With the demand of creative ways to connect with loved ones, there has been an increase in e-vites to attend tons of virtual events ranging from online Scattergories to virtual cocktail hours on Instagram Live. Virtual happy hours are a fun, cost-effective way for people to share a drink, have a laugh, and come together! From our experience, we’ve come up with a few tips and tricks on how to successfully host a virtual happy hour.
CHOOSE A “USER-FRIENDLY” VIDEO CHAT PLATFORM
With so many video chat options to choose from, how do you know which one to use? Reviews suggest that Zoom is user-friendly and it’s easy to send invitations to anyone with a click of a button. However, there are other options available such as Skype, House Party, Facebook, Google Hangouts and many more. You’ll want to choose a platform that works best for you and everyone you invite to your virtual happy hour.
SET A REASONABLE TIMELINE
We miss the days when you could head to your favorite bar or restaurant for happy hour and chat with your friends for hours. In the virtual happy hour realm, sitting in front of a smart device and engaging with friends is a completely different world to navigate. Committing to an hour the first time you host a virtual happy hour will make the process much easier on everyone. This will give you time to work out the kinks as well as accommodate friends in different time zones.
COORDINATE YOUR DRINKS
One thing that makes a happy hour “happy,” is having an adult beverage in hand. A great tip is to coordinate the drinks beforehand to ensure that everyone is drinking the same thing. Try making a themed or signature cocktail or ordering your favorite wines online to virtually enjoy with your loved ones. Not only is it fun to coordinate, but it also serves as a fantastic conversation starter. Head to foleyfoodandwinesociety.com for deals on incredible wines (including free shipping) to share with family and friends.
HAVE FUN
More importantly, virtual happy hours are a chance to have fun while connecting with your favorite people! Sit back, relax, pour yourself a glass of wine and enjoy spending time with your friends and family.
