What is a Simulated Live Virtual Event Format?

July 30, 2020

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One of the best things about the mass switch to virtual conferences and events is the sheer amount of innovation it has sparked. Agile event technology companies with vision are continuously building solutions to meet the evolving needs of their clients’ online events. As a result, true partnerships between event organizers and tech companies have arisen, all with the goal of creating extraordinary attendee experiences.

With the flurry of innovation, an entire new class of virtual delivery format has emerged: Simulated Event Presentations.

What is a Live Simulated Event Presentation?

You may be wondering, what in the heck is a simulated live session?

In layman’s terms, simulated live (also referred to as semi-live) combines the benefits of a live stream session and pre-recorded content, all in one.

Let’s break it down in detail.

With a simulated live session, a virtual presenter or panel’s video presentation is pre-recorded. But unlike on-demand content, a simulated live session starts and ends at a specific time. It can even count down like a live stream. Recording an event for your attendee’s has several benefits. Keep reading to learn more!

A simulated event presentation is more than a pre-recorded video: it has a live component as well. While the presentation takes place, a presenter or panel is available to interact with a virtual audience in real time, just like they would in a live stream or collaborative training session.

As the pre-recorded content plays, presenters chat with the audience and answer questions live. Hence, the term, “semi-live”.

Depending on the event’s goals and the presenters’ comfort level, they can choose to interact with attendees via live video, audio only, or chat.

What are Some Advantages of Simulated Live Sessions?

Convenience and Flexibility

Since the simulated event’s presentation can be recorded at any time prior to the start of the event, virtual presentations are more flexible and convenient for many presenters.

Solves Time Zone Differences

Simulated live eliminates the need for your speakers to give the same presentation multiple times and compensates for attendees in different time zones or regions. A key advantage is your entire audience will receive a consistent message while benefiting from live interactivity.

F.O.M.O.

Ever hear the term FOMO? Semi-live takes advantage of your audience’s natural fear of missing out on something great. It creates the excitement and urgency associated with live content available for only a limited time. Take a lesson from Snapchat and Instagram stories!

Virtual Presenter Stage Fright

Even seasoned speakers may have a fear of going live on camera. The pre-recorded aspect of semi-live allows presenters to deliver a flawless presentation. The best part? Semi-live leaves speakers or panels available to answer questions, chat, and interact with the audience in real-time without interrupting the flow of the content.

How Do Simulated Live Sessions Fit into a Virtual Agenda?

Simulated event presentations can be used as a sole delivery format; however, many event planners choose a mix of live streamed sessions, on-demand content, and simulated live sessions to produce an all-encompassing, engaging audience experience.

Closing Thoughts

In this post, we’ve introduced simulated live as a virtual delivery format and highlighted a few of its advantages. To captivate your virtual attendees with rich, engaging content and delight your presenters, you may need a virtual session format that offers benefits of live streaming and pre-recorded content. Recording an event’s speaker ahead of time offers an ideal balance of both live and pre-recorded in one innovative session delivery.

Want information on how to include live virtual presentations in your next virtual event? Consult with a Stova event expert.

Ready to learn more?

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