Six Keys to Hybrid Events Events in 2023

  1. Have an online host! Most of the time, the instructions you give your in-person audience differ from those of online. 

  2. Invest in a jib camera.  A jib camera helps to show your audience what's happening in the room up close and as a whole. Varied shots allow viewers to see the crowd's emotions that mirror their own and feel more connected to the experience.

  3. Track how long people watch. Duration data (obtainable by unique IP addresses) provides all kinds of information helpful for programming decisions, such as how long people tuned in to a session, what time they started, and when you had the most people online.

  4. Negotiate the internet with the venue. Hotels and convention centers will charge extra for a dedicated line for streaming. Even if you are only considering streaming your event, negotiate that cost upfront. Ask for 30 Mbps up and down and a dedicated line for streaming. With this level of bandwidth, you shouldn't run into any issues with the right equipment.

  5. Stream part of the conference. Limit your virtual experience to only the elements that will work well online. The online and in-person experiences are and should be different, and that is okay! Offer incentives and additional content just for those who are joining online.

  6. Create more moments of interest. We like to call these "pop-ups." Remember VH1's Pop-Up Video with all the fun facts? We should also add "pops" of information on the screen. Video needs interesting elements to sustain the attention of the audience. Include fun facts about your speakers, event, audience, etc. 

EMMA PITTS

Emma is the CEO and Founder of PullSpark, Georgia's only certified female-led event production company. PullSpark is an award-winning event and film agency in Atlanta, GA, producing virtual events, videos, and experiences for brands such as Delta, The Home Depot, The Home Depot Foundation, Chick-fil-A, Panda Express, Venture Atlanta and John C. Maxwell Co. PullSpark believes that the greatest ROI of any content is the memory it makes, that's why they like to call themselves: Memory Makers. PullSpark is hired to advise people on what to say and how to say it on screen and stage. 

Michael Novelli