We've been working alongside a US client since COVID-19 made the world stand still. We recently assisted them from start to finish in producing a livestream for a global audience. Check out what this process entails.
Pre-production
Whenever we have new clients who come to us for livestream production, they're always surprised at how it works in the background. Everybody is so used to joining a normal Zoom call, having a chat and then being on their way. We take the time in pre-production to inform anyone who will be speaking on the stream exactly how it works well in advance, so they're not confused on the day. We like to make this as simple as possible, so presenters are given our custom-made 'livestream cheat-sheet' which will well-prepare them for their live session.
Pre-Records
Pre-records are a great integration for your livestreams as they allow some downtime whilst presenters get ready and perform mic & camera checks, etc. We're always as flexible as possible with our international clients, and we'll always find a time that suits all of us when it comes to recording pre-records for use in our streams. Pre-records are an excellent way to get the audience thinking and asking questions. This gives the presenters time to discuss these questions in the green room.
How will the audience access the livestream?
Hosting a livestream is great, but how are people going to watch it? Let's discuss the two most popular ways of giving viewers access to livestreams:
- WebApps
WebApps are a great solution for hosting your livestreams, they provide increased security as people will need to register and then confirm their registration via email address. They can give you a more detailed breakdown of viewer participation and audience interaction once the stream has concluded.
- Embedding on your website
Embedding a new livestream page on your website is another great way to host your streams. It can also be more cost-effective. You may not be able to get the same analytics and data as you would from a WebApp, but depending on what prerequisites you have in place for people to sign up to view the livestream, you may be able to get close. If you intend for your livestream to be in the public domain, it can be as easy as advertising a link, and the stream is just one click away - no signup or app download required.
The Livestream
The day of the livestream has arrived. Presenters are given a time that they should try and join the meeting for any checks before going live. The stream is sent live by our technician to either the app, or the website. Our team then follow the conversations and presentations cutting to and from presenters where necessary, we make this look as seamless as possible for viewers. Every step of the livestream is ran through a branded template fit with titles and name straps.