Everyone seems to love live events – just look at the number of attendees at any Taylor Swift concert. Even though people can stream almost every song from big and small artists with ease, the excitement for live concerts has not died down.
We are also entering the era of virtual events, allowing people to enjoy live performances from their homes. Still, you will often find arenas being packed with thousands.
Even when it comes to gaming, live Esports events are garnering viewers both virtually and in big arenas. For example, the CSGO Paris Major had 50,000 attendees, while the total online viewership was over a million.
Live events have been around since the dawn of time, and they still have a huge impact on our culture and work. But what are the appeals of a live gathering? Let’s explore it in this post.
What Are Live Events?
Live events are real-time gatherings or activities – both virtual and physical. The perfect example, in this case, would be a sports event, where you can be a virtual viewer watching it on the TV or attending the event in a stadium.
Types of Live Events
Live, interactive events are not only specific to the entertainment industry. They could also be related to work or networking. Different kinds of live events include but are not limited to –
- Conferences
- Concerts and festivals
- Sporting events
- Trade shows and expo
- Webinars
- Product launches
- Community events
Such experiences create immediate interaction among attendees, speakers, or performers. Be it a physical or online event, viewers and attendees can enjoy the excitement in real-time.
What’s the Appeal of Live Events?
What makes them so captivating in today’s digital age? Why would someone like you spend money and time on something that’s happening live instead of watching a recording of it?
Here are the possible reasons.
1. Real-Time Engagement
Where would you rather spend money on – material things or meaningful experiences? If your answer was “experience,” then you agree with 78% of millennials.
One of the most thrilling aspects of live events is the immediate, real-time interaction.
Unlike watching a recorded video or reading about an event, being present at a live event allows you to experience everything as it unfolds.
The keyword here is “unpredictability”, where anything can happen, which keeps audiences on the edge of their seats.
2. The Energy of the Crowd
People feed off each other’s energy. When you’re part of a live audience, the collective enthusiasm, excitement, and anticipation are contagious.
This is particularly true for music concerts. The energy of thousands of people singing their favourite songs and cheering together elevates the performance, creating a communal experience.
3. Real-Time Learning and Networking
Let’s leave the realm of entertainment and visit the professional sphere.
Conferences are great since they provide networking paired with real-time learning chances. Whether it’s a tech conference, industry-specific event, or leadership forum, guests get to interact with colleagues, learn from thought leaders, and engage in debates.
According to Bizzabo’s state of in-person B2B conference report, 80.4% of event organisers believe that “in-person events are the most impactful marketing channel.”
The excitement comes from:
- Being able to ask questions
- Share ideas, and
- Connect with experts
There’s always the potential for impromptu meet-ups, hallway conversations, and unplanned collaborations that make conferences a dynamic experience.
4. The Thrill of Unpredictability
One cannot forecast the sequence of events in a sporting event. Will your favourite team be able to score a goal before the time runs out? Their unpredictability makes them really fascinating.
Fans feeding off one another’s enthusiasm, supporting their teams, and collectively experiencing the highs and lows of the game help to fuel the excitement as it advances.
Nothing compares to the live experience, regardless of how well TV covers events.
5. Discovering Innovation in Real-Time
Trade shows and expos are hubs for innovation, where businesses showcase new products, technologies, and solutions.
These events are especially exciting for attendees who want to be at the forefront of industry advancements. Interacting with products, testing new technologies, and speaking with innovators directly creates an experience that cannot be matched by reading product brochures or watching online demos.
6. Being the First to Know
Product launches provide a unique quality that is difficult to replicate elsewhere.
Participating at a product launching offers guests the impression that they are seeing history in the making, whether it be the newest electronic gadget, a ground-breaking software release, or a breakthrough piece of hardware.
For instance, Apple’s yearly launch events attract worldwide interest since they provide the thrill of being the first to learn about and experience fresh ideas.
A live launch generates hype that combines with real-time engagement and product demos, making these events quite interesting.
Final Note
At the end of the day, people have their own reasons for enjoying live events. Some may attend a concert to connect with other people, while others may prefer the collective energy of the crowd. In essence, being social beings, we love to experience things together, and live events create those opportunities.
