areas: say no to endless sit-down sessions.
DJ sets and live music: nothing says 'wake up' like a well-placed beat.
Immersive gamification: encouraging brand engagement with games, and yes, prizes.
Custom journeys: for high-value customers & new prospects. Personalisation for all guests, you're not just a name!
Unconventional programming: We booked unexpected talent, including AI robots and comedians. A fresh approach to speakers keeps everyone on their toes.

We turned the conference model on its head with this one. Attendees weren't just passive participants, they were actively engaged and fully immersed throughout the day.

Get the full scoop in our From: Here, To: There case study.

Calling all conference organisers! Here’s some tips…

Not every event is a drawing board for creativity, but that doesn’t mean you can’t inject energy into a conference. While we can’t give away all of our secrets, we will gift you a few starter points:

Shake up the format: Break free from the standard lineup. Incorporate workshops, group discussions, or live demonstrations.
Immersive experiences: Create interactive journeys with themed areas, multi-sensory installations, and experiential segments, such as immersive stages, unexpected pop-up zones, breakout rooms
Book engaging talent: Find speakers with charisma and storytelling ability, not just big names, and look outside your industry. Differing viewpoints and opinions are powerful!
Inject humour: Never underestimate laughter. Whether it’s a witty speaker, light-hearted content, or an unexpected performance, play and humour go a long way.
Interactive tech: Prompt audience engagement via gamification, VR, interactive Q&As etc. Conferences using interactive tech report 30% higher engagement rates.
Break it up: 68% of attendees prefer shorter, sharper sessions. 20 minutes is the sweet spot, nobody wants a monologue! If your content fits on a billboard, it’s perfect.
Surprise them: Sprinkle in surprise moments, this could be unexpected performances, immersive zones, or surprise speakers. Keep the audience guessing!
Bespoke food & drinks: Guests with a drink or snack in hand are more relaxed and feel welcome. Don’t skimp on food and refreshments… and make sure there’s plenty!

The world doesn’t need the same old conferences. The days of endless presentations and bland panel discussions are gone. Today’s audiences expect to be surprised, delighted, and energised.

Conferences in particular should be bold, interactive, and with a healthy dose of fun. At Bearded Kitten, we promise to ban boredom for good.

If your next conference needs some life, fun and creative mastery injected into it, get in touch at Info@beardedkitten.com. Let’s do it the BK way!

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