Check Out These 14 Unique Breakout Session Ideas
If you’re hosting a conference, convention, or company retreat, then you’ll probably want to implement a few breakout session ideas over the course of the event. Even if you have incredible presentations and keynote speakers lined up, breakout sessions empower your attendees to interact with each other and apply the lessons they’ve learned throughout the day. Breakout sessions should take place in small groups and be relatively short and to the point, with concrete takeaways.
If you’re having trouble coming up with ideas for your event, check out this list of 14 unique breakout session ideas to get you started. Some of them are universal activities you can use at any event. Still others are specific to certain types of events and venues.
But remember, a great breakout session is only as good as the location it’s held. That’s why we recommend you book a spacious, inviting, and well-equipped Peerspace venue for your breakout event. It’s the easy way to discover a new space that suits your group’s needs in a setting tailored to your needs. All spaces are available by the hour and include high-tech gear in a clean and stylish setting. You can also work with your local host, or use Peerspace’s Concierge team to arrange for catering, event staff, and equipment rentals.
1. Play the spectrogram game
Creating a spectrogram is a unique way to visually represent opinions and facts about your team. This simple activity is a popular breakout session idea that’s suitable for small- to medium-sized groups. It doesn’t require a lot of planning, and it’s a great way to get your attendees on their feet after sitting down for a long presentation. The general idea is that you ask everyone to line up in a row based on certain personal characteristics or their feelings about a topic.
For example, you could ask your group to line up in order of their birth date. This will require them to interact with each other and learn who shares their birthday or birth month. Then, ask them to line up in order of how excited they are about a new project or policy. Use all four corners of the room if you want to gauge opinion on an X-Y axis and create a true human spectrogram!
2. Host lightning talks
Lighting talks are a good way to break up the monotony of a packed presentation lineup. Lightning talks are short, typically no more than five or 10 minutes. You can invite attendees to give a talk on a subject of their choice for a change of pace from the main event programming.
It allows your team to share a facet of their expertise, allowing everyone in the room to speak and learn something new. When it comes to stimulating breakout session ideas, lightning talks are among the most versatile.
3. Have a silent disco
A silent disco is a unique breakout session idea that can give your attendees an energy boost — without requiring a live band or party venue. Your guests will have wireless headphones and can choose from two or more channels, each with a different type of music. It’s fun to watch everyone dancing to a variety of rhythms all in the same room!
4. Enjoy a silent conference
Breakout session ideas that involve quietness allow your team to decompress and reflect on the day’s events. You can also use silent disco equipment to host multiple speakers in the same room at once. If you’re short on space, your guests can choose which speaker they want to listen to, without the hassle of having to change rooms or struggle to follow along in a noisy environment.
