Over the past few months, almost every in-person event has made the switch to virtual—but not all virtual events are alike. We’ve seen three major virtual session types become popular: pre-recorded, live, and simulcast.
First, a quick breakdown of the virtual formats:
Live Virtual Sessions: These talks are delivered live, as they would be given on stage, and viewed by the audience in real-time. These sessions often have a live Q&A portion.
Pre-Recorded Virtual Sessions: Speakers record their sessions before the date of the event and send a video file to the hosts. These sessions have no Q&A.
Simulcast Virtual Sessions: Simulcast sessions are a mix of the two above—speakers pre-record their talk, then log in during the day/time of the event to hop on video and answer Q&A questions in real-time.
Each of these types of sessions requires different preparation and style, so we’re sharing our tips and tricks to help make sure you rock the virtual stage.
Tips for Live Events:
Events that are viewed in real-time
Prepare for Technical Difficulties: While we all like to believe we are great at technology, sometimes we can’t avoid small hiccups. Make sure you have an account for the platform you’ll be using, and practice logging into before the live session, so you know what to expect day of. You can anticipate scheduling mandatory prep calls or practice runs, as they often provide great insight and tips on how to use the platform and feel comfortable on screen. There’s no shame in being over-prepared!
Be Present: With virtual events and webinars, it’s often easy to forget the audience tuning in. Don’t forget to look into the camera. If you have notes for your session, place them strategically around your computer screen so you don’t look down too much and can keep a normal “eye contact” with the camera to engage the audience.
Make a Connection with the Audience: If there’s a chat function on your virtual platform, you can use this to connect with the audience. For example, when you kick things off, ask people to drop in where they’re tuning in from, or partway through the session, drop in a poll that relates back to a story or case study you just shared. If you call out some of these answers, you’ll feel closer to the audience, even through the screen.
Tips for Pre-Recorded Events:
Events recorded prior to airing
Don’t Stress Over Recording Yourself: Recording a session can be daunting for some speakers, but you don’t need fancy equipment—for most video formats (double-check what type of file your event will need), you can record yourself speaking on Zoom and export that video.
Be Present: We mentioned this with live events, but staying present might be even harder without an audience at the time of recording. Don’t forget to look into the camera, and place your notes strategically, so you don’t look down or away from the camera too much. Keeping a constant gaze into the camera will help the audience feel like you’re speaking directly to them.
Be Seen and Heard: Audio and video is particularly important with pre-recorded sessions, as there is no real-time feedback. Using an external microphone or headset with a mic, and checking your WiFi to make sure it is fast enough will help ensure you are able to be seen and heard. Once you’ve done a tech check, make sure the lighting allows for you to be seen, with your head and shoulders in the shot.
Be Engaging and Take Risks: While you may not be speaking live, you can still connect with your audience. Ask the audience to stop and think about something you’ve said, or plan small activities like taking a break and asking attendees to write something down or other things that can be done at home. One plus to pre-recording is that, if working something like this into your session is new, you have the option to re-record if you stumble on your words. Get creative!
Tips for Simulcast Events:
Events with a recorded session & live Q&A
Be Organized and Prepared: You’ll have two important dates to remember—the date of your pre-recording and the date of the event. After you’ve sent in your recording, you’re not quite done—you still need to remember what date and time to show up for the Q&A. It helps to add them to your calendar so you’re sure to be at the right place at the right time, with the correct content. Since you will be logging on to a virtual platform for the Q&A, attend any prep calls as they often provide great insight on what to expect the day of.
Be Consistent: By recording once and joining the Q&A, you’re engaging with your audience at least twice, but to your audience, it should feel like one seamless transition. To help create this sense of continuity, wear the same outfit in your Q&A session, and set up in the same room or have the same background as you did while you recorded.
Be Ready for Q&A: During your prep calls, be sure to ask the event organizers if there will be a moderator or producer online fielding questions. If there isn’t, it can help to have someone from your team join in the audience, so they can help monitor the feed and send interesting questions to you via a side chat/Slack/text. Having a team member is also helpful in case there is a lull in the Q&A, as they can have a few prepared questions ready to ask.
Each type of session has its advantages, and with the right prep, you’ll be ready for anything that comes your way. We can’t wait to see you kill it on your next virtual stage!
And if you're ready to get out there (live, or pre-recorded!) get in touch.
