Whilst event planners might want you to attend everything, it’s simply not what happens. Delegates decide how they want to spend their time.
And of course, the same applies for virtual events. Delegates choose. There is no reason to be virtually fatigued.
Let’s have a look at how you can be in the zone and make the most of your virtual experience.
Be Prepared
Being prepared is important and a little work ahead of the event is time well spent. Look through the programme and highlight what you want to attend. Pop it in your calendar as time for you to ensure you don’t end up double booked.
If you discover that you have a conflict with concurrent sessions, you will need to decide on which one is best for you. If the sessions will be available on demand, post event, your decision comes down to which one you want to attend live.
The sessions at #EMEC 2021 will be available on demand, post event for a period of 3 months.
Get Involved
Virtual events are a perfect way of enabling everyone to have a voice. No need to wait for a microphone and have the nerve to speak in front of people as is the case at in-person events. You can be involved virtually just by tapping the characters on your device.
You can get involved in the polls, in the Q and A, and any discussion. No obligation to do so but it is easy. Add to the atmosphere by contributing your views and experiences.
If you want to add to the richness of the discussions, then act. It’s easy.
Share
Sharing is caring if you believe the marketing catch phrase of a large manufacturer of chocolates. Anyway, the point is well made. Do you really want to keep all the great event content to yourself? Why not share just how good it is and tell your friends and other people that have an interest in the subject.
People share all the time on LinkedIn and other social media channels. When it comes to virtual productions there is likely to be a hashtag that can be used. Share and include the hashtag and find out what other people are saying.
And you can use the hashtag to discover new people that you might want to connect with. There are good reasons for sharing. Share and show you care.
Invite People
Closely followed by the sharing tip is the one that is about inviting other people to the event. Virtual events are no different to in-person events when it comes to the idea of going with a friend or a colleague. We like to do things together. People are social. Who do you know that would like to come and would benefit from doing so?
For #EMEC in 2021 we are actively encouraging lecturers to spread the invite to their student population. And we appreciate their help in doing so. The question remains, who can you invite that would benefit?
Keep the Website Handy
It is a good idea to have the web-links you need easily accessible to hand. You may need to take the links from the Know Before You Go information and put them somewhere prominent. It will save you hunting through e mails later.
If there is a password be sure on what it is. And log on with the e mail address you used for the registration. This should help you be in good shape and ready for the start of the programme.
It can be stressful to realise at the last minute you don’t have the right information to enable you to join the virtual gig and get involved.
Look After Your Virtual Wellbeing
And the final tip is for you to look after your virtual wellbeing. You are in control of course. Some people complain of virtual fatigue which can of course be a mix of poor content and not being able to move away from a sitting position. But I wonder if any event producer is really expecting delegates to sit for long period at a time. That’s not how it works at in-person events. People are always moving about.
You can do the same at virtual events. Get up, move away from your desk. Stretch, take a walk or even do some yoga. It is up to you what you decide to do. Virtual programmes will usually have breaks planned in so you will find there is time.
Your Choice
You choose. You choose how you want to take part in a virtual event. You choose whether you are going to enjoy it or not. You choose how much or how little you want to share and contribute.
You choose which sessions you want to attend live and which ones you will view on-demand. You decide whether to get involved in the networking sessions.
You choose when to tune in and when to turn off. And you choose how you look after your wellbeing.
There are no rules and at #EMEC 2021 we want you to exercise that choice and for you to maximise your virtual event experience.
Find Out More
This post was written as part of the build-up to MPI’s European Meetings and Events Conference (EMEC) 2021. If you would like to book tickets for EMEC, click this link and enter your details. See you there!