Invite guest speakers into your stream

You can include multiple remote guest speakers in your stream when streaming via ZenVideo’s web-based production tool. This feature is supported by recurring events and webinars.

Create your recurring event or webinar, then from the settings page open the Manage production dropdown and select Stream with ZenVideo. The below instructions will detail how to invite guests to your event when streaming via this method. 

If you select Stream via RTMP, bringing guests into your stream will depend on the streaming application you are using. For example, Livestream Studio has a similar remote guest feature built-in. If you are using third-party software, consult the developer or support team for information on how to accomplish multiple guests in a stream.

In this article

• Invite a guest speaker
• Backstage vs. Stream
• Add a speaker to a scene
• Remove a speaker from your event
• Ability to mute/request-to-unmute guest speakers

Invite a guest speaker

You can have a total of 12 speakers at an event and include all 12 speakers in a single scene, including the main broadcaster.

To add a guest speaker to your event:

1. Open the Speakers panel from the left navigation menu.
2. Click the + 
3. Enter your guest’s email, name, and an optional title. The name and title will automatically be applied to a lower-third graphic tied to them.
4. From here you have two options:
   1. Click Generate invite link to copy and paste the guest's unique link and send it to them manually via any communication method you prefer
   2. Click Send invite via email to have an invitation email sent to the email address you inputted with the link
      
5. After sending the invite, you can close the invite menu.

Note: If your guests are having trouble with their camera and microphone may need to enable permissions or check their network, crosslinking to this article "Camera and microphone are blocked" message on the web-based production tool page.

The guest should click on the unique link sent to them to enter the guest speaker view. Once they do, you will see their camera source in the Speakers panel.

Backstage vs. Stream

When Backstage is closed and your event is live, your audience can hear all speakers at all times (unless their microphones are muted).

When Backstage is open and your event is live, your audience can only hear speakers that are in the stream. These speakers will appear in the Stream tab and cannot hear anyone backstage.

Add a speaker to a scene

After your guest speaker joins the event, you need to add them to a scene in order for them to be included in your event’s stream. You can either add them to a scene by themselves or add them to a scene that includes other speakers (including you, the main broadcaster) to create a picture-in-picture effect.

To add a speaker to a scene:

1. Below the preview player, select a scene or click Add scene to create a new one.
2. With the desired scene selected, open the Speakers panel on the left side.
3. Select the speaker you wish to add to the scene.
4. Click and drag the speaker into the preview player to add them to the active scene. Alternatively, hover over the speaker and click + then Add to scene.
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5. The speaker will be added to the scene. You can add the speaker to more than one scene if desired. You can add up to twelve speakers to a single scene.

⚠️Tip: If you want to fill the blank background of the speaker gallery with an image, see this article.

To push the speaker’s scene live:

1. Select the scene the speaker(s) is in.
2. Below the preview player, click Send live.
   
   
3. The speaker(s) will then be live in your stream output and your audience will be able to hear them.

Remove a speaker from your event

If your speaker is no longer needed on a scene:

1. Select the scene they are in below the preview player.
2. Open the Speakers panel on the left side.
3. Hover over the speaker and click the -, then Remove from scene.
   
4. The speaker will still be connected to the event, but no longer in the selected scene.

If your speaker is no longer needed for your event:

1. Select the scene they are in below the preview player.
2. Open the Speakers panel on the left side.
3. Hover over the speaker and click the ••• menu, then Remove from event.
   
   
4. You will see a warning message that this will disconnect your speaker; click Yes, remove to confirm.
5. The guest speaker will no longer be at your event. Note that guest speakers can also leave from the backstage portal.

Ability to mute/request-to-unmute guest speakers

You have full control over your stream and backstage audio. If guest speakers are having audio issues, as broadcasters you can intervene to mute them.

• You can see the guest speakers in the Speakers panel; they have a microphone icon.
• Click on the microphone icon.
• The guest speakers would see a notification saying you have muted them.
  
• You can check that the guest speaker is muted.

When you click the Ask to unmute button, your guest speaker will get a prompt to Unmute or Stay muted.