Livestreaming: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What livestreaming is

A livestreaming crew sets up cameras, audio and streaming software to broadcast your event live online, monitoring quality and connection during the stream. A live crew handles the things that go wrong in a live broadcast, so the event can reach viewers who are not in the room.

Signs you need it

  • You are hosting a conference, a service or a launch and need viewers who cannot attend in person.
  • You want a live broadcast of a performance, a ceremony or a meeting with clear sound.
  • You have a hybrid event and need the online audience to see and hear the in-person speakers.
  • You need a stream run for several hours, with someone watching the connection the whole time.
  • You are launching a live session for a class, a workshop or a community event.
  • A live event needs captions, a second camera or a graphics overlay during the stream.

What the pro does

  • Checks the venue's internet connection, the power and the space for the cameras and the audio equipment.
  • Sets up the cameras, microphones and mixing equipment, and connects them to the streaming software.
  • Runs a test stream before the event, with the audio levels checked and the picture framed.
  • Monitors the stream during the event, switching cameras and adjusting sound, and watching the connection.
  • Ends the stream cleanly and provides a recording if one was agreed.

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Length of the event and the number of hours the stream runs.
  • Number of cameras and the amount of audio equipment needed.
  • Whether the stream is for one platform or several at once.
  • Quality of the venue's internet connection and whether a backup connection is needed.
  • Captions, graphics or a second operator during the stream.
  • Travel time and the setup and breakdown time at the venue.

What a written quote should spell out

  • The length of the stream and the setup and breakdown time.
  • The cameras, microphones and audio equipment included.
  • The platforms the stream goes to, and any recording delivered afterward.
  • Whether a backup connection or a test stream is included.
  • Who is responsible for the venue's connection and power, and how problems are handled.

Questions to ask before you hire

  • What is the venue's internet connection, and do you need a backup?
  • Will you run a test stream before the event?
  • Who watches the stream during the event, and what happens if the connection drops?
  • Can you add captions or graphics during the stream?
  • Will we get a recording of the stream afterward?
  • How many people do you need to run the stream, and are they included?

Red flags

  • Does not check the venue's connection before the event.
  • Runs no test stream and expects the live event to work the first time.
  • Cannot say what happens if the connection drops during the stream.
  • Promises a set number of live viewers.
  • Asks for full payment before the connection and equipment plan is agreed.

What you can do yourself

You can stream a small event from a laptop and a good microphone, with one camera on a stable tripod and a test before the day. Hire a livestreaming crew when the event is important, when several cameras or speakers are involved, or when a connection failure would be costly to the event and its speakers.

Licenses and permits

Livestreaming is not commonly licensed, so a license is usually not required for this work. Check with your state or local licensing agency about business rules that apply to you, and check the rules of the venue and the platform for recording and streaming, and ask the crew for a sample stream with its setup noted as proof of skill.

Livestreaming questions

What internet speed do I need?

It depends on the picture quality and the number of streams. Ask the crew to test the venue's connection and to recommend a level of quality, rather than relying on a general figure.

Do I need a backup connection?

For an important event, a backup connection is worth discussing. Ask the crew what backup they can set up and what it costs to add it.

Can the speakers be recorded and streamed?

Confirm with the speakers, the venue and any platform rules before the event. Tell the speakers in advance that the event will be streamed, and agree how the recording will be used.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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