Interview: Top things to know before live streaming at events with Patrycja Janas, co-founder of Multiflow Media

Video content is more popular than ever, it’s easy to watch and can be distributed in so many different ways. But is it easy to make? Not so much. Livestreaming and recording comes with a set of challenges that not everyone can expect.

We spoke to Patrycja Janas, co-founder of Multiflow Media, about what she’s learned from recording at live events…

For you what’s the difference between preparing before the event and then being there on the day?

To ensure the livestream is a success, there are several things to go over. For example; you need to know where the cameras can be, room lighting, broadcast subject, and necessary equipment.

Whenever a company wants to include their own assets or intros, we get them in advance in order to prepare, or we make create them ourselves beforehand.  

Setup on the day depends on the amount of equipment but usually takes between 30 mins and 2 hours. The next step is connecting to all the different platforms like YouTube, Zoom, Facebook or the events platform. Finally, we brief the hosts to give tips, like which camera to look at, and what to do during the breaks.

Once everything is ready we spend most of the time at the console managing the whole transmission from cameras to sounds, and every technical aspect.

What is the most challenging part of livestreaming at an event?

If the event is outside, the biggest challenge is the Dutch weather (laughs).

Even with beautiful sunshine, suddenly out of nowhere strong wind and rain can appear in a moment. We have to react quickly and cover the cameras. Other times, the Internet connection and technology likes to play tricks, but we’re prepared to be fail-proof so we always have a backup plan.

You can’t be sure how people will behave during the transmission. So you have to be ready for many different surprises. When a problem arises, it’s important to react quickly and without affecting the transmission.

What do you wish people spent more time on when livestreaming an event?

I wish more and more people would participate when live sessions are running. Both viewers and organizers. For those watching, comments, shares and interactions are always great to see.

The preparation of such an interesting livestream sometimes takes several days. Some companies for large events set aside special places for social media broadcasts like interviews with artists or specialists. If the broadcast is interactive – it’s nice if the viewer takes part in it, but in a positive way, not just spamming in chat.  

What are your top tips for a successful livestream?

First of all, preparation. Not just a script in your head, but the whole show written out. Here should be peakers, topics, suggestions, and time frames. Everything that will make it easier for the host to run the entire stream seamlessly.

In addition, appropriate clothing – shirts with small stripes or checks do not look good on cameras. It is also better to avoid too much jewellery, bracelets can make loud noises with even small movements. Especially when the speaker is seated at a table. On the other hand, belts are nice to attach the microphone to. For dresses, it’s good to be aware that the only way to attach a microphone is to the back of their bra.

If you are organizing a live video for the first time; it is worth practising speaking out loud. By imagining the camera in from and leading the event as if it were on. It is also a good idea to prepare an introduction and memorize it to get started (but don’t hesitate to improvise). Such an introduction will help you get over the initial stress, and then it’s much easier going forward.

Don’t stress if you make a mistake or slip of the tongue. It’s natural for a human being to make a mistake or say some word incorrectly. That’s how we humans are. Don’t stutter, don’t block yourself, just go with the flow. People in most cases don’t even notice such small mistakes.

What is the one thing people miss who want to livestream at events?

What are they missing? The technical experience – most livestreaming more into it than hitting the play button on the camera. Anyone can to a stream for Instagram or Facebook fro their phone, but the quality of what people see when it comes to sound and video really suffers.

For most organizations putting out quality is important. Unfortunately, there aren’t many shortcuts. If someone can’t be at an event in person, but wants to see it online – then let’s give them a good quality image. The goal is to keep people engaged so they stay rather than leave after a few minutes, that comes from the wow production factor and not poor audio.  

Something we get a lot as well is people that think that livestreaming is only for specific niches like gamers. And this is not the case at all! Live webinars, interviews, events, programming, presentations, or promotions. As mentioned before, you can create a special live area at an event where there will be exclusive online interactions to keep everyone in the same experience.

Of course, after a stream, you can also save everything and share the entire thing later. Otherwise, it can be cut into smaller pieces for an advertisement. We see many people saving their streams to their site, and then making paid access for people who were not there, but still want to see the content.

About Multiflow Media:

Multiflow Media was founded to help modern companies create video content for the Internet. It has been said that video and livestreaming is the future and that future is already with us. Thanks to many years of experience in creating video and live broadcasts, we know how to create content to attract the viewer’s attention. Our goal is mutual success. We combine our skills with the skills of our clients to achieve the best results.  

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FAQ

How do you handle unexpected technical issues during a live event livestream?
When faced with unexpected technical issues during a live event livestream, it is important to stay calm and troubleshoot the problem quickly. Have a backup plan in place, such as a secondary camera or microphone, and communicate with your audience about the issue while working to resolve it.

What are some common mistakes that people make when preparing for a livestream event?
Some common mistakes people make when preparing for a livestream event include not testing equipment beforehand, failing to promote the event to build an audience, and not having a clear plan or script for the broadcast. It is also important to ensure a stable internet connection and have adequate lighting and sound quality.

How do you ensure that the content of a livestream event remains engaging for viewers throughout the entire broadcast?
To keep viewers engaged throughout the entire broadcast, it is important to have a well-planned and structured format for the livestream. Incorporate interactive elements such as Q&A sessions, polls, and audience participation. Keep the content dynamic by switching between different camera angles, visuals, and engaging storytelling. Additionally, monitor viewer comments and feedback to adjust the content in real-time to keep the audience interested.