MPI Annual Gala & Auction Icebreaking Game
What Is a Good Icebreaking Game for the MPI Annual Gala & Auction?
A Canvas of Time gives guests three eras to dress for and three moods to move through. The cocktail hour is short, though, and most guests spend it with their table or browsing the auction.
Key takeaways (6)
- ✓The main obstacles are a short cocktail hour, era costumes, no conversations, and energy drops between moments.
- ✓What works: built for your theme, lasts the whole night, and drives auction buzz.
- ✓Run it once everyone has arrived and before the meal, during open networking time — not during talks.
- ✓Plan about 3–5 minutes per conversation: roughly 25–35 minutes for five conversations each.
- ✓Mix easy, observable prompts with a few questions and challenges, and write two to three times as many prompts as conversations.
- ✓Works well for MPI annual galas and auctions, themed chapter galas, awards and auction nights, and president's word reveal celebrations.
The MPI Annual Gala & Auction brings together members, award winners, sponsors, auction donors, the incoming president, and guests dressed in three different eras.
Guests stay with their table and their era, and the 30-minute cocktail hour goes by before they meet anyone new.
You need a simple, non-structured icebreaking game that gets every group mixing and talking across the whole night, even in a large crowd.
How Does Jam Bingo Work?
Give people a simple, structured reason to start conversations with someone new — short conversation prompts they complete by meeting and talking to different people — instead of leaving it to open mingling. Guests scan a QR code at check-in and get prompts like 'Find someone dressed for the Future era and ask about their look.' They find a match, talk, and scan each other's QR codes to unlock the next prompt.
How is Jam Bingo Played?
Attendees scan the event’s Jam Bingo QR code (or enter the game code). It runs in the phone’s browser—there is no app to download.
How to Run It: MPI Annual Gala & Auction Icebreaking Game
A practical guide to mpi annual gala & auction icebreaking game: how to set up your game and what to do on the day.
- 01
Before the event checklist:
- ✓Watch how Jam Bingo works
- ✓Create your Jam Bingo and add your prompts.
- ✓Set how many people each guest should meet.
- ✓Download the QR code and add it to your slides, table tents, or printed signs.
- ✓Test scanning the QR code from the back of the room.
- ✓Check the room has phone signal or Wi-Fi.
- ✓Brief your emcee or helpers on the announcement and timing.
- ✓Decide on prizes (and who will hand them out).
Where to display the QR code
Put the QR code on the main screen and at the registration table. The more places people see it, the faster everyone joins. If your event has name badges, printing the QR code on the badge or agenda works well too.
✂️ Instructions for printouts or slides - 1.Scan the QR code (or enter the game code) to open the game.
- 2.Prompts appear directly on each guest's phone screen.
- 3.Guests walk around and find someone who can answer their prompt.
- 4.Scan their QR code to unlock the next prompt.
- 5.Repeat, mingle, and have fun!
- 02
Run of show (about 35 minutes)
- 1
Minute 0 — Get everyone's attention
Read the announcement below (or have your emcee read it), with the QR code already on screen. - 2
Minutes 1–5 — Everyone scans in
Guests scan the QR code and type their name. For your group size, allow 1–2 minutes. - 3
First prompts — People start moving
Walk the room and nudge anyone standing still: “What's your prompt? Let's find someone for it.” - 4
Around minute 18 — Halfway update
Give a quick time check and remind people to meet someone they haven't talked to yet. - 5
Minute 30 — Final call
Let everyone know they have five minutes left to unlock their last prompt. - 6
Minute 35 — Wrap up
Share the leaderboard, hand out prizes, and thank everyone for playing.
📣 What to say when you start “We're about to start Jam Bingo, a networking activity designed to help you meet and get to know each other. Scan the QR code on the screen to join. You'll receive a prompt on your phone, and your goal is to find someone who can answer it. Once you've had a conversation, scan their QR code to unlock your next prompt. Keep moving around, meet new people, and have fun!”
While it's running
- ✓Join in yourself — guests follow the host's energy.
- ✓Look for people standing alone and introduce them to someone.
- ✓If someone's camera won't scan, show them how to type in the other person's code instead.
- ✓If someone is stuck on a prompt, remind them a Skip button appears after about a minute.
The simple way to get people talking!
Jam Bingo gets people having meaningful conversations and meeting as many new people as possible.
Make It a Success
How to write good prompts, how long to run the game, how to wrap up, and what guests (and your team) will ask.
- 01
Prompts are what make the game work. A good prompt gives someone a reason to walk up to a stranger — and something to talk about once they do. Mix a few different types for mpi gala committees, chapter boards & themed association gala planners:
Types of prompts
Questions
The easiest way in. The player asks one question and listens.
“Ask someone what three words their friends would use to describe them.”
Find someone who…
Sends people across the room looking for a match — great for mixing groups.
“Find someone who has lived in more than two cities.”
Observation prompts
Zero pressure: the player can spot the right person before saying a word.
“Find someone wearing something blue and ask about their favorite weekend activity.”
Challenges
Quick, playful actions that get laughs and lift the energy in the room.
“Challenge someone to a quick game of rock, paper, scissors.”
Deeper questions
Lead to real stories — use a few once people have warmed up.
“Ask someone about a decision that changed the direction of their career.”
Event-specific prompts
Tie the game to why people are there, so the conversations are actually useful.
“Find someone from a different team and ask what they're working on this month.”
A good mix
Aim for roughly 40% easy prompts (observation and “find someone who…”), 40% questions, and 20% challenges and deeper prompts. Easy prompts get people moving; the deeper ones lead to the conversations people remember.
How many prompts to write
Each guest gets one prompt per person they meet — 5 in your plan. Write 10–15 prompts in total: every player gets them in a different, shuffled order, so a bigger list means more variety and fewer people looking for the same conversation at once.
Do
- ✓Start with easy, observable prompts, then build up to deeper ones.
- ✓Make every prompt about another person, so it always leads to a conversation.
- ✓Keep prompts short enough to read at a glance on a phone.
- ✓Write prompts almost everyone can complete — no one should feel left out.
Don't
- ✕Avoid yes/no prompts that end the conversation in one word.
- ✕Avoid inside jokes that only one group will understand.
Example prompts for mpi annual gala & auction icebreaking game
- 💬Find someone dressed for the Future era and ask about their look.
- 💬Find someone who blended two eras in their outfit.
- 💬Find someone who is bidding on the same auction item as you.
- 💬Find this year's award winner and ask what transformed their year.
- 💬Find someone who has a guess for next year's presidential word.
- 💬Find someone to join you on the dance floor at the Interstellar Encore.
Need a starting point? Browse ready-made prompt templates for different kinds of events and adapt them to your group.
- 02
When to run it
Once everyone has arrived
Start 15–30 minutes into the networking block. If networking begins at 10:00 AM, kick off at 10:30 AM — latecomers have arrived and people haven't settled into their usual groups yet.
Before the meal, not after
Run it before people eat. Eating speeds vary, and running it after a meal makes slower eaters feel rushed or left out. If it has to be after, announce clear timings in advance.
After drinks are in hand
Let guests grab a drink when they arrive, then gather everyone's attention right before you start.
Not during talks
Keep it to open networking time. People can't mingle while they're expected to listen to a speaker.
How long to run it
Plan about 3–5 minutes per conversation. Each prompt is one conversation, so the length of the game depends on how many people you want each guest to meet.
For 5 people each
Kick-off
5 min
Playing (5 prompts)
15–25 min
Wrap-up
5 min
Total
25–35 min
Kick-off Playing Wrap-upFor your group size (50—500 attendees): give everyone 1–2 minutes to scan in. Put the QR code on the main screen and at the registration table.
- 03
- 1
Give a final call
Five minutes before the end, let everyone know it's their last chance to unlock a prompt. - 2
Share the leaderboard
Your dashboard shows who met the most new people. Put it on the screen and read out the top few. - 3
Hand out prizes at the very end
Wait until everyone has finished, so no one stops mingling early. Swag, gift cards, or a small gift all work well. - 4
Encourage follow-up
Remind everyone that each connection is saved on their phone, and that they can share their socials with the people they met.
- 04
Common questions guests (and your team) will ask
Do guests need to download an app?
No. Guests scan the QR code with their phone camera and it opens in the browser. They type their name and start playing.
What if someone's camera won't scan a QR code?
Every player has a short code. Guests can type in the other person's code instead of scanning it.
What if a guest gets a prompt they can't complete?
After about a minute on a prompt, a Skip button appears so they can move on to a different one.
Does everyone get the same prompts?
No. Each player gets the prompts in a different, shuffled order, so people are looking for different conversations at the same time.
What if someone doesn't have a phone?
Pair them with a friend or a colleague to play as a team. They'll still meet everyone their partner meets.
How do I know who won?
Your dashboard has a leaderboard showing who met the most new people. Share it at the end and reward the top connectors.
What happens to the connections afterwards?
Each player keeps a list of the people they met and the prompts they talked about, and can share their socials with them.
What should people do if they finish early?
Encourage them to keep mingling and help others complete their prompts — early finishers are great at pulling quieter guests into conversations.
Is Jam Bingo right for you?
Each person will meet and talk with 5 different people.
Starting atFreeJam Bingo is a simple, non-structured networking activity designed to get people talking organically. Rather than forced icebreakers, it delivers gamified prompts to participants' phones that encourage lighthearted interactions across large groups without feeling awkward or artificial.
Getting approval from your mpi gala committees, chapter boards & themed association gala planners
- ✓Run the Jam Bingo Demo with your team so they see it first-hand.
- ✓Share the pricing and the plan from this guide.
- ✓Once approved, create a Jam Bingo and customize it with your own prompts.
A Night of Transformation Starts With a Conversation
Your gala is built around transformation: past, present, and future. Guests' era looks are the perfect conversation starter. Prompts tied to each era give guests a fun reason to meet someone dressed differently, and keep the room connected from check-in to the after party.
A Short Cocktail Hour
With only 30 minutes before dinner, guests barely leave the auction tables.
Era Costumes, No Conversations
Guests admire each other's looks from across the room but don't use them to start talking.
Energy Drops Between Moments
The night moves from cocktails to dinner to dancing, and connection gets lost in the shifts.
Why Jam Bingo works for the MPI Annual Gala & Auction.
Guests scan a QR code at check-in and get prompts like 'Find someone dressed for the Future era and ask about their look.' They find a match, talk, and scan each other's QR codes to unlock the next prompt. Keep it going through dinner and the dance floor, then announce the top connector before the president's word reveal.
Where this works best: MPI annual galas and auctions, themed chapter galas, awards and auction nights, and president's word reveal celebrations.
Built for Your Theme
Prompts about the Past, Present, and Future eras turn costumes into conversations.
Lasts the Whole Night
Guests play from the Golden Hour Roundup through the Interstellar Encore.
Drives Auction Buzz
Prompts can send guests to auction items and donors, so bidding picks up.
How to Run an Icebreaking Game at a Themed Gala
- 1
Write era prompts
Add prompts for each era, plus prompts about the auction and award winners.
- 2
Create your game
Add your prompts to Jam Bingo and get your QR code.
- 3
Launch at check-in
Show the QR code at the door and the auction tables so guests start at 5:30.
- 4
Announce before the word reveal
Recognize the top connector right before the incoming president reveals the new word.
Questions This Guide Answers
Icebreaking game for a themed association gala?
Jam Bingo is an interactive icebreaking game that turns your era-themed gala into a night where every guest meets someone new. It works especially well for MPI annual galas and auctions, themed chapter galas, awards and auction nights, and president's word reveal celebrations.
How to get gala guests mingling during a short cocktail hour?
The short version: write era prompts, create your game, launch at check-in, and announce before the word reveal. Add prompts for each era, plus prompts about the auction and award winners. The step-by-step guide on this page covers each part in detail — including when to run it, how long it takes, and how to write good prompts.
Icebreaker for a past, present, and future themed party?
The approaches that work best share a few things: built for your theme, lasts the whole night, and drives auction buzz. Prompts about the Past, Present, and Future eras turn costumes into conversations.
Gala activity that drives auction engagement?
Start by designing around what usually gets in the way: a short cocktail hour, era costumes, no conversations, and energy drops between moments. Guests scan a QR code at check-in and get prompts like 'Find someone dressed for the Future era and ask about their look.' They find a match, talk, and scan each other's QR codes to unlock the next prompt.
More ideas for MPI Gala Committees, Chapter Boards & Themed Association Gala Planners
Example Prompts
- Find someone dressed for the Future era and ask about their look.
- Find someone who blended two eras in their outfit.
- Find someone who is bidding on the same auction item as you.
- Find this year's award winner and ask what transformed their year.
- Find someone who has a guess for next year's presidential word.
- Find someone to join you on the dance floor at the Interstellar Encore.
See how other organizers did it
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good icebreaking game for a themed gala?
A game with prompts tied to your theme. Jam Bingo lets you write era prompts so costumes become conversation starters.
Can it run through dinner and dancing?
Yes. Guests play at their own pace from check-in to the after party.
Can it help the auction?
Yes. Add prompts that send guests to auction items and donors.
Do guests need an app?
No. They scan a QR code and play in the browser.
When should we announce the winner?
Right before a big moment, like the incoming president's word reveal.
Ways to Get People Talking, Compared
There's more than one way to solve this for MPI annual galas and auctions, themed chapter galas, awards and auction nights, and president's word reveal celebrations. Here's how the common approaches compare.
| Approach | Setup effort | Group size | Gets people mixing | How it feels for guests | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open mingling (no structure)Put people in a room with food and drinks and let conversations happen. | None | Any size | Low — most people stay with who they already know | Easy for outgoing people, hard for quieter guests | Cliques form within minutes, and newcomers end up on the edges. |
| “Ask me about” name tagsGuests write one topic on their name tag as a ready-made conversation starter. | Low — markers and name tags | Any size | Medium — gives people an opener, but no reason to move around | Natural and low-pressure | Easy to ignore; it only works if people read badges and act on them. |
| Paper human bingoA printed grid of “find someone who…” squares that guests fill in with names. | Medium — design, print, and hand out cards and pens | Best up to about 100 people | Medium to high — people have to approach others | Fun, but can turn into a quick signature hunt | People rush to fill squares instead of talking, and printing takes time. |
| Speed networkingTimed one-on-one conversations; people rotate to a new partner every few minutes. | Medium to high — seating plan, timer, and someone running it | Best up to about 60 per round | High — everyone is guaranteed several new conversations | Can feel forced or interview-like | Rigid and needs strong facilitation; feels out of place at relaxed social events. |
| Table topics / roundtablesEach table gets a discussion topic, and people join the one that interests them. | Low to medium — topic cards or table signs | Any size (in tables of 6–10) | Medium — great conversations within a table, little across tables unless you rotate | Natural, especially for professional audiences | People settle at one table for the whole session. |
| Jam BingoPhone-based conversation prompts (e.g. Jam Bingo)Guests scan a QR code and get conversation prompts on their phone; meeting someone unlocks the next prompt. | Low — write prompts and display a QR code | Any group size | High — each prompt sends people to someone new | Natural — the prompt gives everyone a reason to start talking | Needs guests to have a phone and signal (pair anyone without one with a buddy). |
Open mingling (no structure)
Put people in a room with food and drinks and let conversations happen.
- Setup effort
- None
- Group size
- Any size
- Gets people mixing
- Low — most people stay with who they already know
- How it feels for guests
- Easy for outgoing people, hard for quieter guests
- Watch out for
- Cliques form within minutes, and newcomers end up on the edges.
“Ask me about” name tags
Guests write one topic on their name tag as a ready-made conversation starter.
- Setup effort
- Low — markers and name tags
- Group size
- Any size
- Gets people mixing
- Medium — gives people an opener, but no reason to move around
- How it feels for guests
- Natural and low-pressure
- Watch out for
- Easy to ignore; it only works if people read badges and act on them.
Paper human bingo
A printed grid of “find someone who…” squares that guests fill in with names.
- Setup effort
- Medium — design, print, and hand out cards and pens
- Group size
- Best up to about 100 people
- Gets people mixing
- Medium to high — people have to approach others
- How it feels for guests
- Fun, but can turn into a quick signature hunt
- Watch out for
- People rush to fill squares instead of talking, and printing takes time.
Speed networking
Timed one-on-one conversations; people rotate to a new partner every few minutes.
- Setup effort
- Medium to high — seating plan, timer, and someone running it
- Group size
- Best up to about 60 per round
- Gets people mixing
- High — everyone is guaranteed several new conversations
- How it feels for guests
- Can feel forced or interview-like
- Watch out for
- Rigid and needs strong facilitation; feels out of place at relaxed social events.
Table topics / roundtables
Each table gets a discussion topic, and people join the one that interests them.
- Setup effort
- Low to medium — topic cards or table signs
- Group size
- Any size (in tables of 6–10)
- Gets people mixing
- Medium — great conversations within a table, little across tables unless you rotate
- How it feels for guests
- Natural, especially for professional audiences
- Watch out for
- People settle at one table for the whole session.
Phone-based conversation prompts (e.g. Jam Bingo)
Guests scan a QR code and get conversation prompts on their phone; meeting someone unlocks the next prompt.
- Setup effort
- Low — write prompts and display a QR code
- Group size
- Any group size
- Gets people mixing
- High — each prompt sends people to someone new
- How it feels for guests
- Natural — the prompt gives everyone a reason to start talking
- Watch out for
- Needs guests to have a phone and signal (pair anyone without one with a buddy).
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