Hosting a livestream event is one of the best ways to deliver value to your network. This article provides some "how to" and "best practices" information on how to create and run a livestream event.
Things to Know
Live Stream Events use Honeycommb's RTMP technology and live streaming software of your choice. Your Honeycommb mobile application can not be used to livestream the event.
A stream key & stream URL will be used to enter into your streaming software. The stream key & stream URL will direct your livestream to your Honeycommb network.
Software like OBS, Streamyard, or even Zoom can use the stream key & stream URL to stream your desktop livestream into your network.
Create a Livestream Event
This will be an abbreviated "how to". To see all the instructions on how to create an event, see "Creating and Editing an Event".
In the Control Center, go to Events.
Click the "Create New Event" button on the top right and select "Livestream". This will bring you to the event's edit page.
Complete all the required and desired information and click "Save Draft" to save your event. You will later click "Publish Event" when ready to share the event information with community members.
After you "Save Draft" you will be taken to the event information page. The Stream Key & Stream URL that will be entered into your streaming software can be found here.
When the event details are complete, make the livestream event available to your network by clicking the "Publish Event" button on the event details page.
Before your event, enter the Stream Key and Stream URL into your streaming software. Once you click "Go Live!" or "Start Streaming" in your streaming software, the network will pickup on the stream and your Livestream post will be available to your network members.
NOTE: Even though the event has a start time, this does not mean the livestream will begin then. The livestream will only begin when the network sees the stream is connected and streaming. This means you can even start the livestream early so that you're ready to go when the event is supposed to begin.To end your livestream, first end it in your network either by;
In your Control Center, go to Posts > click the livestream post in the table > click the "End Livestream" button in the top right.
-or-
View the livestream post in the network logged in as profile the livestream author and click the "End Livestream" at the bottom of the viewport.
Be sure also to click the "Stop Streaming", "End Call", or "End Livestream" button in the streaming software you're using.
Livestreaming Software
The reason Honeycommb used RTMP technology is to give you complete control over your members' livestream experience. Using tools like OBS allows you to create a simple live stream using your computer's onboard camera and microphone or far more creative live streams using any format, multiple cameras, including your computer's desktop, graphics and animations, multiple microphones, and on and on.
There is a handful of streaming software where you can plug in a stream key and stream URL to stream to. A few of the most common are below.
Free
Multi-camera, image, and audio
Multi-streaming
Learning curve: Medium
Free option (limited)
Multi-camera
Multi-streaming
Learning curve: Low to Medium
Zoom
See "Livestreaming With Zoom" Help Center article
Pro Zoom account required
Multi-person video interface
Learning curve: Low to Medium
Best Practices
A few notes on things to consider when managing your desktop livestream event.
Make sure your wifi connection is solid. Turn off all unnecessary applications on your computer as applications like OBS can be very memory intensive.
Use a good microphone. They can be inexpensive while improving the quality a ton.
Test your setup by creating a livestream post in a private group. It can take a minute to get comfortable with livestreaming setups if you're new to it.
When ending your livestream, make sure to end the stream in your streaming software AND by clicking the "End Livestream" button either in the Control Center of on the livestream when logged in as the account that's streaming.
For networks with mobile apps, create a scheduled mobile notification, scheduled a few minutes before the event, that has a tap target pointed to the event. Find notifications in Engage > Mobile Notifications.
Edit the description of the event in the Control Center to include something like "NOW LIVE!" 5-10 minutes before the event. This will force the system to send an email to all RSVPs of "I'm Going" and "Interested" to remind them of the event.
Start your stream 5-10 minutes before the scheduled event start time. This allows members to follow the notifications to the event.
Start your livestream with a quick story that doesn't pertain to the meat of the livestream. This allows stragglers a few minutes to join before the event truly kicks off.
It's also nice to have someone help you manage the livestream, especially if the chat feature is on. It can be hard to host your livestream and manage the chat stream at the same time.
Good luck! Have fun with it. And be kind to yourself. Members with love seeing and hearing from you and your guests!