The Secret Sauce to Hosting Virtual Events (Without Boring Everyone to Death)

We’ve all sat through those webinar events where the host has slow and sleepy energy, reading slides in their monotone-best like they’re the terms and conditions. After producing hundreds of virtual events for ArtCenter College of Design, Adobe, TypeEd, and now my Cheers & Tiers podcast, I’ve learned that being a great host isn’t about being perfect—it's about being perfectly human.

1. Be the Voice of Your Audience & Be Aware of Their Needs

Remember when you were in school and too scared to ask “dumb” questions? Well, that’s your job now. Be that person who asks what everyone’s thinking but is too afraid to type in chat. When a guest starts throwing around fancy jargon, jump in with, “Can you break that down for us mere mortals?” Your audience will love you for it.

The host is the audience’s voice, whether customers or students. It’s your job to translate the information into something easily digestible for attendees in a way that makes sense to their demographic, standing, or situation. Typically, I will try to translate design, typography, and/or video editing terminology into concepts understood by everyday people. Also, a little sign language at the top and bottom of the show can help demonstrate empathy towards those who are hard of hearing.

• Be a student and ask dumb questions

• Be a journalist and dig deep

• Translate answers, decipher acronyms, clarify last names, and simplify complex terms

• Be aware of who your audience is and paraphrase for them

2. Make It Feel Like a Party

Nobody wants to attend another boring webinar where they feel like they’re watching paint dry or watch a presenter fumble around with their camera settings or slides. Treat your digital event as if you’ve cleaned and prepped for the party that you’re hosting in your living room, and make sure your friends are comfortable and enjoying themselves:

• Kick things off with a countdown timer and ambient music to confirm for guests that they showed up on time and their audio is working

• Greet people by name as they pop into chat

• Share inside jokes that develop during the session

• Create little moments of delight (“Oh my gosh, is that a cat walking across your keyboard?”)

• Make people feel like they’re part of something, not just watching something passively

3. Master the Technical Tango and Don’t Panic

Look, things will go wrong. Your guest’s internet will die mid-profound statement. Someone will forget they’re on mute (there’s ALWAYS one). The key is to handle it with grace and humor:

• Have backup plans for your backup plans (my Technical Director, David Carr-Berry, always makes sure we have triage procedures for every disaster)

• Learn to tap dance (metaphorically) while fixing technical issues, refer back to earlier chat conversations, or have some back-pocket content ready

• Keep the energy flowing even when everything’s falling apart. Your chat moderator can help entertain the masses, too

• If you don't make it a big deal, your audience won’t either, or they won’t even notice!

4. Read the Virtual Room Like a Pro

You can’t feel the energy in the room like you can in person, but you can:

• Watch the chat vibe. Are people engaging? Confused? Making dad jokes?

• Notice when energy dips. Time for a quick trivia question or poll!

• Observe when something’s not landing (Pivot! Pivot! PIVOT!)

• Keep an eye on time without constantly checking your watch

5. Be Authentically YOU

You don't need to be Jimmy Fallon or Oprah. Your audience can smell fake enthusiasm from a mile away. Instead:

• Let your genuine excitement shine through

• Share relevant personal stories

• Make mistakes and laugh about them (audiences love this if you are quick to recover)

• Show your human side (Yes, we all saw your kid/cat/dog in the background)

Lastly, my favorite part...

6. Engage Like You’re Getting Paid Per Interaction

Because honestly, that’s kind of the point of doing things live. Otherwise, you could’ve just made a TikTok or YouTube video.

• Ask questions that make people think (not just nod off)

• Create moments for audience participation

• Use polls, chat, and Q&A features like they’re going out of style, but don’t overwhelm them with tools

• Make inside jokes with your regular attendees (they’ll feel special!)

The Bottom Line

The best hosts don’t have the perfect lighting or the most expensive microphones (though those don’t hurt). They’re the ones who make everyone feel like they are part of something special, even if they’re joining from their kitchen table in their pajama pants.

Remember, we’re not just hosting events; we’re creating experiences that make people forget they are staring at a screen. Be aware of your guests’ needs and make them feel comfortable. That’s what great hosts do.

And hey, if all else fails, remember—at least no one can see that you’re still in YOUR pajama pants 😉

What makes you tune into virtual events? What keeps you engaged? Did I miss anything in this list? Log in to comment!