I’m not going to be another voice harping on the value of hosting online events for our communities. You hopefully get that.

But when it comes to bringing your community together online, it’s easier said than done.

Lucky for you, Tony Bacigalupo has been posting some amazing stuff about his experience designing and operating online events.

This thread is particularly useful, highlighting many of the subtle things that you won’t think of until they bite you in the ass.

Simple example: Screen management. How do you arrange your screen so you can see:
- The attendees's cameras
- Your own camera
- The chat
- The backchannel for organizers
- Your run of show

AND whatever you might be setting up on screen share?

Multi monitors are a must.

— tonybgoode (@tonybgoode) April 21, 2020

This morning, he’s been live-tweeting about an amazingly intentional and well choreographed online Creative Mornings event - it even included a live ASL interpeter for maximum accessibility. Brilliant. 🤯

In the comments, someone from the CM team shared this extremely comprenesive guide that really covers everything you need to know about hosting successful events online: nuanced details of tech setup, promotion and reminders, pre and post event checklists, suggestions for fun intereactive things to do with the audience so it’s not a bunch of faces staring at each other…everything.

It’s amazing, and something they should probably charge money for but they’re giving it away for free in this google doc.

So I thought of you, and here I am with the link to share ❤️

I’ve shared this with my team so we can use it to make our online community experiences even better, and encourage you to do spend some time with it thinking about how you can do the same!

If you’re overwhelmed with it’s breadth, I don’t blame you. Try picking one thing and doing that first 😃 then another.

And when you do, I’d love to know what you tried and how it helped!