Will Live Streaming Your Event Decrease In-Person Attendance?

I say the answer is no! And here’s why:

  1. Free or paid live streaming, widens your audience, putting more eyes on your organization.
  2. You get to show what your organization really does and the great things you’re brand represents — and that’s better than any website or mailer.
  3. The people who can’t show up to this event will definitely see the value of attending the next event.

I’d love to hear your opinions on this event engagement strategy! Comment below.

crowd sitting at an event

Live Streaming Video Transcript

Today, we’re going to answer the age-old question about live streaming:

“If I live stream my event, will that decrease the in-person attendance for said event?”

And, my answer to you today is, “No.”

Let’s step back a bit. I have an associate we do work with from time to time. He had a client who was thinking about live streaming a gala they were having for their foundation association. They went back and forth, and the association decided to not to live stream, because (A) they thought it would hurt their attendance and (B) they thought the people who had paid to be in attendance in person would feel poorly about live streaming to a virtual audience who did not pay the entrance fee. Either if they gave it away as a free live stream event or added a paywall and made it a pay-per-view (PPV) event.

And, I want to say, that couldn’t be farther from the truth that it would hurt your in-person attendance numbers. Live streaming does several things for you in this scenario – you can also add churches and conferences to this scenario. The fact is that you open your event to more eyes with live streaming. If you’re in a venue that can only hold 500 people, but you can attract 550 people, you’ll have more eyes looking at what you’re doing.

Secondly, those eyes that are looking at you, especially if it’s in a fundraising atmosphere, will see what your organization or group is about. This gives them a face-to-face preview which is a lot better than going to a website and reading web copy. And, if they’re so inclined, they will support your organization. 

And three, there’s one great statistic out there: if people watch a live stream, 30 percent of those people will participate in the event in person the following year. Live streaming video is beneficial to your event – not taking away from it. You can use that live stream to promote your event the next year. Some people may find that a hindrance, but I think that couldn’t be farther from the truth. You’re adding more eyes, they’re seeing what you’re doing, you’re creating excitement around your event.

There was one study about Coachella and how they live streamed it over the years. It dramatically improved their audience numbers, because concert goers wanted to be a part of the experience, even if they couldn’t be there in person. Live streaming lets them feel the emotion, network with people, and that’s what you need to experience live. What live streaming does is an enhancement. It gets more eyes on your event. Video is king!

In need of live streaming event specialists to help your organization?

Then get in touch with Igigo Communications today. We’re the number one live streaming specialist in Atlanta and the SE USA, providing your organization with the support it needs to deliver attractive flawless video content, customized messaging, product/service updates and so much more. We’ll help you narrow improve your live streaming efforts today. To learn more about our production services, contact with our team.