Virtual parties are quickly becoming a popular way for people to interact with each other. Instead of the traditional party, where you go out and meet people, a virtual party is one that is conducted using videotelephony software. Although virtual parties are quite different from traditional parties, they still pose a chance to meet new people and make some new friends.
Nevertheless, here’s how to throw an awesome virtual party.
Table of Contents
Create a Theme
If you’re going to put in the effort to host a virtual party, it’s worth it to make it fun. A theme makes it easy to connect your guests and give your event some structure.
A theme is something like “80’s dance party” or “zombie apocalypse” or “cupcake baking competition.” With a theme, you can provide an agenda and pre-party instructions and set expectations for what your guests should be prepared for.
Your theme can be as elaborate as you want. The more you do ahead of time, the more fun people will have at the party. You could send everyone supplies they’ll need or notify them of the dress code (like cupcake ingredients or 80s costumes) in advance. You can create a playlist of music that fits with the theme.
You can design custom invitations and decorations. You could even create a calendar of events with timed activities that are live-hosted through Zoom or another platform.
Make Sure Everyone Has the Right Apps
If everyone is in different places, they will almost certainly be on different computers or mobile devices. And that means they’ll need to have the right apps to take part in the virtual party. For a video call, make sure everyone has something like Skype, FaceTime, Google Hangouts, or Zoom installed and ready to go.
If you’re using a game like Jackbox Party Pack, make sure everyone can download it from Steam or the App Store. If friends are streaming their video from a phone, make sure they know how to use AirPlay or Chromecast for the TV experience.
If anyone needs help with this ahead of time, walk them through it. Once you’re all connected, take time for a brief technical check-in to make sure everything works as intended.
Decorate Your Space
Get your space party-ready. Decorate your space to make it feel festive. If you’re having a virtual birthday party for a child, hang up some streamers and balloons in their room or any space where they’ll be when the video call happens. You could also decorate your own space, especially if you’re going to be hosting the party from home.
Set up a backdrop. A plain background can be distracting and take attention away from the celebration. Set up a backdrop that fits the theme of your party, like making a fort out of pillows and blankets or creating a beach scene using towels and beach toys.
Plan Some Virtual Activities
A virtual party isn’t like an in-person one. That’s why you should plan some activities for your guests to do together. Plan activities that will make them feel connected even when they’re miles apart.
Play games together online. Or, even just watch someone else play games online. Have everyone get involved by creating a group chat where you can send comments or jokes during the game stream. And if you want to take it to the next level, consider playing some games together as a group on Zoom or another video conference service.
You could also watch a movie or TV episode and then discuss it afterward. If you have access to Netflix Party or another similar service, you can all watch at the same time and chat right within the app. Otherwise, ask everyone to start watching at the same time, then discuss it when it’s done.
Depending on how close your social circle is, consider hiring a comedian; hence search for clean comedians for hire or other entertainers to give your group something to laugh at together. Think of it like having a comedian come over and do a stand-up routine, but instead, they’re telling jokes on a video call.
Don’t forget the kids. If you’ve got young children at home and want them involved, plan some activities for them during the party. It could be as simple as having them put together a dance performance for the rest of your guests and their kids or doing a show-and-tell with their toys or favorite books.
Concluding Remarks
While it takes time and effort to plan a virtual party, it’s well worth the investment. It costs almost no money to throw an awesome virtual party. It can be done at a time that works for everybody involved. And though you won’t have a cake and punch, you’ll have much more fun connecting with friends and loved ones from the comfort of your own home.
