Live streaming for the arts

Live streaming for the arts




Live streaming an event or performance might feel unattainable, but there are low-cost and low-tech options for everyone. At a time when social distancing can prevent gatherings in real life, the advances in digital communications help us get together in virtual theatres and share experiences and stories. Jason Crouch, a freelance digital consultant with expertise in live streaming and a PhD in contemporary arts and technology, shares his tips on how to get started.To get more news about 39bet-tỷ lệ cược-đua ngựa-máy bắn cá-tỷ lệ nhà cái-kéo cầu tài xỉu, you can visit official website.
Video content is everywhere, and streaming an event is now an option for anyone with a smartphone. This guide will take you through different live streaming platforms, what reach and audience each system might offer, and the differing production values you can expect to achieve.

Whatever has brought you to the idea of using live streaming, and whatever the challenges your event might bring, it’s certainly worth giving it a try. Live streaming is an excellent opportunity to connect to an audience with your work, and the small amount of audience research that has been done so far suggests that watching live streamed theatre generates an enthusiasm to experience a live event rather than replacing it.

Choosing the best option for you
There are many different ways to live stream an event, and no single method is likely to be right every time. It’s wise to develop a series of different tools and workflows to take advantage of what each service can offer. As with any new skills – especially those involving technology – things will likely go wrong, but you’ll learn with every misstep.

Rarely does a live stream go so wrong that the audience gets nothing out of it. Indeed, often the stream will reveal something new about the work, or how the audience can engage with it. Each different platform and combination of equipment reveals a particular way your audience experiences and interacts with the performance you’re making. This might be the difference between an intimate direct to camera address, the use of a head-mounted GoPro for a POV shot, or by streaming an audio-only experience to an audience with their eyes firmly shut.

Pretty much all affordable live streaming platforms are integrated, to a greater or lesser extent, with social media platforms. Social media is therefore key to the distribution and targeting of your live output. There is little to be gained from putting out a stream no-one is watching, so it’s important to let your audience know that you’re active and to publicise links with plenty of advance warning. Right now, there are an increasing number of online resources showcasing where this work can be found, and this is a great time to reach out and ask to be added to one of the live-stream calendars.

These channels are also vital to let your audience know of any technical problems mid-stream, and can be used to invite audience participation during, pre- and post-show.There are an ever-increasing number of live video platforms from the behemoths like YouTube and Facebook to more specialised or localised products such as China's BiliBili and gamer focused Twitch.tv. I'd encourage you to experiment with any platform you think might be a good fit with the type of work you make. It’s only by learning through doing that you’ll figure out which tools work and how each one changes the audience experience.