Summer means high schools students are off on break, but graduates are getting together for class reunions. Seeing people for the first time in 10, 20, 30 or even 40 years isn’t always easy for starting conversations! And let’s face it, some schools were full of cliques that can be rekindled during a class reunion.
You can make all of the graduates and their spouses more comfortable by encouraging conversations during the event. Here are a few conversation-starting tricks we’ve picked up after hosting countless casino party class reunions.
Use Interactive Games and Activities
It became clear to our team 30 years ago that our casino games get people talking. They are natural icebreakers that get people interacting whether or not they know each other (or have seen each other in 20 years!). Interactive activities give people a reason to mingle and get to know one another instead of sitting at their table all night. Guests get so wrapped up in having fun they forget all about awkwardness and nervousness when striking up a conversation with strangers.
Incorporate High School Memorabilia
Like games and contests, memorabilia will get people talking. Create a “walk down memory lane” at the venue with pictures, yearbooks from the years you were in high school, letterman jackets, etc. All of the old memories that people shared will reignite the common bond that’s bringing everyone together.
You can also incorporate this idea at tables by creating centerpieces with random bits of memorabilia, facts about the year you graduated, news clippings from the time period, pictures, etc. Each person at the table is guaranteed to take a closer look and comment on the creative design elements. We also offer customizable playing cards, dice, treats and more that can give guests unique party favors to make them feel appreciated and help commemorate the reunion.
Create Quiet Areas for Conversations
We’ve all been to an event at some point where the music was so loud and there were so many people in one place that having a conversation was near impossible. It’s important to make sure there are quiet areas in the venue where small groups can congregate and talk without having to shout.
Create an Informative Guest List Everyone Can Access
When you send out the invites ask people who plan to attend to provide a few bits of information for a guest list. By adding information to a guest list everyone can access, it serves as a directory of sorts. Guests can take a look before the event to see who else is attending and learn a little bit about their lives. Ask guests to answer things like what they do for a living, what city they live in, what college they attended, where they’ve traveled, how many children/grandchildren they have, etc. This will help people find commonalities and conversation starters.
Add a Photo Booth
Photos are a great way to capture a moment and remember the event. You can have fun making it reminiscent of a high school yearbook photo or make the backdrop an image of the school. A photographer who is properly equipped can use the photos in a number of ways to get people talking.
- Automatically send photos to the guest so they can share them with others.
- Create a photo stream that’s displayed on a projector screen during the event.
- Create side-by-sides with a guest’s graduation picture and their picture at the event.
- Add them to a group social media page where they can see all the pictures from the event.
Are you planning a class reunion for next year? Casino Knights can make it a night to remember with classic Vegas-style games, photo booth, activities and entertainment. We provide everything right down to the chips, making it easy to plan a class reunion in Central Texas even if you live miles away. Give us a call to learn how easy and stress-free your reunion can be!
Original Source: https://casinoknightsinc.com/event-planning/ways-to-encourage-conversations-at-your-class-reunion/
