Recent circumstances have dictated that some in-person events go virtual. This shift has left organizations scrambling to ensure their virtual events provide educational, inspiring, and engaging content. Speakers and entertainers are an essential part of the equation. A sensational speaker or entertainer can elevate events and meetings. That said, selecting the right speakers and entertainers for virtual events is complicated.
While some aspects of virtual meetings mirror those of onsite events, there are key differences in talent that meeting planners must account for when planning a virtual event. Only by identifying and addressing these differences can planners gain the knowledge necessary to choose the best speakers and entertainers.
There are other important considerations to take into account, as well. Here are some key differences:
Ability to Perform Without Feedback
Some speakers and entertainers thrive when they are in front of a live audience but shrink when they cannot see and hear feedback such as smiles, applause and positive body language. There are strategies that can help presenters to perform when they are separated from the audience.
The first approach is recording their speech or performance in advance to improve their chances of mastering the pace and tone. For example, in a virtual setting, pace and tone are essential elements. If the goal is to provide training, pacing that is too fast may leave some participants behind. On the other hand, if the goal is to entertain, a presenter may need to vary the fast and slow pace to allow participants to laugh or convey anticipation.
The second approach is translating a live appearance from a stage in the real world into a virtual environment that may occur in a small studio within a living room. Large sweeping gestures, or the ability to pull audiences members on stage, will need to be altered.
Adherence to Timelines
Some performances and speeches require a lengthy amount of time, while others enforce tight timelines. Each timeline has its own challenges, particularly during a virtual meeting, when the next presentation cannot begin until the current one ends.
Good talent will know precisely how to stay within these timelines, whether it is 15 minutes or one hour. Doing so is easier said than done. 15 minutes can seem like an eternity to fill, while one hour can go by in the blink of an eye. Therefore, it is advised to hire experienced presenters who can closely monitor time and deliver precisely the time needed.
Somewhat Tech Savvy
Frankly, in-person events have many advantages over virtual events. One of them is having staff members dedicated to setting up and operating technology. When it comes to virtual events, however, the best speakers and entertainers can hope for is remote assistance.
For this reason, it is important to hire talent that is tech-savvy enough to quickly learn and master the basic tools necessary to run their part of the meeting. By no means do they have to be IT specialists; they just need to avoid making glaring mistakes, such as angling the camera so that it displays the top of their head instead of their face or can adjust the lighting so that it best works for presentations.
For many presenters, this may mean that planners seek to find a studio nearby or a camera crew to come to the presenter to help with production.
Deliver During an Audition
Running potential speakers and entertainers through an audition process allows a business to look for traits they want and those they most assuredly do not. Each audition should include about five minutes of the content they are offering.
Must-haves include:
- A professional background and environment with clear sound, good lighting and correct framing
- Masterful delivery with a strong command of the audience to spark engagement
- Lending their own touch to the topic at hand or the performance, thereby demonstrating the value they offer over other candidates
- A subject matter that is appropriate and also respectful of all genders, races, sexual orientations, political leanings and personal beliefs
- Overall alignment with the company’s brand along with the audience, the message and the goals of the event
Yes, selecting the right speakers or entertainers for a virtual event comes with its challenges. However, by following the tips above and hiring a skilled, experienced and resourceful event planner, organizations significantly improve their chances of making their virtual meeting a resounding success.
Uncertain times call for creative thinking. Contact Gavel International to be inspired with solutions that connect and engage your people.
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