Dennis, you are so right!

Not only does a hybrid component augment audience size but it extends the reach of the event. In addition if building a community is an objective of the orgaznization then certainly the hybrid elements contribute to that process.

Thanks for contributing to the conversation!

@michaelmccurry

Thanks for sharing this story with us.

It is surprising to hear an event “professional” have so little regard for their members/customers needs. Your comment wss right on that with a hybrid component they could have been serving their members in a very service-focused manner which could could have solidified a strong loyalty towards their organization.

Thanks for your contribution.

@michaelmccurry

For the virtual event industry, in fact, I believe 2010 will be the Year Of The Hybrid Event, whereby physical conferences will increasingly add a concurrent virtual component.

The concurrent hybrid typically includes live video streams of the conference/meeting’s presentations and sessions, along with virtual booths (for the exhibitors), a networking lounge (for text and video chat) and a resource center [where all conference content is aggregated].

Meeting planners who have run concurrent events tell us that the physical+virtual combination significantly augments the overall audience size.

Early last year I spoke to an association meeting/convention manager who told me they were canceling their meeting that year due to a 50 percent decline in attendance. It was only 6 months before the event so all the speakers were lined up and deposits were made but their exhibit sales and sponsorship were also down.

I asked, couldn’t they add an online component for those unable to travel…or if need be switch the meeting to a virtual event only as a last resort?

She said it was impossible to do it online because most their sessions were panel discussions and that doesn’t work online. Really?!

Nothing would convince her (the real issue was they saw the meeting only as a revenue source) and I was left wondering…isn’t the meeting really to provide education for your members? By canceling the meeting doesn’t it mean you are no longer fulfilling your mission?

I wish they could have read this post back then…they missed the boat on all your points. I’ll send this to her now.