The Secret to Bringing the TA DA and Creating an Awesome Virtual Event

By Joel Zeff

We are at the beginning of the virtual event revolution. Think of this as the dial up (make annoying loud noise) receive a CD-ROM in the mail era of virtual events. This is not just a moment in time, this is the exciting start of the adventure. Technology, platforms, ideas and everything else about virtual events will evolve, improve, and change. The reality is that virtual events are now part of the meeting landscape.

Live events will return. We will again eat chicken and rice pilaf lunch with colleagues. We will walk a trade show floor, taking stress balls and pens from booths. We will do scavenger hunts and trust exercises. All that will happen. Virtual events will now be one part of the meeting menu. Some events will become a hybrid of live and virtual elements. Some events will stay virtual.

After rocking the virtual world with a wide range of associations, organizations and corporate teams, here are some ideas and tips for your next Awesome Virtual Event.

Surprise Your Audience

Adding surprises to your virtual event will entertain and engage your audience. My favorite surprise right now is using celebrity videos from www.Cameo.com. The site has a wide range of celebrities who will record short personalized videos for a nominal fee. My favorite use for these videos is for virtual award presentations. I was hosting a recent event and the celebrity was singing about the award winner. Someone in the audience exclaimed, “How are they doing this?!”

Here are a few other surprises my clients have used: delivering cookies and milk in the afternoon to team members. Delivering fun gift boxes. Delivering coffee for a coffee talk. Let’s be honest, delivering anything that is edible, drinkable, wearable, or usable will be met with appreciation.

An audience craves surprises. They don’t have to be big budget. Play an interactive game. Raffle off prizes. Host a talent competition. Start the program with a fun energy burst from a speaker or entertainer. The first question when planning a virtual event should be, “How do we add fun and surprises.”

Create Content with the Audience

The virtual dance party is always a winner. I have seen this done several different ways. The easiest way is to ask your team to send in short fun videos of them dancing. Edit the videos together with some fun music and you have an awesome closing video. One association client added the theme of 1980s ski party. Everyone dressed up and submitted their video. It was awesome. It doesn’t have to be dancing. Other ideas for a video montage: show your company spirit, make a funny face, or create a sign with words of motivation or encouragement. Added bonus: all of these ideas are fun SURPRISES.

Another idea for content is a Zoom interview montage. For one of my organization clients, we created a fun and engaging “man on the street” video. I asked members about the theme and past event experiences, using a mixture of live and Zoom interviews. The edited video package was the highlight of the virtual event.

Interact, Experiment, and Have FUN

During one recent leadership meeting, the audience played a form of show and tell. Everyone had to grab an object from their home office and share a story. The stories shared were inspiring, motivating, funny and entertaining. Still one of the best ideas I have seen in the virtual world. It was also a way to connect with each other.

Experiment with different ideas. Try something new. My answer to just about any idea is always, “Yes, let’s try it!”

Shorten your Event!

Virtual events should be much shorter than live events. Speaker presentations should be shorter. The total length should be shorter. Everything should be shorter. Did I mention virtual events should be shorter? Keep in mind how long your audience is staring at a screen. I always recommend my clients have virtual events earlier in the day when the audience is fresh.

The Emcee is a MUST

Hiring a professional who knows how to play to the camera is a MUST. Keeping a virtual audience engaged and entertained is a difficult task. Having the regional vice president moderate a panel or present awards is asking for trouble. A professional knows how to play to the tiny camera. An emcee knows how to energize the audience, connect to participants, and create a fun atmosphere.

Choose the right platform and place

We are all familiar with Zoom and Microsoft Teams. Meeting planners are now experimenting and using new and innovative platforms. During a recent event, the meeting platform required participants to create their own avatar and move around a designed virtual world. I spoke and interacted on a stage to an audience of avatars. Behind me the screens showed me speaking on video. You could walk up and talk to other avatars. It was a unique virtual experience.

Besides new platforms, explore options to record your virtual event from a studio or hotel space. Using a studio increases the production quality. Whether it is a huge studio with multiple cameras or a small studio with a green screen, there are more and more options. Studios are now catering to virtual clients with a range of budgets.

Embrace the many advantages of virtual and hybrid events. The speaker you couldn’t afford for a live event? I guarantee you can work a deal for a virtual event and provide value to your members. Virtual events also give you the opportunity to reach more members. Step in to the virtual revolution. Virtual, hybrid and live only events will all exist together. Try new ideas with your virtual events. Step out of your comfort zone and have fun.

Joel Zeff (www.joelzeff.com) is a national workplace expert, speaker, emcee, and humorist. His spontaneous humor and vital messages have thrilled audiences for years. His first book, “Make the Right Choice: Creating a Positive, Innovative and Productive Work Life” was published by John Wiley & Sons.

 Joel Zeff and Joel Zeff Creative retain the ownership and rights to this article. This article cannot be reprinted or published without the written consent of the author.