If you have ever seen our PTZOptics Live show you know that we live stream every Wednesday at 2PM EST 11AM PST. Our live show integrates multiple cameras, microphones, video production software and video communication solutions. Perhaps the most popular and asked about technology integration used on the PTZOptics live show is our integration with video production software (vMix and Wirecast primarily) and video communications software (Zoom). This combination of technologies can easily be adapted for anything from a marketing video, to a podcast with video, and now a new trend which is virtual events. Our Chief Streaming Officer, Paul Richards, has recently published a book called The Virtual Ticket which is now available for free here. Using his research, Richards has put together a detailed quick start guide available below called "How to host engaging virtual events" along with this short blog post. 

1. How to Host Engaging Virtual Events

2. Presented by the

3. Get a free copy of The Virtual Ticket at
ptzoptics.com/book

4. EVENTS BREAK THROUGH THE CLUTTER
Today consumers are more willing than ever before to pay for real world
experiences that break through the clutter of our technology saturated lives.
The virtual ticket

5. Goals for an Amazing
Virtual Event
1. Maximize exposure on social
media
2. Create engaging online
experiences
3. Provide valuable education
4. Extend event networking
possibilities

6. Facebook
YouTube
LinkedIn
Twitter
Twitch
Zoom
Leverage Online Audiences

7. Live Stream
Video Conference
Interactivity
Breakout
Sessions
Website:
Schedule
Ticketing
Community:
LinkedIn Group
Facebook

8. Interactive Learning
Interactive learning is provided by
Crowdpurr’s audience
engagement platform
The Summit is able to:
1. Host trivia questions
2. Share a leaderboard
3. Collect leads
4. Display real-time responses

9. An Engaging Host
Key to any virtual events success
is an engaging host.
Our host will be:
1. Presented in a professional
studio
2. Connected to social media for
engagement
3. Prepared to introduce guests
and commentate on ongoing
interactive elements

10. The virtual ticket
WHY PEOPLE ATTEND
EVENTS
Great event planners know how to stimulate the five
human senses (sight, touch, smell, hearing, and taste) to
create unforgettable experiences.

11. UNDERSTANDING AN
AUDIENCE
Event managers who understand their audience can deliver an
experience that both excites and engages. Today more than ever,
audiences are willing to pay to gain precious time well spent via
engaging experiences.

12. Music concerts festivals sports
TYPES OF MAJOR EVENTS
conferences corporate events

13. VIRTUAL TICKETS SAVE THE DAY
Unlike services which are all about time well saved, experiences are about time well
spent (The Experience Economy, Pine). Today more than ever, audiences are willing to
pay to gain precious time well spent via engaging experiences. . In the #1 bestselling
book “The Experience Economy” authors Joseph Pine and James Gilmore explain why
“Time is the currency of experiences” and increasing brand exposure via consumer
attention now requires the ability to deliver an experience consumer can connect with.
The virtual ticket

14. THE TRADITIONAL WAY:
The event is held at a brick-and-mortar location
(hotel, concert hall, etc) and people must be
physically present at the venue to be part of
the event.

16. The NAB Show sell
sponsors placements
inside of the show
The NAB Show does not charge viewers
for access to the live stream. The
production is put on mainly for sponsors
allowing the show to sell additional
advertising. The NAB Show values control
of their content more than the exposure
they would gain via social media.
The virtual ticket

17. THE HYBRID EVENT:
A mix of traditional and virtual. Although the
event is held at a physical location, people
can participate remotely by logging into the
online streams.

18. VIDSUMMIT
This case study which helped to introduce The Virtual Ticket book
explores strategies event managers can use to increase profits with live
streaming and on-demand virtual ticket sales.
The virtual ticket

23. The conference brought together
a growing community of video
production enthusiasts from the
NYC area and created a
common ground for novices and
experts in the industry to
intermingle. The conference also
served as a case study for
integrating a professional live
stream into a traditional in-person
conference
The virtual ticket

25. THE VIRTUAL EVENT:
A mix of traditional and virtual. Although the
event is held at a physical location, people can
participate remotely by logging into the online
streams.

27. THIS EVENT ALSO INCLUDED
A LIVE FACE-TO-FACE ZOOM
VIDEO CONFERENCE
• The video conference meeting was open
during the entire event and it allowed
attendees to get more personal with the event
speakers who would join for 30- 45 minutes after
their main stage presentation.
• This event falls in line with a new trend called
“Virtual Summits,” where experts get together
to produce a premium online experience for
viewers around the world.
The virtual ticket

29. The PresenceSummit

30. Livestream Track Professional Development
Track
Presentation
Next Presentation
Host Lead
Trivia
Presenter Lead
Zoom Session
Breakout #1 Breakout #2 Breakout #3

31. Using Zoom for a Virtual Event
Open Zoom Rooms Small Group Breakouts

32. Small Break Out Sessions (Presenter Lead)

33. Combining the Live Stream & Zoom Meetings

34. Video Production Software:Video Conference Software:
CAPTURE
Capture Remote Guests for Live Production:

35. Host can hear audio from
Zoom conference and interact
with meeting participants
Audio Setup Options
1. Bluetooth headset (connected to computer)
2. Wireless in-ear microphone system
3. Could be totally separate or the same as streaming
system
Simple Audio Setup

36. Consistent Branded Presentation Style

37. Zoom Meetings are
password protected!

40. Zoom Breakout Room Design

41. Open Space Collaboration Design

42. DESIGNING YOUR EXPERIENCE

43. VALUE
EXPERIENCE
DIAGRAM
Breakout
Rooms

44. What is a Zoom
Breakout Room?

45. Breakout Rooms must be enabled to appear

46. This screen will come up as you switch between
rooms

47. The meeting host will see this button
Open
Breakout
Rooms

48. Managing Breakout Rooms

49. Zoom Breakout Room Communications

50. Breakout Room Participants

51. Number of
breakout rooms
Maximum number of
participants in the main
meeting*
Number of Participants
inside each breakout
room
20 breakout
rooms
Up to 500 participants 25
30 breakout
rooms
Up to 400 participants 13
50 breakout
rooms
Up to 200 participants 4

52. Ideas for Breakout Sessions
Icebreaker Questions:
1. Do you love working from home or would you rather be in the office? Is there a
balance of both that you like best?
2. What’s the hardest part about working virtually for you? The easiest?
3. Do you have a dedicated office space at home?
4. Show us your office space!
5. Where do you work most frequently from at home? Your office? Your kitchen
table? The backyard? Your bed?
6. Be honest, how often do you work from bed?
7. What did you eat for breakfast?
8. What does your morning routine look like when working from home?
9. What’s your number one tip for combating distractions when working from home?
Credit: https://museumhack.com/list-icebreakers-questions/#virtual

53. Ideas for Breakout Sessions
Virtual Team Building Ideas
1. Virtual board games or different jigsaw puzzles
2. An online game of Pictionary or office trivia
3. Desert Island Scenario
4. Personal facts guessing game (gather facts about
meeting attendees and then have people guess
whos facts are whos)
5. Picture Sharing

54. DIVERSIFY REVENUE STREAMS
Adding virtual tickets to your event will increase revenue
diversification. The process of revenue diversification can
become a crucial part of any event’s growth development
strategy
The virtual ticket

55. VALUE EXPERIENCE DIAGRAM
Viewers can participate in live action, authentic revelations, and even dramatic experiences
from the safety of their own homes. But how can you create an experience where online
audiences can engage with your event in a way that captures the audience's attention and
leaves a cliffhanger worth the $50 entry fee? Live broadcasting an event is not a new concept.
It’s well known that live broadcasts can sustain an event's essential elements of a worthwhile
experience.
Price
Quantity
Price too high
Perfect price
Price too low
The virtual ticket

56. The virtual ticket
TICKET OPTIONS VALUE
VS CONVENIENCE
Virtual tickets are usually less expensive and therefore not as valuable in buyers' minds. A primary
motivation for virtual ticket buyers is the convenience of experience delivery. Lack of convenience
may be a primary objection for many serious buyers who want to attend your event. In this way,
virtual tickets allow your event to capture more buyers with busy schedules who are unable to
attend in person

57. SCALABILITY OF
VIRTUAL TICKETS
GLOBAL
“We wanted to share the excitement of the
live event with our online viewers and that is
why we went with the Virtual Ticket.”
The virtual ticket

58. The virtual ticket
DESIGNING YOUR
EXPERIENCEWhen designing your experience, you should have both in-person and virtual attendees in mind. Virtual ticket viewers are
watching an event unfold through a screen. From an event management perspective it’s easier to have absolute control
over the broadcast. A cohesive experience should have a clear beginning, middle and end. The diagram below outlines
some of the key experience stages you should plan to take your online audience through
EXPERIENCE
STAGES

59. The virtual ticket
VALUE
EXPERIENCE
DIAGRAM

60. The virtual ticket
Atmosphere Gamification
Professional Development Networking Business Opportunities

61. WEBSITE PAYMENT WORKFLOW
The event website is an important component of the overall marketing strategy for
the event. Along with providing information about the event, it serves as one of
several points where potential attendees can pay for the event
The virtual ticket

62. The virtual ticket

63. The virtual ticket

64. The virtual ticket

66. The virtual ticket