“Excellent from start to finish”

Kevin McCauley, executive director, CBRE

5 ways to #connect at the festival

1. Grab the mic, join the chat, ask questions

Every day, we give you the opportunity to connect with our amazing speakers. Submit your question by text, raise your hand to grab the microphone, participate in the all-attendee chat or reach out privately to participants in the direct chat. This is your opportunity to steer the session, reach out to an expert and get the information you need to know.

2. Spark your creativity and improve your learning retention

Adults learn better when they engage more senses and have a unique experience. To ensure you get more out of our sessions, we’re including kinesthetic and play-based learning activities to get your brain and body connected to make sure you remember more of what you learn with us. As part of this, we’re sending you a bag of tricks and we’re working with Malcolm Hamilton, Creative Director of Play:Disrupt for some unique complimentary activities to ensure you’re zooming in, not Zoomed out.

3. Take a seat in our social lounge
The social lounge is where the audience waits for the next session to begin. You can take a seat at a table and wait for someone to join you, or you can reach out to someone via the event-wide direct chat and invite them to meet you at a table for a chat. Every table opens a video meeting, just like a Zoom call. Our conference platform works on any desktop or laptop computer using Chrome or Microsoft Edge, and both of these browsers can be downloaded for free online. There’s nothing to install, just allow access to your microphone and camera and you’re ready to go.

4. Reach out and chat to someone
Is there an attendee you would like to meet? Send them a private direct message and arrange to meet at one of our video tables. Simply look for the attendee and click the three dots next to their name to send them a direct message. Love one of the talks? Reach out to the speaker to ask a question to continue the conversation after their session. Our platform makes it easy to connect with our community. And if you don’t want to be contacted, you have to accept a message to read it. There are no pop-up notifications, so there’s no distractions if you’re in a workshop or focussed on a talk. Simply click on the direct chat tab when you’re in the mood to network.

5. Try speed networking
Choose serendipity during our speed networking sessions. When it’s time for speed networking, a joining link will appear when you refresh the social lounge. If you choose to take part, you’ll be matched at random with another attendee for a time-limited three minute video chat. It’s a fast and fun way to connect with other attendees and practice your elevator pitch. At the end of the three minutes, you can make plans to meet at a video table to continue the conversation, send each other a direct chat, or swap email address before your time is up.

“Refreshing”
Darren Comber, Chief Executive, Scott Brownrigg

“Exciting, with all kinds of things happening and really interactive”
Natascha McIntyre Hall, Assistant Director, Strategic Developments, Portsmouth City Council

Festival of Place 2019
Shortlisted for Event of the Year 2019, IBP Media Awards