Can I connect the lobby to other event rooms?

Yes. Use billboards with links to direct attendees to session rooms, sponsor pages, or other flats. The lobby serves as your event's central navigation point.

How many attendees can the lobby handle?

Flat.social lobbies work for events of various sizes. Audio isolation zones keep conversations clear. Multiple areas spread attendees across the space so it never feels overcrowded.

Can sponsors have their own branded areas?

Yes. Create dedicated zones for each sponsor with custom billboards, logos, and links. Audio isolation gives sponsors a quiet area to have conversations with visitors.

Do attendees need an account to enter the lobby?

No. Guest access lets anyone join with a link. No accounts, no downloads. Attendees pick a name, choose an avatar, and they're in the lobby instantly.

Can I use the lobby for recurring events?

Yes. The room persists with its layout and decorations. Update the billboards for each event and the lobby is ready to go. No need to rebuild it every time.

Virtual Lobby

A spatial entrance hall where attendees gather, network, and navigate your event

By Flat Team·March 27, 2026

Every great event starts with a lobby. Attendees arrive, orient themselves, meet other guests, and build anticipation for what's ahead. Online events skip this entirely. People click a link and land in a session. No warm-up, no mingling, no sense of arrival. A virtual lobby on Flat.social brings back the most important part of any event: the moment before it starts.

Attendees enter a spatial room and see other early arrivals walking around. They check the event schedule on a billboard, chat with someone nearby through spatial audio, or visit a sponsor booth. An NPC greeter welcomes them and points to the main stage, networking zone, and breakout rooms. The lobby becomes the connective tissue of your entire event.

One conference organizer added a Flat.social virtual event lobby before their keynote sessions. Attendees who arrived early spent 15 minutes mingling, checking sponsor billboards, and playing games. By the time the sessions started, people had already made connections. The lobby turned a passive audience into an active community before the first speaker even took the stage.

Arrive, Mingle, Connect

Attendees walk around the lobby and start conversations naturally through spatial audio before sessions begin.

What is a virtual lobby?

A virtual lobby is an online entrance space where event attendees gather before, between, and after sessions. On Flat.social, it uses spatial audio and avatars to create a welcoming hall with information boards, networking zones, and sponsor areas that mirror the experience of walking into a physical event venue.

Why Your Event Needs a Virtual Lobby

Pre-Event Networking

Attendees arrive early and start meeting each other. Spatial audio lets them walk up to anyone and chat. Speed networking rounds warm up the crowd before sessions begin.

Event Navigation Hub

Billboards display the event schedule, session descriptions, and room directions. NPC greeters guide attendees to the right areas. The lobby is your event's information center.

Sponsor Showcases

Set up sponsor zones with branded billboards and link boards. Attendees browse sponsors while waiting for sessions. Spatial proximity means sponsors can chat directly with visitors.

Between-Session Hub

During breaks, attendees return to the lobby to discuss what they learned, meet speakers, and find their next session. The lobby keeps the energy alive between talks.

Games & Activities

Football, poker, and chess give attendees something fun to do during downtime. A game area in the lobby keeps people engaged and socializing between sessions.

The Buzz Between Sessions

Attendees gather in the lobby during breaks to discuss talks, meet speakers, and build connections that last beyond the event.

How to Create a Virtual Lobby on Flat.social

1
Design the lobby layout
Create a flat with a welcome area near the entrance, a networking zone in the center, a sponsor section along one side, and a games area in a corner. Use build mode to add furniture and decorations.
2
Add information boards
Place billboards with the event schedule, session room links, speaker bios, and WiFi or access codes. Add an NPC greeter at the entrance that welcomes attendees and explains the layout.
3
Set up sponsor zones
Create labeled areas for each sponsor with branded billboards and links. Audio isolation keeps sponsor conversations focused. Sponsors can staff their zones to chat with visitors.
4
Open early
Open the lobby 30 minutes before the first session. Let attendees arrive, explore, and start networking. Run a speed networking round to break the ice before the event begins.
5
Keep it active during breaks
Between sessions, announce in the lobby that the space is open for networking and games. Have a host or moderator present to welcome people back and facilitate introductions.

Add a Lobby to Your Event

Spatial networking, sponsor zones, and event navigation. Give your attendees a proper entrance. Free to start.

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Lobby Use Cases

Virtual lobbies serve different purposes depending on your event type.

Central hub connecting sessions, sponsors, and networking zones

Tips for Event Organizers

1. Open the lobby early. Give attendees at least 30 minutes before the first session. Early arrivals are your most engaged participants. Let them network and build momentum for the event.

2. Staff the entrance. Place a host or NPC greeter at the lobby entrance. First-time attendees need guidance. A welcoming face (or avatar) makes the difference between someone exploring and someone leaving.

3. Update billboards in real time. If schedules change, a session runs long, or a new announcement needs to go out, update the lobby billboards. Attendees check the lobby for current information.

4. Create a post-event lobby. After the last session, reopen the lobby for a closing networking hour. Some of the best connections happen after the formal program ends.

5. Add sponsor value. Place sponsors in high-traffic areas of the lobby. Feature their billboards prominently. The more foot traffic sponsors get, the more valuable their sponsorship becomes.

Tips for Attendees

Arrive early. The lobby is where you meet people before sessions fill up everyone's attention. Show up 15-20 minutes early and walk around. The best conversations happen before the event officially starts.

Check the info boards. Billboards in the lobby have the schedule, room directions, and speaker details. Orient yourself before diving into sessions.

Visit the sponsor zones. Sponsors are there to help and share resources. Walk through their areas, check their billboards, and chat with their representatives through spatial audio.

Return during breaks. Don't disappear between sessions. Head back to the lobby, play a game, and talk to people about what you just heard. Breaks are prime networking time at any virtual conference.

Sponsor Zones That Work

Branded billboard areas let sponsors showcase their products and chat with attendees who walk through the lobby.

Downloads required for attendees

Role permissions for event management

Reactions for audience engagement

Games for lobby entertainment

Virtual Lobby FAQ

Explore More Use Cases

Virtual Conference Platform

Virtual Trade Show

Virtual Networking Events

Every Great Event Starts With a Lobby

Spatial networking, sponsor zones, and event navigation in one welcoming entrance. Create your virtual lobby today. Free to start.

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