It’s already been established that virtual and hybrid events will be the industry’s bread and butter for a while. And even though planners have been avidly consuming educational content on the topic, there are still misconceptions going around. For instance, you probably read every article under the sun teaching you about virtual audience engagement, sponsorships, speakers, and more. But how much attention have you actually paid to the virtual event production aspect?
We already talked at length about the importance of storytelling. How detrimental a low level of excellence is to the success of your event. And how the notion that a platform alone is enough to create an engaging and exquisite experience akin to that of an in-person event is dangerous. Because if we’re looking to survive as an industry, we must keep our standards high. So today, in order to enlighten you on the topic of virtual event production, we’ll be walking you through the behind the scenes action. What exactly can a production company do for you, and why should you bother hiring one? Keep reading to find out!
At its core, production encompasses the coordination, capture, and delivery of content. In a world where in-person events were the norm, this meant that we, as a production company, worked closely with our clients to design a riveting environment that would amount to the final experience.
Our team would then sketch the path necessary to achieve the goals inherent to the event by coordinating all the moving parts of production (cameras, lighting, video, audio, etc.) to bring that vision to life. Along the way, we’d work in lock-step with our clients to pull together all the various elements involved in the event (scripting, video, slides, entertainment needs, etc.), facilitate rehearsals, and then run the show.
Virtual events and, by extension, the virtual component of hybrid events, doesn’t imply the termination of production needs. On the contrary – production is what differentiates the professional and polished from the amateurish and mundane. So without the in-person aspect to counterbalance inefficient content, production becomes even more important.
But what does virtual event production look like? Well, the same variables apply, only in a different context. Just as planners are changing up how they bring people together, we, as a production company, are mixing up how we capture and deliver content. We share what the possibilities are, and help you to think strategically about what that could look like in a digital space. Whether it’s arranging for studio time with a pared-down team of engineers to capture content live, or pre-record and edit later, we know what it takes to elevate a talking head and convert that into a visually engaging broadcast. We take into account everything from the type of cameras and lighting needed, to the bandwidth required to ensure we are delivering quality content for your event.
We are eager to share ideas around enhancements you can add, and different approaches you can take to stage your speakers so they look their best. Whether it’s having speakers present in front of a green screen, utilizing LED panels so we can immerse them in a branded digital environment, or incorporating cutting edge technology that enables us to add layers of augmented reality to what would otherwise be a mundane slide show presentation, we make it our mission to create the perfect equation that leads to the desired result.
With every event, regardless of whether it’s virtual, hybrid, or in-person, strategy comes first. A virtual event production team will put you on the right path to cement the purpose and main goals of the experience, and will then harness that knowledge as a guide to find, create, and bring together all the elements that make your event exceptional.
There are several ways you can choose to partner with a virtual event production company. These include:
If you’re still a bit confused as to what you can expect by working closely with a virtual event production company, don’t worry! As experts in the field who’ve been there and done that, we’re more than happy to let you peek into the brave new world of virtual event production. In a very succinct manner, here’s what the whole shebang would look like as a timeline:
Pre-production Kick-Off!
Meet the team leads of the production company, review the scope and goals of the event, and discuss the path forward. Exciting times because this is the official stepping stone to creating an unforgettable experience!
3 Months
2 Months
1 Month – Event Site Goes Live!
2 Weeks – Tie-Down Meeting
1 Week
EVENT WEEK – Showtime!
Post Event
And that’s the gist! As you can see, virtual event production goes far beyond than just locking down a platform. We mentioned this before when discussing the importance of storytelling, but it’s worth repeating – with all the amazing tools and digital resources we have at our disposal, it’s time to come to terms with the fact that we have to do better.
Sitting attendees in front of a Zoom call for three hours is not enough to deliver an exciting experience. And audiences will remember whether or not their expectations were met, which means this goes far beyond a single event. So learn how to make good use of the technology available, expand your budget, and partner with the best!
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