If you’ve read our blog post, “How to Engage a Millennial Audience”, you know all the tips to plan a successful event for a demographic ages 25-40. But what about an even younger crowd? Many of our clients ask us how to engage their college demographic, who typically fall between the ages of 18-24. For our clients who do not typically interact with students, the young folks attending institutions of higher education can be quite elusive. We decided to demystify this studious demo by compiling the most important Dos and Don’ts to ensure the success of an event geared toward college students. 

Do: 

• Make it a format they’ll love 

College students spend so much of their time in lectures, seminars, and labs. Many of them have perfected the skill of writing down every word that comes out of a professor’s mouth over the span of two hours or more. Of everyone in the general population, college students are not in the market for an event with a lecture format. Skip the auditorium TedTalk or panel discussion in favor of an outdoor film festival or five-sense experience that serves as valuable Instagram fodder. For inspiration on how to create the perfect Instagram playground, we’ve got a blog post for that, too! 

• Feed them

College students love free or discounted food. If your demographic is accustomed to ramen noodles for dinner, a catered meal is a guaranteed incentive. Don’t worry if your event is not at a typical meal time. Students’ erratic schedules, poor sleep habits, and budget lifestyle all but ensure that they will be hungry, regardless of when you host your event. 

• Challenge them

While students face many uphill climbs in the form of final exams and papers, they do not have as many opportunities to flex their brainpower in non-academic ways. Allow them to feel fulfilled through a creative outlet that teaches them something useful. For example, a dorm room cooking class or an exhibit on how to travel on a budget might be the perfect educational opportunity. Whether your event offers something mindless like a movie night, artistic like a paint night, or adrenaline-pumping like an escape room, make sure it affords them the opportunity to utilize their minds in a different way. 

• Give them a networking opportunity 

Even on big campuses, college can feel small after a while. The best way for students to meet others outside of their existing networks is through on-campus networking opportunities. Our tip? Create an event that brings people together around one central commonality. This could be something general, like a happy-hour for arts and sciences students, or more specific, like a pizza night for women in computer science.  

• Get them outside

Out of their routine, out of the library, the dorm, or the city. Bus them to a hiking trail, a roller rink, or an amusement park. Take them somewhere fun that is outside the typical day-to-day of college life. Switch up their Thursday night frat party with a masquerade, outdoor festival, product launch, trivia night, or comedy show. Provide them with the opportunity to do something that they normally wouldn’t, and it will leave them with an unforgettable impression of your brand. 

Our Don’ts are pretty simple. You’ll be all set if you can remember these three things:  

• Don’t charge them. 

They don’t have any money. 

• Don’t lecture them.

They go to enough of those already 

• Don’t assign them homework. 

They don’t have time to do it. 

The best way to create an exceptional event for your demographic is with the help of an industry expert. Contact Wizard Studios and get started today!