We began the new year with a virtual event in just outside Seattle in Redmond, Washington. The company develops laser scanning technology for projection, 3D sensing, and image capture and lidar sensors for automotive vehicles. Their team reached out to us on Friday, going into New Year’s weekend and the event was Tuesday and Wednesday the following week, so it was a really fast turn around event, but we pulled it together and the video has over 9,000 views! This production features:

  • A two camera set up
  • Shallow depth of field
  • Set inside of a traditional office
  • Single person presentations
  • Three person Q&A, with one person off camera reading audience questions
  • Micing & audio mixing for the live stream
  • Set lighting
  • Live feeds from the lidar sensor in real time & presenter PowerPoint slides
  • Start & end graphics and lower thirds
  • 4K monitors for confidence & set display

Here is a recap of the event, if you’d like to watch the entire stream you can find it here.

During the rapidly evolving crisis with COVID-19 we were contacted by Kim Jones, Executive Director of the Optometric Physicians of Washington

Her organization had been planning their 55th Post Graduate Seminar scheduled to take place 8 days from the time she reached out to us. We were able to collaborate with Kim and her organization to quickly find a new venue, figure out safe and sanitary practices for crew and presenters (including one immunocompromised individual), and get a custom viewing page set up with tabbed videos, embedded chat function, email capture for each session and linked quizzes for participants to earn their continuing education credits.

Thanks to this joint effort between our teams, the conference took place on time and around 600 doctors were able to get their continuing education credit from the safety of their home. 

Participants delighted at having free parking, no crowded hallways and other such light-hearted benefits from their devices. Many shared photos of them practicing social distancing at home while holding their babies, sharing a desk with their school-aged kids who are all home from schools, and enjoying the company of their furry family members.  

Some of the safety measures we took during the production and streaming were frequent hand washing, minimal crew, who did morning temperature checks for fever before coming into the closed-off hotel conference room that had only production crew (3 people) the OPW Executive producer, 1 moderator and 1-3 speakers safely spaced throughout the room. 

Our techs kept a minimum of 6 feet apart at their work stations and microphones, the presentation computer and clicker were all disinfected between each person’s use. In addition, we changed foam covers on lavalier mics after each presenter. 

Finally, we had our audio person, who would switch mics and disinfecting gloved and masked when coming into contact with speakers. 

Right now we serve many areas who are being affected by “shelter in place” orders or similar precautions.

As media professionals, our crews are small and carry press passes. We have also applied to have Varvid listed as an essential business in Washington state. 

Our hope is to continue to help create ways to keep people in corporate, education and community organizations connected through bringing meetings, classes and conferences together safely online. 

We also are offering consultations for individuals, groups and businesses who are sheltering in place and in need of a live streaming solution to meet their individual needs using existing gear they have on hand, and or by assisting them in making buying decisions.

Please reach out to us for your streaming and consulting needs. 

Live streaming has certainly grown in popularity over the last five years due to massive increases in internet connection speed as well as the near-constant connectedness of audiences via their smart devices.


Having been in the live streaming industry prior to all of this, we’ve become quite familiar with how folks talk about live streaming, and it seems like there are a few myths that are very typical of people looking to hold their very first live stream.

We’d love to share our expertise with you here to help you understand the benefits of live streaming just like we do!

1. Live streaming your event will decrease in-person attendance

While it might seem logical that people would prefer to stay home and watch your live stream rather than attend your event in person, studies show this isn’t the case. 

In fact, live streaming has been shown to increase in-person attendance. 

According to Digitell, 30% of people who watch a live stream of an event will attend the same event in person the following year. 

We watch our clients grow their events in subsequent years after live streaming all the time because it gives their audiences a glimpse into why they wouldn’t want to miss the event and helps their brands and events gain the exposure they need to grow. 

Coachella is a great example of this; after they live streamed their 2011 festival, they turned around and sold out their 2012 festival in record time — 3 hours! 

Our founder and pioneering live streaming IT guru Aaron Booker always says…

“We can’t get you more ticket sales by live streaming this year, but if you do it, we can get you more butts in seats next year!”

2. Live streaming is too expensive

Live streaming your event can be done cheaply with your cell phone camera or professionally with a crew that will provide broadcast quality coverage of your event. 

Whichever route you decide to take, the value of the live streaming is unquestionable. 
When you consider that your online audience may be three or 4 or more times the in-person audience when the event is live, AND create even more reach for those who couldn’t tune in live watch the recording on demand, you can start to see the value in investing in your live stream production. 

At the end of your event, not only do you have the live stream online for people to watch on demand, but if your event was professionally streamed, you should also have a high resolution recording of the entire thing as well. This footage can be used to make stylized recap videos, bite sized social media postings and added to your content library to pull bits out of for future videos, commercials and more. 

3. Broadcasting your event on Facebook or Youtube is the same as having it played on TV

This is a common idea I find that gets unearthed when I work with clients who want to Facebook live stream their event. 

Live streaming has a world of potential to connect you, your brand, your ideas, your contributors, your audiences and even your management team and employees! 

Here are some awesome examples of this we’ve seen:

1. Giving away prizes to someone who comments with the correct answer to a question
2. Random drawings for a swag bag to the right commenter
3. Displaying comments and reactions from online viewers on screens for the in person audience to see in the room 
4. Major collaboration between online and in-person audiences to solve a puzzle
5. Listen to ideas from the audience
6. Post up polls for them to vote on what happens next
7. Submit fan art to share
8. Even donating to a cause!

Another thing this myth leaves out is the rich metrics you get from streaming online. Streaming online gives you great metrics for your marketing team to use to set and evaluate goals, find out which parts of your programming were popular, how long your audience will stay engaged in a video, as well as a host of demographic information like the age, time zone, and occupation of your viewers.

 

facebook live stream

One cool way we recently saw Twitch engagement being used by a client was for creating “end of the day” wrap up and recap videos. 

Rather than having a dedicated team sit through hours of footage to pull out clips people might find interesting, we used Twitch clips to pull out content that had been clipped by the client’s audience had told us they connected with and strung them together for quick and easy crowd sourced recap videos. 

4. When your live stream is over, the reach is over

In our experience, you will see at least 10X the views on a video after the live stream is over, over the following week. 

While some platforms like YouTube allow you to trim and make minor edits to your video after the live stream is over, others like Facebook do not yet have that feature. 

So definitely keep in mind when you’re planning your streaming content that you may or may not, depending on the destination, have the ability to trim off time at the beginning of your stream that you started before your programming began, which may be really boring for those watching post-event. 

5. If  we live stream, the programming will need to be perfect

While streaming your event to thousands of viewers may make you think that your programing needs to be perfectly polished and scripted, quite the opposite is true. 

Some of the best audience reactions happen during mishaps, awkward timing and candid moments at an event. People watch live content because its more authentic and fluid, that’s the nature of the live space and it’s something we know and love.

If you’re professionally streaming your event, the director of the stream will know just how to call camera angles, graphics and cuts to keep your stream moving along for your online viewers while making them feel like a part of the event and highlighting perspectives that make your brand stand out.

If you want an expert team to help you plan out your next live event, we are here to help. You can contact us here to tell us about your project!

 


It’s a pleasure to introduce you to our Dallas Team Lead, Patrick Dolan! Patrick joined Varvid early in 2008, after working with Aaron Booker (Varvid’s CEO) on the board of directors for an IT industry peer networking group.

Being active in the IT industry for for 30 years, and having background in production management, Pat’s skills have established him as a practicing live streaming professional. In 2011, his accomplishments guided him to opening Varvid’s Dallas office.

Dallas Events Live Stream

Patrick is courteous, attentive, and honest. His devotion to your event’s success is founded on maintaining an upbeat personality even throughout the most trying times of production. Simply, Pat aims to provide the North Texas area with a professional and fun approach to creating a truly Connected Event!

Contact Pat by calling 214.838.6960, or emailing patrick@varvid.com.

We are proud to introduce our L.A. Account Representative, James Lane! James provides the greater Los Angeles area with Connected Event services.

“Aaron Booker called me up and asked for my assistance for a live streaming event for Adobe in Hollywood. I was intrigued and found that I truly enjoyed the adrenaline rush of a live event and all of the unforeseen obstacles that can literally jump out of nowhere,” James said. It has been over two years since his first project with Varvid.

James has been a Los Angeles resident for over 15 years and has predominately worked as an actor and film editor. His work in the entertainment industry started over twenty years ago after he received a BFA from the University of Texas, Austin.

“I liken live streaming to performing on stage before a live audience. There is no, “Cut! Take 2, Take 3, Take 4″, etc. If something unexpected happens, you make lemonade from that lemon.”

James has a positive personality and a get-it-done attitude, his dedication to live-streaming production makes him a great person to work with!

“I look forward to developing vast relationships with the many folks out here in LA LA Land who are in need of a reliable, professional and fun live streaming crew.”

To get in touch with James, email him at james@varvid.com or call him at (323).244.0407.

We are excited to introduce you to our New Orleans Team Lead, Marshall Woodworth!

Marshall, a Louisiana native, delivers Connected Event services to the greater Delta region. After traveling across the country, Marshall moved back to Lousiana and obtained a BFA in Film from the University of New Orleans.

“I decided to become a filmmaker in the eighth grade while watching the opening credits of the 1989 Batman. My first experience of live broadcasting came in 1996 when I was the Studio Director for an ABC affiliate.”

Marshall, from New Orleans, livestreaming a connected event

Marshall’s interest and passion for production and live broadcasting guided him to the livestreaming world.

“Livestreaming is beginning to take hold, and I believe Varvid is ahead of the trend. The beauty of livestreaming is that it’s cutting edge and has a limited margin of error. Varvid can connect any event in crystal-clear resolution directly to an individual’s screen of choice!”

Marshall’s proficiency in cinematography, editing, and his upbeat personality makes him great to work with.
Want to meet Marshall? Let us introduce you!

Want to contact Marshall? Send him a message: marshall@varvid.com.

We’d like to introduce you to Nevin Zais, Varvid’s Boston Team Lead. Nevin has been a part of the Varvid team for three years. Over these years, he has honed his webcasting skills and has worked on a wide range of Connected Events (including switching for The Boston Election Panel livestream).  

“We are seeing more and more people getting excited about livestreaming. Helping drive it forward is what motivates me to be in this line of work,” Nevin explains. “We should have livestreams for everything!”

Nevin Zais working a Connected Event

Nevin is a Boston native with a BA in New Media from Fairfield University. He is often found enjoying a spuckie at Jim’s Deli, on the edge of his seat at a Red Sox game, and nerding-out on livestreaming gear.

Nevin’s enthusiasm for Connected Events, his willingness to grow and master webcasting tech, and his killer sense of humor makes him great to work with!

Want to meet Nevin? Let us introduce you!


To contact Nevin Zais, use this email: nevin@varvid.com