What Is A Hybrid Event?
A lot of people are jumping into hybrid because they hear that buzzword and think they have to do it. They’re just doing it because it’s “the thing”. But what’s missing?
Getting Better
What’s missing is the need, want, and strategy. Most hybrid events that have taken place are really just face-to-face events with a virtual portal thrown in as an afterthought. Today, we can actually design an engaging experience in a virtual space that is cool and unique and plays into all the benefits that a Hybrid experience offers. This is the perfect recipe for a well-designed, well-thought-out hybrid event.
The majority of experiences should try to be as inclusive as possible in order to accommodate different people’s needs, which includes remote viewing. There’s a myriad of reasons why someone would have to take in your event from a screen. Most events at any scale should be designed in hybrid form because it’s inclusive.
Designing The Ultimate Hybrid Experience
With hybrid, design thinking needs to be applied to the virtual experience to ensure cohesiveness and inclusiveness for both the virtual and the in-person audiences. Engagement and connectivity need to take place between the two. That’s what a true hybrid experience is – not an isolated experience, but one that bridges the gap between online and in-person attendees. The same quality experience for both audiences.
How To Make Hybrid Experiences Better
Virtual experiences have less of an empathetic design than in-person, and that’s the challenge. You need to fully consider the person who is sitting at their desk who doesn’t get to move around or feel the in-person excitement. Online attendees cannot be an afterthought. Particularly when virtual experiences have the potential to be the superior experience, to engage emotion.
Think about it – when was the last time you saw something at a face-to-face event that made you cry? Now, what was the last time you watched a movie, TV show, or commercial that made you cry? With Hybrid, you have to take the virtual audience and blend it with elements of the live experience in a way that pulls emotions, and delivers something unique for both audiences, at the right time. Not just using different camera angles, but also high production design and interactive activities that make the audience feel something.
Engagement production and experiential design are the gateways to a unique experience. An exceptional host or emcee will bridge the gap and make the experience fun and memorable. When both the in-person and virtual aspects are considered with the same weight and given the same importance, you’re on the right track to creating an unforgettable experience for your team.
By Maria Hester