3 Event Takeaways from the Inauguration

As I write this blog post, the Presidential Inauguration is on TV in the background, and I’m thinking about the importance of holding this event live and in person. For a variety of reasons, the symbolism and ceremony around the peaceful transfer of power with the backdrop of the U.S. Capitol could not be replaced or replicated in another way and still have the ability to transfix the American people and the world.

The Inauguration also got me thinking about 2021 and what’s in store for live events, in general. Here at Evanta, a Gartner Company, we are embracing a hybrid model. We are continuing to offer virtual events for at least the first half of the year and planning to incorporate in-person programs later in the year if it’s safe to do so. And beyond that, in-person gatherings could have virtual features or sessions, based on our successes and experiences with virtual events in 2020.

Despite my confidence in our plans and our ability to adjust to circumstances, I was feeling a little bit nostalgic about in-person events this week. Here are my 3 takeaways as an events’ professional from watching the in-person Presidential Inauguration:

Stay nimble. A week prior, Inauguration planners weren’t sure that their events could be held safely at the Capitol. Clearly, they made a lot of adjustments in a short amount of time and had to react to security concerns along with pandemic precautions. While perhaps not to that degree, conference planners are going to have to stay nimble in 2021, as well. The vaccine is giving all of us hope, but the pandemic is surging in certain areas, and the new coronavirus strain is expected to make things even more challenging. In other words, the first part of 2021 is going to require us to stay flexible in our planning and continue to be decisive and pivot quickly. 

Keep it focused. Did you notice how much activity they packed into 45 minutes of the Inauguration? The swearing-in, the Inaugural Address, performances by Lady Gaga, J-Lo, and Garth Brooks, a poem, prayers -- and that’s just off the top of my head. I think it’s a good reminder for all of us to keep our events and discussions varied in their formats and moving along at a brisk pace. It’s also possible that we don’t need as much time to express our thoughts and ideas as we think we need. Our National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman captivated the audience and recited her words in less than six minutes.

Consider engagement levels. I watched the Inauguration in the background while I worked for the most part, but paused and closely watched certain moments. It made me wonder how our audiences are engaging with events -- especially virtual ones. Is their behavior different at different moments? Or, can we capture their attention for a full session? We have incorporated interactivity in every virtual gathering to help ensure that our offerings are engaging and our executives have a chance to actively participate. Passive engagement seems to be the enemy of a robust virtual event.

We look forward to safely introducing in-person events late this year, depending on the circumstances, and remain hopeful about the vaccine helping us to return to a somewhat normal life. Personally, I think there is pent-up demand for in-person events and social gatherings -- not to mention travel -- that will benefit everyone in the events profession.

In the meantime, we are continuously refining and improving our virtual offerings and staying as agile as possible with what 2021 might bring. Check out our calendar page for the current slate of Evanta community discussions and summits. We are also busy surveying our member communities to find out their top priorities and plans for the year.  Stay tuned for the results of our proprietary Leadership Perspective Survey, which will be coming soon.