NYSOFA Livestreams: Instructions for Guests

NYSOFA hosts our livestreams on YouTube. LIVE With Greg is an interview show hosted by NYSOFA Director Greg Olsen. The program is produced by NYSOFA Communications. It is presented as a lively Q&A conversation with guests who also field questions from viewers. Below are instructions for guests participating in any of NYSOFA’s livestreams.

NYSOFA's livestreams are presented live on social media using a platform called StreamYard. No additional software is required to enter the StreamYard Studio (where the show streams from), but you will need Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox as your browser, as well as a quality webcam and audio to participate. See other tech requirements here. If you have any questions about these technical requirements, please contact NYSOFA Communications well in advance of the show date. For each show, guests will receive a unique, program-specific link to our StreamYard studio.

NYSOFA will reach out to guests to schedule show dates and topics.

NYSOFA will also schedule a separate pre-meeting which all guests must attend in advance of the show date (at least one week prior). The pre-meeting will take place in StreamYard (a program-specific link will be shared with guests) to:

• Discuss needed show assets and deadlines (see below).
• Do a tech check (a quality check of the guest's webcam shot, audio, and Internet stability).
• Discuss the overall run-of-show and other instructions.

NYSOFA's livestreams are mostly conversational. Guests may use a slide presentation, per instructions from the host; however, the emphasis is on dialogue with the host and guest. (Think of it more as a TV show and less as a webinar.)

To make the shows engaging, NYSOFA Communications uses supplemental video footage, photographs, text banners, and other multimedia as visual highlights to accompany the conversation.

NYSOFA will also ask guests to provide us with a list of questions or discussion points in advance as a focus of the interview. These will all be discussed during the pre-meeting.

Upon scheduling the show, NYSOFA Communications will provide guests with a deadline for submitting these and other assets. Assets must meet NYSOFA technical requirements, or they may not be used.

NYSOFA Communications reserves the right to make editorial decisions about the quality or appropriateness of assets. Below are some further technical requirements:

• All assets should be sent in one email with a .zip folder or link to a file-sharing platform (i.e. Dropbox or Google Drive). Please follow all submission guidelines and deadline requirements for your show assets to be included.
   
• All photos should be in .JPEG format.
   
• All videos should be in .MP4 format. Please send source video files, not YouTube links.
   
• If submitting a PowerPoint, please use the template provided by NYSOFA communications (template available upon request).
   
• Please also submit: guest bios for lower thirds, and up to 7 "banners" (35 words or less), which are short text tags that will flash on the screen to emphasize points made in the conversation. Banner text can include website addresses, data, or any messaging that is presentable as a bullet point.
   
• Please be sure to review all submissions for accuracy and completeness before submitting. 
   

For more information, download our technical specifications sheet. 

Technical Specifications

NYSOFA Communications will be staffing the StreamYard studio an hour before showtime for any guests who would like to arrive early for a final tech check.

All guests must enter the studio no later than a half hour before air time for a final pre-show review of assets and “run-of-show.” At that time, NYSOFA Communications will review show expectations and additional instructions.

NYSOFA Communications makes every effort to post program promos well in advance on NYSOFA social media. Please use these promos to encourage participation and sharing by your audience.

NYSOFA Communications can provide you with a program link, sample promotional copy, and other information to post on social media, promote on your website or include in your organization’s newsletter.

Contact Alex Hyatt, NYSOFA’s Assistant Director of Communications, at [email protected].