Hybrid event examples: what they are, and how they’re changing

May 20, 2021 | Blog

Hybrid event examples: what is a hybrid event?

Since the Covid-19 pandemic, we’ve seen a variety of hybrid event examples that challenge the way we connect with audiences through technology. Generally speaking, hybrid events include both an in-person setting for a live audience and an online/digital experience for remote participants. Hybrid event examples can consist of anything from classes and meetings to conferences and expos.

Think of the last time you watched an awards ceremony or sports event. There was probably a live audience, cheering and clapping in an auditorium or stadium. Although online viewers wouldn’t physically be at the venue, they could still experience elements of the in-person experience: hearing the excitement from a crowd of people, seeing the activity onstage (or on the field), and viewing announcements for the event. A big screen may have played close-ups of the action to both online viewers and in-person attendees.

At a hybrid event, people who are physically at the venue can benefit from technology just as much as online viewers. Elements like on-screen captions, graphics, and close-up action shots add to both the online and in-person experience. With some newer hybrid events, apps and digital resources bring information right to participants’ phones.

Types of hybrid events

With the Covid-19 pandemic requiring people to use more technology and move into digital spaces, the lines between in-person and online events blur quickly.

Traditionally, in-person events could involve break-out groups, meet and greets, and longer presentations. In online spaces, professionals used pre-recorded webinars and Zoom meetings, which became even more popular as a result of restrictions on in-person events.

Examples of events with different content and venues.
Hybrid events combine these event types.

Now, elements from both types of events are easily transferred with more integrity. The pandemic pushed event organizers and businesses to leverage technology in new ways, bringing an in-person feel to online events.

The end result was a greater acceptance and widespread use of digital tools. With this shift to a more blended approach, customers now expect the speed, ease of use, and professionalism that come with the effective use of human-centered technology.

Hybrid event examples

Here are several hybrid event examples that you might consider for your next seminar, conference, or class:

  • For a conference, host a small studio audience with mainly online viewership. Use the recorded material to build a membership library to reach a wider audience.
  • Plan an event that includes both an online and in-person audience. This will require training speakers to interact with an audience that is both on- and off-screen.
  • Bring elements of a hybrid event to your in-person audience: offer captioning and translation through a mobile app, or provide supplementary material and transcripts on a website.
  • Livestream parts of an in-person event to an online audience to attract interest for your next one.

As we explore what the new hybrid event looks like, keep in mind that “hybrid” can also refer to occasions that hybridize elements of online and in-person content delivery.

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