Fun New Ice Breaker Activities At Event Conference

As an event specialist, what do you do when the objective is to create connections between members at a conference, congress, or meetup-style event, where success means getting them to meet and talk with each other, even if it’s on a random topic?

These types of sessions are not so much about generating ideas or gathering feedback, but actually about networking, dedicated time for members to meet and learn more about each other in a fun, mingling way.

A dedicated, fun icebreaker activity for members to do that encourages networking!

Whether you have 20 minutes or over an hour to prepare a networking icebreaker activity for, Jam Bingo encourages networking, and most importantly, it's effective when bringing together groups of people who are not well acquainted or do not know each other at all.

It’s best for situations where networking is the goal of the event.

No small talk. Just people actually getting to know each other.

It can be hard for people to actually get to know each other at events.

You want them to meet and talk so it builds chemistry, kicks things off and leaves people feeling like they belong and are connected.

Jam Bingo gets people mingling & talking — instantly — even when nobody knows each other.

The main goal behind Jam Bingo is to get people moving around the room and talking with each other. This happens because each participant is challenged with conversation starters called Jam Bingo prompts or challenges.

Here is a possible conversation starter prompt or challenge that your participants can have.

The nice thing about Jam Bingo is that you can add your own prompts and challenges. We like to have a mix of deep and fun prompts like:

• Find someone in a hoodie and ask them their favourite song
• Ask someone what 3 words their friends would use to describe them

The thing with conversation-starters is that they kick-start conversations, and once people have an "in," they run with it.

It gives them an excuse to branch out and bring up new topics, and this is the magic of Jam Bingo. It gives people an excuse to connect.

When people feel like they can connect with others in the room, it gives them an opportunity to be seen, heard, and feel like they belong.

Attendees feel like they belong when they are able to connect with others and when they are able to show their true selves.

Most networking sessions feel forced or surface-level. The most common icebreaker question at any given networking event is the dreaded: “What do you do?”

But when you have a fun, interactive networking activity, it presents a new way for people in the room to actually get to know each other, far beyond the dreaded common icebreaker questions.

Let’s face it, most people aren’t extroverted and will struggle to meet new people, as it’s much more comforting to stick to cliques of people we already know.

The fun icebreaker activity, Jam Bingo, is a great way to help people who do not yet know each other actually mingle, talk, and connect.

The ASGA Summit in Washington D.C. brought together student leaders from across the country for a three-day event, with the first day serving as a crucial kick-off. A primary concern for the organizing team was the natural tendency of attendees to stick to their known colleagues and peers from their respective schools and cities. The goal was to break down these initial barriers and encourage meaningful connections among leaders who had never met.

To intentionally drive cross-group mingling and connection, the organizers introduced Jam Bingo—a dynamic and engaging 10 to 15-minute networking activity. This interactive game served as a dedicated mechanism to bridge the gap between delegates, providing a fun and structured "excuse to connect" outside of surface-level small talk.

Jam Bingo successfully transformed the atmosphere of the kick-off day. Within minutes, the activity got student leaders moving, mingling, and talking with people they didn't previously know. The activity achieved its objective, creating an immediate sense of connection and collaboration that set a positive, inclusive tone for the remainder of the three-day summit.

In the realm of modern conferences, congresses, and meetups, the true measure of success often extends beyond the keynote speaker or the content delivered. It is found in the quality of connections forged and the lasting sense of community that attendees take home. Event specialists are continually challenged to transform large groups of strangers, or even acquaintances, into a cohesive network where genuine interaction thrives.",

The old models of networking—forced, surface-level exchanges that invariably begin and end with the dreaded question, “What do you do?”—are proving to be ineffective and, frankly, exhausting for participants, especially those who do not identify as natural extroverts. These traditional methods inadvertently reinforce existing cliques, making it comfortable for attendees to stick with the familiar faces from their own schools, cities, or professional circles, thus defeating the primary purpose of the event itself. The goal is not merely to occupy time with an activity, but to fundamentally alter the social physics of the room, creating an inclusive and dynamic atmosphere from the very first moments.

The introduction of a mechanism like Jam Bingo provides a definitive answer to this challenge, shifting the focus from professional status to personal experience and shared human connection. It is an intentional design choice, a dynamic and engaging activity structured precisely to provide an "excuse to connect," allowing conversations to bypass the trivial and quickly delve into topics that reveal a person’s true self, their passions, and their personality.

By challenging attendees with prompts—such as asking someone their favorite song or the three words their friends would use to describe them—the activity kick-starts conversations that naturally branch out and build chemistry. This is the magic ingredient: a simple, low-stakes catalyst that empowers individuals to be seen and heard, fostering an immediate sense of belonging. The success stories, such as the transformation witnessed at the ASGA Summit, illustrate that even a brief, 10-to-15-minute intervention can fundamentally transform the atmosphere of an event's kick-off, driving cross-group mingling, breaking down initial barriers, and setting a positive, inclusive, and collaborative tone that lasts the entire duration of the multi-day event.

When attendees feel connected and valued, the overall impact of the conference is amplified, moving from a simple exchange of information to a powerful community-building experience. This proactive approach to networking—where fun and interaction are prioritized—is not just an icebreaker; it is a vital strategy for maximizing delegate engagement and ensuring that every person in the room leaves feeling like an integral part of the collective.