HYBRID: THE NEW, NEW SHOW by Jeffrey Pete Rose Poe, Multi Image Group
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laser-focused show segments that can mix live components with prerecorded sections.
Blending a live-stage event with a smaller local audience and a larger, online, remote audience is going to be key to creating your next-level event. But how do you develop this new live experience for attendees in the ballroom and at home? We believe it’s all about designing and creating a shared human experience with unique engagements and moments that blend both audiences together using technology and crafty storytelling. While many clients miss the live interaction, hybrid events help merge live and virtual audiences into a new category that elevates both audience experiences. This means you can do many things to ensure a positive connection with key messages and each other.
A hybrid solution can bring the best of both worlds together. A live event with an exclusive, limited, live audience experience mixed with virtual attendance means you can create a customized event giving you the best of both worlds. Celebrations for top-level achievers, connections to prerecorded content, and roundtable discussions for both audiences and a larger audience reach than your previous live event—all thanks to the addition of virtual attendees. The cost per attendee can drop for the added virtual attendance. Social extensions can be used to tease, engage, and share moments, while the virtual component can be a conduit for the like-minded to access additional information such as on-demand content or a live feed from a general session.
veryone is thinking about it: what’s the next evolution of live events? Some call it hybrid; we call it the future.
This is an exciting time to be in the direct selling industry. It’s a chance to introduce audiences to a new, multilevel experience and strategically amplify a live experience. So how do you decide whether to go live, virtual, or hybrid? First, ask yourself which one is going to be best for your audience. The decision comes down to the type of connections you need to make. Many events have a combination of key moments ingrained in the design. For example, conferences typically have three main components: award celebrations, announcements of new product launches or service offerings, and training. Virtual is a good solution if you cannot have a live event with your entire audience. It would be best if you considered breaking your event into
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Planning for a hybrid event isn’t so different than planning a traditional conference or show. However, this is where having the right partner directly impacts your attendee experience. There are several essential aspects to consider when creating any live event. When you add the virtual audience into the mix, you need to consider how best to create experiences for both audiences to maximize engagement and connection. The hybrid attendee has a different set of needs and expectations compared to in-person audiences. Attending a live event means you are part of the event. You attend sessions in the ballroom and network with colleagues. The expectation is that you will be part of a group of people who had the chance to participate in the event, gather information, and use it to advance