Your webinar recap brought a smile to my face as I reread some of the entertaining tweets from last Friday! I did not attend Event Camp in person, but did keep an eye on things virtually. It was nice to see attendees reconnecting at the webinar and sharing nothing but positive feedback. I hope dates for next year’s show are released early enough for me to attend!

Some of the key takeaways for me at the webinar were:

-think of a virtual component as a marketing strategy to recruit future attendees
-meeting planners need to think like marketers
-the list of key questions to ask a venue regarding video streaming

-Ashley

You’re right…that is so important! No one should be able to tell that the trade show presenter is not an employee of your company.

I’ll add to make sure that you watch them before they get on stage and after the presentation has ended to see how they interact with the attendees of the trade show. Are they able to answer questions? Do they take the time to talk to attendees? Do they make the effort to introduce attendees to company employees? Are they a part of the trade show marketing strategy or are they just there to do a “job?”

Seeing is believeing in my mind!!

I would also add that it’s a good practice to start this research process before you need a presenter. Take the time to walk the show floor at your events and take notes on who you like and who you do not like. Ask the booth reps for the name of the trade show coordinator to contact after the event for references.

Looking forward to seeing you at another event soon!!

As a tradeshow exhibit professional, I’ve had the pleasure of working indirectly with Emilie and have had many opportunities to see her skills and versatility put in to action. One of the most oustanding qualities owned by Emilie is her ability to connect with her audiences and to adapt and understand the channels in which to best connect with them. Her energy and flexibility makes her a truly unique individual in an industry where connections and comprehension of information are vital resources.

I’ve enjoyed the discussions we’ve had, Emilie, and it’s a true joy watching a colleague turned friend developing limitless potentials, and to be constantly inspired by your passion for events.

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!