Creating a virtual event on Cya Live is easy! Whether you want to watch a video with friends, host a yoga session, have a cook-off, or just spend the night chatting away, Cya Live is the perfect one-stop platform for all your needs. With the lowest latency on the web, you can connect with others with no interruptions and share the moments in real-time. Once you’ve created a free account on cya.live, follow this guide to create your first virtual event.
STEP 1
From the homepage, click on the camera icon located in the top right corner of the page. You should see your profile picture to the right if you have successfully created an account and logged in.
STEP 2
Click on the event button to get started.
If you’re looking to create a room, which is instant and more user friendly, click here.
An “Event” allows you to create a virtual event right away or for a specific date and time. Events include more features than rooms, including type of content available, customization, and security measures. Events are perfect for larger audiences. You can customize your event with these settings:
• Public or private
• Free or paid
• Number of tickets available
• Number of moderators
• Content to be used during the event
Unlike a room, you can also share your screen and work on Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides in real-time.
Choose this option if you are hosting a class, a seminar, or a watch party with many attendees. An event allows you to plan content and invite users in advance.
Events feature additional security measures to ensure your event goes smoothly with no interruptions. You can mute or kick users and even have the option of interviewing attendees privately before allowing them to go on stage. This is to ensure that everyone’s microphone and video quality are up to your standards.
STEP 3:
There are 4 mini-steps to go through when creating an event. You can also skip any step with the “Skip” button at the bottom of the page.
1. General Information
In this step, you can customize the event and add details. Start by giving your event a catchy title, then add a date and time you are planning to host the event. The end time for events are not definite—you can end your event before or after the time you specified.
Don’t forget to choose a time zone if you’re expecting visitors from all around the globe. This will automatically translate the event time into the user’s time zone to reduce any confusion.
You can also add a description for your event to help others learn more about your event. You can also add links to any important pages users may need to look over before the event.
2. Add Visuals
You can also add a fun poster or image to your event. This can include the event name or just a regular photo to help users quickly identify the purpose of the event. If you have a trailer or a teaser ad, you can also add a video—this works especially well when users have to purchase a ticket, as they can see what to expect.
3. Choosing Roles
In this section, you can add hosts or moderators who will help you run your event. Moderators can push content onto the main screen. Moderators can also access security features that allow them to mute, kick, or admit users. This way, event hosts can focus on delivering the content and connecting with others with no distractions.
You can invite up to 5 people in with these positions, but 1 moderator per event is usually sufficient depending on the attendance.
This option works well for those who want to co-host, do a Q&A, or interview with others.
4. Ticketing
In this step, you can choose if your event will be paid or free. If your event is paid, you can also choose the dollar amount you will charge.
Click on “Publish” and you’re all done!
You can now see your event on your profile, along with any events you have hosted in the past. Other users can become friends with you or follow your profile to stay up to date on any future events you may post.
If your event is currently live, a green “.LIVE” button will appear, letting users know they can join right away.
STEP 4
Hang in there. You’re almost done! The last step is to select the type of content you will be using for your event. You can currently share an image, listen to an mp3 file, watch a YouTube video, share your screen, or work on Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides in real-time. You can also view websites together while still having the ability to click into individual links through Cya Live’s multi-way windows. Support for Netflix will soon be available as well. React together through video or text chat in the right-sidebar.
With the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic still lingering in our lives, it’s fair to say that the movie and entertainment industry has taken a large leap away from physical viewings and into at-home virtual screenings. But are you really ready to say goodbye to the bittersweet feelings of finding your seat in a dark auditorium, paying $10 for a soda, or shushing the chatty couple above you? The answer is simple: yes.
We’ve listed out the top movie theatre pros and cons to put this debate to an end once and for all. Let’s get right into it!
Movie theatre PROS:
Buttery movie-theatre-style popcorn, baby!
Ravioli ravioli give me the formuoli… alright, we’ll give it to them this time, but it’s fair to say that the irreplaceable, irrefutable theatre popcorn is what keeps 90% of movie-goers coming back for more. While the taste of this magical concoction is undeniably loved by all, let’s admit it… the dreaded price tag is not!
AVX, IMAX, 3D, 4D, and D-BOX:
Okay, so it might be a little difficult to recreate the 57 by 72-foot screen IMAX experience on your 13-inch MacBook Pro…
Movie theatre CONS:
The dreaded bathroom break…
Picture this: you’re half an hour into a two-and-a-half-hour movie when mother nature decides that it’s time to go. Caught between missing the tragic backstory of the movie’s heroine and a potentially tragic accident of your own, you begin to panic. We’ve all been there. Whether it’s reading the synopsis ahead of the show and strategically planning your 30-second bathroom break, or begging your friends to fill you in on the last two minutes of the grand fight, our inability to control the playback of movies definitely deserves number 1 on the movie theatre cons list.
Unruly neighbors…
Be it Suzie Seatkicker, Harvey Hogger, Tammy Texter, or Sally Soundtrack, we’ve all experienced our fair share of movie-theatre annoyances.
Non-gourmet foods at gourmet price points…
I love my movie snacks as much as the next person but $10 for a bag of m&ms and $20 for a regular popcorn and drink combo? Something’s not right here… While some decide to bite the expensive bullet and splurge on their bi-weekly movie theatre trips, sneaking snacks into movie theatres should qualify as an official Olympic sport if you ask me.
Unwarranted trailers…
We get it, movie trailers are a great way to get audiences excited for their films and upcoming releases, but is it really necessary to play a trailer of The Nun right before my Saturday afternoon viewing of Peter Rabbit?
The Verdict:
As much as we loved our time at the theatres as kids, growing up has helped us realize two things: 1) technology has evolved like crazy, and 2) our tolerance for others has probably decreased collectively throughout the years. While COVID-19 created a push away from movie theatres, virtual online viewing platforms have taken the world by storm. With higher quality resolution and top films available at our fingertips, the demand for movie theatres has undeniably gone down. Watch parties have gone virtual, allowing friends and family to get together and enjoy content without leaving their own homes. Homebodies can remain homebodies, movie lovers can continue to indulge in the latest films, and meaningful connections can continue to be made.
While this year has brought us all a series of unprecedented changes, there’s one thing that doesn’t have to change: the way we connect with each other. As the world has gone virtual in the last year, who’s to say that we can’t still come together and host awesome events online?
The only distance we should be worrying about is the distance between us and the screens that work hard to bridge the gaps between loved ones! Virtual events open up a whole new realm of possibilities that aren’t dependant on location—it’s time to let everyone in on the fun!
Without further ado, here are 10 tips for creating an awesome event—virtual edition!
1. Plan your main event. Virtual viewing? Q-n-A session? The online world is your oyster!
First things first, is there an occasion to celebrate? A new movie release? A teambuilding session? A special birthday, perhaps? While having a set occasion provides the perfect excuse to host an event, you could always create an occasion of your own. Haven’t caught up friends or family in a while? Why not get together for an event-filled catch-up session? Every day is a special occasion if you make it one! Whether you’re hosting a movie-viewing with friends and coworkers to celebrate the newest Marvel release or getting your family together for a cooking party to learn grandma’s secret pie recipe, the possibilities are endless!
2. Strategically set the date/time – mind time zone differences and always be specific.
One of the biggest conveniences of virtual events is the ability to tune in to a single place from anywhere in the world. However, with great power comes great responsibility! Don’t forget to set your event date and time strategically to accommodate your guests. Mind the time zone differences around the world and don’t forget to take into account things like children’s bedtimes or work hours. Early evening events or weekend afternoons tend to be popular times—if you’re ever unsure, don’t be afraid to survey around for guest availabilities!
3. Set a theme – interactions and engagement are key!
The best events always have the coolest themes! Hosting a watch party? Set a fun dress code!
Relaxing with a virtual game night? Pre-set themes for each of your teams! Setting a unique theme for your event prompts engagement and allows everyone to take part. Costume parties are a classic among both children and adults—you can even incorporate voting and prizes to encourage attendees to participate!
4. Select your tech and event platform carefully.
Keeping in touch has never been so easy thanks to virtual conferencing platforms! Be it getting in touch with family members abroad or kicking back to relax with a trivia night with friends, there seems to be a platform for everything nowadays—but is there an all-in-one platform that can do all these things and more? We did some digging and here’s what we found!
Cya Live
Cya Live is a multi-way live events platform that brings all event possibilities to life! Cya Live’s technology closely mimics in-person experiences by bringing users 4K quality content while allowing users to simultaneously interact with each other through video chat and text—all in real-time! Click 
