MAP Digital’s Virtual Event Portraits: from the Ballroom to the Kitchen Table
Korey Caron
How long have you worked for MAP Digital?
I started back in January 2020, as a Webcast engineer at our largest onsite event in California in which we produced nearly 500 live Webcasts. I worked part-time with MAP Digital until I was offered a full-time position in August. Once we went all virtual in mid-March, I worked as a Virtual Conference Room (VCR) Producer helping presenters set up in the Zoom calls. I guide them with their framing, audio, lighting, and monitor their live presentation to support them with any technical issues that could pop-up.
What is your role with MAP Digital?
My current title at MAP Digital is Assistant Producer. I am in charge of the VCR technical rehearsals, which are meetings with presenters before the start of a virtual event to check that their equipment setup and inform them of what to expect during their presentation session. A typical day for me includes working with our client, the event planners to establish what the presentation sessions will look like, and then scheduling dates with the presenters for a VCR technical rehearsal. I also manage our MAP Team rehearsals and training based on my conversations with our clients, the event planners. Now, that we are completely virtual for events, all test and VCR tech rehearsals are conducted in Zoom.
What did you do prior to MAP Digital?
Prior to MAP Digital, I did a lot of odd jobs: camp counselor, office assistant, proofreader for an online editing service, and I worked at Target. I am also a theater director. Many of my MAP Team colleagues come from the theater and were stage managers, technical directors, actors, and directors, like me.
How do you see the events space changing in the age of COVID?
I see the events space becoming more accessible. It’s a lot easier to attend events if you don’t have to factor in travel time or costs. This should result in more diversity among the attendees if the travel and financial barriers are removed. A challenge going forward, however, is that the rules for spontaneous interactions in a digital space feel very different than in a physical space. It’s completely normal to approach someone at an onsite conference. So, why does it feel so different when sending a spontaneous chat note to an attendee in a virtual conference? I think exploring ways to foster the spontaneous interactions in digital space will be a huge step forward as we continue in the virtual and soon hybrid events space.
What are you enjoying most about working from home?
Regularly working from home is definitely a novelty for me, since for the first 5 months of COVID lockdown, I was an essential retail worker. So, working from home is still pretty new for me. I’m really like the freedom to build my own routine, to see my boyfriend more since we are both working from home; and the fact that it’s now socially acceptable to wear fuzzy socks to work.
Have you picked up any new hobbies or revisited old ones during quarantine?
I got back into knitting during quarantine. Recently I made some fingerless gloves and a throw pillow cover. I’m currently working on a spiral rug with yarn that I made out of repurposed plastic shopping bags. Also, I finally have time to cook more, so it’s been fun to try new recipes.
Where are you most productive in your home?
I’m most productive in my kitchen. It’s funny how something as simple as sitting in a chair instead of on my bed can make me focus better.
©Ellie Kurttz Photography, captured via Zoom.
