Hybrid Events
If the pandemic has taught us anything, it is how to run online events and meetings. As noted, what we had to do out of necessity has had its advantages for some.
Given what we have learnt, what should we think about as LGBTI groups for future events?
In the following lists, we consider some of the future options available to LGBTI groups. Each has advantages and disadvantages that need to be considered. You may want to trial several different approaches to find which works best or ask your community what they would like.
Exclusively face-to-face
Meetings where people meet in the same physical location.
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Benefits
- More social interaction between participants.
- Sensory input and networking opportunities tend to be greater.
- Opportunities for mind mapping and relationship building are usually greater.
- Shared context, and access to nonverbal cues like expressions and body language.
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Negatives
- Increased travel time and costs for participants.
- Room hire, catering and audio-visual costs.
- The number of attendees can be limited due to space or budget.
Rotational
Some events are face-to-face, others are virtual.
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Benefits
- Reduces face-to-face costs such as room hire.
- Can break down events into elements which are best delivered face-to-face and those best for virtual delivery.
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Negatives
- Increases some costs for technology.
- Some participants only come to virtual events and others only to face-to-face.
Hybrid
Individual meetings have both face-to-face and virtual participants.
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Benefits
- People who cannot normally attend due to distance, cost or accessibility requirements may be able to under this option.
- People have the choice to decide each meeting whether virtual or face-to-face suits them best.
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Negatives
- Experienced facilitator is required to ensure those participating virtually are as included.
- May have to include accessibility costs for both face-to-face and virtual elements.
Exclusively virtual
Meetings where people only interact online using a computer or phone, and software.
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Benefits
- People living far from the event location can participate.
- No room hire, catering, audio-visual and / or travel costs for participants.
- Lower environmental impact.
- Easy recording and online distribution.
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Negatives
- Costs of purchasing technology for both hosts and participants.
- Can increase digital fatigue.
- Attention spans for attendees interacting with a screen tend to be shorter.
- Numbers limited depending on purchased product.
