How to Host a Digital Party
2020 is throwing lemons, so let’s make lemonade.
Recent social distancing measures make getting together difficult, but thanks to technology, not impossible. No need to cancel your upcoming dinner parties, long-awaited birthday celebrations and graduation parties. While social distancing is absolutely vital, it's also important we keep celebrating the milestones and acknowledge the moments.
Take the digital high road and see the beauty in being together, but separate. Here’s how:
Send An Invitation
Take some time to prepare a digital invitation and set the tone for your gathering. Paperless Post is my long-time favourite for digital invites. They even just created a whole section dedicated to virtual gatherings, here.
Sort Out Technology
Skype | With the Skype video chat app, group video calling for up to 50 people is available for free on just about any mobile device, tablet or computer.
Zoom | It's a popular choice for ease of use and ability to change the background. The only downside to Zoom's free basic plan is a 40 minute limit with gatherings of over 3 guests.
*With Skype and Zoom, follow up on your email invitation with a link to the video chat so guests can join on their devices when the party starts.
FaceTime | In the FaceTime app, you can invite up to 32 participants to a Group FaceTime call and any participant can add another person at any time during a Group FaceTime call. Keep in mind that only iphone and ipad users can join. I found FaceTime to be my personal favourite because of all the fun memojis and stickers.
Make It Special
Set the scene. Choose a nice spot in your house. For a cozy evening soirée over wine or with a book club, light a candle and dim the lights. If you're celebrating with the whole family, gather round the couch or dinner table with your device set up to capture all the action for your guests.
Get dressed up. Treat this gathering like you would if you were going out. Change out of the sweats, do your hair.
Make a signature cocktail. Send everyone the recipe to one of your favourite cocktails or mocktails ahead of time for them to make and enjoy for themselves at home.
Share a meal. Send meal recipe ideas ahead of time or invite everyone to order in their favourite food.
Celebrating a child's birthday?
Don’t forget to sing happy birthday.
Blow out the candles! Do-it-yourself and follow a simple and easy cake recipe. Or, depending on your area, you may still be able to order a small cake ahead of time from your local bakery for pickup or delivery. If budget allows, you may even be able to send individual slices of cake from your local bakery to guests through food delivery providers for everyone to enjoy.
Get creative. Create a garland or "Happy Birthday" banner out of paper and string. If you happen to have some balloons, blow them up and toss them on the floor.
If guests insist on giving a gift, invite them to drop off any presents ahead of time at your door. Set aside some time for your little guest of honour to open their gifts over the video chat for all to see.
Keep It Entertaining
Watch a movie. Synchronize a show between all guests in their own home with the Netflix Party app, and keep it conversational with a fun group chat feature.
Plan an activity. Invite someone to lead a yoga session, host a book club, share virtual wine tastings, or invite everyone to create art with paint or any other materials they have on hand and share your creations at the end.
Play a game. Jackbox Games is a cool game hosting platform for online group games and it's available across a variety of digital platforms. To participate, each player just needs a phone or web-enabled device to use as their controller.
Finally, keep it light. There’s no sense in completely avoiding the elephant in the room, but try to keep the doom and gloom out and focus on the positive. Take turns sharing what you're grateful for, ideas, what you've learned this week, or talk about exciting things to come once we're all free to head out again.