Playbook

Breakout session

Sub-track inside a larger 361 event. 60-90 min, smaller room (~20-40 people), deeper topic. Great for a working-group conversation that wouldn't survive on the main stage.

Timeline

T-30

›Confirm room + AV with the parent event's ops team via 361.
›Decide if attendance is open or invite-only.

T-14

›If invite-only: send the list to 361 for the signup form.
›Prepare 1 page of 'framing' material — distributed in the room as people arrive.

T-7

›Confirm any guest speakers / discussion leaders.
›Plan the discussion arc: 10 min framing, 40 min open discussion, 10 min synthesis.

day-of

›Get to the breakout room 15 min early to greet arrivals.
›Open with a strict 10-minute framing — over-running here kills the discussion.
›Synthesize aloud in the last 10 min so attendees leave with takeaways.

Common mistakes

Treating it like a panel. Breakouts are discussions — minimize presentation.
Letting one voice dominate. Gently redirect after 2 turns.
No synthesis. Attendees should be able to summarize the session to a friend.

FAQ

How big a room?+

20-40 attendees is the sweet spot. More than 60 and it's a panel; less than 15 and it's a coffee chat.

Can I have a guest speaker open?+

Yes — 5-10 min max, then open it up. Long monologues kill breakouts.

Ready to draft?

Use the breakout session format on the draft form — the side panel pre-fills with this playbook's checklist + timeline.

Draft a breakout session →

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