Learn the essential steps for conducting a successful live broadcast for events, from planning and scripting to the necessary equipment and the benefits of engaging your audience through live streaming.
Performing a live broadcast for events has become increasingly common and is currently in high demand. A testament to this is that during the pandemic, online events grew by over 300%, according to research by the startup Even3.
Investing in a live stream for your company's events, or as you may prefer to call it, live broadcasting, is a great way to reinvent during crises and use technology to your advantage.
People are connected all the time and are constantly searching for valuable content online. So, why not broadcast your event live and take it beyond the physical space?
To do this, you need to understand how to conduct a live stream, what equipment and software are used, and the team required to carry out this service.
But don’t worry—we’ve prepared a complete guide explaining everything. Check it out!
What Do You Need to Perform a Live Broadcast?
Planning
Nothing happens without planning, right? If you're going to broadcast your event live, think about everything you’ll need to make it run smoothly:
Check internet availability.
Determine the number of cameras.
Pay attention to lighting.
Ensure there are enough power outlets.
Consider the event's duration.
Evaluate the location’s structure for accommodating equipment.
Once you’ve planned all of these aspects, create the script for your presentation and check if anything is missing, such as videos or slides.
The script is an indispensable step in the production process, as we'll explain below.
Script
The script serves as your guide, ensuring that during the event, you don’t get lost or forget something important.
At some point in your life, you’ve likely used a script—maybe for school presentations, right? And I’m sure your company has used one for an institutional video. If not, it's time to start thinking about it.
So, create one—it can be bullet points or detailed, but make sure to write it, revise it, and rehearse with the team.
During a live broadcast, there’s no chance to pause and correct errors, as everything happens in real-time. That’s why the script is so important—it helps both the presenters and the professional team responsible for filming and broadcasting the event.
With a script in hand, everything goes as planned, and everyone knows exactly what to do and when.
Equipment and Software for Live Streaming
Now let’s talk about the equipment and software needed for a successful live broadcast.
It’s essential to highlight that for a large event to be broadcast, professional and high-quality tools are required, along with a skilled team to operate them.
To perform a live broadcast, you need technical knowledge. Here’s what you’ll need in terms of equipment and software:
Cameras
It’s a good idea to use more than one camera, especially in cases where you want to capture different angles or if there are simultaneous stages.
Using multiple cameras offers dynamic cuts and adds more movement to the broadcast.
To achieve all the desired effects, it's best to invest in a cutting desk. This tool allows you to manage multiple effects, cuts, and image transitions.
Microphone
Clean and pleasant audio makes all the difference during the broadcast. If the sound quality is poor, viewers may leave your event.
So, don’t forget to include a sound desk in your planning and hire a good professional to handle it.
Digital Sound Desk
Speaking of the sound desk, it’s another crucial piece of equipment for audio management.
It allows you to adjust volume, equalize sound effects (treble and bass), and mix sounds, among other things.
Professional Lighting
Investing in professional lighting ensures high-quality images with good contrast, proper light, perfect sharpness, and depth.
Skilled professionals use lighting equipment such as LED panels, ring lights, spotlights, and softboxes, among others.
There’s a lot of equipment, right? Operating all of this requires technical expertise, which is why it's a good idea to consider hiring an audiovisual production team to help.
Software for Live Streaming
LiveStream Studio
This software is one of the most famous abroad and is even used by TV broadcasters.
It offers many functions, including its own switch that can control the entire live event broadcast. However, it’s a paid program.
StreamYard
The StreamYard tool allows you to hold conferences, display shared screens, and make video and audio calls.
You can also include up to six people in the broadcast simultaneously, and it displays real-time comments. Amazing, right? It’s an intuitive platform that lets you stream on Twitch, Facebook, and YouTube.
Plus, the free version allows for up to 20 hours of live streaming per month—take advantage of that!
OBS Studio
OBS Studio is one of the most widely used streaming programs. It needs to be installed on a computer and offers versions for Windows, Mac, and Linux.
The software provides several options, such as live streaming from multiple cameras and viewing screens to select the scenes to go on air.
Professionals Specializing in Live Broadcasts
To conduct a live broadcast, you can't forget the specialized audiovisual production team. Here’s a list of the professionals needed for major events:
Director of Cutting
This professional manages the encoder and chooses which visual materials to display—such as corporate videos, camera footage, slide presentations, and other content your company wants to showcase during the live broadcast.
Audio Technician
Responsible for operating the audio outputs, equalizing the sound from microphones and other audio sources to be streamed.
Camera Operator
In charge of handling the camera and choosing the best angles to record the event.
The camera operator works closely with the director of cutting through an intercom system. The director provides commands and instructions to each operator.
Streaming Technician
The streaming technician uploads video and audio to the live streaming platform, shares the event broadcast on websites, and monitors the stream to ensure everything runs smoothly.
Why Is It Important to Conduct a Live Broadcast for Events?
A professional live broadcast connects your company more closely with your audience. But that's not the only benefit of broadcasting events in real time.
Here are a few reasons why you should invest in this resource:
Expands Reach
A live broadcast allows your company’s event to reach a broad audience, even beyond Brazil.
Additionally, if the venue is too small to accommodate a large audience, no problem! The event can be streamed online, allowing many people to follow along, even if they’re not physically present.
Engages the Audience
Just because the event is online doesn’t mean people won’t interact.
Quite the opposite. The audience tends to engage more through chat tools, asking questions, sharing opinions, and being actively involved.
Monetizes the Event
Just as you can charge for in-person events, you can also monetize access to the live broadcast.
So, if your company holds lectures, seminars, or corporate events, consider this monetization option, as it demonstrates to the audience that your content is worth investing in.
For this, choose an appropriate platform to manage access for those who have paid to attend the event, and provide them with a link or access code.
Generates Leads for Conversion
You can collect data from your online event attendees, asking a few questions to get to know those interested in your content and brand.
This way, you can generate qualified leads and, in the future, develop content and products aligned with their profiles.
Take Your Event Live with a Video Production Company
As you've learned, live streaming requires a lot of equipment, tools, and technical expertise.
Partnering with a specialized team is the best option for your company because it guarantees high-quality image, sound, and lighting.
At Bendita Filmes, we offer live streaming services with modern equipment and a qualified team ready to assist you. Contact us and request a quote.
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