Our Own Online Event PIRATE Live Is Back!
It was around this time last year where we at PIRATE were getting ready to make a big decision.
In March, we had postponed PIRATE Summit, our flagship event, to September. But the progress of the pandemic indicated that holding the event in person then would likely not be possible.
We had to decide to cancel, go virtual or postpone again.
Instead, we pivoted.
Rather than hosting a virtual PIRATE Summit, we decided to create something new: PIRATE Live, an online experience that maximizes the use of technology to create a virtual environment that’s meant to bring the PIRATE experience to thousands of people around the world.
Rather than trying to replicate our regular in-person event into something online, we recognized that we could lean into the online format, and build something special, and something particularly suited to digital: PIRATE Live.
The decision paid off and has continued to shape our approach when it comes to online events ever since. Online events can’t replicate (or replace) physical events. Your concept must fit the format. So don’t be afraid to run with it and build something new!
That’s why I’m so excited to bring back PIRATE Live later this year and I’m inviting you to be a part of it. We’ve just launched the call for contribution, and this time, amongst other topics, we’ll showcase some of the top voices on the future of events. Who’s shaping the future of the industry, and what’s your take? I’d love to hear what you think so please nominate someone (or yourself) and be a part of PIRATE Live 2021!
Be sure to check that out, as well as some more of my top reads from this week in events and the experience economy!
#EventTech:
- LinkedIn bets on remote events, investing in $5 billion-plus virtual platform company Hopin [CNBC] Last week I shared how Linkedin was offering more to organizers of online events, and now a major new investment in that direction. The company’s new financing into eventtech Hopin will bring further collaborations and more immersive experiences for their users’ online events.
- LinkedIn Invests in Virtual Platform Hopin for Bet on Future of Remote Meetings [Event Manager Blog] More details on the Hopin + Linkedin deal, suggesting the investment will help lead to further integration between Linkedin users and Hopin’s networking and community functionality.
- Announcing our Biggest Move in Reimagining the Way People Meet and Connect [Bizzabo] Bizzabo picks up another acquisition, this time of x.ai, a technology company specializing in AI scheduling and matchmaking. This follows the company’s acquisition of Whalebone, a company using sensors and interaction tools to interpret audience responses, announced a few weeks ago.
- Cisco unveils Webex features for hybrid work and events [AV Interactive] Cisco has shared new featured for online and hybrid events, adding over 800 new features since September. Much has been made of the company’s new engagement features, but the product rollouts include more subtle innovations, such as noise removal from voice calls and speech optimization for shared workspaces.
- This video tech startup has hosted 2,000+ virtual events in a year for clients like Reliance, Amazon, Flipkart [YourStory] Insider into MultiTV, an Indian enterprise video technology company that’s hosted over 2000 virtual events for companies in the wake of the pandemic.
- Marcus Graham: Looking back on 10 years of Twitch’s experiment with livestreaming [VentureBeat] Livestreaming platform Twitch celebrates 10 years this week. The company has been an incredible player when it comes to blurring the lines between online event and the experience economy.
- Totem launches Sci+Med for medical, scientific and pharmaceutical hybrid events [Exhibition World] Eventtech platform Totem launches a new interface specifically for medical, scientific and pharmaceutical events.
Learn more about our theme for PIRATE Live 2021: #RaiseYourSails.
How to do it:
- Cut Through The Clutter: How To Make Sure Your Message Resonates During A Virtual Event [Forbes] Don’t let the story you’re trying to tell get lost during your online event. Here are some key things to keep in mind when organizing to define and showcase your message.
- How to unlock your fundraising community through virtual challenge events [ThirdSector] Charities and non-profits are achieving some incredible results with fundraising during online and virtual events. Here are some top tips.
- Verlegung einer Veranstaltung [EventPartner] Having to postpone an event? Here’s what you need to know to keep things legal.
- 8 Virtual Escape Rooms for Your Next Team-Building Session [BizBash] Online escape rooms are a fun option for team building, but also for connecting participants at online events. We’ve used them in a number of fun applications, including for tradeshow participants. Here are a few options to test out!
- Why And How To Find Good Agency Partners For Branding, Trade Shows And Sales Support [Forbes] As an agency ourselves, we understand that the best relationships are built on mutual trust and understanding. Here are some top tips to get the best out of working with agency partners, especially when it comes to tradeshows.
- Leverage Event Technologies to Achieve Corporate Goals [Special Events] Suggests a few different ways that companies can use internal online events for growth and dynamism.
Don’t Miss It:
- The future of events [TechRepublic] Each one of us has a unique take on what the future of events might look like. In this opinion piece, Esther Shein crowdsources a number of views from some of the industry’s leading lights, probing their take on what future they’re working to build. Skittish founder Andy Baio’s answer is spot on– how to make events feel more like you’re interacting and attending– rather than watching?
- Hybrid Events Take Center Stage For Nonprofits As Covid-19 Wanes [Forbes] Many non-profits have utilized online events for successful fundraising during the pandemic. But as things begin to reopen, how will they navigate the new frontier of hybrid events?
- Sehen wir uns in München? [marktforschung] As event organizers in Germany look towards returning in person later this year, they recount their experiences with online events and what they’re looking forward most in returning to physical.
- Has Mobile World Congress been fatally disrupted by Covid-19? [Computer Weekly] Last week we discussed Mobile World Congress in the newsletter, and as the event creeps closer, more chatter about expectations. For many it seems, returning in person, face to face is the only way forward.
- Messe Ulm und die Corona-Folgen: Tage des Messegeländes sind gezählt – ein Kommentar [SWP] In Ulm, the impact of the pandemic on the city’s exhibition grounds might be fatal.
- Las Vegas betting on trade shows to inspire revival [Financial Times] Meanwhile, Las Vegas has reopened with 100% capacity. The city is looking to tradeshows to repower growth– beginning with this week’s “World of Concrete”.
- Frankfurt Plans Live, In-Person Trade Fair in October [Publisher’s Weekly] The Frankfurt Book Fair goes forward with an In-Person event this fall. With over 95% of the stands booked– it sends a strong message for the return to live, in-person events.
- An interactive virtual community: 100% Optical Online 2021 [Optometry Today] I really like reading first-hand accounts from organizers that have pivoted their events to a virtual format, and some of the takeaways from that. Every time they are so illustrative in sharing some of the benefits– and here’s another example that I love. It’s from the Optical industry, who turned their in-person conference into an online event and community experience, and the outcomes were just fantastic.
That’s it for this week! If you want to be kept up to date on the innovation of the event industry, sign up to The Lookout Newsletter! Read more editions of our newsletter here.
The Lookout Newsletter #29
Written by:
Felix Josephi
PIRATEx Managing Director
