HYBRID EVENTS j
They have everything you need built into them already : video streaming , chatrooms , polls , and Q & A sections . Rather than having to organise your own website or use multiple different platforms , these virtual venues are a one stop shop that make the virtual experience as easy and engaging for attendees as possible .
w Content An event attendee seated in front of a computer screen will arguably have a harder time focusing on the content compared to a room full of in-person attendees . This means that the content of your hybrid event is more important than ever . While listening to a keynote speaker for 3 – 4 hours in a room full of likeminded people is usually effective in-person , this might not be so engaging to an attendee sitting by themselves at home .
Keep the content at a digestible length . Make the content interactive with both the in-person audience and those online ; while it may seem like the natural thing to present only to those you can see , engaging the virtual attendees is just as important . Make sure your speakers and emcees address the online attendees as well as those in the room .
Also consider creating separate content for your online attendees . While the larger portions of event content like keynote speakers and presentations will be viewed by both in-person and online attendees , don ’ t forget about the virtual guests when other activities take place in the physical event . Never leave your online participants staring a conference room of people partaking in other activities . While this is taking place , you can organise exclusive meetings with industry experts or virtual-only discussion panels for online guests .
w Networking Content aside , networking is a key reason why people attend events . Getting to know like-minded individuals and businesses and creating connections is a priceless outcome when attending events . But online guests might feel isolated and like they ’ re missing out on the connections they ’ d make in person . Consider scheduling in time for online attendees to chat with in-person guests via the online portal and organise time for online guests to chat with each other in chatrooms , too .
w Content on-demand With the event now being held virtually , too , there ’ s an opportunity to record the event and allow guests to access it afterwards as well . Particularly for online attendees , there may be issues with internet connection , family requirements or busy schedules that prevent them from attending the full event . By giving guests access to the content after the event , you ’ re providing them with a convenient experience that also means your brand will stay in attendees ’ thoughts long after the actual event .
Hybrid events are the future of event planning . But while they may have been introduced as a solution for social distancing and capacity restrictions , they ’ ve become more valuable than anyone expected . Hybrid events aren ’ t just the answer to being able to hold an event at all , they ’ re the answer to promoting your business on a global scale and taking your company ’ s reach to unimaginable heights . S
Sydney Olympic Park leads the way on Hybrid Event Tech
Hybrid events have become the way forward for a number of companies and organisations to overcome the difficulty in bringing teams together in the current climate .
Sydney Olympic Park can help to overcome these logistical difficulties with a new , purpose-built studio that has the ability to live stream part , or all of your event to a wide-reaching audience .
Located in The Dome at the Sydney Showgrounds , the Studio is owned and run by the talented team at Harry the Hirer and comes with a full team of technical experts and a project manager to take the stress out of any event .
“ This space allows organisers and event managers to continue to engage with their markets , or specifically to their traditional delegates in live real-time , or on-demand viewing . Obvious examples to date are events such as planned conferences that can no longer be held physically , are able to continue , and attendees can still engage as they would traditionally have done on-site , while remaining isolated . We have clients who had lunches , dinners , awards and ceremonies booked in the coming months , who are now able to continue to present to their attendees , which is fantastic to see them remain operational ,” said Brooke Rigby , Production Manager of the Studio .
The facility is a welcome addition to the 12 diverse venues and over 100 event spaces already on offer at Sydney Olympic Park for business events , conferences and exhibitions located in the geographic heart of Sydney .
There are already a number of events in our calendar using both a live in-house conference and the live-streaming component for delegates physically unable to make it to the Park .
Contact the Sydney Olympic Park Business Events Team at businessevents @ sydneyolympicpark . com . au or 02 9714 7133 to discuss your hybrid event options .
36 Chief of Staff | Issue 1 2021