Fun ways to jazz up your next virtual party

2020 was the year video calling and conferencing came into its own. When come March last year a comforting hug with family and friends turned into a wave through the window, many us turned to video calling to see and spend time with our nearest and dearest. Now more than ever it’s so important that we stay connected – talking to someone for as little as five minutes about our day can do wonders for our wellbeing.

As we find ourselves in the midst of another lockdown, the team at Ragdale (well versed in staying together while being apart via video calling!) have shared some their favourite and fun ways to jazz up your next virtual party.

Virtual spa experience 

Of course, this had to be number one on our list(!). This is a great way to enjoy a catch up with friends whilst feeling pampered at the same time.  You and your fellow spa goers will each need:

• A scented candle – to help trigger those wonderful memories of pure relaxation (we love the calming scents of lavender, chamomile or jasmine)
• Sheet mask – much less messy than the traditional face mask and now readily available to buy online from many high street retailers and supermarkets
• Foot soak – grab a foot bath or basin big enough to submerge both feet and a clean towel. Add warm water and a sprinkling of bath salts for a relaxing foot soak
• A glass of something sparkling

Virtual quiz 

While pub quiz nights are on hold, recreate your own version with friends to keep those trivia skills up to scratch. You will find plenty of online quizzes via any search engine – simply designate a host and let the game begin!

Charades 

This party-time classic has come into its own with virtual video calling. The rules for this game are simple – a player (without speaking!) must act out a TV Show, film, book or song and the others players have to guess what it is. The winner who guesses correctly gets to go next, and/or score a point. You can make the rules to suit!

Karaoke 

Take things up a level with a karaoke night. Start with a cocktail or mocktail or two, and one-by-one pick a song you can sing along to on YouTube. For inspiration, try searching for ‘karaoke playlist’ – raise the stakes by choosing a song for each other (Kate Bush eat your heart out).

Table read

This one isn’t just for the thespians amongst us – a table read with friends can provide an unforgettable evening. Assign yourself as Director, and have your friends become the cast. All you need to do is find a script from a TV show online you’re all familiar with (you can find hundreds of scripts freely available to download online), assign your friends a role each (don’t forget to assign yourself a role to!) and then send them a copy of the script. Everyone gets extra points for getting into character – think props and costume – and the more everyone gets into their role the better the evening will be! Finally, send your friends a time and date – it’s showtime!

Virtual cook off

Get creative in the kitchen and enjoy a virtual cook off with friends. Simply agree on a recipe you’ll all cook, arrange the time and day of the cook off and ensure everyone has the ingredients ready. Cooking together can be a really fun way to stay connected, and you can share cooking tips and tricks along the way.

If you have any tried and tested ideas, feel free to let us know in the comments below!