Live Streaming Your Event: Everything You Need to Know

You can’t be everywhere at once, and neither can your events.

But nobody wants to miss out on an incredible experience — whether it’s listening to a world-renowned keynote speaker, catching a unique performance, asking questions directly to their favorite author, or getting involved in a wild dance party. 

That’s where live streaming opens up a new world of possibilities.

If you’re on social media platforms, chances are you’ve already seen other people or brands host live events. If you’re not already jumping on the live stream train, it’s time to get on board.

At Eventbrite, we’ve hosted thousands of live stream events. Read on for step-by-step instructions on live streaming with some of the globe’s top streaming tools.

Table of Contents

Why should you live stream your next event?

What equipment do you need to live stream an event?

How to live stream an event

Why should you live stream your next event?

There are so many benefits to live streaming events. Here are the top ones:

• Expand your event’s reach: When you live stream, your ticket sales are no longer hindered by geographical borders. 
• People worldwide can watch your event live: Live streaming provides an opportunity for more ticket sales and revenue. It can also make your event more inclusive for people who might not be able to attend for other reasons.
• Your event is easier to share: Your followers can repost videos and access them on demand, helping to increase brand awareness.
• Potentially save costs: You can hire speakers and other entertainers from around the world without having to hire a space for them to perform, helping to cut costs.

For an example of live streaming done right, look at event creator The Compassionate Mind Foundation. By offering a hybrid format for their training courses, The Compassionate Mind Foundation could reach a broader remote audience across several continents. 

They also record and share their sessions for users to access Zoom live streams for up to a month afterwards.

What equipment do you need for live streaming an event?

Live streaming events is a relatively simple process. To get started, you’ll need a device with a camera, a microphone, and a stable internet connection. In many cases, you can use a mobile phone, tablet, laptop, webcam, or a GoPro. 

If you use a video camera, you may also need a hardware encoder to convert your video content into the correct digital format to live stream on your platform of choice. If you go down this route, you’ll need an additional microphone to capture audio content.

Next, you’ll have to consider your events platform. 

If you live stream an event for online audiences, you’ll want to partner with a hybrid events platform that can support dynamic in-person and virtual events.

How to live stream an event

Now that we’ve covered why you should be live streaming and the equipment you need to do the job, it’s time to talk logistics.

That’s why we’ve compiled this how-to guide with general tips on setting up a successful live streaming event.

You’ll also need to know how to kick-start an online video on the streaming services you use. To get started, let’s walk through the streaming setups on the web’s most popular event streaming platforms, all of which you can link to Eventbrite’s all-in-one platform.

How to live stream an event on Eventbrite

There are many video platforms to set up a live stream, but let’s begin with how you can integrate them into your Eventbrite event.

To add a live stream link to your Eventbrite page, just follow this process:

1. Go to ‘Manage My Events’ in your account
   
2. Select your event to get to your ‘Event Dashboard’
   
3. Select ‘Online event page’
   
4. Select your streaming platform of choice
   
5. Select a user, then click ‘Next’
   
6. Choose your platform options (For example, a Zoom meeting or webinar)
   
7. Hit ‘Complete’
   

💡Pro tip: Want to set up recurring live stream events? If you’re using Eventbrite’s recurring event feature, you’ll need to follow a different process. All you’ve got to do is add the link to your live stream event by clicking ‘Link’ under the ‘Share Additional Content’ box.

How to live stream an event on YouTube

YouTube is the globe’s biggest video-sharing platform, and it offers three simple ways to live stream events. The process you’ll need to follow depends on your equipment.

If you live stream video events on a mobile:

1. Open the YouTube app
   
2. Hit ‘Create’ and then ‘Go live’
   
3. Follow the steps to create your online event live stream
   
4. If you want to schedule your live stream for later, select ‘More options’
   
5. Hit ‘Go live’
   
6. When your live stream is done, select ‘Finish’

If you live stream events with a webcam:

1. Sign in to YouTube
   
2. Hit ‘Create’ and then then ‘Go live’
   
3. Select ‘Webcam’
   
4. Create your event settings (like an event title and description), then select a privacy setting
   
5. Hit ‘Next,’ and then pick the correct webcam and microphone
   
6. Hit ‘Go live’
   
7. When you’ve finished, select ‘End stream’

If you live stream video events with a hardware encoder:

1. Go to the ‘YouTube Studio’
   
2. Hit ‘Create’ then ‘Go live’
   
3. Select the ‘Stream’ tab
   
4. In your external encoder stream settings, select ‘YouTube’ or copy the stream URL and paste it into your video encoder’s Stream settings server
   
5. Copy the stream key and paste it into your encoder’s settings in the ‘Stream key’ field
   
6. Set up your encoder, then start the stream
   
7. When you’re done, stop sending content from the video encoder

💡Pro tip: Take your YouTube stream to the next level using the Community tab on your account. This gives you access to content for custom social media posts to promote your upcoming stream.

Remember you’ll need at least 1,000 subscribers on your channel to unlock the Community tab.

How to live stream an event on Facebook

Facebook has over three billion users from all over the world, which makes it the biggest social platform out there and one of the most accessible ways to live stream.

There are three ways you can live stream events on Facebook.

If you use the Creator Studio app:

1. Open the ‘Creator Studio’ app
   
2. Choose the pen and paper icon
   
3. Hit ‘Live’
   
4. Add a video description
   
5. Hit ‘Start Live Video’
   
6. When you’re done, tap ‘Finish’
   

If you use the Facebook app:

1. Go to the Page, Group, Profile, or Event you want to publish your stream on
   
2. Hit ‘Live’
   
3. Add a video description
   
4. Hit ‘Start Live Video’
   
5. When you’re done, tap ‘Finish’
   

If you use a computer to live stream:

1. At the top of your News Feed, click ‘What’s on your mind, [Your Name]?’
   
2. Click the three dots icon, then click ‘Live video,’ and you’ll automatically be redirected to Live Producer
   
3. Write a description for your live video
   
4. Click ‘Go Live’ in the bottom left
   

💡Pro tip: You can maximize the reach and shareability of your content by using Facebook’s Life in Stories feature. This lets you share your Facebook live stream directly to Facebook Stories, giving people an extra prompt to watch your stream.

How to live stream an event on Instagram

Instagram is one of the world’s most visual and engaging platforms and an incredibly effective streaming platform.

Unlike Facebook, Instagram is also mobile-driven — which means there’s only one process you need to follow to start your stream on your phone:

1. Swipe right, then select ‘Live’
2. Add a stream title
3. When you’re done, tap ‘X’ and then ‘End video’

💡Pro tip: Press ‘Share’ after your Instagram live stream. Your stream will then appear on your profile so your followers can watch the event video on demand long after you go offline.

How to live stream an event on Twitch

Twitch is the live streaming solution of choice for video gamers — but you’ll also find lots of talk shows, sporting events, cooking shows, and everything in between.

Live streaming on Twitch is simple:

1. Choose your streaming method (options include Twitch Studio, Streamlabs OBS, or  Lightstream Studio)
   
2. Create a stream title, category, and a push notification to let followers know you’re live
   
3. Connect your software to Twitch (or hit ‘Start Streaming’ if you use Lightstream)
   
4. When you’re done, hit the ‘End’ button
   

💡Pro tip: Twitch’s commenting functionality is a great way to engage with users — but if you want to ensure all comments stay appropriate and relevant, use Twitch’s AutoMod feature. It automatically filters out comments you don’t want everyone to see.

How to live stream an event on Zoom

Zoom has exploded in popularity in the past few years and is one of the most engaging ways to live stream a virtual event or hybrid event — especially for online meetings.

That’s why Eventbrite has a convenient Zoom integration to connect your Zoom live stream with your Eventbrite events seamlessly.

To start a live stream on Zoom, just follow this process:

1. Open Zoom, then hit ‘Schedule’
   
2. Enter your event’s date and time
   
3. Choose your security settings (you can create a waiting room or set a passcode so only ticket holders can log into the stream), and then hit ‘Save’ 
   
4. Log into the Zoom web portal and go to ‘Account settings’ 
   
5. Select ‘In Meeting (Advanced),’ click ‘Allow Live streaming the Meetings,’ and choose which platforms you want to stream to
   
6. Go back to your event and click ‘Start’

💡Pro tip: Expecting users from other countries to log into your live stream? Enable Zoom’s closed caption translation tool so that video subtitles are automatically translated to match a user’s language preferences.

What’s the best way to live stream an event for you?

Live streaming of events is a brilliant option if you want to boost your reach, build your brand, and better engage with virtual attendees. You’ve just got to make sure you choose the right hybrid events partner to support and optimize your live streaming — and Eventbrite might be your answer.

Eventbrite is a preferred Vimeo partner, has integrations with Zoom and YouTube, and can boost and promote your hybrid events using our range of marketing tools. By partnering with Eventbrite, you’ll be live streaming your hybrid events in no time.