Conferences
Opening ceremonies that set the tone for the entire agenda.
International Keynote Speaker
I lead Opening Joynotes that create attendees who return every year because they know they'll form valuable relationships at your event.
What is it?
An Opening Joynote™ isn't another keynote people sit through.
It's an interactive experience that transforms the energy of the room.
Instead of attendees quietly waiting for the event to begin, they become genuinely engaged with one another through a series of science-backed activities designed to spark laughter, joy, conversation, and human connection.
In less than an hour, strangers become friends, conversations become memorable, and the audience shifts from passive observers to active participants.
Attendees leave with practical tools to:
Create conversations people genuinely enjoy
Leave unforgettable first impressions
Build stronger relationships faster
Elevate the energy of any room they're in
It's the perfect blend of entertainment, education, and social bonding—setting the tone for everything that follows.
Who is it for?
An innovative client who wants their attendees to connect and form deep relationships.
For clients who want their audience to:
- Connect quickly instead of remaining strangers.
- Laugh, move, and participate rather than passively watch.
- Feel energized from the very beginning of the event.
- Leave talking about the experience—not just the presentations.
If your client wants to create a truly different event, the Opening Joynote creates the emotional foundation that makes the rest of the conference more impactful.
Where does it fit?
An Opening Joynote is most often used to kick off the event. But it can also serve as the initial energizer before the keynote too. If a client wants both a typical keynote and an energizing, bonding experience for the audience, they can have both!
Opening Joynotes
How do you maximize the value of coming together?
Not with boring welcoming remarks...
Imagine young and old, introverts and extroverts engaging, putting down their phones, and connecting in ways they haven't before.
Imagine them telling you this, like I was told after one of my keynotes:
“You felt like you knew everyone in the room, you did a really nice job.”
Event Types
Where I open the room
Corporate Events
LUSH, Chevron, Google and Accenture teams, connected in minutes.
Festivals
20,000-person crowds moving, cheering and celebrating together.
Community Events
Neighbourhood block parties where strangers become friends.
Marathons
Start-line rituals that turn nerves into collective adrenaline.
Universities
Orientation experiences that beat first-week loneliness.
Leadership Retreats
Intimate sessions built for trust, candour and follow-through.
Team Offsites
Play-driven bonding that outlasts the trust fall.
Past Clients
Trusted by the world's most demanding audiences
I've led Opening Joynotes for thousands of events—from 20,000-person marathons to corporate conferences to music festivals.
I have led experiences for the young and old, English and non-English audiences, corporate and non-corporate groups. I adjust every experience to the comfort level of your audience.
Cover Story
Read My Cover Story
My name is Jacques W. Martiquet. I'm known as The Party Scientist.
I don't know everything, but I do know a lot about bringing rooms to life.
My obsession is helping people overcome their social fears and become high-impact Joymakers—people loved for uplifting everyone around them.
I discovered this mission after saving countless teenagers' lives as a festival medic.
Interviews
Podcasts, panels and virtual stages
From 40+ podcasts & shows to broadcast news desks, I'm regularly invited to unpack the science of connection — live, remote, and everywhere in between. Virtual sessions are prepped with the same rigour as a mainstage keynote.
- 40+ podcasts & shows
- CBC News
- Global News
- Smart Meetings
News Features
People have found my ideas worth sharing.
Since becoming The Party Scientist, over 50 stories have been published.
Reviews
What planners say afterwards
Hear it straight from the audience — real reactions filmed right after an Opening Joynote.
I was really impressed with how interactive his session was.
Meeting Professionals International
You changed our entire conference. The impact was tremendous. I have already asked that they bring you back, no joke.
Meeting Professionals International New Jersey Chapter
I was lucky enough to attend the Party Scientist's session.
IMEX Global Meetings Trade Show
His expertise in bringing people together is world-class.
acme
We left feeling happier, stress-free & with a buzz that lasted the week.
Accenture
That was five years ago and people still talk about it.
LUSH
Wow, what an incredible impact you had! On behalf of Meeting Professionals International, thank you for bringing so much energy, love, and excitement to the room. You were truly the life of the party, and it's no surprise that you were a big hit with everyone. We're grateful for your contagious enthusiasm and for helping make this year's event so memorable.
Meeting Professionals International
Contact
Let's make your opening unforgettable.
Tell me about your event, your audience and your date. I'll reply personally.
Or become a Joymaker →