Over the last two years, everything has moved online. Our commutes to offices have been replaced with working from home computers; dining out has been replaced with Uber Eats orders or at-home meal boxes; and even in the world of events – an industry grounded in bringing people together – has had to transition online too. From hosting virtual meetings, cooking with famous chefs, attending galas… the list can go on and on. But despite the progression we’ve made…
As we enter a new world of events, it’s safe to say that hybrid events are here for the long run and after a couple of unsettling years due to the pandemic, audience expectations are higher than ever. We have all seen the full potential of virtual events and their unique ability to engage global audiences. As we start to see pandemic restrictions lift, there is an increasing demand for events to maintain the benefits of both in-person and…
A recently published study by EventMB found an overwhelming majority of event organizers (81 per cent) believe they have to design and execute separate, dedicated experiences for in-person and remote audiences when hosting a hybrid event. Fortunately, with the right production technology and expertise, you don’t have to plan two separate events when going hybrid. Here’s how. Focus on Content Hybrid formats allow you to produce one event with two outputs. Take Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference. The five-day event…
As hybrid models gather momentum, many event planners are becoming increasingly concerned about one issue that has no clear answer: pricing. Here are five key questions to help you determine how to price your next hybrid event. 1. What is the hybrid event makeup? When producing a hybrid event that combines in-person and virtual attendees, you can choose where to place the emphasis on pricing. This will be determined in part by your communications strategy and what level of profit,…
Hybrid events – where in-person audiences are mixed with audiences attending virtually – are the next step in the world getting back to business, including the events and meetings sector. Though, to be honest, that definition is a bit too simplistic perhaps. The Events Industry Council provides this definition: “A meeting that combines face-to-face and virtual aspects.” But what that combination means exactly is up to event planners, it seems. Many events will go this route to ease into getting back into…
Covid-19 vaccine rates globally hover at about five per cent and Canada is sitting at 4.8 per cent as of this writing, which means for the event and meeting planning industry virtual events are still very much a reality for the next while. Soon we can get back to in-person meetings and events, but for now we’re still Zoom-ing. So what points of etiquette should be noted? Well, a few things. Just as we would be considerate and watch our…
The production advantages to creating virtual events are clear. They’re much easier to execute and track for engagement and are far less expensive. There are a few other advantages that you may not have thought about though. Low costs can equal more exciting entertainment: Because of the lower operation costs involved in hosting virtual events, companies have significantly more wiggle room to splurge on more exciting event entertainment than what their budgets previously allowed. For example, a company who hosts…
What if our keynote loses power? What if we have a system failure? What if there’s a network outage? The worry of potential tech challenges fuels the nightmares that keep event professionals up at night in the days leading up to a virtual event. The good news is pre-recorded content can solve a lot of these concerns. Finding the perfect balance of live and pre-recorded content will reduce your risk while still allowing your attendee to sense a shared experience…
There was a time not long ago when many of us had never attended a true virtual event. Now, with the novelty of modern technologies worn-off and the over saturation of virtual events, event professionals and marketers alike must find new and creative ways to promote their events. While there is increased talk about hybrid events in 2021, 75 per cent of event organizers plan to incorporate technology into their events going forward, no matter the event format. This is…
Video conference call fatigue is real. Today’s virtual attendees are tired of the Brady Bunch squares they interact with daily and are looking for high-quality and to be intrigued when they attend virtual events or trade shows. Few people look at a video conference call and say, “Wow, this is captivating just like broadcast events.” These platforms may be a great tool for peer discussions, family functions or the classroom, but not for a professional presentation of topical information with testing,…
