Whether concert, conference or general meeting, almost all events were cancelled last year. The Corona pandemic had and still has the event industry firmly in its grip. No one can say for sure when and under what conditions major events will be able to take place again. Planning reliability, on the other hand, is offered by a livestream. But for a conference lasting several days, a virtual broadcast not only gives you security, it also saves you and your participants a lot of time.
Multi-day conference with international experts
Let’s assume you are planning a multi-day congress with 350 participants. There will be several lectures, panels and discussions on each day. In addition to your staff, you invite internationally recognised experts. You have found the ideal location for the congress in Munich.
Now, however, probably only some of the invited guests are at home in Munich. The rest have to travel from all over Germany and spend at least one night in a hotel. This means finding a suitable hotel that is close to the location and packing your bags.
The journey is the biggest time eater
The biggest time eater is without question the journey. If you travel by train, you have to expect delays and cancellations. Connections are also often not reached in time. Once you have arrived at your destination, in our example Munich, you have to find the right S-Bahn, U-Bahn or tram connection. Finding the right ticket can also be a challenge for some people.
Traffic jams instead of free travel
Especially in times of pandemics, many people prefer to use their own cars. But even if you travel by car, you need to plan enough buffer space. Munich is the number one traffic jam capital in Germany. But in many other German cities, too, there is an avalanche of cars instead of a free flow of traffic. Not every hotel or congress location has enough parking spaces for all participants. This means that you may have to look for a parking space, which is also a time factor.
Participants from abroad may arrive by plane. The journey to the airport, the check-in and the baggage check can take several hours, depending on the number of passengers. When the participant arrives in Munich, he or she still has to find a taxi, a car or public transport. All this takes time.
Time is too valuable to lose while waiting
So far we have only listed the time wasters during a journey. But now there are even more points during a conference, a meeting or a congress that cost valuable time. For example, the congress starts later because not all participants made it to the location on time. At a congress there are always breaks, during which people eat and network, of course, but also wait. Once the conference is over, it’s back to the hotel. After a stressful day, you fall into bed tired, because the next day the same programme starts all over again.
Livestream saves time and money
To participate in a livestream, participants, speakers and guests need much less time. Instead of travelling by car, train or plane, they can participate in the congress virtually from the comfort of their home or office. For example, the organiser sends a link for the livestream by e-mail. As an organiser, you not only save time if you prefer a livestream to a face-to-face event, but also money. We have written another article on this topic: Livestream as a cost-effective alternative to face-to-face events.
Hybrid event as a middle way
In addition to a pure virtual livestream, there is also the option of a hybrid event. One part of the guests is on site, the other part is connected online. A hybrid event can also take place under consideration of the current hygiene measures and distance rules. For example, the Landesverband Bauernhof- und Landurlaub Bayern e.V. decided to hold a hybrid event.
We are the experts for livestreams and would be happy to advise you on the conception, implementation and planning of your virtual event. Contact us by phone 0049 89 41 41 453 10 or write to us at hello@prankl.org.
