At the insightful session led by @Georgie-Ann Getton, founder and CEO of GSD Solutions, during the conference Mastering Seamless Hybrid Event Production: Tools, Strategies, and Workflows, at @InfoComm,  attendees were encouraged to rethink what hybrid events actually require—beyond tech hype and surface-level production.

Drawing from years of practical experience, Georgie-Ann offered a no-fluff roadmap to executing hybrid events that truly work—for both audiences. 

Zoom Events: Not Just a Fancy Zoom Meeting

The session kicked off with a clarification that many in the industry still overlook: Zoom Events is not the same as a Zoom Meeting. It’s a separate, full-fledged event platform designed for hybrid, in-person, and virtual gatherings—with features that go far beyond name and email registration.

From ticketing and check-in processes to surveys, analytics, and production tools, Zoom Events gives producers a powerful backend infrastructure. Crucially, it allows for high-end production setups (via OBS, vMix, and other RTMP streams), while keeping the front-end familiar for users logging in through Zoom.

Georgie-Ann’s message was clear: clients want simplicity. The tech should work beautifully behind the scenes, but not get in the way of the user experience. If attendees can’t easily log in or engage, the event fails—no matter how slick it looks backstage. 

Certifications: Your Fast Track to Platform Mastery

Georgie-Ann also highlighted the growing importance of certifications—not for status, but for effectiveness. Whether you're working with platforms like Cvent, Zoom, or RingCentral, certifications offer a direct path to learning what matters most:

• Key features

• Platform limitations

• Native integrations

In a fast-paced production environment, certifications can act as "cheat codes," helping producers quickly identify what tools are available and how to use them. This means better client service and more strategic planning—without needing to learn everything the hard way.

The Truth About Hybrid Events: You’re Producing Two Events

One of the biggest mindset shifts Georgie-Ann urged attendees to make is this:

A hybrid event isn’t one event—it’s two.

Each audience—virtual and in-person—requires a distinct experience. They intersect at moments, yes, but they also need dedicated content flows, support teams, and engagement strategies.

Georgie-Ann asked:

• What kind of engagement do you want from your in-person attendees?

• How do you want your virtual audience to connect?

• And most importantly, where and when do those groups interact?

This level of planning informs your entire workflow: the tools you use, the platforms you choose, and how your team is staffed. And while AV teams might crave cutting-edge gear, if it’s not usable for attendees with basic tech skills, it’s not the right choice.

Designing for Everyone: Accessibility is Not Optional

Georgie-Ann also previewed her upcoming session on captioning and accessibility, underscoring that accessibility must be built into hybrid events from the start.

Many assume captions or translations are only needed for select audiences—but research shows that everyone benefits when this content is made available. Still, people don’t often request these features—because they don’t want to stand out.

That’s why producers must lead the conversation. Budget for captions. Ask about translation needs. Think through visual accessibility—like color contrast and font size—so that slides are legible for both on-site viewers and those watching on a phone.

Small Touches, Big Impact

One example Georgie-Ann shared: a recent hybrid event featured slides filled with QR codes. Great for in-person engagement—terrible for virtual users watching from a laptop or mobile device. The fix?

“Drop the actual link into the virtual chat for every QR code used on site.”

Small adjustments like this make a big difference in how inclusive and effective your event is.

Escalation Protocols: Prepare for the Worst

To wrap up, Georgie-Ann emphasized the importance of escalation protocols—what to do when things go wrong. In hybrid events, you have multiple teams (on-site and virtual), and things will break.

• Who has the authority to make decisions?

• What goes on the screen if the stream goes down?

• Where are your backup slides?

• If the power fails in the venue, what happens to the livestream?

She shared a cautionary tale: during a high-profile VC pitch event, a brand-new platform crashed mid-session. Thankfully, her team had created a backup Zoom + YouTube workflow, and they pivoted live—saving the event.

Her message was firm:

“Failing to prepare is preparing to fail. In hybrid events, redundancy isn’t overkill—it’s professionalism.”

Final Takeaway: Intention Wins

Georgie-Ann Getton’s session was more than just technical tips—it was a call for intentional event design. From workflows to staffing, from platform knowledge to audience accessibility, success in hybrid production comes from anticipating needs and planning every detail—without sacrificing simplicity.

Whether you're a seasoned producer or new to hybrid events, this session delivered one clear message:

When you plan with empathy, execute with clarity, and prepare for failure—you set yourself (and your attendees) up for success.