Month: December 2021

Getting Started with a Hybrid Meeting Space

Just when we’d become used to 100% virtual meetings, another new way of working has developed. The hybrid working pattern means a team might be made up of a blend of onsite and remote employees. This can be really beneficial for the individuals and the organization, but it can present us with a few logistical issues. How do we create and manage a hybrid meeting space?

With the help of some reliable AV equipment, a supportive tech team, and some fantastic remote working software, you can easily bring everyone into the boardroom, wherever they’re based.

Two people sat in a hybrid meeting space with people behind them as they talk.
Photo by Helena Lopes on Unsplash

Audio equipment needed for hybrid meeting spaces

Let’s start with the tech. We’ve all learned from experience that poor audio can be one of the most stressful things about virtual meetings – often more so than poor video. This can feel especially fraught in hybrid meetings when inconsistent audio can lead to the remote attendees feeling alienated from the action in the room.

In the physical meeting room, make sure you find a mic that can pick up multiple users. You can easily get hold of omnidirectional Bluetooth conference microphones from places like Amazon. One suggestion from our team? The Anker PowerConf S3 looks nice on the table and delivers good quality at a reasonable price point. Ideally, your virtual participants will also have access to a good audio setup. If they’re your employees, you may need to sort this out for their remote workstation. 

It’s also a good idea to set up clear “speaking in turn” protocols, which can help avoid cross-talking during more free-flow meetings like brainstorming sessions.

Three people sat around a table in a hybrid meeting space. One with a laptop and the others discussing.
Photo by Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash

Getting the visual aspect right

Okay, sound’s done. Now, what about video? If it’s a straightforward meeting with no presentations or documents to share, set up a webcam to capture the whole room. This gives remote attendees a participant’s eye view of their colleagues. A good tip is to make sure that the remote attendees aren’t tiny, as we don’t want them to be overlooked. If they can appear on a decent-sized screen, that will help those in the room engage better with their teammates.

What if you need to share a presentation? Just switch over to XSplit Presenter, giving remote participants a great view of the slides (and the presenter, if you wish), while those in person can follow along. If someone can’t make it, you can also record your presentation using Presenter, and send it out afterward.

Combining physical and hybrid meeting spaces

The first thing to think about when setting up the room is the remote attendees’ sightlines. This will determine where to put the webcam. Consider who or what they need to see, as well as where the screens need to go so you’re not blocking the physical attendees’ views.

Which room should you use for your hybrid meeting space? One with a fast internet connection or none of this is will work well. A good source of light is also handy, so everyone can see each other well and keep visual distractions to a minimum. You might also like to advise remote attendees on how to blur out their background with our XSplit VCam software if they’re working from home. The day before the first hybrid meeting, why not have a test run to make sure everything runs smoothly?

The key to the smooth running of a hybrid meeting is the facilitator. Choose your hybrid meeting host wisely: are they someone who can bring everyone in, at the right moment, like a skilled conductor? For more tips, read our blog about managing remote meetings.

Balancing Streaming and Working as a Part-Time Streamer

When you’re first starting out as a part-time streamer, you’ll need to fit your streaming schedule around your day job and around the rest of your life as well. This doesn’t have to be difficult, but it does take discipline and consistency to get the work-life balance right and to give your channel the chance it deserves.

Consistency as a part-time streamer

Streaming regularly and at the same time, every week, is vital for keeping an audience when streaming part-time. They want to know when they’re going to be able to find you – if one week you stream on a Sunday afternoon, then next it’s a Tuesday evening and so on, any fans you picked up in the first stream who want to come back will probably miss the next one. Additionally, people tend to look for something to watch at similar times based on their schedule, so sticking with a specific time and day means that the same people will come back repeatedly, building up their loyalty to your channel and the likelihood of them continuing to watch. 

Frequency helps too. If you can stream several times a week you’ll obviously get more total views than if it’s only once a week. It will probably also help your channel to grow more quickly as there are more chances for people to find you and follow or subscribe.

A streaming PC setup on a desk with a mic, monitor, keyboard, mouse and mood lighting for a part-time streamer.
Photo by Jack B on Unsplash

Don’t burn out

When you first start, it’s easy to think “I’ll stream every night – I’m always gaming, so why not do it on stream?” However, this isn’t always feasible especially if you work full time. Streaming involves putting on a show as well as just playing games, and even if you’re naturally eloquent and amusing, it’s still an effort to stay chatty and involved. Nevertheless, this shouldn’t put you off streaming even if you only manage to do this for a few hours a week. Streaming can be just as fun as a part-time hobby.

Plus, if you’re streaming just when you can and want to, you’re likely to enjoy it more and have the energy to put on a good show. You’re also likely to still see growth on your channel, particularly if you are streaming things you genuinely like and want to share with others – this will come across. It’s important to give yourself time off to relax as well as keeping the channel going however often you stream. You’ll probably also find there are other background tasks associated with streaming that need to be dealt with, such as designing thumbnails, promoting your channel, and so on.

It’s still a commitment

If your friends aren’t gamers, they might not understand that your streams are a commitment and it’s important to keep to them. Just because it’s online doesn’t mean there aren’t real people at the other end waiting for you who would be let down if you canceled. This is more important with multi-player games, however, it still applies to streaming, especially if you want the channel to do well.

On the flip side, it’s important to make time to see friends. Your channel should not become your entire life! Ideally, you’ll be able to find a schedule that fits everything in – work, streaming, socializing, and some relaxing – but achieving a work-life balance as a part-time streamer can be difficult. Being organized can help you stay on top of it, so why not set a schedule and stick to it to keep things simple? Just remember to include some time for yourself!

Building an audience takes time and dedication but it’s important to care for yourself too. Balancing work, streaming, and life, in general, can be tricky, but, once you do, it will make everything go much more smoothly – well worth the effort!