Virtual Events Are Still Trending for 2021. Are You Ready to Host One?
/This year brought numerous cancellations of in-person events throughout the events industry. And while going virtual with events is not a new idea, it certainly is necessary to connect us all and maintain learning and engagement while remaining physically distant. Today, virtual events are more popular than ever, and we think they are here to stay.
There are some unique positives in hosting a virtual event. Virtual events allow you to engage audiences interactively and gauge audience participation and feedback in real-time with the tools available on various streaming platforms. But there is much to learn and be aware of to deliver an engaging and valuable digital event. If you haven’t planned your virtual event for 2021 yet or are still in the planning phase, check out these tips.
HAVE THE RIGHT TECHNOLOGY
There are more virtual events now than ever before, and these events are held to a high standard by the attendees. Today’s virtual event attendees expect both high-quality video and audio. And if they are not high-quality, it’s possible that the audience will not stick around for the event’s duration.
When planning a virtual event, make sure both you and your speakers have the right headphones, microphones, lighting and video. If you have concerns about technology quality, you may want to consider using pre-prepared technology kits. These kits can be sent out to your speakers before the event to help to maintain consistency and improve audiovisual quality.
PREPARE BEFORE THE EVENT
Pre-event preparation will help ensure that the day of the virtual event goes as smoothly as possible. It should include testing of the lighting, audio and video. When you perform a preliminary run-through, make sure that you and your speakers use the same setup and are in the same location as what will occur on the day and time of the actual event. If you know that your speaker will be using natural lighting, for example, it is a good idea to test out the lighting when they will be speaking to get an accurate idea of how it will look during the event. Additionally, event planners should designate a point of contact and share their contact information with the event speakers, so they can reach in case any issues arise.
DECIDE WHETHER TO USE PRE-RECORDED OR LIVE-STREAMING SESSIONS
One of the most important considerations for an event planner is whether they will use pre-recorded or live-streaming sessions during their virtual event. Both offer distinct benefits and challenges. For example, pre-recorded sessions can help ease your stress-level by limiting production issues and increasing the event’s overall production value. But one of the main disadvantages of pre-recorded sessions is that they are priorly recorded. Virtual event attendees can often spot this quickly, and for some, it is a turnoff. Live-streaming, on the other hand, allows for more organic, human interaction. But remember, live-streaming is “live,” so mistakes and technology issues are more likely to happen.
One option to consider is to use pre-recorded content in the context of simulive sessions. In this scenario, speakers are available live to answer questions from event viewers. Another option is to use pre-recorded sessions as a back-up if there are any problems during live sessions at the event.
NEED HELP WITH YOUR NEXT VIRTUAL EVENT? CONTACT OUTSPOKEN AGENCY TODAY!
Our speakers at Outspoken Agency already have experience speaking and interacting virtually with audiences. Check out some of the most popular topics for virtual keynotes, conversations and/or workshops that can be curated to your organization’s needs, here.
If you need help creating and managing a virtual event from start to finish, or if you’d like more information on how any of our speakers may complement your next event’s program, please reach out! We'd love to hear from you: info@outspokenagency.com
References:
How to Set Virtual Event Speakers Up for Success
Pre-Recorded Content vs. Live-Streaming for Virtual Events