When you have the opportunity to interview two event industry professionals about pandemic-era innovations, take it!
That’s what the Seamless team did when we hosted September’s UNTETHERED: Portland Studio Tour. During a break in the event, we filmed Allie Magyar (Chief Product Officer, Intrado) and Caitlin Davis (Event Strategist, Dynamic Events) as they shared their current perspective on AV needs and production value.
Watch the video of their discussion to hear Caitlin and Allie speak about the impact of COVID-19 on the event industry.
The two highlight changes in how meeting professionals now think about AV needs, with Allie succinctly summarizing the shift as: “Digitally, the event is the production.”
Caitlin agreed, underscoring the learning curve for planners. “The production value that you’re utilizing to add to the virtual experience is definitely a new thing. A valuable production team is one that helps you figure out what you want to make, and makes that happen with you.”
Don’t miss this discussion on the importance of using an experienced AV team for your virtual or hybrid event!
5 Key Takeaways for a Standout Hybrid or Digital Event
Below, find their five key tips for making your digital or hybrid event work — for both you and your attendees.
- Remember there are elements of live events embedded in hybrid events; it’s not all new.
Many live events had a pop-up studio for live streaming, grabbing interviews, or doing commentary. - Focus on creating the attendee experience — it still needs to be the priority.
It’s not about the venue or lack thereof as venues are interchangeable to some degree; creating the attendee experience is what adds value. - Get realistic about how we consume digital content and shape your event to human behavior.
Streaming services and online shopping sites have trained us to expect curated experiences, with “you may enjoy” options served up. Consider this when building out event programming. On-demand content resonates with audiences because it allows for stop-and-go participation, revisiting key portions, and sharing. Think about how this can shape your event’s flow and also allow for post-event interaction. - Understand that hybrid events have a huge audio visual element and find a stellar AV production partner.
For in-person events, interactions with your production crew were heavy on logistics. For hybrid or virtual events, your AV team is a true collaborative partner; you’ll need a vendor with significant production expertise. - Have a designated Digital Event Manager to run your event from start to finish.
Your AV production team will run things technically, but you’ll need someone looking at the big picture and taking responsibility for all elements.
“I would never watch TV if it was just the same person on the same backdrop and I was just sitting there for an hour. We have to think about how we’re switching things in and out; what are the backdrops? What’s the motion, what’s the animation — how do we bring interest?”
— Allie Magyar (Chief Product Officer, Intrado)
Thanks Allie and Caitlin for giving attendees such a thoughtful look at the role AV production plays in digital and hybrid events!
As an AV Partner, we can’t create your event from scratch, but we can share some other helpful content such as:
- How to Create an Agenda for a Digital Event
- How to Increase How to Increase Accessibility for Your Virtual or Hybrid Event
- How to Add Polish to a Hybrid Event
Planning a digital or hybrid event? We can help. Contact us today for a free consultation.
