| Adding some ideas I've seen work: * Raffle tickets given out to people who are "caught" helping others or generally helping out. * Dedicated person who knows all the movers and shakers and is familiar with the attendees and skill sets, who can be reliably found in a fixed physical location on site, and who can summon helpers to track down people, solve problems, make introductions. Basically a concierge on steroids. * Random access session at the start where people line up and have 60 seconds to say either: what idea they would like to work on, what skill set they have, what skills they lack and would like to pair up with. At the end of this people can talk to each other and form project teams if they like. * Kid friendly - no ridiculous age rules for kids (but sure, kids need to be supervised by their guardians, that's perfectly reasonable). And kids categories for some of the contests if any. But no sequestering kids off in "kid" activities. Encourage them to participate in the same projects as everybody else. * Generous food choices, including copious amounts of ice cream, sweets, and caffeine, and maybe a healthy thing or two for those who want that. Popcorn is not a generous food item. You burn a lot of calories. Food doesn't have to be gourmet... pizza is great. * Lots of comfortable spaces and seating including nooks, tables, offices, open areas... a variety but most importantly plenty of spots for everyone with plenty of extra left over, so people can get a tiny bit isolated to focus with their team, if they want to. * Open hours at the end where family or friends can come in without tickets (if tickets were even required) to watch the final demos / contest. * A good platform or topic that engenders enthusiasm. * If there's a contest for projects, have some funny prize categories. Leave room to make some up to fit the entrants. Encourage humor. * Don't fixate on rules. Safety, sure. But lighten up. What doesn't seem to add a lot: * Huge money prizes... sure I have nothing against them but the fun seems to be more important. * Group photo... this is always a drag, interrupting the flow and disrupting work as people run off to join it and you invariably get dragged along. And the photo is too few megapixels to really be worthwhile. |