Living In A Streaming World

We've talked about how to get quality video and how to best produce hybrid events, but there is a third element to the video and event equation - attendee streaming. With apps like Meerkat, Glide, Periscope, and others (not to mention just general smart phone video), attendees now have the power to share live video of your event.

Video streaming is one technology that we must accept is here to stay. How do we ensure that we are still putting our best face forward when we are not in control of how it is delivered?[Tweet "Video streaming is here to stay. Put your best face forward at your events #GovEventsBlog"]

• We need more bandwidth! All of this video eats up a lot of bandwidth. Make sure wifi systems are able to handle the load of dozens of attendees taking and sending video. You'll also need to ensure that the inevitable video use will not eat into the bandwidth available for on-stage demos and booth connections of exhibitors.

• If you can't beat them, join them -- You cannot stop (nor should you) your attendees from streaming video so try to one-up them with yours.[Tweet "You cannot stop attendees from streaming video, one-up them with yours. #GovEventsBlog"] Create your own live streamed video giving people access to things a regular attendee cannot see - backstage interviews with speakers, previews of demos before they are unveiled, etc.  Make your event stream the one people want to follow. Consider video as an extension of the work you are already doing on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

• You scratch my back... - Search out people who are streaming your event and promote their feed on your social channels.[Tweet "Search out people who are streaming your event and promote their feed #GovEventsBlog"] Explain what their perspective is and let viewers decide if it is one they want to follow. This is the same concept of reposting or sharing blog posts of partners and customers.

• Give them the keys - Make sure event websites, hashtags, handles, etc., are readily available and visible all over the show. This way people "producing" their own content will have access to the tags that will garner them more followers.

We'd love to hear your experience with live streaming. What have you seen event producers doing? What are attendees doing better than the events themselves?