So you'd like to start hosting events on Crowdcast? Wonderful! We're thrilled to have you here. Before you dive in, let's cover some of the basics.
Creating Your First Event
In the video below, we'll discuss...
- How to create an event
- Basic and advanced event settings
- How to prepare your mic and camera so you can go live
- Host controls available to you
- Inviting someone on-screen
- Features to connect with your audience
https://crowdcast.wistia.com/medias/vxp4pxt11z
Check Your Tech
You've created your first event and are familiar with the host controls. Now let's talk about your tech setup to ensure you have a smooth stream and a strong connection. Run through the following points before going live:
- Join from a compatible browser and device. Crowdcast is supported on the latest browsers including Chrome (preferred), Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and Android. We don't recommend Safari, and you won't be able to use Internet Explorer.
- Make sure your browser is up-to-date. An outdated browser can cause issues since we are browser-based. If using Chrome, you can verify whether there’s an update by clicking the three vertical dots at the top right corner of the browser window. From there, go to Help > About Google Chrome.
- Pass the Crowdcast setup checklist. Make sure to run the advanced tests at the bottom of the page. These will test your network firewall and ensure your mic and camera are connected. If your wifi connection is weak or intermittent, connecting via ethernet cable may provide a stronger connection.
- Use headphones if possible, and make sure you don't have the event open in more than one browser tab or window. This will help eliminate echo and feedback.
- When your computer is overworked, you may experience lag. Close all unnecessary applications and close down unneeded tabs. You can also try lowering your computer's screen resolution to help boost performance.
Note: If you're experiencing sluggish performance, start by refreshing the window. If problems persist, restart your web browser and navigate back to the event.
Inviting guests on-stage with you? We've added the points above to a separate guest checklist for you to send them in advance.
Hosting from a shared network?
Running Crowdcast requires allowing access to its services over specific ports in order to work. If you're joining from your organization's network, there may be firewall blockers in place that can cause issues with going live. Test your firewall settings using Step Four in the "Advanced settings" section of our setup checklist.
If the test returns failed results, ask a network administrator in your organization to configure these firewall settings:
- Minimum Requirement: The minimum requirement is that TCP port 443 is open. Some firewall/proxy rules only allow for SSL traffic over port 443. You will need to make sure that non-web traffic can also pass over this port.