Setting Up the Live-Stream

**Setting up the live-stream** involves preparing and starting the live virtual performance.

## Preparing Screensavers

In order to maintain a professional demeanour for your live virtual performance, you will need to make a series of graphics such as:

* a title card to display before the live-stream begins.
* a title card for the intermission (if you will be having an intermission) stating how long this break will last.
* a thumbnail for the video of the live-stream.

You may choose to make these graphics yourself, or commission one of your designers to do so.

## Setting Up Your Video Call Service

Setting up your video call service is a simple but crucial aspect for your performance.

Select a video call service which meets the necessary criteria for your live virtual performance, such as:

* ability to have multiple people on a call at one time.
* ability to be live-streamed via a video streaming service.
* ability to host calls of a length necessary for your performance.

Have all members of your cast and crew sign up for this service.

## Setting Up Your Video Streaming Platform

Select a video streaming platform which meets the necessary criteria for your live virtual performance, such as:

* ability to stream video calls.
* ability to be viewed by an audience in both real-time and in rerun form at a later date.
* ability to implement password-protected privacy settings.

Sign up for an account with this platform on behalf of the entire organization.

It may take time for this platform to verify your account and allow you to host live-streams. Sign up in a timely manner to make sure that this delay will not impact your performance.

## Scheduling Your Live-Stream

Next, you will need to schedule your live-stream for the performance time that you have decided upon. Each combination of video call service and video streaming platform may have different specific methods of going about this. Consult the instructions provided by your specific services. However, most services will allow live-streams to be scheduled via these steps:

1. *On the Video Streaming Platform*
	1. Choose to create a live-stream
	2. Schedule this live-stream to begin at your chosen performance time
	3. Add your title card and thumbnail to the live-stream
	4. Add a title and description for your performance
	5. Copy the ***Stream URL*** and ***Stream Key*** in the live-stream settings
	6. Copy the URL of the live-stream as the audience will see it -- this is known as the ***Live streaming page URL***
2. *On the Video Call Service*
	1. Choose to schedule a video call for 30 minutes before the scheduled start of the performance.
	2. Open the settings for this specific video call (or "meeting")
	3. In the settings, select the option ***Custom Live Streaming Service***
	4. Paste your ***Stream URL, Stream Key***, and ***Live streaming page URL*** into the appropriate forms
	5. Save settings.

## Starting the Live-Stream

You should schedule your cast and crew to join the video call at least 30 minutes before the scheduled performance time. This will give you all time to organize yourselves and make any last minute adjustments which are necessary. Instruct the cast and crew to:

* keep their cameras turned off and microphones muted unless they are present in a scene.
* change their display names to match that of the character they are portraying.

At the scheduled performance time, the technical supervisor will, in both the video call and the streaming platform, select the option to Start Streaming.

The presenter will then introduce your organization and the performance will be shown shortly. If your performance is taking place on a piece of unceded indigenous territory, the presenter should deliver a brief acknowledgment of this fact. The presenter will then turn off their camera and mic and join the actors.

The narrator will begin reading the stage directions, and the performance will begin.

### Next Step

Maintaining and Moderating the Live-Stream

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Zoom: Livestream to YouTube or a Custom Streaming Service." *University of Minnesota,* https://it.umn.edu/services-technologies/how-tos/zoom-live-stream-youtube-or-custom. Accessed 14 December 2020.