﻿Hosting a webinar is a big deal, and with all the features available in Zoom Webinars,
you might need some prep time out of view from your attendees.
Practice Session and Backstage provide the behind-the-scenes experience you
need to work your webinar magic! Backstage requires a Zoom Events license
and will only be available if your administrator has enabled it.
From the Webinar section of Zoom.us, schedule your webinar.
Under Options, check the box titled, “Before webinar starts,
hosts and panelists can access”
Next, select Practice Session OR Backstage. How do you know which option is right for you?
Let’s dive into each feature, starting with Practice Session first.
I’ll click Schedule and begin the Practice Session on the next page.
Practice Session provides time in the webinar window to become familiar with
host controls and prepare material before attendees can join the webinar.
Once the host starts the Practice Session, the co-host and panelists can join.
Upon scheduling the webinar, Panelists and Co-hosts receive an email with a unique webinar
link, allowing them to join the Practice Session, the same is true when you select Backstage.
If they use the standard invitation link to join the webinar, they will enter as an
attendee once the Practice Session ends and the webinar begins.
Now is a great time to prepare your slide deck, test your video and audio,
create a quiz or poll, and coach panelists on their webinar duties.
Once you are set up and ready for attendees to join, click Start Webinar.
If your webinar will be a juggling act of managing various speakers,
polls, and other cool features throughout the webinar, Backstage may be more appropriate.
Return to edit your webinar and update your selection.
Backstage requires a Zoom Events license and will only be available
if your administrator has enabled it.
Upon joining Backstage, you will notice two screens in the window.
The top screen will show the webinar as the audience sees it,
the Off Air icon will appear until the host or co-host starts the webinar.
The bottom screen will show the backstage area.
While here, members cannot be seen or heard by the audience.
Like Practice Session, Backstage provides time for the host,
co-host, and panelists to prepare for the webinar before attendees can join.
Once ready, the host or co-host can click Start Webinar.
Unlike Practice Session, Backstage continues throughout the webinar providing the host,
co-host, and panelists with a virtual backstage to chat while the live webinar continues at a
lower volume in the background. Just like a real-life backstage!
By selecting the three dots on a panelist’s video, the host or co-host can send backstage
members to present in the webinar, where the audience can see and hear them.
Since I can only share my screen in the webinar, I will press Webinar to move over,
then share my screen to present to the audience.
Once I’m done, I can click Backstage to return.
Backstage allows you to launch polls, answer the Q&A, and manage other
features behind the scenes.
To bring a presenter backstage, find their name in the participant list, click more, and select Move Backstage.
When ending the webinar, you will see three options:
End for All, causing the webinar to end entirely,
End Webinar for Attendees, meaning Panelists and Co-hosts can stick around to chat,
or Leave Webinar, providing you with a getaway while the webinar continues.
Looks like we’re all done here. Ciao!