The format of a live event, whether it’s virtual, in-person or hybrid, continues to evolve. Along with this, how the audience engages with the event and the presenters also changes, and requires that the presentation connects with the audience in a meaningful as well as an individual manner. Current presentation technology allows the presenter to use a variety of tools to accomplish this. We’ve assembled 4 tips you can deploy with the help of your AV partner to make your presentation a way to connect with attendees, with a focus on in-person and hybrid events.
Personal Devices are Friendly
While attendees having an eye on their smartphone, tablet or laptop may have been considered distracting or indicating disengagement, an involving event can leverage these devices by presenting interactive tools that the audience member can use to interact with the event. This can take the form of separate or integrated apps that give access to polling, text-based Q+A, and even the ability to turn on a microphone and ask questions. Also, if the app experience is unified for the entire session or conference, presenters can add supporting material such as slide decks, supplementary documents, note-taking areas, and more so that attendees can absorb the content being presented in a more meaningful manner.
A Central Screen Draws the Eye
A large screen that serves as the backdrop to the stage while allowing the presenter to place dynamic content on it can captivate audiences. While not all venues would be suitable for these screens, their use would allow for a more dynamic and engaging presentation style than the use of a standard two-, three- or four-screen format. The backdrop screen offers several advantages. It immerses the presenter in the presentation, thereby preventing the attendee from splitting their focus from the presenter to the content. It also allows the use of content that could go beyond a Powerpoint slide, such as interactive graphs and clips that the presenter can speak to directly. It also serves as a great canvas that the in-person presenter can use to speak with a virtual presenter or attendee on. This type of central screen can be achieved through the use of fine-pitch LED walls or through blended projection that is video-mapped to showcase the specific content. And in between sessions, we can show eye-catching sponsorship or advertising.
Accessibility Attracts
Hosting an event that allows for, and encourages, attendees with different abilities can draw a much larger participation. By identifying those who will be joining and tailoring the session to them, you can encourage these attendees’ voices to be heard as part of the program. This applies to potential presenters as well, allowing for a variety of perspectives to be put forth. Staging elements such as wheelchair access ramps that are elegantly built into the stage, the use of translators for simultaneous interpretation, the utilization of closed captioning services and/or sign language interpreters, and use of an easy-to-read colour palate in the presented content, can work well in these scenarios. Also, offering virtual access to an in-person event can allow those who cannot travel to be at the event, the ability to still interact with the live presentation, through the use of virtual event tools.
Bite-sized Media is Digested Easily
The presentation does not end when the attendees walk out of the hall, and presenters should explore how to keep the presentation top-of-mind in these scenarios. One method would be to package highlights of the presentation into sound bites or video clips that are easily and immediately accessible at the end of the presentation, and available through an event app or online portal. These also allow for distribution of the clips on social media, serving as advertising and as information about the event. This can be achieved through the use of a camera and video compositing crew using live switching and recording software. This software, which can be used to live stream the event, can also provide easily-editable clips for these mini media portions.
Using these tips when planning a presentation, and showcasing their use while promoting the event or presentation, can encourage potential attendees to sign up for the event.
