The Future of Event AV: How Co-Creation and Short-Form Video Will Reshape Event Experiences

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This guest blog post is courtesy of Michael Hoffman, from Gather Voices. 

As in-person events make their comeback, event AV setups have become central to creating memorable, high-quality experiences. But as any event planner knows, AV is also one of the most significant budget lines, typically viewed as a one-time expense that peaks during the event and fades shortly after. 

A new vision for AV is emerging, one that extends its value through co-created content and short-form video—unlocking long-term engagement and making that initial investment go much further.

Why Event AV Needs to Evolve

In a world where people consume content in quick bursts, the traditional AV setup is under pressure to meet new expectations. Today’s attendees are learning and engaging with information in shorter intervals, and their attention spans are increasingly geared toward more casual and less scripted video content. Platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts have created a content culture of immediacy and relatability, where “real” voices carry greater weight than highly produced content.

This evolution represents a shift in how we can think about event AV: not just as a set of cameras and screens to enhance the live experience, but as a catalyst for ongoing, community-driven engagement.

The Power of Co-Creation

One of the most exciting aspects of this new AV approach is co-creation—inviting attendees, speakers, and other stakeholders to participate in creating content during the event. By empowering attendees to share their insights, highlights, and takeaways, event organizers can capture real, authentic moments that feel fresh and relevant to both attendees and a wider online audience.

Co-creation also provides a powerful tool for extending the life of AV content beyond the event itself. Imagine collecting attendee reactions after each session or capturing quick soundbites from speakers as they exit the stage. This co-created content can be quickly edited and shared as short-form videos, providing compelling event highlights that continue to generate engagement long after the lights go down.

Short-Form Video: The Key to Longevity

Short-form video has reshaped how we engage with content, making it easier for audiences to digest information and for brands to reach viewers beyond the initial event. When event AV investments are used to produce a library of short, shareable videos, their impact is exponentially multiplied. These bite-sized videos don’t just reinforce key event themes—they also cater to the way people consume content today, creating a pathway for ongoing engagement with potential new attendees, sponsors, and community members.

A Future-Proof Investment

By reimagining AV through co-creation and short-form video, event organizers can break free from the limitations of traditional AV setups. This approach turns the AV line item from a fleeting expense into an investment that resonates with audiences long after the event is over, aligning with the digital habits and expectations of today’s audiences. All this new short-form content can also become new real estate for sponsor revenue, extending sponsorship value for months once the event is over. 

The future of event AV is one where investment is amplified through strategic, audience-centered content creation. By leveraging the trends of co-creation and short-form video, event planners can drive a 10x return on their AV efforts—extending reach, deepening engagement, and building a lasting connection with attendees and the broader community.