Let’s start with a hard truth most people won’t say out loud:
Hybrid events and VR “experiences” are draining your budget and your audience’s energy.
Not because the tech is bad. But because we’ve forgotten what events are actually for.
Hybrid Isn’t Innovation. It’s Indecision.
In theory, hybrid events sound like a dream.
In reality, they usually feel like a compromise that satisfies no one.
You’re juggling livestreams, virtual Q&As, chat moderation, camera angles, and tech support for two entirely different audiences—at the same time. And guess what?
💥 The in-person audience loses focus.
💥 The virtual audience gets second-rate content.
💥 Your team burns out trying to keep both from falling apart.
Let’s be honest: hybrid is cannibalising your event.
💸 The Real Cost of Going Hybrid
- Livestreaming isn’t cheap—and barely anyone watches live
- Your best content gets lost in tech delays or clunky transitions
- The magic of in-person—the buzz, the side chats, the hallway intros—is flattened
People don’t fly across the world for Zoom calls.
They come to feel something. Something live. Something electric.
Want people to actually show up next year?
Make them regret missing it.
Let Virtual Be Virtual. Let In-Person Shine.
Here’s a radical idea: Stop blending formats. Start building better ones.
- Run an amazing in-person event.
- Then, create a separate virtual version after the fact.
- No livestream. No split attention. No friction.
This way, everyone gets what they came for—without compromise.
VR & AR: Cool in a Sales Deck, Awkward in Real Life
Now, let’s talk about the other overhyped guest in the room: VR and AR.
We’ve all seen it.
That awkward “immersive” corner of the conference.
Adults in suits wearing bulky headsets, bumping into walls, pretending this is the future of engagement.
It’s not. It’s a distraction.
🤯 A Real-Life Example
At one event, someone built a VR treasure hunt to make the experience “interactive.”
What actually happened?
- People got dizzy
- The headsets glitched
- Nobody paid attention to the actual content
It looked more like a video game convention than a professional gathering.
🔥 The Truth About Gimmicks
Here’s what attendees really want:
- Real conversations, not avatars
- Useful content, not a mini metaverse
- Clear navigation, not AR overlays
If your event needs VR to feel engaging, maybe the agenda is the issue.
What Actually Works
We’ve run and attended enough events to know this:
✅ Simple wins.
✅ Great content matters more than “interactive experiences.”
✅ People come for people.
Instead of chasing buzzwords, focus on what delivers ROI every time:
- A sharp agenda
- Solid networking tools
- Thoughtful follow-up after the event
Want to be memorable?
Help attendees meet the right people, learn the right things, and feel like their time was well spent.
Bold Take: Tools, Not Toys
Technology should support your event—not compete with it.
🧠 Use AI to summarise sessions, not to run them.
📱 Use PWAs for smooth, no-download apps—not Frankenstein monsters packed with 20 features no one asked for.
🤝 Use simple attendee lists and filters to drive real connections—not random-match roulette.
TL;DR – What We Believe
- Hybrid events? Separate them. Stop trying to be everything at once.
- VR/AR? Gimmicks. Save the budget. Use it on better content and experiences.
- In-person? That’s where the magic happens. Invest there.
Let’s stop chasing trends. Let’s build events that actually work.