Bloody Virtual Events

[Youngatheart00]

Anyone else so sick of virtual events now?

Whether it be work or play, events I’d be really interested in in person I can barely summon the interest to register for now. Even if there are good speakers, the thought of another screen stare and the inevitable technical hitches are off putting. Plus no energy of others in the room (oh and a glass of fizz...I remember them fondly)

I feel as if my work are embracing ‘it’s great that no one has to travel and take too much time out of their day’ approach and expecting a great uptake but ultimately being disappointed

When working from home (or just being at home) the last thing I want to do is attend yet another virtual event.

What do others think, am I just being a misery or are we collectively OVER them?

YABU - virtual events are great
YANBU - they are no match for f2f and I’m over them

It’s like working from home generally, I think most people will be looking for a mix of f2f and virtual in the future. I’m attending and delivering more presentations/seminars because I don’t have to spend a day travelling there and back. I do miss the proper networking though, looking forward to standing in an event space with a glass of something...!

I have recently seen a few historical tour related ones on FB that I thought would be good but when I checked it out, tickets were £10. I thought that was expensive for a virtual one, it was one about plagues in London , I think.

Yep I am completely over them as well. My job is really difficult to do virtually as it involves lots of note taking. In a f2f meeting, I can raise my hand and ask for clarification or something to be repeated. When you’ve got 20+ people on a teams call, by the time my raised hand is noticed the conversation has moved on and no-one remembers what they’ve said!

And why would you want to do something virtual out of work? I spend all day on my own looking at a screen, I don’t want to do the same during my free time. Real people please!

Agree with the comment about it being correlated with wfh. The fatigue with ‘virtual life’ has meant that I’ve no enthusiasm to join any sort of event, no matter how interesting the subject matter. Ie my favourite author did a book launch which I would have done anything to be there in person, online (free), definitely no thank you.

I think it’s all part of life becoming very one dimensional and I’m worried elements of it are here to stay. Proof will come when online events start to get really poor turnouts I guess

Yanbu and my job involves events!

We’re all desperate to get back to some kind of face to face normality, virtual is ok but not the same at all and I also find it very hard to keep summoning the energy and enthusiasm even though the content is great

They suit quieter, introverts. The louder extroverts are just having to get used to a world of tailored around them any more. Unsurprisingly, they're not doing what introverts had to do and just suck it up though.

YANBU.

Yep my work keep arranging evening 'virtual drinks' that are non compulsory but the CEO grills you if you say you're not attending.

I don't drink, I'm in bloody virtual meetings all day, my eyes are sore, and I quite frankly don't want to spend any of my leisure time with him, thanks.

So I show up, say hi, then fuck off at the earliest opportunity.

To add, we’re looking at hybrid events in the future where we’ll run it as live with a stream online so people can also watch that way if they want, our events are all free, it’ll mean we can reach more people but no way will it replace a live event

Well I've been able to attend virtual events I wouldn't have been able to attend in person. It's not as good as f2f, but it's better than not being able to go at all. I've done 2 conferences and a course via zoom, and it's worked ok, but maybe I feel like that because I would never have been able to justify a whole weekend away (with all the expense associated with it, as work wouldn't pay for that) to attend a one day conference but can easily justify sitting in the dining room at the laptop from 10-4 on a Saturday, costing about £5.

Well I'm a quiet introvert and I absolutely hate them. Being engaged with people through a screen is ten times more exhausting.

The introvert vs extrovert thing is getting brought up a lot recently and I don’t want to make it tribal. Interestingly I always thought I was an introvert as I would need some time each week (I had a very busy, social and work life, RIP that!!!) just to be on my own and recharge with music or a book. The last year has taught me there’s definitely a spectrum and I’m much much much more extrovert than I thought.

But for an introvert attending a f2f event would surely just mean they’d want their own quiet time before / after to keep their energy up, the issue for extroverts is that most of us have had next to no stimulus for almost a year. There’s a lot of people running on empty and a virtual event does not scratch the extroverts itch (and no it’s not about being loud and dominant, it’s just having others around you and that buzz of a room)

They suit quieter, introverts. The louder extroverts are just having to get used to a world of tailored around them any more

Sorry but this is rubbish. I would describe myself as an introvert - as in a person that recharges alone rather than in the company of others. I would prefer a f2f event because it’s easier to stay engaged and I do like to network a bit because it’s good for career. I’m sick of everything being on a screen. Firstly it’s boring and secondly my concentration goes and I end up checking emails and doing other bits which defeats the point of attending an event.

I wish people would stop equating introverts with people that like would like to stay at home hidden behind a screen for the rest of eternity, talking to no one because that’s not what introversion is.

I think in the future there will be a mix. Hopefully the best of both worlds. We are at virtual overload right now, but a mix might be welcome when we’re back to commuting and tired from the daily in-person workplace grind.

I do get scunnered by the thought of another screen but ... I am doing things I will not be able to do when normal times return. I attended the livestream of a West end play last night - the cost of travel to London, a full price theatre ticket, a probable overnight stay etc. makes it a rare treat. Watching from home means that I have done it several times in the last ten months. I am going to a live author event tonight - two outings back to back would be rare but very feasible from home. It would be amazing to do all these in person but it has opened up many more opportunities and I really hope some stay.

I would say I’m more an introvert than an extrovert and I hate virtual events. I refuse to attend now unless compulsory plus I enjoy my commute to work. I have a pleasant tube journey where I read the metro and a nice walk through central London park and I listen to birds or my latest audiobook and if early enough watch the sunrise. I love it

They suit quieter, introverts.

I disagree. I don’t know where I lie in the scale but zoom events have a negative vibe. I’m fine when they start but I find them a performance more tiring than rl

Virtual feels akin to too much cardboard diet these days. Cannot wait to move to next stage and get away from it and see people irl

I hate them too, it's all just so awkward. They keep arranging them at my work and everyone seems to hate them, regardless of personality type! Even my team meetings, where we all get along well normally, are stilted and awkward. Even when people have a good internet connection there still seems to be a lag in response time which makes jokes and things fall flat and means that people miss a chance to interject for clarification or whatever. If your raised hand gets missed then you just end up giving up.

There are some benefits to home working in general, obviously, but events and meetings are a real downside.

Also on the 'virtual event' topic - I'm a runner and loads of people I know keep trying to get me to sign up for virtual races. I literally can't see the point. You pay a fee to go for a run by yourself? Which I do anyway! The whole joy of races is the sense of competition and being part of a group experience etc, a virtual event is nonsense to me.

I'm a trainer. Just about to deliver a 3-hour course online. I'm not keen, I have to admit.

And believe me, there is nothing worse as a trainer, than having to stare at a black void all morning because people can't be arsed to turn their videos on. I get that it can be uncomfortable, but please - have a thought for the trainers! I'm so sick of talking into a void.

I think it must be awful for trainers. I attended a big training event recently with loads of people online, the trainer is someone I know well and his delivery was really different (much worse...) to how he is face-to-face so I think the situation was challenging for him.

So awful to talk to a void

This is super interesting especially as things start to open up soon. I'm helping a small business which provides virtual social events (think cocktail making, escape rooms, murder mystery, wine tasting ).

I really want her business to survive even when things open up! Any ideas on how to best help her? Would be keen to know see what people think of

What types of virtual events would you want to attend post covid? If any....

What types of event would make you book an online experience instead of an in-person event / visit? If any..

What would make online experiences more like an in-person experience?