Transitioning Live Events Digitally
By Daniel Gheorghiu of Core Media Productions
Over the past few weeks everyone’s life has been turned upside down as we tirelessly await the day we can stop Social Distancing. A few months ago most businesses were focusing on profitability, now most are focusing on extending their cash flow and surviving this pandemic.
Like many small businesses, I have built my business with relationships, which means hand shakes and face-to-face communications has been an integral part of my business. As a result I‘ve been wondering how will COVID-19 impact my business? Is this the end of face-to-face communication? Are live events dead? When business resumes, will we go back to business as usual or will we have to make adjustments?
I believe face-to-face communication is NOT dead nor is the Live Event Industry! However, in the immediate future, face-to-face communication will be facilitated by the use of technology and platforms such as FaceTime, Skype or Zoom.
With the quick implementations of these apps, the past few weeks have given us some our most embarrassing moments in the history of tech. We may have a powerful message that benefits our clients, but due to technical difficulties or distractions, we may lose out on business opportunities. Every time we join a videoconference or give a virtual presentation, we will be expected to look and sound professional. Everyone will now need to have a basic understanding of camera framing, proper lighting and clean audio.
For example, if you are a membership business such as a Yoga Studio or a Gym, you can now use technology to teach classes remotely and maintain memberships. The challenge will be picking the right tool for your specific needs.
Which brings me to Live Streaming and Live Events…
Large group gatherings such as conferences and conventions, will take a little longer to return to full force. For the foreseeable future, crowds will be less likely to gather in large groups, which will require events to have a robust Live Streaming presence to accommodate virtual attendees.
The key feature and benefit of Live Streaming vs. other platforms, is that streaming enables the publisher to control the flow of information while still enabling live interactions and Q&As with your virtual audience. Quality Live Streams require video production equipment such as video switchers and external cameras, which gives the viewer a broadcast television experience. Therefore, partnering with the right company is vital to the success of your live and virtual event.
Which brings me to a personal story that at first may not seem like it has anything to do with video conferencing and streaming… but bear with me…
Many years ago after buying my very first home I decided to move a fence from the back of the house to the front in order to create more space in my backyard. Since it was only a 20 foot fence, I decided to do the work by myself and reuse the existing full size blocks. All I needed to purchase was the concrete and half blocks to put up the new fence. I figured this was the best way to save money and get the project done over a weekend.
Subsequently, I began digging the 18-inch ditch required for the new fence. It didn’t take long to realize that Arizona soil is HARD. So I soaked the soil in water and kept digging. As I had been struggling for over half a day and barely making any progress, luckily a truck of landscapers came by and offered to help. However, since at this point it was personal, I politely refused their offer and sent them on their way. Then I proceeded to struggle for another hour before finally deciding to call back the landscapers and help me dig the ditch. I proceeded to watch them dig using pick axes and finish the entire ditch in only 45 minutes.
After about half a dozen trips to the hardware store and five back-breaking days, I finally finished the fence! It was finally time to step back and admire my work.
Well… It was not the most level fence I’ve ever seen, but I have seen worse! Wondering “why my back was so sore”, I started thinking through my project.
I sledge hammered the old fence; even though I reused exiting blocks, I single handedly loaded and unloaded over 3 tons of materials from my SUV; and, hand mixed countless bags of concrete.
In an effort to safe money, I decided to do the work myself with no prior experience building a fence and allowed my pride to get the best of me. In the end the fence didn’t look great, I didn’t save that much money, it took much longer then expected and I had to endure weeks of back pain. Would have been a much better use of time and money if I had hired a professional from the beginning.
In conclusion… Just because we can, does not mean we should!
At this time we are all focused on saving money and extending our cash flow by keeping as much of the work as we can in-house. But, sometimes when we try to be a Jack-of-all-trades, we end up masters of none. So if you have any doubt, make sure you talk to an expert in order to understand what tools are available and how each can help your business. There are cost-effective solutions that can help your business communicate in these challenging times.