In a recent Twitter poll, I asked how people feel about the availability of livestreams and recordings at in-person tech conferences. The results were quite evenly split: only 32% said that the live talk is enough. Meanwhile, 10.5% want a livestream as well, 31.6% value recordings, and 26.3% want all of the above.
This tells me there’s no universal truth when it comes to rewatchability — and that conference organizers need to make a strategic choice.
In-person exclusivity creates FOMO and keeps things intimate, but on-demand recordings can widen your audience and double as long-term marketing. As for livestreams… those seem to be the least appreciated, possibly due to timezone issues or logistical complexity.
So, for my own event — Checkout Summit — this is an open question. Here’s what I’m thinking.
The Pros of Going “Live Only”
When you remove the pressure to film or stream, everything becomes easier. No cameras, no audio mixing, no tech issues. You can also encourage people to actually show up — and be present — which enhances the vibe.
As someone pointed out on Twitter, PressConf does this really well: they’ve made the lack of recordings a feature, not a bug.
Not recording also makes the event feel more private. That can help speakers be more candid and allow attendees to engage without worrying about being on tape.
But Recordings Are Great for Reach
On the other hand, as another reply said, recordings can act as marketing for future editions. They can show potential attendees what to expect — and help those who missed out feel more inclined to book next year.
You also open the door to repurposing: blog posts, social snippets, even email drips can all be pulled from recorded content.
So, while there’s effort involved, it might be worth it — especially if the production is kept simple and post-event distribution is well thought out.
Livestreams: The Least Useful Option?
Only 10.5% of poll respondents said they want a livestream. One reply nailed it: livestreams are hard to schedule across timezones, and rarely offer the same impact as live or on-demand content.
From an organizer’s point of view, they’re high effort and low reward — unless you’re running a hybrid event or have sponsors demanding visibility.
At this stage, I’m not convinced they’re worth it for a 2-day, single-track, in-person event.
Putting This Into Practice
I haven’t made a final decision yet for Checkout Summit, but I’m leaning toward not offering a livestream, and maybe offering recordings after the fact.
Keeping it “live only” could build a unique vibe, but capturing the talks for future use has clear benefits. It also gives speakers a chance to reshare their sessions later.
I’m curious what other organizers are doing. For now, the data — and your replies — give me a lot to think about.
