"Is This thing on?" Some Thoughts About Zoom Events "Can you hear me?"
As a born traveller you might think I. feel caged in by the pandemic. Far from it. I am zooming like a bad boy and if there is one thing I have learned from lense-life it's that I need to get my teeth done. But that's another matter - ANOTHER MATTER - altogether. Moving on.
I have favourite zoom events over the past few months like the My name Is Why for Brighton Festival or the 'head to head'. with Christopher Eccleston for The Bradford International Literature Festival
The 50th anniversary speech for The British Association of Social Workers. I have been busy. 
But let's talk about recording. It shouldn't be assumed that a zoom event will be uploaded. It should be previously agreed with a limited time period online. It is a live gig not content filler.
Secondly, a 'run through' should happen on the day of the broadcast. And it needs to be made clear to the artist what he or she will see on their screen. There needs to be the Digital stage manager and front of house. Clear lines of communication. And please, organisers, place your names, not your children's name, in your zoom window.
And. please provide a breakout space for the artist and organisers should they want to hang out after the event. I am sick of the invisible tech person clicking end meeting leaving me alone in my apartment after bearing my soul to hundreds of people.
Finally, moderators and performers NEVER... NEVER... say to an audience "Can you hear me" it ages you by fifty years "Is this thing on". It is the equivalent to speaking to your telephone app while tapping "contacts! Open".
Do you a have any thoughts on how to improve zoom events ? What irritates you about them? What gets you angry about them? Whether you are an audience member or performer or producer I would really like to know.