A great opportunity to reach a broader audience is to live stream an event, as your local event can become global. But there are a few things you should not do when streaming a live event, that we see happen too often. To make sure you level-up your streaming and avoid classic mistakes, follow these practical tips.
When you Live stream an Event, thou shalt not:
#1 Forget to check the internet speed at the venue
If you ask the venue how fast the internet will be available at the event, you need to confirm they are telling you the upload speed. But even so, you have to consider there will be other people using it during the event.
Before you live stream an event, you can visit the venue and run a few tests. Also, have a Plan B if the Wi-Fi connection is unstable. For example, the venue staff might be able to get you a cable connection.
#2 Trust that everything will work without testing
There are many variables when you live stream an event. In other words, many things can go wrong. But, if you test everything, thoroughly, the odds will be in your favor. It’s best to have a checklist in hand to ensure you remember anything.
Even more important than testing equipment, is to do a dry run before the event. Facebook live for example, like many other platforms, allows you to go live privately. You can go live, monitor the stream, check the equipment and watch the recording to make sure everything works together.
#3 Overlook the backup equipment
The key to a successfully stream your live event is to be prepared. Having the right equipment is great but not good enough. On top of that, it’s important to have backup equipment standing by in case of an emergency. Don’t forget to test those too.
Besides equipment, you might also consider getting a backup broadcaster. Just in case something comes up, having someone else to present your live stream can be helpful.
#4 – Fail to promote and share your live video
One of the main advantages to live stream an event, is to reach a bigger audience. But, more often than not, people don’t promote their event enough. To promote your live stream, make sure you create visual assets, share on social media and send your email list a heads up.
Spend some time promoting your live stream to make your efforts worth your while. Another idea is to reach out to partners and influencers and get them to share your event too.
#5 – Neglect the online audience
There is the spokesperson, giving their talk about some interesting statistics and referring back to their graphs on a slide deck. The presentation is going great for the live participants of the event. But the online audience only sees the presenter on stage, talking – have you ever seen this? They still wonder why sometimes the online views drops so much.
Don’t make that mistake and always keep your online audience in mind when you live stream an event. Along with the proper camera points of view, consider the quality of the audio. Make sure they can hear everything.
Find a way to entertain your online audience during the breaks. Keeping them engaged will help you keep your viewers till the end. They will appreciate the effort and see that you care.
Your online audience is of utmost importance when you live stream an event. After all, you are live streaming for them, right? So, keep them in mind and you will deliver an incredible experience.
What tips do you have for fellow live streamers? Let us know in the comment section below!
Here are other blog posts that might help you with your event:
5 Tips to Live Stream your Event like a Pro
Streaming your live event is a great way to extend your event capacity and maximize your efforts. It allows you to invite more people locally or from all over the world, depending on your industry. (Continue reading)
7 Most Common Live Streaming Mistakes and How You Can Avoid Them
Live streams started out as something completely spontaneous, mostly done on mobiles, with no need for high quality image and audio. Fast forward to a few years and live stream has become an elaborate and powerful communication tool. So, to make sure you get better results out of your broadcasts, watch out for these 7 most common live streaming mistakes. (Continue reading)
