Cultural transition to remote events during this pandemic COVID-19

With all the social distancing and locking down of people in this age- the COVID-19 pandemic in-person meetings and gatherings have been cancelled due to safety issues, online platforms have seen a rigorous spike in usage. Though there was a gradual increase in the usage of such virtual and online platforms even before COVID-19, studies state that COVID-19 has simply been an accelerating factor.

Rise of live streaming:

Since 2018 itself there has been a steady increase in the using of online or virtual platforms and Live streaming has become famous. Since the launch of live streaming by Instagram and Facebook, companies and individuals have taken upon this opportunity by engaging their employees or audiences through live virtual webinars. In a study report that was taken in 2017, there was only 25% of the USA population used the live video feature, but in 2018 there was an increase to 42% in the usage.

According to Marketing Profs, the comments on the live videos are comparatively more than on the normal ones on Facebook by its users. As live content drives conversations and that live feel which acts as a hybrid between the pre-recorded ones and the live ones. A study states that users tend to watch a live content 10-20 times longer than a pre-recorded content, thus providing a great opportunity for event companies who were forced to cancel or reschedule all meetings and events this year due to all laws imposed for our safety.

Using live/online/virtual sessions and contents have made a lot of things easier like they’ve reduced the transportation/travel cost as moving from one place to the other destined place, difficulties like choosing the event place could be eliminated, and exposure is made available easier.

Virtual events:

Apps like zoom, google meet, Fiesta is seeing its glorious days now as everyone is using them more than ever. Fiesta is one of the first apps that shifted entirely on offering virtual events like online conferences, webinars, classes, meetings etc. Event organizers can create a link and share them to the attendees and they could click on it when it’s the event time. Once these live sessions are over the recorded content could then be posted in social media like how TikTok works.

Fully remote?

Now in this situation where everything has been made remote, there is still doubt as to what the future may hold. Thus, making hybrid the only way to increase ease of accessibility despite location and the need to travel. Thus, regardless of any change, event organizers should be ready to cope up with the changes and form plans for all possible situations.