Happy Hour 04: Why Zoom Happy Hours are Awful
The virtual world may promise to bring back the "Happy" to Happy Hour.
Welcome Back
At The Space Bar, we serve up the best in virtual drinking - this side of the metaverse. Pull up a chair, friend, and learn about what it takes to be a robotic collectible character in the virtual world.
Interested in making Happy Hour a weekly thing? Subscribe!
Bringin’ Back the Happy
:: Bartender Activate ::
Welcome back, friend. It's delightful to see your return to The Space Bar.
Today, let's delve into the fascinating realm of Happy Hour once again and why, when we do it on Zoom …
… it sucks.
In a recently published study in Clinical Psychological Science, (1) it was found that humans who socialize in person, report that a couple of drinks have the effect of making them less self-conscious. (Aaaah, the magic of moderate alcohol consumption— No surprise there!)
But wait, get this…
If we shift this same study from the lively ambiance of a bar to the confines of a computer screen. What happens? The study participants discovered that…
In a screen-share environment, booze actually seems to boost self-consciousness rather than alleviate it.
Turns out when you do your office Happy Hour on Zoom, you spend the time looking at yourself, feeling worse about your well-being! When you feel worse, the Happy Hour loses the Happy!
The design of this interaction is costing us valuable human connections! How many great stories over pints have been lost, because we have to tell Bob that “he’s muted?”
But fear not, my friend, the Bar Bots are working on the solution to this conundrum. It's time to usher in the era of virtual happy hours, where the Happy comes back. While Zoom happy hours have served us well during these challenging times, the future lies in the realm of virtual gatherings designed explicitly for fostering connection and banishing self-consciousness.
Picture this: a dedicated virtual space, complete with immersive visuals and interactive elements, where you and your colleagues can gather to unwind, share stories, and indulge in the pleasure of a drink or two. Such virtual happy hour experiences offer the best of both worlds—safeguarding the health and convenience of remote interactions while recreating the lively atmosphere of an actual, albeit fantastical, bar.
Imagine a world where you can gather with your colleagues from the comfort of your own homes, transcending physical barriers and fostering meaningful connections. The possibilities are limitless.
How do you feel about it? Are there virtual spaces that you have experienced that you feel foster a better connection? Let us know in the comments, or by chatting with us in the substack chat.
Cheers to a productive workweek, my friend!
We’ll see you next time.
:: Bartender Deactivate ::
Sources:
Where to Look? Alcohol, Affect, and Gaze Behavior During a Virtual Social Interaction, Clinical Pyschological Science, Fairbairn and Schmidt, Volume 11, Issue 2.
“Goodfellas,” - Bar Bot Imagery by Box Rocket Studio
AI Imagery, Stable Diffusion - Leonardo.ai
Interested in learning more about the Bar Bots? Great, we’d love to have you.
Network Update
Here is a Bar Bot running animation test from
Want to animate your own Bar Bot?
Leave your Solana wallet address and grab yourself a generic rig at
This week’s selection is The Formosa Cafe in West Hollywood California.
Dive2Fancy: Upscale Lounge
Drink Price : Not Cheap
Atmosphere: Hollywood Nostalgia
Steeped in Hollywood history this establishment served the likes of Humphrey Bogart, James Dean, and Ava Gardner in its heyday. Recently restored, the Formosa transports you back to Hollywood’s Golden Age but with an updated and award-winning food and cocktail menu inspired by its past.
Visit their website for information.
That’s it for this week! Please subscribe and metaverse responsibly.
Booooo zoom Happy Hours!