Crowdcast

What is Crowdcast?

Crowdcast is an online events platform for hosting workshops, webinars, and livestreams in one place. It’s designed to help creators and organizations run live sessions with built-in engagement tools, audience interaction, and options to capture emails.

The platform also supports audience onboarding and event production within the same experience—using a customizable stage, live presentation tools, and channel growth features—so hosts don’t need to switch between separate tools to run a session.

Key Features

• One platform for workshops, webinars, and livestreams: Host multiple event formats without moving between tools.
• Customizable “stage” with adaptive branding: Set backgrounds, logos, and branding, and adjust the layout for how your community experiences the event.
• Gallery pre-stage space for attendees: Provide a separate area where attendees can get ready before entering the main stage.
• Studio live production tools: Use built-in controls like cue overlays, video sharing, slide presentations, and prompts that drive attendee actions.
• Audience engagement features: Bring attendees on screen, run polls, participate in live chat, and timestamp audience answers.
• Channel growth tools: Support following/follower growth tied to a crowdcast channel.
• Broadcast to Facebook Live, YouTube Live, and Twitch: Stream to common live platforms and pull viewers into your events, including email capture.
• Ticketing and monetization integrations: Host free or paid events and use flexible ticketing options, with integrations mentioned for Patreon and Stripe.
• App connectivity via Zapier: Connect Crowdcast to thousands of apps using Zapier.

How to Use Crowdcast

1. Create an account and start a trial (or sign in, if you already have one).
2. Set up an event and choose the format (e.g., workshop, webinar, livestream).
3. Design the event stage by selecting backgrounds, logos, and layout choices.
4. Prepare your live content in the Studio, using overlays, video sharing, and slide presentation tools as needed.
5. Add engagement and distribution components: enable polls, chat, and attendee interactions; configure broadcasting to supported platforms and email capture; set ticketing and related integrations if you’re charging.

Use Cases

• Live shows and content series: Stream a live podcast, concerts, or a recurring show as an ongoing event experience centered on audience interaction.
• Multi-week teaching and training: Deliver courses or private lessons with slides, answer upvoted questions, and invite students on screen; use replay controls for post-event viewing.
• Patreon-gated events: Run livestreams for patrons using the direct integration, controlling which tiers have access and enabling one-click registration.
• Workshops and webinars that emphasize interaction: Present slides to an audience while using engagement mechanisms to keep attention during the session.
• Virtual conferences or festivals: Host online events with breakout sessions and unlimited attendee registrations, aimed at replacing the constraints of venue and travel costs.
• Hybrid event follow-through: Livestream an in-person event and continue interaction through Q&As, hangouts, and group calls.

FAQ

• What types of events can I host on Crowdcast? Crowdcast supports workshops, webinars, and livestreams, and it’s also positioned for virtual conferences/festivals and hybrid events.

• Does Crowdcast include live production tools? Yes. The platform describes built-in live production tools in a Studio, including cue overlays, video sharing, and slide presentation.

• Can I broadcast a Crowdcast to other streaming platforms? Crowdcast lists broadcasting support to Facebook Live, YouTube Live, and Twitch.

• Is ticketing or paid access supported? Crowdcast states you can host free or paid events and create flexible ticketing options, with integrations for Patreon and Stripe mentioned.

• Can I connect Crowdcast to other tools I use? Crowdcast indicates you can connect to thousands of apps using Zapier.

Alternatives

• Video conferencing platforms with webinar features: Tools in this category typically focus on meeting-room collaboration and may require more manual setup for stage-style branding and audience-driven features.
• Dedicated webinar software: These tools may be tailored to presenter-audience webinars, but the source positions Crowdcast as built with creator-oriented engagement and production workflows in mind.
• Live streaming platforms (plus separate engagement tools): You can stream to destinations like major social platforms, but you may need additional software to manage ticketing, interactive polling/chat, and channel-based engagement in one workflow.
• Community/event platforms with livestream integrations: Some platforms emphasize community management, with livestreaming handled through an embedded integration rather than a unified event studio and stage experience.