Meet Virtually Staff - October 4, 2022

Announcing OktoberVest – A Virtual Beer Festival And Launching Meet Virtually VR Tours

Meet Virtually is set to host and produce “OktoberVest” on October 27th, 2022. This will be a first-of-its-kind virtual beer festival. It will draw on the learnings of the last three years about how people like to participate and engage during a virtual event to reimagine the whole concept. It will all come together in a unique experience that allows guests to sample amazing craft beers, learn a bit about the beer making business, engage with passionate experts, and be encouraged to visit their unique tap rooms and breweries across the country. I spoke to Meet Virtually Founding Partner Michael Friedman about OktoberVest… here’s what he had to say:

Interviewer: Meet Virtually hosts private virtual events for corporate groups. Why are you hosting a public event like this?

Michael: You’re correct, up until now, we’ve exclusively hosted curated events for corporate groups that are completely closed to the public. But we really have wanted to host a public event for a while now. Over the last 2+ years we’ve learned so much about how people like to enjoy a virtual event. Our clients are having a blast. But I still constantly hear from friends and family that “virtual events are a drag”. I think if people could see the potential, could see what we’re creating every day… their opinion on a virtual event would change.

Interviewer: So what can people expect then? How is a Meet Virtually event different than a typical virtual event?

Michael: It’s about hospitality. About feeling considered. Guests are going to get a kit sent to their door and the unboxing experience is actually where we think the event begins. We want people to get excited about it when that package delivers. Once the virtual event starts, we strive to invite people to feel like they can participate if they want to, and avoid hearing the crickets of silence if no one wants to. It’s a bit of a tightrope, but we’ve figured out a formula that works. It starts with content that people actually enjoy. This is a beer festival! And we’re inviting people who like beer! And they’re going to get to meet the people who made that beer. That doesn’t happen every day. We’re uniting the experts with the enthusiasts and providing the space for interaction. That space is where magic can happen.

Interviewer: So what’s going to be in the kits? What are guests going to receive?

Michael: For starters – Beer! This is a beer festival, after all. We’ve partnered with sponsor breweries who are each contributing an amazing beer to the kits. Each sponsor brewery is going to have a member of its team on the virtual event to guide everyone through a tasting of the beer that they contributed. Also in the package will be a virtual reality headset. If people are familiar with a Google Cardboard device, it’s like that. There might be a few other small knickknacks and surprises inside… the surprise is part of the fun.

Interviewer: So once they’ve attended this event and done a virtual tour and tasted the beer, guests will feel like they never have to visit the physical brewery?

Michael: The opposite, we hope! Guests will feel a strong connection to the brewery and become even more likely to visit once they’ve tasted the product, met the people behind the scenes and seen what it’s like to be there. The VR Tours platform doesn’t replace a live visit – it encourages one!

Interviewer: So once they’ve attended this event and done a virtual tour and tasted the beer, guests will feel like they never have to visit the physical brewery?

Michael: I think we’ve covered it for the most part! If you’re interested in tech, beer, or both please reach out. There are a limited number of spots open for enthusiasts and we’d love for you to be among the first to see and experience the Meet Virtually Tours app. If folks follow @MeetVirtually on Instagram we will be unveiling the sponsor breweries, sharing news, etc. In addition to the guided tasting and Virtual Reality tour, the event will feature a panel discussion as attendees will hear from the brewers and get to ask questions directly of them. It’s going to be a blast. Come join us!