I especially like your “IM to handshake” analogy with regard to “virtual to face-to-face” interaction. You are absolutely correct that nothing replaces the face-to-face experience, but a virtual experience has it’s own benefits, especially when one can not be at the face-to-face event. Technology has afforded us many ways of communication and interaction, and those of us that utlize all of the communication channels are the ones who will succeed in connecting with the largest audience.

And yes…long live the hybrid!!

Having run what became the largest virtual trade show ever (eComXpo), I can attest to the validity of your comments around virtual and physical complementing each other vs. competing. While that was a hard argument to make in 2005 when I started my 100% virtual event, the inherent accuracy of it allowed me to partner closely with my physical “competitors”. I exhibited at their physical events (promoting my virtual event) and they exhibited at my virtual event (promoting their physical event). As you accurately state, it’s all about expanding your audience and reaching your targets wherever they are.

For folks to suggest that virtual cannabilizes physical is to suggest that IMing someone is the same as looking them in the eye, shaking their hand or buying them a drink. Your point about virtual attendance leading to physical attendance is also right on, and here’s a post from Cisco about that very fact. (34% of virtual attendees indicating they’d attend physically next year) http://www.virtualedge.org/forum/topics/once-you-go-hybrid-youll-never

After selling my virtual event, I’ve moved on to Maritz. We produce 2,500 physical events per year for our customers and recognize that it’s not “either/or”, but how to combine the best of virtual with the best of physical. And that it’s not just about the technology, but about making sure these hybrid events are truly engaging and effective (easier said than done…). Your great example of “moderating” the back channel as a key lesson learned is the kind of education that needs to spread far and wide so that more folks have positive, reinforcing experiences with hybrid events. Although I missed Event Camp, I did present at Virtual Edge and that was another great example of a leading edge, hybrid event.

At Maritz, I spend much of time with our strategic partner Freeman, who manages 103 of the top 200 physical trade shows in the world. Freeman has deeply embraced virtual as a complement to physical, and with more and more of the “ecosystem” that is dependent on physical events for a living so aggressively embracing virtual complements, it’s just a matter of time before these threads won’t be necessary.

Long live hybrid!

It is so nice to find like-minded individuals that “understand that virtual events are not a threat, but an opportunity.” So thanks!!

Last week we streamed the Virtual Edge conference into a Virtual environment and we had numerous attendees who attended virtually the first day and then live the second day and vice versa. Michael Doyle, who is director of The Virtual Edge Institute has shown data that absolutely supports your view, as we have seen this over the past two years.

Thank you for your efforts in helping meeting planners understand that virtual events are not a threat but an opportunity.

There were not one, but several people overseeing the backchannel to make sure that logistical complaints were addressed, questions were answered, feedback was responded to, and the live discussion included those that were participating virtually. Plus, in the case of EventCamp, the live attendees were interacting with the virtual attendees and bouncing ideas and questions off of each other.

EventCamp is a lesson on using the backchannel successfully, and I am so proud to have been a part of it!

And thank you for the compliment about my interviews…your friendship and opinion means a lot to me!!

You mention “Had we not been able to provide some type of connection to and with our remote audience, something would have been missing from the event.” What would have been missing is that remote audience! ;o) And I am confident that remote audience will become part of the live audience in 2011.

It is my hope that event/conference/trade show producers see the success of hybrid events like EventCamp, and realize that they are no longer an option, but a necessity. Looks like the #eventprofs community has their work cut out for them, huh?