Tag: virtual event

Case studies

BIBA Medical

BIBA Medical provides education, news and insights that connect communities of physicians and the medical device industry.The company tasked Pinnacle Event staff to support the organisation and running of a virtual event – the annual symposium.

THE BRIEF

Our brief from BIBA Medical was to support with the organisation of the virtual annual symposium. Due to COVID-19, the in-person event needed to be delivered virtually using a custom-made event platform. The support we provided needed to be pre-event and also include live event support on the day.

THE BESPOKE SOLUTION

We provided the client with a trusted member of the team to support the client pre-event and during the live virtual event.

The role involved being the main point of contact for speakers, briefing them ahead of the event, helping with updating data, managing the incoming general enquiries inbox, registrations and generally being on hand to assist with any ad hoc tasks that came up along the way.  During the event our team member was on hand to deal with any last minute issues, brief speakers virtually and assist with any technical issues on the virtual platform.

CLIENT FEEDBACK

“Pinnacle were super flexible with my requirements, as always, providing me with very last-minute admin support for a complex virtual meeting. Communication was swift and clear, and the support provided by Monique was invaluable. Despite the challenges of a new, remote-working environment, and an often rushed and ever-changing brief, Monique set to work swiftly, professionally and diligently. I hope we can work together in a face-to-face capacity in the future!”  Senior Event Manager, BIBA Medical.

For more information about how we can assist with your event whether that be in-person or virtually, please contact us here.

News

Will the vaccine effect the events industry?

As we write this blog, over 35 million people have had their first dose of the vaccine in the UK. Numbers are climbing daily across the world, so what effect will this have on the events industry? 

As we know, in the UK the high-risk groups were prioritised which is fantastic however this will not mean the quick return of in-person events. The typical event attendee is early to late middle age and in good health, so potentially lower down the vaccination queue. 

If in-person events are only going to be available to individuals that have been vaccinated then we may not see a return of events in 2021. Also, will people want to attend events if they need to either carry out tests beforehand and have to stay socially distanced throughout. Some companies have already announced that they do not require staff to return to the workplace in 2021. Will these companies be happy for staff to attend in-person events instead? 

It seems that event organisers of large events have very serious decisions to make about how to safely allow the attendance of thousands of people. We believe that in-person events will take place this year but what we do know is that they will be very different to before. 

The UK has already carried out pilots for sporting events so we hope to see the results of these soon. The growth of hybrid events is also guaranteed as these types of events offer great value to both in-room and virtual attendees. Hybrid events has existed in sports and television for decades so we believe they will be the ‘norm’ in the future and a majority of events will enjoy a hybrid future.

One thing is for sure the next couple of years will see the events sector completely redefined. 

If you would like us to assist you with your event planning for the future for both in-person and hybrid events then please get in touch to discuss further. 

News

How to host an online event

Since the UK Government restricted large scale events, due to the outbreak of Coronavirus, there has been an increase in companies hosting online events.

We could focus on the negatives of having to cancel or postpone large scale events, however, we should focus on the positives for now as this outbreak may alter the future of the events industry.

Online events still need the expertise of event managers to organise the event, as there will still be logistical planning that needs to take place. More companies can host an online event. More people can potentially attend an online event as there are no restrictions on numbers. As a company, you could save money on costs, travel and venue hire. Social media will allow you to keep the conversation alive and this will ultimately ensure the attendees to the online event having an amazing experience.

Things to consider when hosting an online event:

Is your event suitable to go online?

Firstly, consider whether your event is suitable to go online. What works offline may not transfer to the virtual world. Events that are based around discussion and thought leadership can work really well online and the networking aspect of an event can still take place through chat, comments, and Q&As.

Technology

You will need to choose the correct online platform to broadcast your event live. You could use Facebook or Instagram Live for video streaming or Zoom conferencing for webinars. The platform you decide to use is really down to what kind of event you are hosting.

Test, Test, Test

Before you host an online event, we would recommend that you test, test, test. This is no different to when at a live event. You should consider checking the equipment you plan to use and ensure people can enter the webinar or video streaming platform you choose to use. Ensure there is no background noise so that all attendees can listen to the information being provided. Make sure you start your event on time and dress to impress if you are using video streaming. First impressions are still important even when they are virtual!

Engage your audience

Be sure to set the tone to the online event by welcoming all attendees and providing a short introduction as to how the event is going to run. Instruct when Q&As are going to take place and how they can use the comment section to ask their questions. With Zoom conferencing, for instance, you can send all attendees a post-event survey asking for feedback, giving you audience satisfaction levels post-event. 

Logistics of hosting an online event

As with all events you will need to decide if you want to monetise the event through ticket sales. Zoom conferencing allows you to do this through a PayPal integration or alternatively you can use a platform like Eventbrite.

Hosting a great event isn’t always easy but hopefully, the above considerations will help you, otherwise don’t forget to talk to us and Pinnacle Event Staff will be able to help. In these uncertain times, it is important to be able to adapt your events offering to suit the current environment. If you have any additional questions or would like our advice then please contact us today.