Have you ever imagined improvisation and business events going hand in hand? Our latest conversation with renowned artist and improv veteran, Gary Hirsch, will make you think again. We uncover the magic of improv in transforming your typical event into a dynamic, interactive, and co-created experience that is not only engaging but also profitable.

We reflect back on how the pandemic affected event engagement and share invaluable lessons learned on how to leverage psychology and improvisation to make your virtual events unforgettable.

Plus: common pitfalls and how to achieve a balance between the presenter, the content, and the audience.

Gary is the co-founder of On Your Feet, a creative training and facilitation consultancy that uses the art form of improvisation to help clients such as Apple, Nike, Google, and others create, relate and communicate…all while having a ridiculously good time. He is also a renowned artist, illustrator, and muralist with public works featured in numerous U.S. and international cities.

Check out more of Gary's incredible work with improv at On Your Feet.

00:07 - Improv in Business and Events

Explore how improv can be used to create something unexpected, surprising and memorable with other people in the events world. Gary, a renowned artist, illustrator, and muralist, has over 20 years of teaching and improv experience. We explore how to get people to connect with each other and learn through doing, instead of just pushing information into the attendees' brains. Finally, Gary talks about how co-creation and collaboration can be used in events to bridge the gap between people and make an impact.

14:03 - Pandemic's Impact on Virtual Events

How to use the science of psychology and improvisation to create meaningful experiences even in a virtual setting as the event industry still comes back from an all virtual world. We explore the pros and cons of virtual settings and how to apply the lessons we've learned from the pandemic.

19:28 - Improving Human Connection at Events

We discuss mistakes people make when planning events, such as overpacking agendas or forgetting to focus on the needs of their audience. Finally, we look at how to think of an event as a triangle, with the presenter, content, and audience at each apex.

27:26 - Creating Interstitial Experiences in Events

Create more humanity in events by creating structures that allow for these moments to emerge and for people to have freedom of choice. We discuss the potential of programming time for participants to rotate around the room to connect with speakers and discuss the possibilities that can arise from letting go of some control.

Want to dive deeper? Take our free 30 minute training, Community Event Mastery. Access it here.

• Check out more of Gary's incredible work with improv at On Your Feet.

• Want to dive deeper? Take our free 30 minute training, Community Event Mastery. Access it here.

Next episode: Shifting Priorities and Event Engagement