When Pre-Recording is Done Right These Three Things Happen

Admittedly, I am a fan of pre-recorded virtual events because it allows my team and I to ensure that the product is seamless, but if you decide to do pre-record, here are the basic questions I believe your event producer should be able to walk you through:

1. What story will the event tell? Recently, we produced an event for a healthcare organization whose key messages were to: a) discuss the vaccine, b) demonstrate unity, and c) convey hope in a post pandemic era. They had three stories to tell and all of them were equally important. Your event producer should be able to talk about ways that adult learners can receive information visually, auditorily, passively, and through direct scripting to ensure that your event is both informative and engaging.

2. Do you have the right speakers? In my experience it is great to have experts on specific topics; however, their ability to translate their message in succinct bites is challenging. So, who is the right speaker? When I am asked this question, my brief answer is: someone who is passionate and knowledgeable about the topic that your target audience respects. I have found that through creative directing you can teach a passionate, knowledgeable person how to read a teleprompter or how to convey emotion with their eyes.

3. How have you prepared your speakers? Every single event producer you work with, including us, should be able to deliver best practices in writing and verbally to ensure that speakers are set up for success and to avoid having anyone feel unprepared for their session. It is within this document that you can talk about set up, duration, attire requirements, COVID measures, and anything else that a speaker needs to feel comfortable delivering their best presentation.

In summary, with the right speakers, compelling story, and creative and thoughtful event producers your pre-recorded virtual event can be a strategy to re-engage your stakeholders, introduce your work to a new demographic, or convey a strategic priority you have in the future.

Yet, pre-recorded events require no less attention than your in-person events because your audience (in person or virtual) wants to know that you thought about them.

So, the simplest advice I can give in designing your next pre-recorded event is to answer this question: Is this a show you would want to watch? After you answer this question, the next step should be evident.

p.s. Don’t forget to follow along with our journey via IG @belajoyful.