Many companies that were looking forward to a return to an in-person office party are now having to scramble for online alternatives because of the arrival of the Omicron variant of Covid. To keep safe from the heavily mutated virus, medical experts have recommended that even the vaccinated return to masks and social distancing while indoors. The online option is suddenly the only option.
With large online experience vendors like Airbnb mostly already booked solid, more boutique services are stepping in with solutions. “It really is not too late to have an amazing event,” assures Jing Wang Herman, of 28Muses. “We already have been doing a lot of quick, customized events because the ‘Great Resignation’ has made it urgent to keep employees happy and teams bonded. We are now experts at making last-minute events look like they were planned for months. We’re completely ready to help our clients still have amazing events despite Omicron.”
28Muses is not alone. There are companies with offerings designed for teams from the artsy to foodies, and everything in between. Almost any one of these programs sounds better than standing around an office party punch bowl awkwardly making small talk. Ironically, Omicron forcing teams to do something fun online may end up being the perfect way to get to know the real people behind those tiny faces in the Zoom window.
BUILDING CREATIVITY
“Imagination is humanity’s great unifier and our advantage over machines. And it transcends distance, age and silos,” says Alyssa Gundred, Co-founder and CEO of 28Muses. “We activate teams and brands through wonder and play.” This is good encapsulation of what 28Muses brings to remote teams. They offer unique online experiences in art, music, and storytelling to build connection and cultivate empathy in ways that erase the distance. Now through the holidays and into the New Year, 28Muses is featuring their programs in Japanese Ink Art, Visual Music, and Storytelling.
The Japanese art of Suminagashi uses swirling patterns of ink to create stunning designs that look similar to the organic whirls in a tree or ripples in a pond. 28Muses sends a kit containing Japanese ink, sake rice wine, and brushes and a Suminagashi master guides your team online through each step.
In 28Muses’ Visual Music experience a world-renowned composer takes participants on a journey to a creative space where sound and drawing become interchangeable. Participants will utilize both sides of the brain to transform sound into drawings, and drawings back into sound.
The Story Telling experience from 28Muses comes in two varieties, either fictional or biographical. Fiction is led by a NYC Theater pro who guides everyone on a journey of imagination and provides easy steps to translate it into a short story. The biographical track is led by an accomplished NYC Casting Director who’s an expert at identifying everyone’s “It Factor” and “secrete sauce.” Both experiences are uplifting and create a lasting bond among participants.
A JOURNEY THROUGH THE GLASS
Another player in the space is Vin Social which produces interactive, virtual wine and spirits-focused events featuring sustainable products from diverse makers. “We aim to take guests on a journey through the glass. Our approach is all about connecting guests to the human stories behind the bottles, while teaching them tips they can take with them on their own imbibement journey,” says Sara Moll, CEO of Vin Social.
Their Artisanal Wine Tasting is led by a professional sommelier who guides guests in how to taste “like a pro” – assessing the aromas, flavors, and structure of wine. Then the wine’s actual creator logs in from their part of the world to share the of how their personal story has led to the wine being enjoyed. Vin Social offers a similar program for Craft Whiskey which teaches how to properly “nose” a whiskey, and another for Champagne which is especially popular for events around New Years.
FOOD IS MEMORIES
For teams who are more interested in food than spirits, Delicious Experiences is an interesting company. They connect food and travel enthusiasts with world class culinary experts. “Food is memories,” says Inbal Baum, Founder of Delicious Experiences. “One client called their event a meditative experience because everyone on her team are really fast paced people and they were finally able to take the time to stop, build, and create something hands-on. Everyone has had a tough time this year, so the space to take a breath really has an effect.”
For the holidays Delicious Experience is featuring several themed programs. ‘It Takes a Gingerbread Village’ is brings in acclaimed pastry chef Georgia Green to help participants construct and decorate truly impressive gingerbread houses. Highly competitive teams might enjoy the ‘Nailed It’ decorating competition which gives participants holiday shaped cake pops as a canvas and the ingredients to make edible art just like a British baking show. 'Tis the Season of Cocktails’ teaches the insider info and tricks that will impress your holiday guests with your ability to make seasonal and festive cocktails/mocktails. Our personal favorite is ‘Make Your Own Hot Cocoa Bomb’ in which participants fill a chocolate shell with decadent chocolates, marshmallows and more. Then decorate the hot cocoa bomb before plopping it into warm milk and watching it bubble and dissolve into the world’s greatest cup of hot chocolate.
INCLUSIVITY MEETS CREATIVITY
“With these online events no one gets left out,” says Wang Herman. “It used to be that if you were having an event in Jersey City it took a long time to plan and team members too far away simply could not attend. That is all changed now.”
But, the shift going on right now seems to go deeper than that. The success of companies like 28Muses, Vin Social, and Delicious Experiences shows a deepr shift is happening in the team events space. Even with the option to go back to in-person experiences, many HR departments are determining that remote is still a better option. Remote events cost less, can include everyone in a distributed workforce, and are rapidly innovating to offer unique experiences. As with so many so much since the start of the pandemic, when it comes to the kind of events booked by HR departments, remote is here to stay.
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