2020 has been a funny year for all those who work in live events. Whilst some have struggled, others have thrived as we as an industry have made the switch to digital conferences and events.
Whilst there is something about physical events and meetings that cannot be replicated on video calls, we at Fresh Tracks believe this is not a good enough reason to stop making connections with our clients and business partners.
Today, we outline our vision for 2021, what conferences and events will look like, and how they will be better than anything achieved in 2020 so far.
Hybrid conferences will come into their own
Whilst many have hosted conferences purely online during the lockdown, as we move into a more socially distanced but flexible world, hybrid conferences have great potential to grow. We envision the best of both worlds, physical panels, and demonstrations conducted with a small live audience and a broadcast through digital platforms.
This will make sure no one misses out on the great content good events have to offer. We view this as not only a means of ‘surviving’ in the age of social distancing but thriving, by connecting audiences and roundtable discussions from all around the world.
Remote tables and discussion
When it comes to roundtables, the ad hoc discussions and debates that often crop up are fantastic. They help pave the way for real learning and development and are great for team building.
In 2021, these will have to be remote in many cases. This brings forward a wide range of opportunities. Remote round tables will help connect those from different parts of the world, modern technology around translation and communication will make the transition from physical tables to virtual ones seamless.
Pre-recorded content will provide flexibility
Pre-recorded content is great for events that can often be somewhat chaotic to organise! There is a great opportunity in 2021 to create content that has an impact not only for those at the event but also those that wish to connect and learn after. This is a great chance to create real digital assets that will provide value for businesses and customers for years to come.
A greater variety of keynote speakers
Getting great keynote speakers for events can be challenging, especially in the old world where we were limited to time, travel, and location. In the new digital future, this may no longer be a problem. For many events companies, connecting with great relevant speakers will be much more affordable and flexible. Allowing an event held in Australia to include a fantastic keynote from an expert in Canada, India, and everywhere in between.
We predict greater audience participation in future events
Many shy away when it comes to audience participation but in virtual events, many feel much more comfortable voicing their opinions and taking part! We aim to achieve this through community content submissions, live polls, and interactive quizzes. All this combined will help to create a virtual live event experience that will create value for all those involved.
You can’t control change, but you can control how you react
Many businesses have had to rework their business models to survive this year, and at Fresh Tracks, we relish the opportunity to do so. Live events have so much to offer online and connecting with communities and other individuals are going to become increasingly important.
The events of the future may provide access to virtual and augmented reality, live discussions, and interactive content. All these are opportunities, we feel, are too good to be passed up!
