Live Events FAQ
Live streaming & stages
What kind of equipment is needed for a live stream on Live Events?
No special equipment is required. We recommend your speakers use earphones to limit audio feedback. Otherwise, it is similar to Zoom or any other video platform. An HD camera provides nicer output and a podcast-caliber microphone provides better audio.
You can use Live Events to broadcast live, but if you want to get more creative with overlays, embeds, and more on your broadcast - you should connect a third party stream platform such as StreamYard or OBS and broadcast into your stage.
What is the video resolution of the Live Events Studio stream?
Resolution is 1280x720
What platforms can I use to stream to the stage?
You can use any platform that supports RTMP (Real-Time Messaging Protocol). Popular platforms include Zoom, OBS, StreamYard, Twitch, Youtube Live, Vimeo Live, and Restream.
What is the best way to facilitate pre-recorded videos between guest speakers?
We recommend you use a third-party platform like StreamYard or Restream to serve as your "production control panel". You can leverage RTMP to stream from these third parties. Also, they offer more control around coordinating content.
You can also use Live Events backstage. Before the event, upload an MP4 to the content section and select that video from the backstage ("Play Media") to play. This will then add the video to your presentation and start playing it (much like it is it's own presenter). YouTube / Vimeo will not work in this scenario. Only uploaded MP4 files.
If you want to show an embedded YouTube video / Vimeo video and leave it up for good (e.g. a recording), you can go into the stage settings and change the stage type to "iFrame Embed" and input the embed code to the video. This would not auto refresh the stage for people to see - people would need to refresh or navigate away and then come back to the stage to see it.
Does Live Events allow screen shares?
Yes, on both backstage and in rooms!
Can I stream to external sites?
Yes, with the Live Events subscription. You can configure any of your stages to simulcast to 3rd party platforms like Facebook, Twitch or Youtube Live.
What does a moderator do?
Moderators can share a backstage link with any speaker that is going on-stage. This allows the speaker, guest(s) and moderator to prepare prior to going live. The moderator can simply hit broadcast to go live.
When should I use multiple stages?
Live Event’s virtual stage allows you to broadcast your sessions to over 100,000 attendees at any given time. The stage also comes with chat, Q&A & polling. So if you have an event where you need different content streaming simultaneously then, you want to have multiple stages. Note, this is only included in the Plus subscription.
Attendees
What is the experience for attendees registering for the event via my GoFundMe Pro campaign? Will they automatically get access to the venue and be signed up for the Live Events page?
Once they register via your GoFundMe Pro campaign, they are listed as an attendee in your corresponding Live event. You will share your event page URL leading up to the event date, and your guests will login to the virtual venue with the email address they registered with.
Does my Live event need to be published before supporters can register?
No, supporters register via a GoFundMe Pro campaign and the attendees will sync to the connected Live event even if that page is not published yet.
Can I connect a Live event to an existing GoFundMe Pro campaign?
Yes! After you connect a Live event and GoFundMe Pro campaign, the registration information will sync into Live Events where you can see attendee information such as name, email, and registration type.
Can I connect a Live event to any GoFundMe Pro campaign?
No, you can only connect Live event’s to a Ticketed or Registration with Fundraising campaign in GoFundMe Pro.
Do we control when attendees receive the link to the event site?
Yes! You control when you send out your event page URL. We recommend you send the event page URL leading up to the day of the event and in reminder emails.
Can an agenda be customized for a specific attendee?
Currently, every attendee sees the same agenda. However, you can show/hide links to different stages or rooms by using the "Rules" functionality, related sessions still show in the agenda.
Is there a maximum number of attendees for an event?
The maximum number of supported in-person attendees for an event is 5,000. The maximum supported for live streaming is 1,000.
Can attendees add their sessions to their calendar?
Yes! They can add agenda items to their calendar.
How can attendees donate during the event?
- Text to Donate - Post a phone number with your keyword to text. To learn more, see our guide.
- Link in the navigation menu - In your Venue settings, create a link to your donation page.
- Paddle Raise Item - In your Bidding settings, create a Paddle Raise item named “Donation” and choose how you want people to donate (specified amounts vs. an open input). Attendees will navigate to Bidding from the virtual venue and contribute.
Auctions & Bidding
For fixed priced items, are these items only available during an event on Live Events? Can we have them listed year-round?
Items can be available before, during, and after your event. However, for year-round items, we recommend you use a GoFundMe Pro Ticketed Campaign.
How does “watching” a bid work?
Watching a bid means you are watching an item you are interested in bidding on. You’ll receive notifications as bids are placed on the item via email and SMS (if you’ve opted in).
Can admins place bids for attendees?
Yes! Admins can use Add to cart to place bids on behalf of an attendee. To access Add to cart, select Onsite Tools in your event's header and select Add to Cart.
How will in-person attendees checkout their auction items?
At the beginning of the event, share the link for attendees to view the silent auction items or have them scan QR codes. Admins then have the bidders cards on file. Prompt people to check out at the end of the night via their phone. To learn more, see our guide.
Can people preview and bid on auction items before the event begins?
Yes! You can have the event open earlier and share the event link in advance to allow for bidding prior to the live portion. Go to Bidding > Items > Add Item > Set open and Bidding close at date.
How does Live Events support a Live Auction?
Live auction items are added within Live Events so that attendees can view the item and the starting bid amount. If bidding is done in person via an auctioneer, and once the winner is identified, the event admin can select the winner of the live auction item. You can then charge them for that item, or send the winner the self checkout experience.
Speakers
What are “My Sessions”?
If you are tagged as a speaker of a session, you will see My Sessions on your lobby screen. This section lists each upcoming session that you're a speaker at. You can select the session to be taken directly to the backstage (if it's on a stage) or the room (if it's in a room).
Rooms
Is there a limit to breakout rooms?
There is no limit on the number of individuals that can watch a room. However, there is a limit to how many people can actively participate in the room. Only 20 participants are allowed in a session. Max 9 participants if the session is recorded.
Networking
How can we facilitate interactive and targeted networking?
- Allow attendees to see who else is attending and reach out and chat with them directly (similar to an in-person event)
- Use the matching algorithm, based on attendee interests and questions filled out when they first arrive in the virtual venue, and make recommendations of other like minded attendees to network with.
- Create a fun speed networking lounge that allows attendees to meet and build relationships organically. You can set the number of meetings and meeting duration so everyone’s conversations stay fresh and new.
- You can allow attendees to create their own roundtables to have face to face discussions with small groups of people.
Communications
Can I send custom emails for different events?
Yes, you can create custom email templates under Settings. Go to your Attendees tab to send directly to your supporters.
Can I send texts/SMS alerts?
Yes, go to Attendees to send SMS messages before an event. Also, if you have a Plus subscription, you can use the Alerts feature to make announcements to your attendees during an event.
Are there SMS messaging limitations?
Nope!
Reporting
What kind of analytics can we track?
After your event, visit Reports within Live Events to pull several reports for your event. Live Events separates these reports into Virtual Reports, Stage Reports, and Room Reports.
If someone wins an auction bid what information is available in our reporting?
In Bidding, you have a dashboard that highlights total committed vs. paid (and breaks it down by item type). In the Transactions tab, you can see a list of all won bids, purchases and donations — you can see if it's paid / unpaid, the amount, and any other details about the person or the item. You can export this view as a CSV / XLSX. You can view an individual's cart and charge the card on file for any open items, as well.
Payment processing
If someone has a credit card on file and they pledge to give, can we process their transaction on our end or do they have to process it on their end as an attendee?
An admin can use a card on file to charge for any won bids/donation pledges/bought items. It’s Important to note that as of now we treat each won item/donation as its own transaction (to make it easier to refund, if necessary). To learn more about collecting payment on Live Events, see our guide.
Integrations
Does Live Events sync with Salesforce?
Not directly, but transaction information in Live Events does sync back to GoFundMe Pro so, if you have an active GoFundMe Pro for Salesforce integration those transactions will also flow into Salesforce. Additionally, supporters register for your event through a GoFundMe Pro campaign so, registration information will sync as usual.
Is there an integration with Twitch?
Right now, Live Events does not integrate with Twitch. However, you can embed the Twitch iFrame as your stage. So, your streaming content via Twitch will show on your Live Events stage.