Make Your Event Better: 6 Strategies to Elevate Your Event

We’re event people, and we’re always looking for ways to make the events we work stand out above the rest. Whether you’re putting on a first year event, or celebrating the 50th anniversary of an event, there’s always room for improvement. Here are 6 ways you can instantly take your event to the next level.

A side by side view of two speakers giving an online presentation during a virtual conference.
A livestreamed virtual conference for HIDA.

Our number one request when providing the audio, video, or any other support at an event is to livestream the event. Everything from corporate conferences to endurance racing events have asked us to livestream for them. Why? Because livestreaming increases the impact of the event. It expands the reach of the event and makes engagement accessible to a broader audience.

When livestreaming an event, guests who may not be able to attend could be given the option to participate virtually, or at the very least, see the content of the event – a keynote speaker, or finish line-in real time. Livestreaming also opens the door to create a hybrid event, increasing attendance and participation while simultaneously creating a larger presence online. This is what we call a win – win – win!

Creating quality programming is a pivotal part in the event planning process. When it comes to the event itself, if your sound system is lack-luster, no one will be able to enjoy it. A quality sound system helps create the right environment for the event. Not all sound systems are created equal. If we took the same sound system for an intimate small group gathering and tried to use it at an outdoor race start line, it wouldn’t be ideal, and vice versa. Making sure your sound system meets the needs of your event is key to having a quality sound system.

Regardless of the event, you want everyone in attendance to hear your speaker, announcer, MC, or performer clearly. From the front row to the nose bleeds, everyone’s experience matters.

A team member setting up an active speaker at an indoor event.
Speakers fit for an indoor event.

Social media has cemented its role in everyday life, and having your event visible across your audience’s feeds is one of the best ways to increase your visibility. This is where a solid media plan for your event comes into play.

Pre-event media coverage helps promote the event. This could be revealing the event venue, highlighting new features that differ from previous years, or teasing key aspects of the event. Another great pre-event media campaign is to showcase the highlights and testimonials from previous year’s events.

Two people dressed up in costumes crossing the finish line of a marathon.
Festive finishers at the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon in Nashville TN.

During the event you want to make sure you are capturing the key moments, such as: speakers, entertainers, sponsor activations, and guest testimonials. Using social media to post real time updates, feature branded hashtags, and showcase user generated content at the event is another way to grow your online presence. You can even integrate these moments with screens, projectors, or stage displays to highlight guests that are interacting with you online.

LED Screen in a grass field at an IRONMAN expo showcasing the opportunity for advertising partnerships.
Maurten advertising at an IRONMAN Expo on a mobile LED screen.

Post-event, you can still showcase highlights from the event to remind people the impact it had on them. This is also a great time to create a highlight reel to share and save for next year. Keeping up the excitement and energy is the key focus during this time. If the guests continue talking about your event online and remember the best parts, more people will become aware and maybe even attend themselves in the future!

The stage of the 2023 Running USA Conference during a presentations.
The stage of the 2023 Running USA Conference during a presentations.

Here’s an example of a post event highlight. Back in December of 2024 some employees and friends came together to participate in the IRONMAN 70.3 Florida event in Haines City, Florida. We captured some content of our team racing, made a short recap video and posted it to our social media accounts. This is an example of what a highlight could look like, and how it can be user generated.

You spend so much time creating the perfect branding for your event… So you should get the most out of it! Adding an LED screen or projector screens allow you to use your event graphics in a new way. Between sessions, during presentations, at expo, in waiting areas, the screen offers constant engagement. Let’s face it, everyone loves looking at big, bright, shiny things!

A Mobile LED screen with 5 people in front of it holding up their awards. The screen shows the top five participants in the 70-74 age group at IRONMAN Arizona.
A mobile LED screen showing the leaderboard at IRONMAN Arizona.

A screen also helps promote any sponsors or partners. You can create a custom sponsor roll that shows each partner logo for a set duration throughout the event. This will increase the awareness of your partners to your audience. It can also highlight pictures or videos taken at the event for even more exposure.

If you are going to serve food at your event, think about what restrictions or allergies your guests might have. It doesn’t feel great to be at an event where everyone is eating a meal or enjoying some hors d’oeuvres while your stomach is growling. Another aspect of having a menu for everyone is the drinks! Water is always great, but some other options like tea, coffee, or soft drinks can go a long way – especially if your event is all day long. If you’re event goes into dinner time or beyond, having some bar refreshments could be a good idea. While it is impossible to always accommodate everyone, having a variety of options does help.

Having a menu for everyone is great! But now where are they going to eat it? Well, it depends… If you’re having a cocktail hour, high top tables are a good choice. They let your guests mingle and put their drinks down without a large footprint. If you’re having a full meal service you will want tables and most likely a seating plan.

Choosing the right food and drink for your event will vary depending on size, venue, and catering. Regardless of the event we always recommend having some snacks and refreshment for your staff – you’d be surprised at how far a little treat goes to fuel your team.

At the end of the day, you cannot do everything. When planning and producing an event, you’ll need to rely on other people who you trust to help bring your vision to life. This is where having a solid team will skyrocket your success. Here at BCC Live we become part of your team and execute your vision. With our Productions Made Great approach we connect personally, we give our best, and we own it. Our success is only as good as your success!

BCC Live team at a race in Panama City Beach wearing their name shirts.

We stand by our Productions Made Great approach and being an integral part of your team. When it comes time to plan your next event, we’re your team! Contact us here!

StreamingMedia.com Press

Streaming Media featured a press article on BCC Live’s utilization of AJA BRIDGE LIVE, highlighting its crucial role in meeting diverse encoding and decoding requirements for various productions. The technology has been instrumental in facilitating BCC Live’s delivery of high-quality coverage for events like the IRONMAN and Rock n Roll Marathon, demonstrating its capability to handle complex live broadcasting challenges with ease. For more insights into BCC Live’s innovative approach, read the full article.

“With BRIDGE LIVE, BCC Live has cut its encoding/decoding technology needs in half, according to Downey. The device enables the team to easily grab NDI off the network regardless of the source.”

Article by StreamingMedia.com