A defining fixture: Obsession Dialogues

Over the past five years, Obsession Dialogues has grown into a recognised fixture within the industry. What began five editions ago on a small scale, driven by the ambition to spark conversation about the future of our field, has since become an established presence. At the most recent edition, nearly 100 industry professionals came together. Not a one-way format, but an open dialogue in which everyone contributes.

That has always been the essence of the event, but this anniversary edition was larger and noticeably more celebratory. Its setting at De Hallen Studio’s in Amsterdam felt entirely fitting. Located in the heart of De Hallen Amsterdam; where crafts, fashion, media and culture converge, the venue provided an appropriate backdrop for an evening in which content, connection and experience continuously flowed into one another.

Experience begins the moment you step into The Circle of Live

The evening did not begin with a drink or an opening speech, but with a deliberate interruption of the daily flow. After arrival, guests were guided in small groups to a separate space. There, they took their seats in a circle, on low pouffes, wearing headphones. In that moment, they quite literally stepped into The Circle of Live.

What followed was a guided audio experience. Not a fleeting moment of calm, but a focused intervention to bring participants into the here and now. The voice did not only invite them to slow down and breathe, but also to become aware of the people around them. Who is here? Why are they here?

Within minutes, something noticeable happened. The noise of the day faded away. People became calmer. Attention shifted from the outside inwards, and then towards one another. Disconnect to reconnect. This pre-experience immediately set the tone for the first segment of the evening. A notable detail: there was no host. Instead, the guiding voice returned throughout the evening as a unifying thread between the different segments.

Connection emerges where encounters are designed

Following the collective reset, the first segment began at the table: connection. It became immediately clear why that moment of calm at the start was so essential. In a society where attention is fragmented and stimuli continuously accumulate, genuine connection is becoming increasingly difficult. The need for escapism is growing: consciously going offline to return to the present moment.

Ilya Kneppelhout, co-founder of The Offline Club, demonstrated why this presents a clear opportunity for business events. The Offline Club has since grown into a global phenomenon, responding to the need for calm, focus and real connection through offline communities and authentic experiences. By creating space for stillness and focus, a ‘bubble’ emerges in which people can reconnect with themselves, with each other, with the environment and with the content.

The three content segments were interwoven with the three courses of the dinner: starter, main course and dessert. In this way, inspiration, conversation and dining continuously alternated. The dinner, curated by Hutten Food & Design, played an important role in this. With creative dishes served in surprising ways and at a pace that allowed space for conversation, the dinner became part of the experience rather than an interruption.

Content that shapes the future of live communication

Following connection, attention shifted to the second pillar: content. Amber Jobse and Robert Daverschot, programme makers at Obsession, highlighted a clear development: the wisdom of the crowd. Their focus: the shift from audience to co-creator. Not just broadcasting, but making greater use of the knowledge, ideas and perspectives already present in the room.

As Amber explained during the evening: “The moment you let your audience speak, it generates authentic and human insights that you cannot direct.”

The message was clear: those who want to create greater impact with events must think not only about what happens on stage, but especially about what can be drawn from the audience. Through refreshing perspectives, they demonstrated why this development is rapidly gaining importance — and why event professionals need to act on it now.

Experience requires more than technology alone

The third segment focused on the third pillar: experience. Or more specifically: immerse your audience. Tristan Hupe-Guimarães and Pim Schachtschabel of Tellart demonstrated how storytelling is evolving. Tellart is a design studio renowned for creating immersive experiences. The discussion was not solely about large-scale technical achievements, but rather about the thinking behind them. As Pim put it succinctly: “It’s about the human element.”

A common misconception is that immersive automatically means large, technical and expensive. However, the central question posed to the audience was far more compelling: how do you draw people into a world? And can this also be achieved on a smaller scale, with more modest budgets? Obsession Dialogues demonstrated that this is certainly possible. Experience is no longer just about what you show, but about how you truly immerse people.

Partners for Live Foundation opens a new chapter

At the end of the evening, Gerben Plasmeijer took the stage. Not to look back, but to move forward. With the introduction of the Partners for Live Foundation, a new chapter was opened. The foundation supports small charities and social initiatives in achieving their goals.

With expertise, manpower and access to a strong network, Obsession helps these organisations make their story visible and increase their impact. Live communication plays a key role in this, for example through meaningful events and campaigns. The website will go live in April. It made one thing clear: this evening was not a conclusion, but a beginning.

Relive Obsession Dialogues? Watch the aftermovie below.

Photos: Nunes dos Anjos
Aftermovie: BKN Productions