When the Coronavirus pandemic struck back in early 2020, no one expected it to last anywhere like a year—or longer as it has turned out. The optimists thought the clouds of this infectious bug would clear in a few weeks as did some previous epidemics. The cynics contended that it could take a few months. Both turned out to be wrong. As we enter the second year of this devastating global calamity, the future of in-person fundraising events and galas remains unclear.
The traditional gala affairs consisting of hundreds huddled together in a hotel ballroom for hours may be slow returning. Both the organizers and attendees will remain leery about some events. The burden of ensuring the health and safety of participants will continue to weigh heavily on event planners for some time to come. It only takes one asymptomatic infected participant to play havoc with the wellbeing of all and ruin the experience for many.
To the chagrin of many non-profits or charities, the future of large-scale galas in the near term will likely be hybrid of some sort. Digital experiences that emerged in response to the lockdowns are likely here to stay. Much like future of workplace that will now possibly always involve some remote work, fundraising events will also take on different shapes and forms—at least for the balance of 2021.
Virtual and hybrid events that quickly emerged during the pandemic opened up new avenues for planners. Last year was a big year for virtual events although the format was still new to many event planners—and evolving. Virtual engagement remains one of planners’ biggest challenges throughout this transition. When done right and in tandem with some in-person sessions, virtual or hybrid sessions can only add flavor to an overall program. But offering an event that is geared as much towards an in-person attendee as one that’s online is not as simple as blending both elements together. There is a lot to consider to ensure a successful event regardless of whether or not it is entirely virtual or hybrid.
Organizing a virtual or hybrid event can be a challenging prospect for the unfamiliar, but it doesn’t have to be. Virtual events have now become somewhat of a norm during this pandemic. That makes it important for the planner to master all the requirements to ensure that the event runs smoothly and it is engaging and inspiring for all.
There are glimmers of hope that we may soon be able to look forward to welcoming our attendees in person and offering some of elements that made incentive programs such sought-after perks. For now, it is encouraging that the planners do have other gears in their tool box to keep their clients engaged.
Your Great Event offers a portfolio of event planning and production services, including digital experiences and state-of-the-art platforms for virtual event production, editing and streaming.