Virtual Gatherings
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Introduction
We live in a day and age where it seems as if everyone’s life is busy and hectic. People may not have the luxury of getting together with friends as often as they would like. But, that doesn’t mean they have to miss out on being creative too! A Makers’ Studio has taken “creative” and “gathering” to a whole new level. For Hosts with busy friends, the Internet is the solution! Through Virtual Gatherings, she can invite her friends and family to a workshop filled with fun, fellowship, and DIY – all without ever leaving home. Your Host will be delighted to learn that she still earns free and discounted product through our Reward & Redecorate Host Incentive Perks without having to prepare for a traditional, in-person Creative Gathering! A Makers’ Studio has partnered with Zoom to help you hold easy, simple, and exciting Virtual Gatherings. Not only will your virtual attendees be able to work and learn alongside you live, they can also see their fellow attendees. And that’s not all – you can seamlessly share your screen, too, so all your guests will see the PowerPoint presentation and instructions as you go along! Each virtual workshop can be a maximum of two hours (120 minutes). This provides more than enough time to create, show your presentation, and answer any questions your attendees may have. Look out, world! Your A Makers’ Studio business can now travel the nation – all from the comfort of YOUR home!
• Before the Virtual Gathering .
Complete these tasks as soon as you book the event.
Have a planning session with your Host Choose a date and time for the Virtual Gathering Decide the theme they want for the event Discuss how each of their friends and family will be invited • Will they be invited via email, social media posts, your hosts contact list, traditional mail or a variety of these methods? • Ask your Host to post about the workshop on their Facebook page and other social media sites they use. Be sure to ask them to friend you if you aren’t already connected – this way more people can see these posts! •
Explain that invitees can accept the invitation and order their Workshop Kit immediately… and that your Host should encourage them to do so every time she shares about the event.
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Let her know that invitees can go online and place orders ON THE EVENT even if they won’t be able to make it live: •
Your Host gets credit for these purchases.
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The order will be shipped within our current shipping window, which means they don’t have to wait for the event to be held for their order to be on the way!
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Invitee CAN order a Workshop Kit even if they don’t attend the Virtual Gathering.
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Invitee can order products of their choice to complete projects at home.
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And of course, the invitee can order BOTH the Workshop Kit and individual products!
Help your Host plan out when to send reminders to her invitees and put these dates on her calendar or planner. We recommend sending reminders at these key times: •
A week before the event
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Three days before the event
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The day of the event
Set goals with your Host for which rewards she wishes to work towards through the event • What piece will she be restoring or redecorating after the event? • What products will she need to accomplish her task? •
This enables you and your Host to work together towards specific sales and booking goals.
• Add up the total cost of the products she needs for her project plus any other products your Host may be wanting. •
This will give you both a sales target to work towards at the Virtual Gathering!
Send out the invitations Go to Maker Studio University (MSU) and find the link for your Virtual Gatherings Form • Fill out the Google form and submit it to the Home Office. • The Home Office will reply back with your unique Zoom meeting information. • MAKE SURE YOU COPY AND PASTE THE ZOOM INFORMATION INTO YOUR INVITATIONS no matter what method of inviting you choose. • Put this information in the caption of your Facebook posts for the Virtual Gathering. • Remind attendees that they may need to log on a few minutes before the event starts in order to download the Zoom application if they are a new user. This will ensure the best possible video and audio experience for all your guests!
Leading a Virtual Gathering 30 Minutes before the event
Have everything you need for the virtual workshop set up and ready to use • Test your camera angles. • Load your PowerPoint presentation. • Gather all your workshop materials and tools. • Keep your email open in case attendees have questions or issues about accessing Zoom.
Have Zoom up and running at least ten minutes before the event’s start time. You’re sure to get early arrivals and you will want to make them feel welcome! •
Start recording the workshop so that you can share with invitees who couldn’t make it live.
• Invite your Host onto Zoom at this time. • Answer any last-minute questions from attendees. •
Both you and your Host should greet each guest as they arrive. •
This gives YOU a great chance to get to know each attendee and their reasons for joining in!
• Explain that guests may want to mute themselves from the Zoom dashboard when not interacting with you or their fellow attendees.
10 Minutes at the start of the event
Briefly introduce yourself (you will share more about yourself later) • Thank your Host for inviting you to do a Virtual Gathering with her family and friends. • Ask each attendee to introduce themselves and say where they are from and how they know your Host. • Share a bit about yourself, your family, and how you know your Host. • Explain a bit about Amy and A Makers’ Studio. Start with YOU and your personal ties to A Makers’ Studio. •
What you love about being creative
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How you heard about A Makers’ Studio
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WHY you decided to become a Maker
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What you LOVE about your business
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What you LOVE about Virtual Gatherings
Approximately 1-1 ½ Hours let the fun begin – it’s time for the workshop!
Instruct everyone to open their Workshop Kits and lay the items out on their workspace • Begin creating alongside them. • Use your presentation to lead the event via screen share. •
You can go back and forth between your live screen and the PowerPoint at the appropriate times
Talk about your business and plant seeds about how attendees can get involved… thread your messages into the conversation when appropriate • Talk about the other workshops you have available. • Let your audience know about the MANY benefits of being a Maker. • Share about some of the things you’ve created. •
You may want to create a portfolio of your different projects so your guests can browse and get ideas
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Show Before & After images if you can – people love to see the transformations that A Makers’ Studio makes possible!
• Talk about how EASY it is to be a Host. •
Mention some of the highlights of Reward & Redecorate Host Incentives Program
• Ask guests which pieces in their homes they would like to rescue and restore. •
This is a great way to plant the seed that they may want to host their own Virtual Gathering. They can then receive the products they need for that project FREE or at a great discount!
5 minutes end the event
Thank your guests for attending Invite attendees to show their work onscreen Compliment your guests’ creations
Extend one more invitation to join your Maker Family • You can say something like this: “I have a spend program, a save program and an earn program! Let me help you plan your rescue project and I’ll help you SPEND money. But if you’d like, I’ll help you plan your rescue project and help you SAVE money as one of my future Hosts! But, best yet, I will help you EARN money – let’s plan your next rescue project AND get you signed up as the newest Maker on my team. THAT’S the way to EARN money!!!”
Have attendees place their orders online. • You can even share your own screen and show them exactly how to shop on your Maker website! • Be available to answer questions about the products or make purchasing recommendations for them based on their goals.
After the Event
Follow Up and Show Your Appreciation Follow up with your Host within 24-48 hours • Choose the date you will close the Creative Gathering. • Provide any additional help your Host needs in making her incentives selections. • Ask for referrals so you can make future bookings. • Invite your Host to be a Maker. • Email your attendees to share your appreciation. Here you can include a link to the recording of the workshop. •
Help your Host plan a reminder to attendees about when the event will close. You don’t want anyone to miss out on the Virtual Gatherings specials you shared!
Holding Virtual Gatherings is the modern way to grow your business. You don’t have to be “techy” or a Zoom veteran. You don’t even have to know what Zoom is yet – it’s that easy! However, if it makes you more comfortable, plan a time to “rehearse” a Virtual Gathering with another Maker on your team or with your Leader. We can’t wait to see your Virtual Gatherings AND your phenomenal success!