Go Back Up
Screenshot 2026-02-20 at 3.25.21 PM

You know the feeling.

You're in a room full of people, and everyone's looking down.

Conversations interrupted by pings, the reflexive reach for the pocket.

You leave with hundreds of "connections" and somehow feel more alone.

We've built a world where we can reach anyone, anywhere, instantly. And yet true presence has become the scarcest resource we have.

Unplugged: The Future Is Human is a one night event, fully offline, phone free experience designed to help you remember what real connection actually feels like in your body. Not as a concept. Not as content. As a lived, felt experience.

This is a room where phones are off. Actually collected and put away...so that for once, every person in the space is fully, undividedly present.

 

WHAT TO EXPECT:

You'll hear from Mark Groves and curated speakers on why our biology craves real connection, how technology has rewired our attention, and what it takes to build relationships that matter.

You'll participate in connection exercises designed not to perform vulnerability, but to practice it. You'll have conversations that don't get interrupted mid-sentence by notifications.

You'll discover what happens when everyone agrees to just be here now.

There will be nourishing food and drinks. Meaningful connection. No pressure to post about it, capture it, or turn it into content. Just the rare luxury of being fully offline, together.

 

In this experience, you will...

  • Step fully offline for 3 hours and feel what presence does to your nervous system
  • Learn from Mark Groves and guest speakers on relationships, attention, technology, and human connection
  • Practice real conversation in a room where no one is half-listening to their phone
  • Connect with creators, founders, and thoughtful humans navigating the same tension you are
  • Discover tools and approaches to reclaim your attention without going off-grid
  • Leave with friends, not followers—real relationships, not just connections
  • Walk out knowing how to shift your relationship with technology so it serves you, not the other way around

The Flow


7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
VIP DINNER

  • Curated long-table meal
  • Shared stories, resonance, and connection
  • This is where the masks come off

Meet the Speakers

Screenshot 2026-01-12 at 4.56.08 PM

Mark Groves

Human Connection Specialist

IMG_3302 - Branden Collinsworth

Branden Collinsworth

Writer, Athlete, Speaker

Screenshot 2025-12-28 at 2.21.53 PM

Mandy Balak

Experience Designer

mark_groves_retreat1

Offline VIP Long Table Dinner Experience


The  Offline VIP experience invites you into an intimate, sensory evening with a 3 course dinner experience with 32 people maximum, hosted by Mark and friends.

Long tables are where magic happens. Where strangers become allies. Where ideas spark movements. Where we remember we're not alone.

Every detail is intentional: the lighting, the textures, the way the table is set, the food you taste, the conversations you have. You'll share a meal designed to be felt, not just eaten. You'll ask questions that don't get asked at networking events. You'll be seen—not as a profile or brand, but as a whole, complex, interesting human.

By the end of the night, strangers won't feel like strangers anymore. You'll leave with real friends. The kind you actually text. The kind who remember your name and what you care about.

The bridge back to each other starts here. At a longer table.
Skip To Pass Options
PERRS-Austin-Downtown-Exterior

LOCATION

Perry's Steakhouse & grille

Austin, Texas

Austin is known for its hip, urban core and delicious food, and Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille® is the perfect combination of the three, with an upscale flair. Located downtown in the historic Norwood Tower, it’s within walking distance of the Capital Complex and other downtown landmarks. So come enjoy one of our award-winning dishes on the patio or sip a handcrafted cocktail in Bar 79!

$ 350

VIP: Intimate Dinner Experience

 

WHATS INCLUDED:

Access to a VIP evening from 7-9 PM

  • Intimate dinner experience with (32 people max)
  • Sensory dining experience designed to activate what screens can't touch
  • Deep conversations hosted by Mark Groves and friends
  • Curated evening where every detail is intentional
  • Connect with founders, creators, and leaders on a deeper level
  • Leave with real friends, not just followers
  • The bridge back to each other starts at a longer table

YOU MAY NEED TO KNOW

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Unplugged – Austin?

Our Austin Long Table dinner is a fully offline, unplugged experience, to embrace the people and real conversation in the room over a beautiful dinner. 

Where and when is it happening?

Friday, March 13 at Perry's Steakhouse and Grille in Austin, Texas.

What is the vibe?

Real people. Real rooms. No stages. No panels. This is sacred, not scheduled. Expect intimacy, intention, and bold conversations — not noise.

What if i have other questions?

Email us at community@thegatheringfestival.com.