3 virtual event ideas that will make it hard for us to go back to physical events.

I’ve been watching what the leading events guys have been doing. Whilst most have been straining to figure out what to do next, some have taken the virtual bull by the horns - and here are some of the best ideas.

Virtual events have been around for years and forward thinking planners are scrambling to get them off the ground...but most planners aren’t even trying.

EventMB ran a poll which suggested 60% of event planners had never planned an online event

Pre-recorded sessions or go live?

Being live has historically been the theme for pretty much all virtual events and has always been accepted as the norm. We’ve all experienced both boring PowerPoint webinars and really great storytelling events. Live events are a great way to engage with the audience and make them part of the whole experience. 

Lately I’ve seen some amazing events that were pre-recorded. Not a boring presentation to camera, but an amazing art piece using great editing software. Sometimes they’re like cartoons, sometimes it’s simply a clever visual piece combining tech and the presenter. The production value is great but be warned, it’s very time consuming to make. 

The best ones are a combination of both elements - live and interactive presentations, breakout sessions, live musical interludes and breakaways to prerecorded messages. All of this held together by a charismatic host. The future is mixing it up. 

Let me entertain you – virtually, that is...

Anyone who has been to any event I’m involved with will know, I love to entertain. Making memories, sharing experiences and adding to your story is key to a great physical event. 

But, what about the virtual space?

Some entertainment opportunities do lend themselves well to the virtual space. We’ve seen tons of virtual concerts since lockdown started, some live and some pre-recorded. Or consider a cooking experience where the host bakes cookies whilst presenting and you follow along at home. You’re only limited to your imagination. Just keep it relevant to your audience and speakers. 

Create art from the session - bring in a Digital Scribe. 

Live digital scribing is a great way to immortalise your event, hosts and attendees. We’ve used a graphic narrator before and they’re brilliant at capturing the key content of the day and giving us something to share afterwards. It’s content that just keeps giving.

Here’s what Emma Paxton did for us last year - great fun, and a brilliant way to engage with your audience.  

In summary

Alongside physical events, virtual events are going to be around forever. 

We may have been forced into the virtual world but I believe it has been a blessing in disguise. Our options to inspire, inform, persuade and entertain are now limitless. 

My first question when planning any event is always “Why are we doing this event?” My second will now be “Is this a physical or a digital event?”