Streaming a show from the floor

When a show goes online, the event team inherits a second audience it cannot see. Viewers at home do not know that the stage manager is brilliant or that the venue looks stunning. They only know whether the picture is steady, the sound is clear and someone tells them what is going on when it is not.

Write the owner list first

Streams usually fail in the gaps between the venue, the production crew, the platform supplier and the event team. Before the first production meeting, put a name against each of these:

• Venue internet and a dedicated power supply for streaming kit.
• Camera direction and the audio mix for online viewers.
• Graphics, captions and playback of recorded segments.
• Access lists, viewer emails and support for people who cannot get in.
• Chat moderation and passing questions to the stage.
• The decision to go live, and the decision to cut away.

A demo is not a rehearsal

Seeing the platform on a supplier's laptop tells you nothing about your venue. Book a full run with your real equipment, your real connection and the crew who will be on shift, early enough to fix what breaks. Then watch it from outside the building on a phone and a laptop, the way a viewer would.

For a clear breakdown of who covers what on show day, see this walkthrough of rehearsals, roles and backup plans for a live stream.

Agree the interruption script

Decide in writing what viewers see if the signal drops: a holding slide, a short recorded piece, a message with an expected return time. Name the person who makes that call so nobody waits for permission while the screen sits frozen.

Fill the gaps for remote viewers

A changeover that is a pleasant pause in the room looks like a dead stream online. A host, a short interview or a sponsor segment keeps the online audience with you.

For general information on Singapore's media and connectivity landscape, the Infocomm Media Development Authority is the official reference.