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<\/h4>\n<\/h4>\nThe Internet is abuzz with individuals and companies itching to cut loose and network to their heart\u2019s content, but remember: remnants of the coronavirus may stick around long-term. Many potential attendees are not yet vaccinated. Not to mention, some of us experienced more hardships. Over 2.5M people have died worldwide of COVID-19. Millions more were left behind to pick up the pieces for their lost friends and loved ones. We can\u2019t expect our peers tragically affected by the virus to be raring to go right away, even if they are vaccinated. Industries of all stripes should move forward into the next year with a degree of caution and a giant dose of empathy.<\/p>\n
So: how early is too early to host and attend in-person conferences, activations, and other events? Naturally, \u2018too early\u2019 for some won\u2019t be nearly early enough for others. And some might want–gasp–some pandemic-era safety adjustments to stick around.<\/p>\n
There may be science to back attending \u201ccrucial events,\u201d according to Fast Company. Think, Thanksgiving for Americans, or Oktoberfest abroad. These are gatherings individuals can plan or attend at their own leisure, and with their own family and friends. They can guard these more closely and control necessary precautions.<\/p>\n
For events-heavy industries, which in my scope include business, advertising, film, tech and beyond, caution is key. For instance, some in entertainment and advertising might want to dip their toes in the sand on la Croisette, but it would be naive to assume everyone is willing to risk a lack of assurance from Dr. Fauci for sunshine. The pandemic numbers may be very different by summer, but no one really knows exactly what the scenario will be in 3-4 months. Neither side of the coin should be shamed: the ones who become vaccinated and are ready to go, nor the ones who become vaccinated and foresee a slower reopening schedule.<\/p>\n
Note I mentioned \u2018vaccinated.\u2019 Easily, a majority of individuals who attend your event should be vaccinated. To that end, when planning an event, consider your audience as you would normally. It\u2019s more likely, given CDC and similar regulatory group guidelines, that the annual Power of Young Hollywood party may be delayed longer than other engagements. Or, if your attendance is limited, individuals may feel more comfortable scooping up in-person tickets than proceeding as if the last year and a half didn\u2019t just happen.<\/p>\n
That said, we already have an easy bridge between our digital norm and networking with the best and brightest, complete with virtual options for those choosing to stay home this summer:<\/p>\n
Hybrid events, if you haven\u2019t heard, are a mix of live activations with virtual panels, in some capacity. I expect the definition of \u2018hybrid\u2019 to morph in creative ways as attendees start to bore of that format, too.<\/p>\n
But should we expect them to phase out completely? It may not be wise. Hybrid events allow for more ticket tiers, potentially, and increased sales for attendees who want to watch a panel without booking a plane ticket. Sundance, for example, sold more tickets during its virtual iteration than it ever has. The pandemic, for its ills, told industries talent and information access needn\u2019t be limited by country borders. International collaboration is even higher, even for the advertising, film and tech industries that already did so more frequently than others. Sure, Zoom fatigue is a thing, but also a boon for the exchange of rapid ideas, a way forward for every industry\u2019s growth. That is, if you don\u2019t plan on migrating to Clubhouse (kidding. Please).<\/p>\n
No one is clairvoyant, and hard and fast answers from non-medical professionals should be considered with a grain of salt. If we\u2019ve learned anything \u2018for sure,\u2019 it\u2019s that \u2018for sure\u2019 doesn\u2019t exist, and the future can present untold changes. Ignoring other possibilities can cause alarm; announcing a live event with \u201cnormal,\u201d 2019-era messaging and no nod to the pandemic can turn off audiences rather than bolster them up. The best bet is flexibility and preparedness, addressing the problem head-on, and considering all perspectives, when planning any event following strict self-isolation practices. But really, those tenants have been, and will continue to be, crucial to any event planning.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By: Amanda Drum The Internet is abuzz with individuals and companies itching to cut loose and network to their heart\u2019s content, but remember: remnants of the coronavirus may stick around long-term. Many potential attendees are…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":23249,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[211],"tags":[2750,3126,3127,3128],"class_list":["post-23248","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fresh-news","tag-pandemic","tag-covid19","tag-hybrid-events","tag-social-distancing"],"yoast_head":"\n