In recent years the event experience has been heavily influenced by consumer trends and the introduction of technology to enhance and help to create styled environments. These two factors are the tipping point by which the event experience is evolving to being less about just attending and more about the entire experience. Kristy Foulcher, Senior Event Stylist, Staging Connections says "The key to an event's success is not just about ticking off the must-haves, but through identifying, exploring and bringing to life the single, simple purpose for which you are holding the event. Fundamentally, this is about evoking a human response from your audience, and using design and technology to manipulate that." The Staging Connections team has long been recognised as one of the leaders in the Audio Visual and event staging industry. Our teams have been providing integrated event services for over 25 years. Over this time events have evolved from a simple audio visual setup through to complex, integrated event solutions. Staging Connections' team of event stylists work with you from creation to completion, taking your initial brief, interpreting your aims and goals, and translating those into a comprehensive look and feel. From the sense of arrival in pre function, to the intimacy of the table setting, through to the majesty of the stage set and the fun of the after party, every element is carefully considered. Regardless of whether your message is a corporate communication, or the event is just a fun party, every component is delivered with impact. "Key trends in event design for 2011 have centred around modifying the traditional event experience from straightforward stage and tables to lounge looks, cocktail zones and after bars, transforming a standard conference into a more interactive, dynamic meeting and immersing event attendees into the environment. To maximise a message, the typical drop-down screen system is morphing into megascreens with high impact animation and multimedia." Theming is no longer about a sprinkle of glitter or a disco ball. Styling is about creating a new world, transforming a space, stimulating the emotions - translating the client's desires into reality. Whatever your event and whatever your vision the key to ensuring it is realised is thinking beyond the traditional to the experience you are creating for your attendees, and how to integrate multiple event services to deliver your message with maximum impact. ... Read More

Our General Manager of Digital, Tim Chapman, shares his two cents on why we should be webcasting our events and how it can actually generate you a profitable outcome. Making money from webcasting is not a new concept, the real challenge is producing content that people are willing to pay for. Asking people to pay for a low quality video with little or no interactivity simply does not work. Over the past year Staging Connections has taken a new approach to monetisation in the webcasting market by offering consultative sessions with our clients. We start by addressing the key outcomes required from the webcast which are most commonly an extra source of event revenue, catering to a wider paid audience and a cost efficient way to provide an engaging archival representation of the event. If the event attracts a fee to attend then a natural progression would be to charge for viewers to watch the webcast. The key is replicating the event in broadcast quality vision with a high level of audience interactivity to rival being there in person. The plan starts with the monetisation options and which will work best dependant on the event. Options include a pay wall using PayPal for attendee viewing, webcast sponsor(s) to offset the cost of the webcast equipment in return for static and video advertising, in webcast purchase of products or services and affiliate marketing opportunities. A rising trend is the use of paid webcasts for CPE (Continuing Professional Education) as many professionals must acquire a set number of points per year to maintain their qualification. The Staging Connections webcast platform differs to others on the market and makes the monetisation task much simpler. We start with a blank canvas and expertly design a HTML play page that incorporates all manners of monetisation opportunities. It starts with a branded registration page offering seamless integration to the pay wall feature. You are then transported to the play page where advertising loops in the video and slide windows surrounded by attractive branding with active links to sponsors showcasing their products or services that can be purchased directly. The page has a social media feed running and a chat room to keep everyone entertained during breaks with the chance just for the webcast viewers to win a prize in one of the pop up polls towards the end of the day. As the webcast draws to a close the viewer is redirected to information regarding the clients next event. The viewer leans back in their chair at the end of the day having downloaded the conference notes, met some new people on the web chat who have now become contacts on LinkedIn and generally been impressed with how good the camera quality and slide integration were all making the investment as a viewer very worthwhile. Written by Tim Chapman, General Manager - Digital, Staging Connections. Tim has an extensive background in combining technology into the event space. He is passionate about being at the forefront of digital trends and utilises this knowledge to build product offerings for the Staging Connections Group of Companies. Tim has developed a new webcasting platform recognised as one of Australia’s most advanced in functionality and continues to develop solutions using leading edge technology custom designed for the events industry. Want to know more about webcasting? Download our latest Event Insights white paper on Making Money from Webcasting Related Articles Launching Hobart 39 - webcasting The Benefits of Event Webcasting Take your event from stage to screen ... Read More

Have you ever considered what impact the technical elements can have on the success of your event communication? Our National Trainer & Assessor Andrew discusses how event design and production can impact the success of your message delivery. Have you ever considered what impact the technical elements can have on the success of your event communication? This diagram shows how all the production elements work together in an integrated way to deliver the best communication outcome for your event. Audio Audio delivers the emotion for an event. Imagine you are at an auction, where the auctioneer is yelling and speaking very fast. This conveys a sense of positive energy and excitement around the subject matter. On the other hand imagine, you are at a memorial service, where the speech is very slow and considered with long pauses in between words. This conveys a sense of sombre energy and reflection around the subject matter. Vision Vision provides the stimulation for an event. Imagine you are at staring at a still image such as a graph for a length of time. This provides very little audience engagement and your mind goes to sleep. On the other hand, imagine you are watching a moving image such as a video, this will keep you engaged and alert as the imagery changes. Lighting Lighting affects the mood for an event. Imagine you are in a theatre, where the performer is spotlighted using dark colours and lighting angled upwards casting long shadows. This conveys a sense loneliness or isolation around the subject matter. On the other hand imagine the performer is spotlighted with warm bright colours and lighting angled downwards. This will convey a sense of happiness and enjoyment around the subject matter. By carefully utilising all three of the technical elements in unison, you will be able communicate with your audience through multiple levels of emotion, stimulation and mood. Written by Andrew Thorne, ANZPAC Trainer & Assessor. Andrew Thorne is ANZPAC National Trainer & Assessor and drives our technical training programs at Staging Connections, including our Certificate III in Live Production, Theatre and Events program for new trainees. ... Read More

Celebrities unite in support for men’s mental health at the Men in Black Ball. Staging Connections pulled out all the stops to deliver an impactful backdrop to the Men In Black Ball in support of men’s mental health and fight against depression with the Momentum Forum Events Australia charity. The signature black tie event included testimonial speakers, live bands and entertainment, a 3-course gourmet dinner. MCs for the night were Tim Gossage and Chiara Zaffino from Network 10. Staging Connections installed their latest design products, Event Backdrop at the event – a striking 6m x 3m illuminated screen with VIPs photographed in front. Guests were invited to ‘get social’ with Event Tweet – a platform for social media integration onto large format screens. Plus there was Staging Connections’ usual array of class-leading technology AV and design and produce the stand-out event at the Pan Pacific in Perth, 12 June 2015. Event Tweet kept audiences entertained and engaged throughout the night and extended the event into the social sphere. Glamorous celebrity guests and socialites were in attendance and bought the event and the charity into the spotlight. Carly Melderis, Staging Connections Pan Pacific Perth commented on the stunning event backdrop and the audience engagement throughout the night, “The impressive Event Backdrop could be seen from every angle and had a huge presence in the room. The team used moving and LED lights to compliment the backdrop and create a dynamic atmosphere. “The client wanted to increase the events presence on social media so our Event Tweet platform worked wonders. Once the guests saw their photo’s and posts appearing on screen everyone was getting involved, posting their photos and comments which was great to see. Event Backdrop was used as a spectacular branding solution on stage. Barbara McNaught, CEO and Founder of Momentum Forum Events Australia was delighted with the result and commented on how the team contributed their event, “The Men in Black Ball hosted 420 guests and had a five star quality and delivery. The service and food were excellent. The challenging amount of guests were handled very professionally by the team. We keep receiving very positive feedback from the guests. Great acknowledgement for Staging Connections for their contribution to the layout of the room as well as sound and visual.” Guests were treated to a fantastic performance by a Blues Bros. cover band. Table settings were clean and sophisticated with a touch of glitz and glamour added with the crystal ball centrepiece. ... Read More

Each week we aim to demystify the world of AV equipment and event services lingo and reveal exactly what those techs are talking about. In this weeks #TechieTuesday we look at Sub Speakers, or 'Subs' as they are more commonly known and find out what part they play in your audio visual solution. . Each week we aim to demystify the world of AV equipment and event services lingo and reveal exactly what those techs are talking about. In this weeks #TechieTuesday we look at Sub Speakers, or 'Subs' as they are more commonly known and find out what part they play in your audio visual solution. AV Discipline: Audio AV Category: AV Equipment AV Jargon: Subs, Doof Doof, Bottom Whackers, Woofer, Thumper or Bass What is a Sub Speaker? A Sub is a speaker specifically designed to reproduce a narrow band of low frequencies ranging from approx 20Hz up to approx 150Hz. Low frequencies require a lot of energy to be heard, and the large round drivers in a sub speaker move huge amounts of air to create low frequency sound waves. Low frequencies are not only heard but also felt, providing that thump or rumble through the body, enhancing the auditory experience for the audience. Source: Meyer Sound | USW-1P What events are Sub Speakers used on? Subs are commonly used at concerts, festivals, clubs and cinemas where the full spectrum of sound is required to be reproduced at loud volumes. For corporate events such as meetings and conferences where there is a lot of verbal discussion, there is not much acoustical benefit from using sub speakers due to the human voice not producing many frequencies below 150Hz. However for events such as gala dinners and product launches, where you want to make an impact on the audience, drawing them in through the play back of music tracks and video clips, then sub speakers should be used to provide that extra experience. Imagine the affect on your audience, who are not only hearing the soundtrack but also feeling it. You are now communicating with your audience on a completely different level! Where are Sub Speakers placed at an event? Sub speakers have a low profile and are typically positioned on the floor near the stage area where connectivity to power and audio signals are readily available. Very little is required to add sub speakers to an existing audio visual system, technically it is just an extension to the frequency response of the existing system. Don't just hear the sound, feel the sound! Next time you want to make an impact with your audience and get them feeling your message as well as hearing it, make sure to request sub speakers. Up next week... Next week we take a look at vision fold back and how it assists key note speakers and presenters with their audience communication. In the meantime if you have any AV terms or words you would like our AV experts to tackle leave a comment on the blog post below. Written by Andrew Thorne, ANZPAC Trainer & Assessor, Staging Connections. Andrew Thorne is ANZPAC Trainer & Assessor and drives our training programs at Staging Connections, including our Certificate III in Live Production and Services Program for our new trainees. Related Blogs Techie Tuesday: Talk Back Systems Optimise your event communication with design and production Techie Tuesday: What is a Graphic Equaliser and why do I need one? ... Read More

The use of webcasts has increased dramatically due to their cost-effectiveness and time-efficiency. However, event professionals need to consider tools to ensure they’re maximising the success of the webcast by keeping their online audience just as engaged as those in-room. Here are some tips on how to create webcasts that will keep attendees focused on learning, not on checking their e-mail. Because webcasts are relatively easy to produce, inexpensive to host, and bring geographically far-flung participants together with the click of a mouse, they have become ubiquitous in the world of corporate events. But when poorly designed and executed, they run the risk of failing at the very thing they are designed to achieve—increasing reach and audience size. A disembodied voice accompanying a deluge of uninteresting slides becomes an open invitation for participants to check e-mail, complete charts, read their Twitter feed, or surf the Web, while remaining somewhat tuned in to the content. To overcome the passivity that is inherent in a webcast format, it’s critical to design and plan for interactivity so that participants engage directly with the content you want them to absorb. Here are some best practices for keeping your webcast audience engaged.> 1. Present with your webcast audience in mind The long established way of delivering content at corporate events involves a speaker presenting on stage accompanied by slides. Event planners need to refresh this format to ensure both online and in-room audiences are catered for. Here are a few tips to update your presenting style: Address your webcast attendees throughout the event. It’s best practice for the MC to include the webcast audience when welcoming the event attendees. If there is an event hashtag to be communicated, ensure the webcast attendees are encouraged to join in as well. Lastly, throughout the event, ensure you continue to acknowledge your online audience. Eye contact is still important. Let your presenters know where the cameras are prior to the event and ask them to look into the cameras every now and then to mask the effect of eye-contact with online audiences. Keep your webcast audience on track Make sure your webcast attendees have access to the same documents as your in-room audience. Staging Connections’ webcast platform allows you to upload a variety of downloadable documents to ensure your webcast experience mirrors the in-room one for your event attendees. If you plan on referring to these documents throughout your presentation, give your webcast attendees ample notice so they have time to download and can use them when referred to. Similarly, if you reference information from a document, remind your presenter to clearly instruct the webcast attendees what document you’re referring to so everyone’s on the same page. 2. Get your audience talking Almost every conference, exhibition, awards night or gala dinner you attend these days are encouraging the use of social media. If event attendees are posting on social media regardless, your brand may as well jump on board and reap the benefits of the amplified exposure and user-generated content. As a web based channel, it is also the one element of your event in which both in-room and webcast audiences will have the same experience with. Hence, encourage social conversation so your webcast audience can feel just as involved and contribute to the event. Staging Connections’ webcast platform allows event professionals to embed a live social media window into their webcast skin, displaying a constant feed of social posts surrounding the event’s hashtag. Typically, social events such as gala dinners, charity nights or awards night which are webcast live have a better uptake of the social media feature. This also holds true for the Chat feature. If social media isn’t the right dialogue for your event demographic, the alternate solution is a Chat feature which can be also be embedded into the Staging Connections webcast skin with the added benefit of moderation. Naturally, the chat feature is only available to your live webcast audience, but it’s a useful tool for encouraging discussion, whilst also providing them with an exclusive experience. A novel way to engage your webcast attendees is to use the Chat feature for competitions and quizzes with the first correct answer as the winner. 3. Interactivity via live audience polling A clever tactic for keeping your audience engaged throughout your event is by asking them questions. Polling your audience has a myriad of uses and benefits rendering it a universal audience engagement tactic no matter the style of your event. The questions can be used as ice-breakers, for knowledge testing at the end of a session or even for voting on Best Dressed at gala dinners. Event Poll is a live audience polling platform exclusively offered by Staging Connections which can be embedded into your presentation slides as well as Staging Connections’ webcast platform. It allows both your in-room and webcast audience to respond to questions in real-time using their mobile device or desktop with the answers displayed instantly on screen. We’ve previously explained 25 reasons why event professionals love Event Poll so to ensure you’re also getting the most out it, here’s some helpful tips: Introduce Event Poll at the beginning of your event and be sure to include your webcast audience and explain how it works and how they access it. An effective way to check all attendees, both in-room and webcast, can use Event Poll is to ask a simple ice-breaker question such as ‘Where have you come from today?’. Ensure you alternate taking questions between the physical and webcast audience. Do not ignore the online audience! Doing so will alienate them. This is where using the embedded live audience polling platform, Event Poll, comes in handy as all questions are displayed in the one location, regardless of the askers location. Allow time to discuss the results of each poll and any follow up questions that may result, time permitting of course. 4. Best Practices for Slides for webcasting Event professionals should consider the design of their presentation slides to ensure it caters for webcast audiences. Staging Connections’ webcast platform gives you the option of housing only the live recording within the webcast skin, or both the live recording and synchronised presentation slides side-by-side. If you have opted for the former, than the below points provide a helpful guide for designing slides that work for webcasting. Review slides for readability - Regardless of whether you prefer to use PowerPoint, Keynote, Google Slides, or Prezi, you’ll want to make sure that your presentation slides are easily readable. For maximum readability, contrast is the key. We recommend sticking to either to black text on a light background. Use images that illustrate your point in a dramatic, memorable way (graphs, pictures, drawings, etc.) Don't rely on too much text, and whatever you do, don’t read slides aloud word for word. Use a maximum of three or four bullet points per slide. Use your pointer to highlight key points on the slide. Why event professionals choose Staging Connections for webcasting By planning ahead and implementing a variety of engagement tactics tailored for webcast audiences, you’ll maximise the effectiveness of your event. Staging Connections offers Australia’s most customisable webcasting platform that can be custom designed to look like an extension of your brand. On top of its flexible design, many event professionals choose Staging Connections for webcasting due to the variety of embedded features available which have been included purely for the purpose of enhancing the experience for webcast attendees. When webcasting your next event, ensure you consider incorporating downloadable documents, social media, online chat and live audience polling into your presentation to maximise engagement. Interested in webcasting your next event or taking your event webcast to the next level? Our team of event experts have the ideas to take your event where it needs to go. Speak to a Staging Connections representative today by calling 1800 209 099 or send an online enquiry. This article was written by General Manager of Digital, Tim Chapman. ... Read More

Want to know what your audience is really thinking? Get inside the minds of your attendees with Event Poll, technology that lets you ask questions and receive feedback in real time. #1 Brand your questions Event Poll gives you the power to customise the polls to suit your brand guidelines. Match your presentation template, use your organization’s logo and colour scheme, or let your own imagination run wild. #2 Made for Monkeys Event Poll is designed with the presenter at the heart. From creating your first poll in 30 seconds to importing multiple polls at a time to moderating from an app – it’s so easy to use a monkey could use it! #3 Works with any mobile device Whatever your audience can carry in, they can use. That means smartphones, flip phones, candy bar style phones, Blackberries, tablets, and laptops. #4 Post Event Report Your full history of poll questions and participant responses are available for you after the event and can provide insightful improvement recommendations. #5 Full Moderation You can use your laptop or phone to ensure that you’re happy with responses before they go live on screen. This also helps you to display responses that illustrate a point you’re making and ensures the discussion doesn’t go off-topic. #6 Auto-Censoring Set-up auto-censoring with a list of keywords so no colourful responses make it on screen. #7 Ranking and Grading Once you've created polls with a correct answer, you run a report to calculate how each respondent scored - and how they rank in terms of correct responses and average time to answer correctly. #8 Run a Competition Get your audience to compete - for prizes or just glory - on the questions you ask. Announce a winner for a single question, a whole section, or for the overall event. And if there's a tie, we'll break it by showing you who responded the fastest. #9 Quiz Time! Figure out who was getting the information you just presented and grade the responses in real time. You can even ask the same questions before and after your talk to see how effective it was. #10 Participation Grades Event Polls is great for tracking who attended and more importantly measuring the level of their participation. #11 Multiple Choice Questions Give one multiple choice question, or several in a row. Use it at beginning to temperature check the room, throw in a ridiculous option to keep the mood light, or keep it all business throughout. #12 True of False Questions Fast and simple, put a statement up and ask people if it's true or false. Set up games, do quizzes, whatever you like. #13 Start a Discussion Open up the floor with the Open Discourse poll. Let your audience ask questions, suggest topics, do shout-outs or give feedback and recommendations. Of course you can moderate the responses to ensure it’s all above board and on-topic. #14 Q&A / Brainstorming Let your audience not just suggest topics or questions, but vote on others as well. Create a live updating wall of questions or ideas - provided by and voted on by your audience. Great for structuring group discussions. #15 Broaden your engagement, across borders! Anyone with browser access, no matter where they are, can vote via the web. This means even your webcast attendees can contribute and feel part of the conservation. #16 Over 12 Types of Polling Formats We’ve thought it of it all! Event Poll’s range of polling formats means there’s a template to suit any type of question. Even better is the templates can be fully customised! #17 Mix it up If you have multiple questions throughout your presentation you can change the polling format to suit. #18 The Ultimate Ice Breaker Asking the audience a fun and entertaining question is the best way to start the day or revive the audience after a long session. Voting for ‘Best Dressed’ is always fun for Gala Dinners or asking ‘Where everyone has come from?’ is a nice way to start a conference day. #19 Manage your Q&A effectively Get your audience to send in their questions during the presentation so you don’t waste time during Q&A. You can also set it up the questions display as a leaderboard with the most popular displaying at the top on the screen. #20 WordClouds Audience responses can be displayed as a branded word cloud. You can ask the audience their goals for the event and come back to the word cloud as a reminder. #21 Instant Audience Feedback Ask your attendees to fill out a quick post-event survey while its fresh in their minds. This saves you having to send a blast email days after the event that might never get answered. #22 Embed your Poll in PowerPoint The Pollev Presenter App allows you to easily integrate polls into your presentation so no more fussing between different screens. #23 Insightful Data and Heat Maps After the event you can use the poll report to gain insightful data on your audience such as what location they responded from when webcasting, or which group or individual responded the most and what they said. #24 Grouping Polls If you have a group of questions that you want to turn into polls, we let you import these in a single copy-paste so no need to go one by one. #25 Bulk import registered participants You can immediately register all of your event participants with a simple CSV file and send them a link to have them certify any unknown information. Love learning the latest in event technology? Download our range of free White Papers today. ... Read More

What are the benefits of holding an event in a stadium?Clients have the opportunity to run down the player's tunnel, kick a ball on the pitch, or even host a cocktail party in the change rooms! Stadiums provide access to exciting spaces that they can't access every day, so this makes for unique experiences. Why is holding an event in an unusual setting important?I feel the best way to connect, communicate with or thank your guests is to provide them with an experience they will remember. If you want your guests to think about you long after the event is over, you need to give them something to talk about. Hosting your event at Eden Park is unusual and a really great way to make an impact. What is unique about your venue? In October 2010, Eden Park launches its $280 million re-development. The new event suites and lounge facilities will allow groups of up to 1000 people to make the most of the stunning views across the city and the pitch. Our clients will be able to use interesting spaces creating individualised experiences for their guests.What are the ingredients for a truly exceptional stadium event? Exceptional events everywhere require trust in your suppliers, clear communication and great planning to culminate in a successful time for everyone involved.What's the best tip that you have learnt in your career?Have a clear vision and communicate it clearly to everyone around you. Source - Staging Connections spoke with David Allott, Venue General Manager, Eden Park Catering Auckland. ... Read More

This is the second instalment in a three-part series in which Chris Cavanaugh, CMO of Freeman, discusses the event technology that is shaping the future of brand experiences. This post focusses on how brands can leverage off live streaming to enrich the experience and drive engagement. Expand your reach and engagement without reinventing the wheel Written by Chris Cavanaugh, CMO of Freeman, originally posted on the Freeman blog. -- In the brand experience category, we are always on the lookout for ways to enhance live events and give them an extra dimension. Live streaming video seems to have finally broken into the big leagues, thanks to the emergence of apps like Facebook Live and Periscope. They’ve made the technology much more accessible and easy to use, and the production value has evolved beyond smartphones to include high-end cameras and even drones. So the obvious question is this: should you use it? The answer depends on what you’re trying to accomplish. As with any technology, strategy is king. The raw, unscripted nature of live streaming gives brands the chance to “be themselves,” and today’s media savvy audiences appreciate that. But it still has to make sense for your brand, your goals, your objectives, and your audience. As more and more brands get comfortable using the technology, we’re seeing some great benefits to live streaming from an event. It encourages participation The ability to share a “big moment” as it is happening is incredibly appealing to brands, because it allows the audience to comment, vote, or ask questions in real time. According to Facebook, people are 10 times more likely to interact with a Facebook Live video than a regular video. For the best turnout, be sure to build buzz and promote the stream to your followers well in advance of your live date. It expands your audience As shows like SXSW or CES become increasingly popular (and thus, harder to get into), their live streams allow people all over the world to participate. "Quality is one of the most important aspects of great content. If you're considering Live Streaming it is essential to partner with an experienced AV company who can facilitate the entire live streaming experience from planning to broadcast on your behalf. Staging Connections has performed countless of high-quality live streams via our own dedicated network as well as through Facebook Live on behalf of brands. With your brand on show, you can't rely on an inexperienced operator on a hand-held device to produce the quality and engagement you're after; it'll simply be a poor experience for everyone involved." Tim Chapman - General Manager Digital, Staging Connections You can reward your audience Live streaming is a great opportunity to grant your audience exclusive access to your event. Q&As, interviews with thought leaders or personalities, and VIP access for influencers (with large social followings) are just a few more ways you can extend your reach and grow your audience. We used Facebook Live to stream the launch of our Design Leadership Council, and with the help of a Facebook ad campaign, the live stream reached 66,500 people. An additional 24,000 people viewed the post-event video when it was uploaded to our Facebook page. It can be cost effective While most branding videos are produced in a way that ensures quality control over content, editing, and appearance, live streaming can be as simple as downloading an app and pressing the “record” button. However, it’s important to note that some applications are now enabled for much higher quality camera and audio equipment, so you have to consider which level of quality is right for your brand. It's honest Working without a script can be a pretty intimidating prospect for brands, but the trade-off is authenticity. This medium is compelling to audiences because the story (and all the stakes involved) are literally happening right in front of them, in real time, without a safety net. It’s not always possible to vet these opportunities through your marketing workflow, so you will have to educate and empower people within your organization to stream live video. You can’t risk missing an opportunity to engage with the “need it now” demands of today’s audiences. It inspires sharing Facebook Live generates 1200% more shares than images and text combined. And a recent study by Deloitte Digital showed that live streaming video centered around newsworthy events has the highest potential for sharing and commenting. The “I was there” aspect makes it ideal for product launches, presentations, live product demos, interviews, promotions, and exclusive behind-the-scenes events. Before you live stream a big, newsworthy event, it’s a good idea to test your equipment and your presentation. If things don’t go smoothly, you can be sure that your live stream will still be newsworthy — just not in the way you’d like. It can be optimised Depending on which app you use, some live streaming videos don’t disappear into the ether once they’ve run. For instance, Facebook Live videos are automatically saved to your page. That means the video of your live event can be repurposed and used elsewhere, increasing the return on your investment. Whether it’s company announcements, product launches, exclusive access, demos, or even creative storytelling, the immediacy of live video gives brands the ability to experiment with and redefine how they converse with their audience at a live event. Creating some guardrails will help maintain brand integrity while unleashing the creativity of your teams. As always, technology shouldn’t be the story — it should help you tell the story. The last thing you want is for your brand to take a back seat to an application or a medium that you’ve decided to use. However, if the objectives of your event are in line with what live streaming has to offer (interaction, engagement, authenticity), then it’s probably right for you. This is the second installment in a three-part series in which Chris Cavanaugh, CMO of Freeman, discusses the event technology that is shaping the future of brand experiences. This post focusses on how brands can leverage off live streaming to enrich the experience and drive engagement. Stay tuned for the next installment of Event Tech Trends, when Freeman will be discussing their thoughts on how to use mass personalisation to maximise the potential of your brand experience. Catch up on Event Tech Trends Part 1 - Virtual and Augmented Reality Are About To Change Brand Experiences ... Read More