Exciting news in the world of events!
"Demystifying Hybrid Events”: Last week, I had the pleasure of presenting to the @Bristol Fundraising Group. We used the Histocyte Society as a case study and I was joined by their Global Head of events, @Kathy Wisniewski. Here are our key takeaways:
🤝 What is Hybrid and what are its main benefits
A hybrid event combines in-person and virtual component which are tailored to both audiences around the central theme of the event
Hybrid events use a combination of traditional event management and tech to enable both audiences to learn, share, connect, interact and engage with each other.
📈 Case Study: Histiocyte Society
Histiocyte Society hold an Annual Meeting in different locations around the world
The Histiocyte Society have members dotted around the world, so engaging in a meaningful way is important
Hybrid events enabled global participation and accessibility for colleagues who could not travel - through restrictions or cost
Running a hybrid event ensured continuity through and post-covid, and encouraged more people to receive the education and updates
A member survey showed 52% of the in-person and 75% of the virtual audience favoured continuing with a hybrid model.
Collaborating with a trusted expert in hybrid is key to success
Frog Events supported Histiocyte in the planning and delivery of their hybrid events
💡 Some tips
Start early!
Recruit the right team (knowledge, expertise & trust)
Early access to the venue for testing (in as much as possible)
Plan and maintain virtual participant engagement
Remember your In-person audience takes time to go from A to B, while the virtual one just has to click!
Find the right platform fit, best suited to your audience and goals
💻 How to choose between In-person, Virtual or Hybrid?
Here are the key considerations to help you decide:
✅ Objectives/Purpose: Consider the event's objectives, audiences (locations, access and expectations), engagement, time efficiency, venue set up, logistics and environmental impact
✅ Budget: Hybrid events can be a good compromise if you have a limited budget, as they allow you to combine the benefits of both virtual and in-person events
✅ Team: Partner up with the right teams (venue, AV production & virtual event mgt) who have the experience and proven track record
✅ Tech: From the virtual event platform, to the various integrations you might need such as surveys, gamification, AI, interpretation, accessibility/inclusivity …
✅ Timeframe: Give yourself enough time to decide on the type of event you want, bring all the elements together and market the event to your audiences.
Still unsure? Let’s have a chat, I’d be happy to talk it through with you: https://meetings-eu1.hubspot.com/franco-de-la-croix-vaubois
Thanks to Kathy for your valuable insight and to the @Bristol Fundraising Group for having us, as well as to everyone who joined us for this session.
As always, feel free to reach out to me or @Frog Events 🐸 for any further questions or collaboration opportunities in the hybrid event space.
Franco - Founder and CEO (Chief Event Organiser!)
Frog Events
