10 Creative Ideas for Hosting a Virtual Event

Last updated on March 8, 2022

Our country has been through some crazy changes in recent years. Social gatherings were either entirely shut down or severely limited for a time. But you can’t stop people from celebrating and spending time with friends and family. It didn’t take long before we saw people taking their parties online and discovering the joy and convenience of partying from home. Get inspired to throw your own virtual event with these 10 creative ideas.

1. Living Room Live Streaming

Aside from some of our favorite big-name artists like Matt Nathanson and Garth Brooks hosting live-streaming concerts, many local artists started doing the same. Book a local singing guitarist, one-man band, or singing pianist and set up a stream from Facebook Live to enjoy concerts with your friends! From your respective living rooms, of course. Artists can take requests and you can tip them through PayPal, Facebook Messenger, Venmo, or any number of money exchange apps. Remember, lots of artists have just been crippled by the loss of live music, so support local artists and throw an amazing virtual get-together.

2. Singing Telly-Grams

Missing someone special that you can’t celebrate in person? Try a virtual serenade! Singing telegrams or impersonators can record a fun performance on video that you can share over email or Facebook with your friend or loved one.

3. Character Visits by Video

Whether you’re on a budget or just want to surprise a special child in your life, a virtual visit from their favorite character will do the trick. Lots of character companies offer Facebook Live “calls” with princesses, mermaids, superheroes, cartoon characters, Sci-Fi characters, and more. It’s the next best thing to an in-person visit, and it’s cheaper!

4. Happily Remote Happy Hours

You don’t have to be in the same location to enjoy a drink together! Gather up your pals from across the miles or schedule a social call with your remote co-workers for a much-needed wine-down after work. Virtual happy hours are a great way to connect with those you don’t see every day and enjoy some quality time together – even if it’s over a computer screen. Everyone can get comfortable and settle into their couch with their favorite wine or beer. Or, for something fun and unique, you can create a custom cocktail together! Send your guests a list of ingrediants in advance, and then hire a bartender to lead everyone through the perfect mix and pour.

5. Story Time and Sing-Alongs

Being at home with your little ones all day is equal parts awesome and exhausting. It’s time to bring in reinforcements! Children’s singers, storytellers, or puppet shows can be just as entertaining on a big screen as they are in person. Gather your youngsters and have some fun!

6. Motivational Messages

With the ever-changing state of the world, it can be hard to find words of comfort and motivation for our community, our employees, our customers, and our families. If you’re not a great wordsmith but still want to share your business’ stance on the state of things, consider hiring a motivational speaker or industry expert to help. Pull your team together for a hopeful and motivational message to help keep them encouraged. Your speaker can also consult with you on a message or even record a video on your behalf to share on your website and social media.

7. Cuisine by Computer Light

Many separated couples discovered the joy of the virtual date during the pandemic, and they are still a great option for many occasions. If you or your significant other travel for work, enjoying a dinner together online can be a great way to keep the romance alive. Remote lunch or dinner dates are also perfect for connecting with long-distance friends. For an added challenge, try cooking together as well! Let a personal chef virtually guide you through the steps to create an awesome meal. You can work with them ahead of time on the menu using what you already have on hand to avoid an unnecessary trip to the store.

8. Tele-Teambuilders

Lots of companies discovered the convenience of remote work during the pandemic and not all employees are returning to the office. This can be great for them, but hard on your company culture. Face-to-face time is important! Gather everyone together on a platform like Zoom or Google Hangouts and host a virtual company meeting. A corporate comedian, caricaturist, or close-up magician can perform on video and give your team some much-needed smiles. Or, for a more interactive experience, book a team-building company that can work with you on modifying activities for online participation.

9. Girls’ Night In

Thanks to technology and social media, we’ve all been fortunate to maintain friendships no matter where we are located. Don’t let the distance stop you from celebrating special occasions and creating amazing memories with your favorite people! Collect your gals on a Skype or Zoom call and host a virtual girls’ night in. Entertainers like belly dancers, drag queens, or burlesque dancers can liven up the evening on camera. Or try booking a makeup artist to walk your group through some tutorials while you sip on your favorite wine!

11. Let’s Get Educational

If you’re one of the brave parents attempting to homeschool, or maybe you’re a teacher or librarian looking to enrich your online lessons – we have some great virtual options! A historical character can regale your students with tales from their lives, while a science party can lead them through interesting experiments onscreen. Let your kiddos get creative with a paint party; you provide the supplies, the artist will supply the direction. Take them on a virtual trip around the globe with world entertainment that features music and dance from other countries.

Hosting a virtual event is a great way to stay connected with friends, family, and co-workers. Even if you’re planning an in-person event, it can be fun to add a virtual aspect to include more loved ones on your guest list. An additional perk of online celebrations is it opens up an endless amount of entertainment options because you aren’t limited by location and travel. On GigSalad, we have over 100,000 musicians and performers ready to make your special occasion unforgettable.

Ready to plan your virtual event? Book something awesome on GigSalad.