Shindig is a whole new way to do online author events
Have you ever done an online book reading? How about a video chat book club? Or an author Q & A? What about a classic webinar? I've done a few myself, and managed some for clients. At all of those events, the screen is usually me with my apartment in the background (not wonderful to look at) and anywhere from 10 to 50 people listening to me and maybe typing into the chat box.
If I could make my own forum for a book reading, I'd want the background to be a little more interesting, and I'd want all those people to be able to talk to each other-- a lot like what a live event is like.
I'm excited to say that Steve Gottlieb, founder of Shindig, has made that kind of a video event tool real.
Here's how they describe it:
"Share your work without the expense of a national book tour. 1000s of fans can listen to a live reading or participate in a Q & A session with you. Include links to your e-commerce site so that participants can purchase signed copies of your book. Work with local book sellers to develop innumerable local events, all from the comfort of your home. Encourage participants to break up into discussion groups. Shindig Events also helps book clubs increase enrollment by allowing members to participate from home."
The 3 things that make Shindig stand out from other video chat/broadcast tools for me are:
1. Audience chat: Inside Shindig's tool, people in the audience can start side conversations with each other without disturbing the presentation. If people have questions, they can get a quick answer. If they have a shared interest, they can meet each other, making the event that much better for the participants. That's the thing that makes live events so great.
2. Visual: It's the best looking video chat I've seen of the options out there. The idea that you can add a background to enhance the visual of your presentation is great. And I find that when people use one of the cavernouse library or lecture hall images it makes it feel like you are in a room rather than just on your computer.
3. Book Display: Shindig lets you post a cover icon of your book with links on the screen, so it's there the whole time you are talking. Anytime people want to learn more about it or buy it, they can do that.
I asked Steve about why he started Shindig Events, and he told me:
"What inspired me was frustration with the lack of venues online to have a meaningful exchange with others with similar interests and jealousy that the only people for whom the Internet really provided such engagement were young gamers, and even then as only an adjunct to the gaming." -- Steve Gottlieb, Founder & CEO of @ShindigEvents
And he sent over a few author testimonials:
“As an author who loves to connect with his readers across the globe, my one wish is that I could be everywhere at once. Shindig makes that happen.” -- Hugh Howey, Author of the Wool Series
"Shindig is the 21st century way to book tour. As a futurist I can say things like that!" -- David Houle, The Shift Age
Agreed. I'll be using it for events around my next book this summer.
And if you want to see Shindig in action with big authors like Chuck Palahniuk, Dr. Ruth Westheimer, Hugh Howey, Trista Sutter, Michael Showalter, Jill Shavis, Eloisa James, Sylvia Day, you can check out their Live from BookExpo event during BEA. It's 3 days of over 50 authors giving exclusive interactive online author chats. You can RSVP free here.
Image source: Shindig.com
The New Way to Book Tour: http://cdn.shindigevents.com/ShindigVideoChatBookTour.pdf
Image source: Shindig.com
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