Hi Leslie,
I admire your fortitude! I tried rehearsing via Meets for an on-line, streaming performance but found their were too many issues with lagging, sound balance, etc. Instead I'm going the pre-recorded/edited route.
If Zoom is more appropriate for your production, due to its many "bells and whistles" then why not record it via Zoom and then upload that recording? I would argue that a live-streamed performance in any platform is inferior to a pre-recorded and edited upload. True, the thrill of a "live" performance is lost, but even at the professional level, such live events are problematic.
If you are set on broadcasting live, then ask your administration if extra-curricular events are also prevented from using Zoom. There may be a loop-hole worth exploring.
Break a leg!!
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Josh Ruben, M. Ed.
Fine Arts Head
Northwest Whitfield HS (dba, The Northwest Theatre Co.)
Tunnel Hill, GA
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Original Message:
Sent: 10-17-2020 18:55
From: Leslie Kane
Subject: Google Meet for Performance
Hello!
I am having some difficulty convincing my school that Google Meets simply doesn't have the capabilities that we need to put on a virtual production and that Zoom has features (such as hide video participants, virtual backgrounds and renaming actors/characters) that are essential to creating the best virtual show we can. If forced to use Google Meet to pre-record our show... we'll do our best, but does anyone have any experience using Meet for their show and/or any other selling points for why Zoom (or another platform) is superior?
I have high hopes for this production and would hate for the quality to be diminished because we can't use a different platform. I haven't heard of any other schools using Meet for theater performances, but maybe they're out there and it's not as bad as I think.
Thanks for sharing your experiences!
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Leslie
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