{"id":4125,"date":"2021-01-19T11:30:00","date_gmt":"2021-01-19T16:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/?p=4125"},"modified":"2023-06-28T10:09:41","modified_gmt":"2023-06-28T14:09:41","slug":"4-tips-for-fun-and-frequent-virtual-happy-hours","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/4-tips-for-fun-and-frequent-virtual-happy-hours\/","title":{"rendered":"4 Tips for Fun and Frequent Virtual Happy Hours"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Vaccines are finally here, and there\u2019s good reason to be hopeful that the pandemic will soon be behind us. That being said, we have to remember that a vaccine rollout is a long process and in-person social gatherings are still a risk.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Throughout this socially distant era, a great option for risk-free community gathering has been to host a happy hour on Zoom. However, after nearly a year filled with virtual alternatives, some online events have lost a bit of their luster. But you can change that.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By learning from the expertise of successful organizers, you can keep your events well-attended, engaging, and occurring often. Here are 4 of Meetup\u2019s top tips for fun and frequent virtual happy hours.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/woman-chatting-on-Zoom-during-happy-hour_virtual-happy-hour-edited-1-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"woman-chatting-on-Zoom-during-happy-hour_virtual-happy-hour\" class=\"wp-image-4136\" width=\"1120\" height=\"630\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/woman-chatting-on-Zoom-during-happy-hour_virtual-happy-hour-edited-1-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/woman-chatting-on-Zoom-during-happy-hour_virtual-happy-hour-edited-1-560x315.jpg 560w, https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/woman-chatting-on-Zoom-during-happy-hour_virtual-happy-hour-edited-1-1120x630.jpg 1120w, https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/woman-chatting-on-Zoom-during-happy-hour_virtual-happy-hour-edited-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/woman-chatting-on-Zoom-during-happy-hour_virtual-happy-hour-edited-1-1536x865.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/woman-chatting-on-Zoom-during-happy-hour_virtual-happy-hour-edited-1-2048x1153.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1120px) 100vw, 1120px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Don\u2019t rely on small talk&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When we meet with friends or coworkers in person, conversation flies. When we meet virtually, it\u2019s not always so effortless.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Instead of relying on small talk to fill the digital space, plan some tried and true conversation starters to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/9-ways-to-welcome-attendees-to-your-online-event\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">welcome participants to an online event<\/a>. These are a few dependable things you can do:\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Read up on recent news events and host a discussion&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Add a book club or film club element to your happy hour&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Choose a different \u201cfavorite\u201d conversation topic for each event, like \u201cfavorite vacation,\u201d \u201cfavorite historical figure,\u201d or \u201cfavorite high school memory\u201d&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Play classic guessing games like twenty questions, Heads Up!, two truths and a lie, and charades&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Make participation active&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Everyone should feel like they\u2019re really <em>doing something <\/em>while attending your virtual happy hour. The best way to ensure that attendees stay engaged is by organizing a communal activity.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This can be as simple as watching a TV show or movie together. With the help of a free online service like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.netflixparty.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"undefined (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Teleparty<\/a> that synchronizes video playback across different devices, you and your group can have a socially distant watch party.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Activities can also be more involved, like hosting your own <em>Jeopardy!<\/em> episode during happy hour. The<a href=\"http:\/\/www.j-archive.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"undefined (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> J! Archive<\/a> is a fan-created database of almost every single <em>Jeopardy!<\/em> question ever aired. The questions are helpfully organized into topics just as they appeared on television. All the answers are included, so you don\u2019t have to go searching for them. Take on the role of the late, great Alex Trebek and guide your group through an iconic trivia night.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1120\" height=\"630\" src=\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/woman-making-mojitos_virtual-happy-hour-1120x630.jpg\" alt=\"woman-making-mojitos_virtual-happy-hour\" class=\"wp-image-4126\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/woman-making-mojitos_virtual-happy-hour-1120x630.jpg 1120w, https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/woman-making-mojitos_virtual-happy-hour-560x315.jpg 560w, https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/woman-making-mojitos_virtual-happy-hour-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/woman-making-mojitos_virtual-happy-hour-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/woman-making-mojitos_virtual-happy-hour-2048x1152.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1120px) 100vw, 1120px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Maintain small traditions&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Part of the fun of happy hour is the routine of it all. When you\u2019re in person, maybe you and your friends have a favorite seat at the bar, you always play a certain song on the jukebox, or you start the festivities with a specific drink and appetizer combination.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although the happy hour has to take place online, you can still practice little routines and traditions that give your event a familiar, special feeling. A few examples include:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Having a theme to influence your dress code&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Exploring new areas of the world for menu inspiration&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Creating an original cocktail recipe for everyone to make simultaneously&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Giving everyone a different Zoom background assignment, like using a childhood photo or favorite animal&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Be inclusive&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Virtual happy hours don\u2019t need to be for alcohol drinkers only. By not limiting your community, you stand a much better chance of having frequently high attendance. To show that your virtual happy hour is welcome to all, mix up your menu with <a aria-label=\"undefined (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thespruceeats.com\/delicious-mocktail-recipes-4169329\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">delicious mocktails<\/a> for people who prefer not to have alcohol, but still want to hang out.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If personal connection were a drink, inclusivity would be the main ingredient. All kinds of people with all kinds of interests are looking for fun ways to socialize online. With these tips, you can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/lp\/goals\">organize an open community gathering<\/a> that\u2019s much less risky than in-person happy hour, but no less enjoyable.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"post-excerpt\"><p>At Meetup, we know a thing or two about connecting people through events. These insights will make your happy hours even happier.  <\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":45,"featured_media":4127,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[208,44,81],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>4 Tips for Fun and Frequent Virtual Happy Hours - Meetup Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/4-tips-for-fun-and-frequent-virtual-happy-hours\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"4 Tips for Fun and Frequent Virtual Happy Hours - Meetup Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"At Meetup, we know a thing or two about connecting people through events. 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