Speaking on Contrast

Quick start guide if you been invited to speak on Contrast

Written by Tim Minton
Updated over a month ago

This guide provides step-by-step instructions for using the webinar studio to manage your live sessions, engage your audience, and brand your content.

🎥 Watch our quick start guide:

Speaking on Contrast - YouTube

1. Initial Setup and Access

Accessing the Studio

You can enter the studio in two ways:

• Click the Share button in the top right corner of the platform.
• Go to the Events tab and click the Enter Studio button for your specific event.

Camera and Microphone Setup

1. Upon joining, you will be directed to a setup page.
2. Click Accept to allow the platform to use your camera and microphone.
3. Enter your name.
4. Click to enter the studio.

Note: The studio acts as a "green room." Viewers cannot see or hear you until you hit the Go Live button. You can use this time to set up your branding and engagement features.

2. Managing the Backstage Area

The Backstage area is located on the left side of the studio.

• On Stage vs. Backstage: Only participants inside the white middle rectangle (the stage) are visible and audible to the audience. Participants in the backstage area are hidden from the audience.
• Production Uses: Use the backstage to keep speakers hidden during an intro by an MC, then bring them "on stage" for a produced effect.
• Moderator Role: A moderator can stay backstage to manage the chat, polls, and CTAs without ever appearing on camera.
• Layouts: Use the layout buttons at the bottom of the screen to change the look and feel of the stage.

3. Branding Your Session

Click the Brand button on the right to customize the session's appearance:

• Set brand colors and fonts.
• Upload your logo.
• Toggle speaker names on or off.
• Change the session background.

Branding settings will automatically apply to engagement features like polls and questions. These settings are typically copied over when you create new webinars.

4. Utilizing Engagement Features

Audience Chat and Q&A

• Interaction: You can chat with the audience even before going live.
• Moderation: Hover over a message to delete it if necessary.
• Chat to Stage: Hover over a message and click the green plus (+) button to display a question or comment directly on the stage. This uses your brand styles.
• Q&A Queue: Click the bookmark icon on a message to add it to the Q&A queue for later use.

Speaker Chat

Use the Speaker Chat tab for private communication between studio participants. This is not visible to the audience.

Polls, CTAs, and Widgets

For these features, use the red plus (+) button to create new items:

• Polls: Create a poll and click Start Poll. Results appear in real-time and can be added to the stage.
• CTAs (Call to Action): Push links to external sites or speaker profiles. Interactions are tracked and can be pushed to CRMs like HubSpot.
• Widgets: Add a TV-style scrolling text bar for "soft" CTAs.
• Topics: Use full-screen animations or lower thirds to mark segments. These also create "key moments" or chapters for on-demand viewers.

5. Sharing Slides and Screens

Using the Slides Tab

• Format: Upload presentations as PDFs.
• Management: You can upload multiple PDFs and drag-and-drop them to reorder.
• Content Types: You can also upload images, GIFs, and very short videos (under 1 minute).
• Navigation: Control slides directly within the studio so you can still monitor the chat.

Screen Sharing

• Click the screen share button to share your desktop or specific windows (e.g., for product demos).
• Screen shares can be placed Backstage first, allowing you to bring them onto the stage when ready.

6. Inviting Speakers and Admins

Click the Invite People button in the top left of the backstage area to generate links:

• Speaker Link: Recommended for external guests. They have limited functionality and cannot stop the session.
• Admin Link: Provides full control, including the ability to start and stop the webinar.

Note: Guests do not need a Contrast account or any app downloads; they can join directly via their browser.

7. Best Practices and Technical Tips

• Dry Runs: Invite speakers a day or two early to familiarize them with the setup and test their connection.
• Browser Performance: Since the platform is browser-based, close unnecessary tabs (like Excel or extra Chrome tabs) and background apps.
• Bandwidth: Ensure a stable connection. Avoid having others on the same network streaming high-bandwidth content (like Netflix) during the session.