A carefully crafted breakout session can upgrade an everyday networking event into a memorable experience your attendees will talk about for years to come.
These interactive segments promote deep engagement with the event’s theme and speakers and foster lasting connections among participants.
Here at Eventbrite, we’ve seen the transformative power of a well-planned breakout session. So, we’re sharing six practical tips — complete with examples and insider insights — to help you elevate your breakout sessions from mundane to remarkable. Let’s get started!
What’s the purpose of a breakout session?
A breakout session is like a mini-meeting within a larger event agenda. It’s where a group of attendees breaks apart from the main group to dive into specific topics and engage in interactive sessions or discussions. Usually, breakout sessions are done within a time frame or have a set time limit.
Breakout sessions are all about creating a cosy atmosphere that fosters collaboration, sparks meaningful conversations, and turns attendees into active participants in your event.
More than just a way to add variety to your networking event, breakout sessions are powerful tools to boost engagement, drive deeper connections, and offer a personalised experience that your attendees will rave about.
How breakout sessions make your event unforgettable
The events industry is booming — the global corporate event market size alone is projected to soar past £1 trillion by 2032 — which means it’s a landscape filled with competition.
So if you want your event to stand apart, you need to create something special that piques curiosity and grabs people’s attention.
This is where breakout sessions come into play. They can be the addition that elevates your event from “totally forgettable” to “talk of the town.”
Cross-pollination of ideas
Breakout sessions can link together people with different backgrounds and areas of expertise, allowing them to mingle and share creative ideas, which wouldn’t happen in a larger setting.
In other words, the smaller and more intimate group setting allows people to share their unique ideas and experiences more openly, leading to a more engaging event overall.
Meaningful connections
Breakout sessions are a golden opportunity for attendees to rub elbows with like-minded folks and forge new connections. This can be an extremely enticing benefit for your event, attracting attendees who are looking to network with others.
When attendees make deep connections during a networking event, the experience can be levelled up. Not only do they gain fresh perspectives, but they also tap into the shared wisdom of the group, potentially unlocking new opportunities.
Pro tip: Speed networking sessions are a fun way to help attendees quickly connect with one another as part of a larger event. As an example of this type of breakout session, look to Socialite Connections’ Speed Networking: Business Networking for Professionals in Mayfair events. They design speed networking sessions especially for professionals and business-minded people to share their ideas and grow their professional networks.
Active & interactive learning
With active and interactive learning, your event becomes a hands-on experience for your attendees.
When you inject active learning into your event through breakout sessions, you create an atmosphere that’s ripe for engagement and interaction. And an engaged attendee is likely to become a returning fan.
Imagine a breakout session at a small business-leadership event where everyone engages in role-play to better understand conflict resolution techniques. This hands-on learning experience will undoubtedly be more memorable and impactful than listening to a presentation on the same topic.
6 pro tips for planning a powerful breakout session
It takes a bit of upfront work to ensure your breakout sessions engage, inspire, and leave a lasting impression on your attendees. Let’s explore the steps to making your next event a standout success.
1. Select an irresistible breakout session topic idea
An irresistible breakout session idea complements your event’s overarching theme but offers a deep dive into a specific and relevant topic.
But how do you know what topics your attendees are interested in?
If you organise your event with Eventbrite, you can send a “pre-event” survey to registrants to find out exactly what types of topics or activities pique their interest. In your survey, you could ask open-ended questions or provide a list of topics to choose from.
Here are a few additional “pro tips” we’ve learned to help you narrow down an irresistible breakout session topic idea:
- Research trending topics. Keep an ear to the ground for the latest trends and hot topics in your industry. A session that puts attendees “in the know” can attract more interest.
- Identify attendee needs. What are your attendees struggling with? What essential skills or knowledge are they dying to learn? If you shape your session around these topics, it’s more likely to be a hit.
- Engage and interact. The best breakout sessions are interactive and fun and provide a break from standard presentations. Think of activities or formats that encourage attendee participation, like a scavenger hunt or role-playing.
You’re likely to have several breakout sessions at your event, so don’t limit yourself or stress out about choosing the single best idea. Each breakout session — just like each event — is a learning opportunity to improve the next one!
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2. Define your “sticky” breakout session message
What’s the one takeaway that you want attendees to remember after your breakout session wraps?
That’s your “sticky” message — a catchy insight or actionable step.
For example, say you’re hosting a networking event for new entrepreneurs, and you’re planning a breakout session about elevator pitches. Your “sticky” message for this session could be a tip like: “Be brief, but clearly explain your value prop.”
Here are a few other tips to help you craft a key message for your breakout session:
- Keep it simple. Your message should be straightforward and easy to understand. Avoid jargon or complex language.
- Make it actionable. A compelling, sticky message inspires action. It should provide attendees with a clear next step they can take after the session.
- Be relevant. The message must match your session’s theme and goals. Irrelevant messages can confuse attendees and dilute your session’s impact.
- Repeat it. To drive your message home, repeat it during the session — in the introduction, during the main discussions, and as a parting note.
Remember, a “sticky” message is the heart of your breakout session. So, use these tips to craft a powerful, memorable message that wows your event attendees.
3. Select your “best-fit facilitator” to lead the breakout session
The “best-fit facilitator” is someone with expertise and a knack for sparking engagement.
For example, let’s say you’re planning a breakout session on creating compelling characters in fantasy stories at a writing workshop. Your “best-fit facilitator” for this session should, ideally, be an established fantasy author — but not just any author will do. You’ll want someone who:
- Has proven experience. They’re rock solid at character creation and have a portfolio of well-etched characters in their stories.
- Can hold a room. Look for someone with rave reviews from literary circles or a charismatic social media presence.
- Can lead a workshop. They’ve run breakout workshops before and know how to keep things moving, handle questions, and ensure everyone stays focused on the topic.
- Wants to share their wisdom. They’re passionate about fantasy writing and character creation and eager to share their knowledge.
For example, The Vision chooses experts who consult some of the world’s biggest brands to lead the conversation in their Entrepreneurs/Business Networking Event. Choosing the right person with the right expertise to lead your breakout session can turn it into an unforgettable experience for your event attendees.
4. Find the perfect space for your breakout session
The right venue can be key to your session’s success. Finding the perfect space is about balancing event accessibility, room aesthetics, and comfort.
Always consider the context of your breakout session when choosing a space. For example, an improv breakout session at an acting workshop might benefit from an open, informal setting where attendees have the freedom to move around.
Keep the “3 As” in mind when scouting out spaces for your breakout room options.
- Area: Find a place that’s appropriate for your session. If you plan on having group activities, you’ll need enough room for people to huddle without feeling cramped.
- Amenities: Does the space have the necessary equipment? A projector for presentations, a whiteboard for brainstorming, and good acoustics for clear communication — these can significantly impact your session’s success.
- Accessibility: Is your space easy to find? Is it accessible to people with disabilities?
Remember, your venue is more than just a space — it sets the tone for your session and contributes to the overall impression you leave on your attendees after the event.
If you decide to run virtual breakout sessions as part of an online event, all you need to think about is having virtual event software that allows you to send participants to a breakout room. You may want to consider incorporating a breakout room activity to get everyone warmed up for the discussion too.
Eventbrite integrates with all of the big names in virtual platforms, like Zoom, Vimeo, and Facebook Live, with many breakout session features available.
Organising a virtual event? Sign up for Eventbrite now
5. Launch a mini-marketing campaign to build buzz about your breakout session
It’s not enough to plan an engaging breakout session — you need to make sure your potential attendees know about it!
Launch a mini-marketing campaign to build anticipation and excitement around your breakout sessions, boosting awareness and driving registrations.
Eventbrite’s marketing platform has all the tools you need to help you promote your breakout session and can help boost attendance in several ways.
- Build awareness with social media ads: Send multi-event ads with our Facebook integrations.
- Keep event registrants updated with email: Easily send broadcast emails to your contacts using our convenient email marketing features.
- Target the right crowd: Connect with the right target market using the smart insights feature.
Like any event, a breakout session isn’t just about the content but how effectively you spread the word about it. Use our marketing tools to keep attendees informed and excited about your event.
Ready to start promoting your breakout session? Sign Up for Eventbrite’s marketing platform.
6. Collect feedback to fine-tune future breakout sessions
The journey doesn’t end when the breakout session does. In fact, it’s just the beginning.
Gathering feedback with a post-session survey helps you understand your event attendees’ experience. With this info, you can make necessary improvements for future sessions.
Ask questions about their experience, comfort level, and the overall impact of the session. Make sure you also ask them to rate the speaker and content to determine if the session is one you should bring back next year or modify.
Don’t forget to include one of the most important parts: space for your attendees to add their comments. This gives them a chance to share clear and direct feedback that gives you no-holds-barred insights into the value of the session.
Ignite your event with engaging breakout sessions
Your breakout sessions have the power to redefine the entire event experience. So, don’t hold back — plan with purpose, engage with energy, and adapt with feedback.
But for your event to have spectacular breakout sessions, you first need to make sure you have plenty of attendees! Eventbrite can help. Our marketing suite has the tools you need to reach as many people as possible — as easily as possible — to host an unforgettable networking event.
