Speaker: MomoCon and Dragon Con Event Organizers Speaker Bio: Mandy and Rachel are senior directors from Dragon Con and launched their very first virtual event last year (they even integrated a parade into the event). Chris is the Co-Chair of MomoCon and he built it from the ground up. Chris hosted 2 virtual events last year. The following are notes from the Eventeny Webinar Series and the full recording can be found below. -Create a virtual event that is representative of the live event -Have multiple channels after identifying which parts of the event you want to have on a smaller scale vs an in-person show -Be creative to do the best to integrate the components that are significant to your live event into virtual event -Utilize Discord -Contains chat channels and allows you to categorize your audience to group and connect -Also has voice channels and visual connections -Use bots to manage bullying, language aside from being watchful -Allows for live streaming to other users -Very similar to slack -Develop partnerships to find creative ways to engage audience -Example: partner with hotels to engage with attendee. You can also partner with nonprofits. -Hold competitions on things that your audience are interested in. -Example: Costume contest -Leverage social media presence -Be sure to cater to right audience (example: younger people tend to be on instagram over facebook) -Hold a session in the beginning and end to integrate ways that your audience to check in and get a run down of the day -Play interactive icebreaker games to get the audience to feel comfortable -Examples: Among Us, Jackbox.tv, Scribble.io -Even with live events coming back, there will be integration of virtual events to make the audience feel safe -Update your website -Display everything that will be needed during the event -Keep everything organized because the event can get crazy with all the components -Make it easy for the audience to find the links needed -Communicate a lot! -Promote through giveaways to get fans excited about the event -Divide the content for the ease of audience to pick and choose what they want to tune into -Virtual sales to help struggling artists and vendors (check out Eventeny’s virtual marketplace) -Have a good mix of pre-records and live streaming -It is critical to have components that are engaging for the audience to have a strong experience -If there are no engaging components, then people do not have that fear of missing out -Need to create that moment that gets audience to come back -Give them a reason to have a conversation. You have to facilitate conversations through games or competitions (create channels for groups of people to communicate) -Create a schedule for your audience to look forward to -Momocon scheduled games in their schedule -You might be able to reach people who you normally would not get if the event was live -Encourage communication in the live stream to keep interaction -Be sure that there are channels for audience to ask question and communicate -Due to these unprecedented times, be prepared to adjust to regulations and be flexible to pivot towards alternatives