How the world’s best hybrid events are turning screens and seats into ONE unforgettable shared experience TL;DR Hybrid meetings are no longer about “streaming the stage.”The best events in 2026 create engagement equity—where virtual and in-person attendees feel equally seen, heard, valued, and involved. In […]
Lessons from the Alan Sugiyama Hum Bow Eating Contest TL;DR Most food eating contests are run like logistics. The best ones are run like live theater. If you want people leaning forward, cheering wildly, recording moments for social media, laughing with strangers, and talking about […]
What I’ve Learned Inside GSMCON’s #VirtualLand About Creating One Audience Instead of Two TL;DR Most conferences accidentally create two different events. One audience gets the lights, the stage, the hallway conversations, the eye contact, the laughter, the energy. The other gets… a rectangle. A feed. […]
Click to register –https://zoom.us/meeting/register/HcCcjiTOTE6DAUiPhGw8jA Excited for the content, I logged into the hybrid meeting of a well-known organization. What do I see? Black screen. Silent audio. No chat box. No Q&A. Have you ever felt like a second-class citizen? Well I have. In that moment. I […]
Click the video to see a 3 1/2-minute recap of the Olympic Peninsula Tourism Summit. The Olympic Peninsula Tourism Summit wanted a professional emcee to increase interaction, networking and collaboration between attendees. How did the Executive Director and her Summit committee know they got the […]
Read this if you want to save money at your next conference. Read this if you want to increase your attendee reviews even more. Read this if you want your next conference to be even better. Let me say something that might sting a little… […]
You hit your numbers…but something still felt off. The room wasn’t buzzing the way you hoped.Sponsors smiled—but didn’t rebook.And deep down, you’re wondering if it really worked. Let me say this clearly: Your conference didn’t fail. But there are four hidden problems I see over […]
It started with my Dad being “lazy”. (This is a joke, my Dad is a retired doctor)And somehow, everyone showed up. That’s rare. My Dad wanted to celebrate everybody’s birthday in one day. We would all fly to San Francisco. The trade is that he […]
Most people think an 8-minute keynote is something you just “tighten up.” I used to believe that too.Until I actually tried to make one unforgettable. The problem From the outside, it looks easy.You walk on stage. You smile. You deliver. Behind the scenes? This talk […]
An attendee wrote “The Engaging Retreat was So ENGAGING, I May Be Pregnant!” “John Chen’s Engaging Retreat exceeded by expectations in every way!”, said Cecilia Yeung “I’m walking away from The Engaging Retreat 1000% clearer on message, mission and momentum.”, said Kiva Geiger LESSONS FROM THE […]
I just returned from producing the Association of Talent Development St. Louis Learn Conference with the amazing president Jazmin Webster.The challenge is that the venue required me to “NOT TOUCH THEIR EQUIPMENT”This is a challenge since they have their mics, speakers, and projectors as part […]
This email is for leaders, trainers, and speakers who want audiences leaning in, not tuning out.Yesterday I brought together 7 experts on how to Stop Losing Attention. Here are their top 7 💛Golden Nugget tips with 👆🏽clickable short videos: 1) Lia Bliss – 3 Comments […]
💀 Most meetings aren’t boring because of the format. They’re boring because the stakes are fake. Clients blame agendas, tech tools, slide decks, even “Zoom fatigue.” But deep down, they know the real issue: Nobody is saying what they actually think. Nobody is doing what […]
It’s September 3rd. It’s one week after my birthday. I asked you one thing, “REPLY and just say something nice.” I was B-L-O-W-N A-W-A-Y! Click https://youtu.be/aY66thDNHF0 to hear 1-minute and 46-seconds of what people said or read on: “I appreciate all you do to share your knowledge […]
“Speaking without a producer is like a skydiver jumping without a chute” -John Chen The producer chose to use a projector in a room that had skylights on a sunny day. The result is that a Blue Angel Boss with exclusive video was completely washed […]
“AI won’t take your job, but someone using AI will.” -Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang CLICK to see the “It’s All AI Video” https://youtu.be/mRFK4R-0_kU I’m a member of LaughNSA, a group of National Speakers Association that specializes in humor. At their largest conference, Influence, LaughNSA puts […]
“It is impossible to outgive yourself, so never be reluctant to be generous.” -Cavett Robert
This July I celebrate 28 years of being in business. Here are my 6 best lessons: 1) Entrepreneurship Is The Path to Authenticity – Because I started my own company, I get be exactly who I am, maximizing my authenticity. This is a gift 2) Plan […]
🎇Have you ever noticed how a simple virtual interaction can spark something profound—something that compels us to take things offline and meet face-to-face? It’s as if virtual gatherings are the gateway drug to in-person connection, creating a space where boundaries dissolve, and possibilities expand. 🫱🏽🫲🏽This […]
I have to pick speakers for multiple conferences including my own. Many of you have to pick speakers for your events and conferences. Why is it so important? Often your career and reputation is on the line for the choices you make. Here are my […]
The movie, The Blind Side, shows the value of coaching to get a player to realize their full potential. This January through March, I was a coach for the National Speaking Association’s Northwest Chapter (NSA NW) Speaking Showcase. Here are the top coaching tips I […]
Have you ever been to a boring panel? I was asked to moderate a panel at the 2,000 attendee Meetings Professional International World Education Congress called “Cultural Competency 2.0; #RealTalk on Allyship in Action”. This topic is very challenging this year with all the changes […]
Episode 118: Learn how to build wealth later in life, host engaging virtual meetings, and create a hybrid business model that works—from someone who did it all after 50. In this episode of Engaging Virtual Meetings, I sit down with Christine McCarron, real estate investor, […]
🎇This 4th of July, I spent my weekend….cleaning my garage. Click to see a video of the result https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1AaxFUZmFX/ 🚗My garage is such a metaphor for life. You save things in there. You forget about them. Your life changes so you don’t need them anymore. But they […]
Episode 117: Learn how to turn your virtual conference into a can’t-look-away experience—complete with music, breakthroughs, and next-level AI engagement. In this special recap episode of Engaging Virtual Meetings, host John Chen and co-host Roger Haskett reflect on the most powerful, surprising, and laugh-out-loud moments […]
Jason Chan is the founder at TV2 Consulting and is going to share his secrets for remote work. In this episode, we discuss: Establishing your presence in a virtual environment 👨💻 How to onboard someone new into a remote company ❌ Disadvantages of […]
Episode 8: Learn how small changes to your slides, setup, and platform can make a big difference for attendees with disabilities. In this episode of Engaging Virtual Meetings, I speak with Sam Evans, Certified Association Executive and accessibility expert from the International Association of Accessibility […]
With gratitude, I reflect on 2024. From producing global hybrid events and keynote speeches to earning elite certifications and working with legends like Les Brown and Jay Abraham, this year was packed with impactful milestones and unforgettable experiences. I am profoundly grateful for my extraordinary […]
CAPS is the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers. They just hosted their CAPS Convention https://www.capsconvention.com/ on December 5th, 2024 to December 8th, 2024 in Costa Rica! Here are my top 7 lessons from this year’s CAPS Convention: 1 – When people ask you, say YES! […]
How do you know someone is engaged? They write a social media post about you. This email is dedicated to my good friend Traca Savadogo from Mexico and listen to her sage advice to “Engage by being of service and value”. ————————— Lessons Learned from […]
“If you think hybrid is not good, you haven’t seen it done well.” -John Chen with keynoters Dr. Ronnie Melton https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-robbie-melton-36384121/ and Don Mann https://www.linkedin.com/in/don-mann-6b056818b/ 😤 Do you think hybrid is too complicated? 💰Do you think hybrid is too expensive? 👀Then you haven’t seen it done well. ✈️ […]
2/21/2024 8:55am until we’re done If you book speakers, CLICK https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwkcOmhrjIqGdUciVkeNDcM168rUrR-e-XC to register, else read on… Come hear the top API (Asian Pacific Islander) Speakers on an amazing variety of topics and help you find the best programs for May API Heritage Month. Sponsored by […]
Read on to learn how to prevent a share screen disaster. Top client Keith Streckenbach https://pharmacystars.com invited me to an amazing business program in Redondo Beach. Co-founders Todd Stevenson and Leon Sharyon were presenting about their ground breaking company, Abstract Ice, that has invented a new process […]
[Image: https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1588196749597-9ff075ee6b5b] By Annalise Rein The balance and structure of work life and associated events have drastically changed these past few years. Gallup’s report here highlights that five in ten workers are opting for a hybrid work setup as of 2022, and the preference for […]
Click to register for The Engaging Virtual Meetings Conference 4.0 10/23/2023-10/25/2023 Do you want to see more engagement at your next online event?Do you want to see retention rates go up dramatically? Do you want your event to be easy to plan? What if… If […]
🧑🏼❤️🧑🏾When you have the right producer, you can create an engaging show. Here are 4 reasons why you want the right producer: 🥅GOAL – The right producer knows your program goals ✏️DESIGN – The right producer designs a run of show and chooses the best tools to […]
Episode 7: Learn how to grow your career, build inclusive communities, and lead with impact—online and off. Virtual meetings are here to stay, but real engagement takes more than good tech. In this episode, I sit down with Lori Pugh Marcum, former Head of Meeting […]
Today’s guest is Anndrea Harris, the Canva Queen, you can find her on social media at https://facebook.com/whooanncreativestudio or https://whooann.com Anndrea Harris is a trailblazing Social Media and Marketing Specialist at The City of Wichita Falls. With a deep passion for branding and its potential, she […]
Episode 6: Learn how to design virtual and hybrid meetings that keep people engaged without overwhelming them with tech. Virtual meetings aren’t going anywhere, but how do you make them actually engaging? In this episode, I sit down with Jim Spellos, tech educator and founder […]
The world is returning to normal and hybrid is on the rise. I was in 4 hybrids in the last week. One was as big as 1,400 people in the audience. I wanted to share a few personal secrets to amazing and better hybrid. 📽️🎤It’s […]
Episode 5: Learn how to keep your energy high and audience engaged in virtual events Engagement in virtual events isn’t just about the tools, it’s about how you show up. In this episode, I sit down with veteran radio personality and virtual MC Dee Daniels […]
Episode 3: Learn how to design virtual experiences that actually connect people We’ve all sat through virtual events that felt lifeless, disconnected, or just plain exhausting. But it doesn’t have to be that way. In this episode, I sit down with Emmy Award-winning creative director […]
Episode 2: Learn how to create engaging virtual meetings that make people feel seen, heard, and eager to participate. Zoom fatigue is real, but virtual meetings aren’t going anywhere. The good news? They can be better. More human. More effective. And more engaging. In this […]
Learn how to create engaging, high-impact virtual meetings using a proven framework. Let’s be honest, most virtual meetings are still boring. But it doesn’t have to be that way. In this episode, I, John Chen, author of Engaging Virtual Meetings, share what I’ve learned over […]
Virtual meetings have taken over many work interactions within the last two years alone. Today, 83% of employees spend a third of their work week in video-on virtual meetings. These aren’t just one-off meetings either, but multiple ones throughout the week — 17% of workers […]
https://www.facebook.com/robbie.samuels Robbie Samuels highlighted Engaging Virtual Meetings CEO John Chen on his #FollowFriday post. One phrase is becoming more and more prevalent in the entrepreneurship sphere. No, it’s not the dreaded “girl boss”. COLLABORATION OVER COMPETITION. Teamwork has the incredible power to increase productivity, job […]
Thank you for making someone’s day, I’m sure they will appreciate you! Your nominee will receive an email about how to apply.
I’m proud to announce the Engaging Virtual Meetings Awards, the EVAs! CLICK to nominate your best virtual or hybrid person! It’s been an amazing time since virtual exploded in the world. Now it’s time to celebrate the innovation, the creativity, the engagement of the top […]
I’m John Chen, author of Engaging Virtual Meetings, and many people ask what equipment do I use in my setup? My setup is the results of 1,000s of failures as my motto is #FailFaster. Just fill out this form and you’ll immediately get a link […]
Virtual conferences have been ushering in transformation in corporate communications, especially since more and more jobs are now welcoming remote and hybrid set-ups. Because of its popularity, the global video conferencing market size is expected to be worth $19.7 billion by 2030, with a projected […]
John Chen is selected to be the virtual producer for this program. Do you want to improve your PowerPoint slides? Do you want people to be mesmerized by your next presentation? Do you want to learn to be a top presenter? Then you need to […]
February is Black History Month and I had the honor to produce the “State of AfricaTown 2022”. The program was a big success with over 284 people logging into zoom, 39 social media shares, 600+ view and over 1,500 people reached all organically. Click to […]
Researchers at Stanford University and the University of Gothenburg released their latest research on video conference best practices and Engaging Virtual Meetings’ author John Chen reviews the best practices. Click to read the article – https://www.techlearning.com/news/zoomvideo-conferencing-best-practices-revealed-in-new-research?fbclid=IwAR1jcLDhpslSgvId4mm08ey8-wAthvhfaXT542HUf85qt3KSv8GSQOK-ABY Look at the camera – I AGREE! I tell speakers […]
Do your attendees have their camera off? Do you have the dreaded awkward silence when you ask a question? Do you wish your attendees would engage more? Learn the invisible secret that will inspire your attendees to chat in the chat box, raise their hand, […]
Recently Published books to Develop Top-Notch Leadership Skills Engaging Virtual Meetings Author: John Chen Categories: Virtual Meetings | Virtual Team Building Activities | Virtual Events John’s book can help you build a cohesive and high-performing virtual team. Gain concrete strategies and practical tips for bringing […]
The Zoom Fatigue struggle is real! Let’s face it: Many people are turned off by having to attend yet another meeting on what’s become the ubiquitous online meeting app, or—fairly or not—really any virtual platform.If you want truly engaging virtual meetings, then learn the “ENGAGE” method. […]
Click https://www.meetingstoday.com/articles/142867/20-meetings-trendsetters-who-made-difference to read the full article Click https://www.meetingstoday.com/articles/142711/defeat-virtual-meetings-fatigue for 6 Easy Steps to Defeat Virtual Meetings Fatigue. Want to learn more?Click to register for the Engaging Virtual Meetings Conference, every year in October. http://engagingvirtualmeetings.com/conf
The Engaging Virtual Meetings Conference 3.0 10/18/22-10/18/22 It’s over a year 📅 after pandemic😷 and the #1 pitfall 😭 is STILL engagement 💍. Don’t let this be your virtual meetings. Register now for the Engaging Virtual Meetings Conference 3.0. 5 days and 9+ of the […]
#stopapihate If you didn’t know, I’m Chinese American and I’m proud of that. My father was a “Paper Son” and immigrated to this country in 1912. I had tried the path of assimilation and trying to be like everyone else in my youth. As I’ve […]
Using the virtual background without a green screen gives you the ability to make things disappear. Just duck out of your video camera and take a picture. Make that picture your virtual background. Then use any single-colored paper, such as white. As you move it […]
Goals: Have a fun dance party. Dancing is a way to bring energy to your next meeting. Dancing helps your attendees’ heart, increases energy, makes you feel happy, and helps eliminate stress and depression. Time: 2–60 minutes Participants: 2–Max Technology: Audio, video, share computer audio […]
Join the Facebook Group “Engaging Virtual Meetings” where 1,000s of professionals who are passionate about engaging virtual meetings are getting their questions answered and having meaningful conversations. It’s free. Just go to http://facebook.com/groups/EngagingVirtualMeetings and answer the questions to join. You’ll find witty and wicked smart […]
Do you have problems presenting virtually? Do you want your attendees to stop cringing when you present? Do you want to become the top 20% of all virtual speakers? Here’s my gift to you. Just complete this form and you’ll get my 16 point Engaging […]
This Fast Company article by Bob Bejan, VP of Global Events at Microsoft nails key points that resonate with me. Click to read the whole article. Here are the main 8 points with my take on them: 1. THINK CINEMATIC RATHER THAN THEATRICAL This is […]
Goals: Have your attendees work better together by trading places.Time: 20–30 minutesParticipants: 8–12; even numbers Technology: Audio, video, share screen, Microsoft Excel or Google SheetsCategory: Innovation, collaboration, communication Setup:Step 1: Download the Office Move Template for Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets. Step 2: Save the […]
Goals: Win all the “money” and have fun with your attendees. Poker continues to be an engaging game of fun and socializing. In the 1837 edition of Foster’s Complete Hoyle, R. F. Foster wrote: “The game of poker, as first played in the United States, […]
Virtual Backgrounds—Your Setting Can Create Pure Laughs to Serious Business Goals: Change your background for fun or for business. Do you want to be in a beautiful office overlooking the ocean? Do you want to be on the site of your favorite TV show? Do […]
Memory Match Breakouts Goals: Network and play a game. Remember the memory match game where you shuffle and put down cards and you and another person would try to match as many as possible? This is the video meeting version! Memory Match Breakouts combines one-on-one […]
Where in the World—International Networking Goals: Learn where attendees are calling in from visually. This is a fast networking exercise akin to putting a pin in a world map when you arrive at a conference. By using the annotate stamp feature, you can visually show […]
Goals: Improve your attendees’ collaboration and problem solving. Is your team having problems working together to solve problems? Towers of Hanoi is an exercise where a team of attendees must work together to transfer a tower of items from one location to another. This simple […]
Goals: Have attendees create a case study by editing a document at the same time. Does it take forever for your meeting to create a document? Do you wish you could snap your fingers and get it done? Do you want to tap all the […]
Goals: Present more information in less time. Are you tired of presentations that are too long? Just like how TED talks changed the format for keynotes, PechaKucha has changed the format for presentations. PechaKucha allows you to show 20 slides for 20 seconds each for […]
Here are some great questions for starting a conversation. There are a lot of random conversation starters to get you started and then conversation questions listed by topic. You can start with the random questions or find a topic that interests you. There’s no right place to […]
Reverse Charades—Improving Everybody’s Nonverbal Communication This video just crossed over 5,000 views, THANK YOU! Goals: Play charades with more engagement and more energy. Have you ever wished for a fun game where more people were engaged? Do you want a game that’s high energy? Reverse […]
Charades—Improving Your Nonverbal Communication Goals: Guess what the actor is doing without the actor saying a word. This classic game plays well in virtual meetings. A charade was a form of literary riddle popularized in France in the eighteenth century. This acting game is a […]
If you want help designing, producing and MC’ing your virtual conference, just fill out the form:
A to Z—Teaching Why Your Meeting Needs a System Goals: Chat from A to Z as fast as possible. Show that high-performing meetings must have a system like Air Traffic Control. Show how easy it is to step on each other’s toes in virtual meetings. […]
This is a great initiative to increase verbal communication. It’s especially useful when some attendees are unable to turn on their cameras since it provides a way to engage them. Attendees will develop skills of asking questions to test assumptions of other attendees, which will […]
End your meeting on a high note. You want your attendees to have more energy after your meeting. Product teams did research on product demonstration meetings. They discovered that if you end your meeting on a high note, customers are more likely to buy your […]
Get productive with virtual tools. A virtual meeting is about getting work done. We all have to meet to get our job done. As the host, you need to value the time even more, because as soon as you log in, you start an invisible […]
Air traffic control. If two or more people talk at the same time, no one can hear. An engaging meeting is when you understand what is said. You can help by creating air traffic control. From physical to virtual hand raises or other types of […]
Good looks. If you want engagement, look good. Take a shower. Dress up. Frame your face. Clean up your background. Turn on your lights. Wear your company gear. Wear bright colors.1 Like Bruno Mars says, “If you want to show up, then show out.” Want […]
Never lead a meeting alone. If you want engagement, assign an attendee or someone you invite to a meeting a role in the meeting (after you have trained them). Roles include chat engagement, muting and unmuting, renaming, and security. Any or all of these roles […]
Engage and interact with every attendee. If you want engagement, engage! If you want your next virtual meeting to be engaging, then try different ways to engage your attendees. Greet all of your attendees as they arrive. Have every attendee check in. Ask your attendees […]
The Actors Fund created the COVID-19 Emergency Financial Assistanceprogram to help everyone involved with cinematic entertainment, such as musicians, editors, and sound mixers. They created a video from over 100 actors filmed in virtual meetings that became one of the most cinematic virtual meeting videos. […]
There are professionals who have been practicing technology and engagement for years. I am in awe of many of those pioneers in the technology and meeting professional industries. They have been experimenting and learning the best practices of what works and what doesn’t work. The […]
Have you heard a great speaker in a virtual meeting who sounded tiny or distant? Have you logged in, excited for a meeting, but struggled to hear the presenter even though you turned up your audio? Have you ever logged off of a webinar because […]
Have you ever had a virtual meeting attendee interrupted by a dog barking, a child walking in the room, a lawnmower, or the neighbor’s supercharged car? It is disturbing for your attendees or clients and it can also knock you off your planned presentation. Take […]
PowerPoint Karaoke—Improving Improvisation Goals: Learn how to improve your improvisation by presenting a PowerPoint slidedeck without ever seeing it. Have you ever had something not go as planned during your meeting? Do you wish you could handle that with ease? Then, practice your improvisation skills […]
Goals: Get attendees to realize that giving more information is better than just receiving for solving problems and collaborating. Five teammates work together to put five triangles together with a fixed set of rules. This is a classic team-building event called Broken Squares that is […]
Grid Unlock—How to Work Together to Solve Problems Goals: Get attendees to find their own way to work together and solve problems. Grid Unlock is a classic “Magic Squares” challenge updated for a virtual meeting. In a shared spreadsheet, attendees enter nine numbers until you […]
I’m John Chen, the CEO of Geoteaming, your expert on team building. On February 3rd, 2020, the GHCA or the Georgia Healthcare Association participated in a Geoteaming program. This program focused on networking and team building. After reviewing gigabytes of data, we learned that there […]
The Engaging Virtual Meetings facebook group is THE community of professionals who are passionate about making virtual meetings engaging. With members from around the world and from multiple professions, you can ask a question and get multiple answers quickly. In addition, the best practices from […]
Matching and mirroring operates on the principle that people like people who are like themselves. These are easy openers that only use video and can take 1–3 minutes. You can use just one or combine 2 to 10 of these openers. You can sequence the […]
Share iPhone/iPad You can share your iPhone or iPad screen. If you are showing an app, you can show exactly how it looks and works to your participants, which can help if your app only works on the iPhone or iPad. This can help in […]
One of the easiest ways to learn how to use Annotation is to play Pictionary. The organizer private chats a word to the drawer. The drawer proceeds to draw something to get the other participants to guess the drawn word in 60 seconds or less […]
One of the hidden keys to an engaging virtual meeting is security. Security includes the challenges of securing your meeting data, especially if it is confidential or sensitive to the phenomenon of Zoombombing, which is the unwanted intrusion into a videoconference call by an individual […]
One of the hidden keys to an engaging virtual meeting is security. Security includes the challenges of securing your meeting data, especially if it is confidential or sensitive to the phenomenon of Zoombombing, which is the unwanted intrusion into a videoconference call by an individual […]
