Simplifying hybrid meetings and events

Meeting planners can breathe a sigh of relief. That's because at etc.venues, you don't need to be a die-hard techie to plan a hybrid meeting or event as we've done the heavy lifting for you. After extensive research, we've put together three best-in-class hybrid meeting and event solutions. However, before we focus on those we'd like to share a few insights we've discovered along the way.

Insights and what to avoid

If you're planning a hybrid event, here are a few points to consider:

SmartStaging isn't always smart for in-room attendees. There are some fantastic stage sets and studios available for virtual productions which look amazing for remote attendees but dreadful from the in-room viewer's perspective - especially if the lights, cameras and crew are obscuring the stage and presenters. At etc.venues, all in-room attendees enjoy clear sight lines of the stage ensuring their view, and overall experience, is unimpaired.

Start with the venue team not the software platform. The software platform is not the on-stop shop for your hybrid event. The truth is, most platform event managers prioritise the virtual audience and have very little experience ensuring in-room attendees are catered for at all. At etc.venues, our team is comprised of 100% live event planners who fully understand all of the specifics of the hybrid event tech AND the requirements of an in-room audience - ensuring a glitch free experience for all attendees.

Video conferencing kit is not all created equal. Working from home has highlighted just how incapable most laptops are when it comes to video conferencing. The built-in cameras and microphones are barely fit for purpose- and certainly not designed to impress. Whereas, the state-of-the-art Logitech cameras, speakers and microphones within our video conferencing packages will always ensure you create a truly professional impression.

Introducing our three best-in-class hybrid solutions

As you can see, when it comes to hybrid meeting tech, there's plenty to consider. That's why we made it our mission to take all of the hard work out of the process for you with these three best-in-class options.

1. Room in a Box video conferencing for effortless connectivity. Our video conferencing solution is call 'Room in a Box' and includes all of the equipment in-person and virtual guests need to collaborate seamlessly and professionally. You simply 'plug and play'.

2. Hybrid Software Platform for memorable events. When an event is solely virtual, social cues such as body language and natural interaction are lost - which can create an uninspiring result. That's why using a venue to host live speakers interacting with an audience enhances the overall experience.

As does the ability for in-room and virtual attendees to fully engage with the presenters. By teaming up with hybrid event software provider Glisser, we can help make every hybrid event a memorable one with:

• Live streaming
• Q&A functionality
• Social media integration
• Polling
• Slide sharing
• Gamification

The Glisser platform also integrates with Wordly offering real-time translation into 16 languages. What's more, you can track precisely how attendees interact - heling you to optimise future events.

3. Green Screen Studio for that all-important "wow" factor. Working closely with AV specialists, Encore, we offer planners and organisers a Green Screen Studio to help you deliver presentations with a genuine "wow" factor - limited only by your imagination. If you can think it, we can help you achieve it- and our venues have the bandwidth and infrastructure to help you stream your presentation to thousands.

We also offer bespoke solutions. We've always adopted a 'plug and play' approach when it comes to hybrid tech - that's why you'll always find the equipment already installed and ready to go when you arrive at the venue. However, if you decide to scale up to the next level of event - where you're looking for a bigger stage set or a specific look and feel - we can also offer a more bespoke hybrid event solution. 

And once again, you'll find our fully trained hybrid event teams are perfectly placed to consult and advise.