Business happy hours can be a turnoff for creative types, which is one reason Chief Relationship Officer Bobby Torres of 302 Interactive said he and his business partner CEO Kyle Morrand decided to create a casual gathering absent of “the pressure of networking,” as Torres put it.
302 Interactive is a game, app and solutions development company, and comes with a built-in community for these events.
Torres and Morrand organized meetups, pub crawls and hack-a-thons prior to 2020, but the Covid-19 pandemic brought that to a halt. Deciding it was time to start again, the two put together a plan for a roving biweekly event centrally located to schools and businesses focused on game development. They called it Joybreak.
The dates and locations are announced on a Meetup page, and typically Joybreak is held on a Tuesday or Friday.
Torres said Joybreak has steadily grown in popularity, with creative technologists and others showing up for food, drinks and fun at venues like À La Cart, 64 North, Sportstown and The Social.
Here’s how their plan unfolded, in pictures.
Joybreak, a happy hour for technical creatives
The charter gathering for Joybreak was held at À La Cart in Orlando's Milk District in June 2023. The biweekly event was co-created by Kyle Morrand (left).
Steven Seidman of Man on the Side Photography
CEO and Founder of VR Training Neil Levin at À La Cart
Steven Seidman of Man on the Side Photography
The first Joybreak attracted lots of UCF Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy students.
Steven Seidman of Man on the Side Photography
The 302 Interactive team looks for centrally located casual venues to host its biweekly Joybreak events.
302 Interactive
Another popular Milk District spot, Sportstown, hosted the July 11 Joybreak. Shown: Sebastien Gunther
Steven Seidman of Man on the Side Photography
64 North, a bar that's part of the Beacham complex on Orange Ave. in downtown Orlando, hosted Joybreak on July 21. Shown: Marco Santana (left) and Michael Kondracki (right)
Steven Seidman of Man on the Side Photography
Managing Partner John SanFelippo of the beacham complex known as The Block stands in front of64 North at East Washington and North Orange.
Sarah Kinbar/OBJ
The event is set out to create a relaxed, zero-pressure happy hour experience for technical creatives. Shown: Ashley McMullan of Innovate Orlando (left) and Adriana Carreno of Orlando Economic Partnership (right)
Steven Seidman of Man on the Side Photography
Steven Seidman showed up at the newly opened Primrose Lanes, where Joybreak met for its August 10 happy hour.
302 Interactive
Event co-creator Bobby Torres enjoyed one of the infamous $15 hotdogs at Primrose Lane. He said food is always a key element of the event.
Steven Seidman of Man on the Side Photography
The gathering intentionally chooses locations that are in close proximity to Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy, Full Sail and downtown game studios.
Steven Seidman of Man on the Side Photography
64 North has committed to hosting one Joybreak happy hour per month. Shown: Kyle Morrand (left) and Michelle Le (right)
Steven Seidman of Man on the Side Photography
In September, Joybreak was held at The Social — another venue in the Beacham complex.
Steven Seidman of Man on the Side Photography
Innovate Orlando CEO David Adelson attended Joybreak at The Social.
Steven Seidman of Man on the Side Photography
The Social is a favorite spot for Joybreak. Torres said venues are chosen for a number of reasons, one of the most important being the food on the menu.
Steven Seidman of Man on the Side Photography
Back at Sportstown for the October 3 Joybreak, Morrand played a game of pool.
Steven Seidman of Man on the Side Photography
Torres said Sportstown in the Milk District ha the right vibe for decompressing.
Steven Seidman of Man on the Side Photography
The Joybreak holiday party was held at 64 North on December 21.
Steven Seidman of Man on the Side Photography
Morrand and Torres brought in catering from 4 Rivers for the Joybreak holiday party.
Steven Seidman of Man on the Side Photography
The 302 Interactive team aims to make Joybreak comfortable for everyone from students to CEOs, said Torres. Shown: Gordon “Tyler” Watts (Left) and Morrand (right)
Steven Seidman of Man on the Side Photography
Joybreak has continued into 2024, with no plans to slow down. Torres said the gathering has grown organically.
Steven Seidman of Man on the Side Photography
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