If you’re not looking outside the box at platforms like TikTok, Roblox, Fortnite,and Discord as part of your roadmap for an events strategy, you’re not looking. They provide the best examples of digital engagement, creativity, and fun which translates to a win/win for creatives, sponsors, and attendees. 

In early February, TikTok held its #ForYou Partner Summit preaching the Tik Tok ethos to “make TikToks, not ads”. It’s only a matter of time before they’re hosting events. Anyone vying for sponsorship dollars needs to understand that TikTok has evolved into a competitive platform with some of the most engaged audiences on the planet. OBTW, a group called WOAHX just announced the first live TikTok influencer conference to be held in Vegas this May. 

The next generation of event-goers will be location-fluid, seeking both online and IRL experiences as the spirit moves them. You can smell what this feels like by reading kidscreen’s take on virtual events happening in these extraordinary new places. 

The Hustle introduced us to Agora this week. It’s the platform powering the social media darling of the moment, Clubhouse. Clubhouse relies on invitation only, real-time conversations, but Agora can embed video as well as voice-stressing real-time engagement.

On a related note if you’re dying to get your voice out there on Clubhouse, then check out this guide.

Now that we’ve been at this for a few weeks we’re seeing that folks are just as interested in identifying talent as they are in identifying tools. That came as no surprise to Nathaniel Kanefield and Lorraine Ma, the founders of Minema which is sort of a Fivver for all your AV and video production needs. 

I remember when I worked for Disney and had to hire park employees by asking them questions like “So what did you learn in Goofy 101?” This was Disney’s internal certification program. The Virtual Events Institute is like the Goofy 101 of virtual events. A series of modules on monetizing events, choosing technologies, and measuring event success all lead to your accreditation. Informa recently partnered with Virtual Events Institute to help their staff “tech up” their events game. Have any of you used their courses? We haven’t yet so we’d love to hear your thoughts.

• Losing sleep over your events lobby?
  Intrado’s Ben Chodor offered a sneak peek into the world of the lobby experience. You’ll need to register to watch. Hint go to the 11:40 time signature for the demo minus the chat. 
  
  Joe Pine, of Strategic Horizons, has been thinking long and hard about what post-COVID events will look like. He lays out a Thoughtful taxonomy and gives props to Marriott for this virtual wedding hybrid experience. 
  
  
• Event Guide of the Week:
  Seems like every event platform now publishes its own how-to manual. This week’s selection comes courtesy of HubSpot. 
  
  
• Post-Lockdown Helpers:
  We’re going to need all the help we can get. Neutigers CovidDeep uses AI and deep neural learning to detect COVID symptoms using the sensors in your smartphone or wearable.