UVA’s University Programs Council (PKG Concerts) hosted JOEY BADA$$ virtually!
Program Board, Institution:
University Programs Council (PKG Concerts), University of Virginia
Event / Date:
Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020
Artist:
Joey Bada$$
Description/Purpose:
For the University of Virginia’s annual Welcome Week concert, the University Programs Council hosted a live virtual show with rapper, Joey Bada$$. Although open to all students, we like to use this large-scale event as a way to reach out to First-Year students, and to familiarize them with UPC.
Which platform was used to host the event?
We routed our broadcast through Vimeo’s live-streaming service, which was then embedded in UVA’s Office of the Dean of Students website.
Which marketing techniques worked well for you?
Marketing the show through social media (IG/Twitter) always helps, but we also decided to send a mass email to all UVA students that solely promoted the concert. I think in doing both, we helped bridge the gap between students who aren’t present on social media, and those who don’t often check University-wide communication.
What would you say was the key to making this event a success?
In addition to utilizing as many forms of marketing as we could – opening up the Artist M&G and Q&A to students outside of our UPC committee members proved to be a fun and appreciated experience by all who attended. It was also extremely important to have the show personalized to the UVA student body, and not just be any other livestream concert.
What will you do differently next time?
If we have to remain virtual for future shows, I would love to incorporate some interactive elements during the livestream, such as a chatroom, in-stream polls and giveaways, or a virtual “merch stand” to attract more viewers, and keep the audience engaged.
What piece of advice do you have for someone preparing to host a similar event?
Do your research on what platforms are out there for hosting virtual events! Many innovative methods of programming have popped up in response to the pandemic, so use this time to try something different and create a unique experience for your students.