July 2021 Advertisement Feature 25
Later in 2021 the Gold level membership brings suppliers more features and more analytics , and we plan to launch a membership type for content creators – those people who often work alongside virtual and hybrid events gathering behind the scenes footage or working in the run-up to prepare the content .
But that ’ s as far as we are going with membership options , another consideration is not to dilute the product away from its core meaning – to help market spaces set up for virtual events .
In 2022 we intend to run the first annual StreamingSpaces Live , which will be a conference exclusively for members discussing the future of virtual and hybrid events .
This conference will be run from the StreamingSpaces Studio , which is at present still very much at design stage but will be a compact space for fireside chats and pieces to camera .
This space will be available for certain membership levels to use for their virtual events for bringing in contributors to other streams or filming content .
Another planned event for 2022 – run virtually , of course – is a ‘ meet the buyer ’ type networking event .
Eventually , we would also like to take the SkillShop further , providing in-person training for event techs who are now also on their way to becoming broadcast techs .
We ’ re also actively looking for ways we can help with access to finance for companies in this sector who are developing new and innovative products .
You obviously believe that virtual will continue to play a key role in event planning long after the pandemic has finished disrupting our lives . What advice would you offer planners looking to partner with venues on how to source hybrid or virtual studio space that ’ s right for them ?
Virtual events are definitely here to stay . The world has changed over the past year and everyone ’ s expectations and tolerances
have changed . For example , I think it will become less and less acceptable for a keynote speaker to fly half-way around the world to give a presentation when they can do it remotely , saving time , money , and most key of all , reducing their environment impact .
Similarly , gone are the days of the delegates doing a similar thing and being out of office for several days to see a single presentation – why would they when they can watch it online and be back at their desk as soon as it finishes ?
The productivity benefits are huge , as well as the other benefits I ’ ve mentioned above . But none of this spells the end of physical events , as there is clearly still a benefit from meeting people face to face – we ’ re social creatures , and people do business with people , to use a cliché .
So the answer to this is a hybrid event format , where those ‘ local ’, or who need to attend physically can , and those who are more remote or only interested in certain elements will join online live , or on demand .
You ’ ve used a key word there – partner . If you imagine a virtual or hybrid event as an interactive TV programme , then it is essential that the event planner , venue and supplier are working in harmony to create the end result .
Television has a language which we all understand ; for example a cut between scenes means something different to a fade . It ’ s important that all the parts of the machine are working to the same set of ‘ rules ’ so that the audience naturally understands the event .
For a one-off event , working as partners is important ; for a recurring event , it is essential that all the stakeholders are working as partners towards the same goal , to ensure consecutive events feel like they are part of a comprehensive message .
For event planners and organisers , this also now means they need to be approaching their venue and suppliers with two different and distinct audiences on their mind .
They need to consider sight lines , for audience and camera ; lighting for physical and broadcast ; audio for clarity in the venue whilst conveying the atmosphere of the audience onto the live stream .
The considerations may also be significantly different depending on whether the physical or online audience takes priority , and whether it is an event for the public , or internally in a business .
Naturally , suppliers and venues who have experience in this are likely to be the first choice , but organisers would do well not to completely discount those who are new to this way of working ; we all started somewhere and a fresh set of eyes could well pick up on something someone else might miss .