A little floor planning makes a big difference
At a large event, putting a few games in an empty corner and hoping people find them can cause one of two problems: nobody notices them, or the corner becomes so busy that guests spill into the nearest walkway.
A good indoor game zone feels like it belongs in the room. Guests can see it, understand how to join and move comfortably between the games without blocking anything.
In this blog post, we’ll be taking a look at some tips for how to plan the game zone for your indoor event.
Start With the Floor Plan
Before choosing the games, ask the venue for a floor plan showing everything else that will be in the room.
That could include:
Guest tables and chairs
Bars and food stations
Stages and audiovisual equipment
Dance floors
Registration tables
Coat checks
Vendor booths
Emergency exits and main walkways
Look at the space that remains once those pieces are in place. That is a much better guide than the room’s total square footage or maximum capacity.
If possible, ask the venue what areas need to remain clear. This can save you from designing a game zone that looks great on paper but sits directly between the kitchen and the dining tables.
Put the Games Somewhere People Will See Them
Guests are unlikely to search the room for an activity they don’t know is there.
The game zone should be visible from one of the event’s main gathering areas, such as the bar, cocktail tables or entrance to the reception space. People are more likely to join when they can watch a round before deciding to play.
As we discussed above, remember that a spot just beside a busy area usually works better than one directly inside it. Guests can notice the games without players and spectators getting in everyone else’s way.
Leave Room for the People, Not Just the Games
The dimensions of a game only tell you how much room the equipment takes up.
Players need space to stand, move and take their turn. Other guests may gather nearby to watch, offer advice or wait for the next round. At a busy event, that audience can take up more space than the game itself.
Corn Hole needs a clear throwing lane as well as room behind each set of boards. Giant Jenga needs space around the tower so that a falling stack doesn’t land on someone’s drink. Even compact games such as Pucket can draw a small crowd once a competitive round gets going.
When looking at the floor plan, picture each game at its busiest rather than sitting unused. That will give you a more realistic idea of how much room the zone needs.
Choose Games With Different Energy Levels
Not all guests are created equal. Some will want a leisurely puzzle game, while others will dive right into getting a competitive game going. Make sure you create an atmosphere that caters to both types.
Pucket and Giant Connect4 are easy to understand and tend to attract attention quickly. Tower of Hanoi offers a quieter challenge, while Giant Jenga gives people something familiar to gather around.
A mix of standing games, tabletop games and puzzles can also make the area more comfortable for guests with different mobility levels and playing preferences.
Related Read: The Best Games for the Great Indoors.
Decide When the Game Zone Will Be Open
Games don’t necessarily need to run for the entire event.
Opening the game zone as guests arrive can take some pressure off the beginning of the evening. People have somewhere to go and something to do while waiting for friends, coworkers or the next part of the program.
The games can remain available during dinner, although you may want to pause play during speeches or presentations. They can then become active again once the formal portion of the evening is over.
If the games need to be moved or closed at any point, decide who will handle that before the event begins. It’s much easier than trying to reorganize the room once it’s full.
Think About the Flooring and Noise
Indoor venues may have restrictions that wouldn’t matter at an outdoor event.
Ask whether the venue has rules about equipment being placed on hardwood, carpet or polished concrete. Some spaces may require protective mats or padding.
Noise is also worth discussing. The sound of blocks falling or guests cheering may be perfectly fine during a reception, but less welcome beside a presentation, awards ceremony or quiet dining area.
Knotty Games has indoor versions of Corn Hole and Giant Jenga designed with indoor spaces in mind. The lower-profile Corn Hole set includes hard foam lining to reduce noise, while Indoor Giant Jenga comes with a thick carpet for the blocks to land on.
One Large Zone or Several Smaller Ones?
Keeping all the games together makes the activity easy to find and creates a lively atmosphere. It also simplifies setup and makes it easier for an attendant or organizer to keep an eye on everything.
However, one large zone isn’t always the best choice.
In a long venue, separate rooms or a large conference space, two smaller game areas can help spread guests throughout the event. One area could hold the faster competitive games, while another offers puzzles or casual tabletop options.
The room should guide the decision. If splitting the games means hiding half of them in an area guests rarely visit, keep them together.
Related Read: How Many Games Do You Need For Your Company Picnic?
Run Through the Setup Before Event Day
Once the games have been chosen, do one final check with the venue or event planner.
Confirm:
The final floor plan
Delivery and loading instructions
Elevator and doorway access
Setup and pickup times
Flooring requirements
The location of nearby electrical cords or AV equipment
Whether venue approval is required
Who the rental company should contact on arrival
Sharing these details early makes setup faster and reduces the chance that the game zone will need to be redesigned on the day of the event.
Give the Games Room to Work
Games can help a large event feel more social, but only when guests have enough room to enjoy them.
Start with the floor plan, protect the main walkways and leave space for the crowd that gathers around each game. From there, choose a mix that suits the room and the people attending.
Ready to make your next event special?
Knotty Games delivers, sets up and collects handcrafted games for indoor events throughout Metro Vancouver, the Lower Mainland and the Sea to Sky Corridor.
