We know virtual tasting events are an investment in connection as much as, if not more, than tasting.

And the larger the group, the harder it can sometimes be to allow for those connections.

What makes virtual events more difficult and sometimes more frustrating to connect is the one at a time nature of the conversations that can sometimes feel like we’re at a lecture rather than a social event.

We always recommend smaller groups to try to allow more talking time for guests but if budgets or timing do not align, or if you simply want a larger group to get together like a company wide social, adding a moderator can help!

CHAT, QUESTIONS, & DISCUSSION

Our guides are exceptional multitaskers, but monitoring banter to filter out questions to answer while presenting in real-time is not an easy task. Limiting the chat box to questions only however, reduces the opportunity to socialize. And while we can separate chat from Questions with some platforms like a Zoom webinar, making questions so formal also reduces the spirit and energy of a fun tasting.

Moderators can read through chat during the tasting and pick out relevant questions, even if the person typing wasn’t sure if it was a question. Sometimes discussions can lead to a relevant question that guests didn’t anticipate.

DEMONSTRATIONS

While most of us know how to drink wine, taste chocolate, sometimes we can be a bit camera shy at the start or we genuinely do not know what to do.

Our guides will demonstrate, but they also cannot easily talk with their mouth full or with a glass held up to their mouth the entire time. Moderators provide that extra reinforcement of a task and do so visibly to make the action more clear, and more comfortable for guests to follow along.

ADMIN AND TECH SUPPORT

If you have not had a guest drop off and need to re-enter, have technical issues and need support, a poll not work, or a breakout session with guests that cannot seem to enter, we would love to have your luck.

No matter how technically prepared our team is, we do not have much control over the level of technical savvy our guests will have. Having an additional person that can assist with common technical issues and questions allows the guide to get presenting so the other guests are not disrupted.

Most tastings allow a bit of time at the start for guests to log on, but once tastings start, it’s nice to have a moderator (assigned as co-host) to help with

CHEERLEADING

“Great question”, “I agree”, Love that” all those little comments help your guests feel more comfortable contributing and participating in the tasting, whether in the chat or off the chat.

Our guides are always supportive and encouraging, but an additional boost never hurts and can really help improve the participation of the group, especially in a group of guests that may not be familiar with each other like prospecting clients.

FILLING THE GAPS

A little silence is good, and to be expected in any tasting as guests are experiencing something new. Unless you’re a professional taster, most people think in terms of like or dislike when tasting, not always what they’re tasting and how to describe it, or why they like it.

We find most people may need time to find the vocabulary to start, and often are hesitant to be the first.

Moderators for the most part do not participate in the tasting discussion since time is limited and we want guests to get the majority of the discussion time. But in the rare instances when no one has any answer, sometimes it’s nice to have someone else answer and reinforce that this is an open discussion, not a presentation.

2 years of Zoom has set certain habits, and many virtual events are more watch and listen than participate but we think that’s why virtual events are often seen as something you log on and walk away.

We make every effort to encourage participation knowing that some will be hesitant but hopefully will warm up to a more engaging and memorable event.

WHEN IS A MODERATOR NOT NECESSARY

So if a moderator is great, why don’t we include them in all our tastings?

For small groups of 20 guests or less, they’re usually not necessary

Whenever possible, we always encourage small group tastings.

If the objective is to encourage socializing and connecting, a small tasting is always best and we want to keep that option affordable and efficient.

For groups of 20-50, a moderator can be an asset but may not be necessary

If the organizer is happy to co-host and help manage technical issues, re-admit any guests that drop off or late entries.

As well as potentially highlight and questions in a particularly active chat or if guests only ask questions by coming off mute.

Our guides will monitor the chat as well but sometimes if there is a lot of chatter this may slow the tasting and/or questions may be missed.

The guide will do all of the above but in the event that there are a lot of these issues, having assistance allows the guide to get things going and keep the tasting moving.

For groups of 50 or more, a moderator is automatic

Even for seasoned virtual organizers, we still insist on our moderator. At that volume of guests, questions may be tasting kit specific, “where can I purchase this?”, “can you repeat the name of the wine”, our moderators are not only trained on the various Video platforms but also on our tasting kits to assist with smaller questions that may be best as a message in the chat rather than a verbal answer.

We know Virtual Tastings are an investment and we want to help our guests plan for success.

If you have any other questions about moderators or how to improve your next virtual tasting, please contact us at thefeed@theultimatefoodguide.com or check back for more tips.