How to Make Money as a Virtual Event Host
Freelancers, Affiliate Programs, & More
The event planning industry has changed dramatically in the past two years. Companies, schools, and conferences started hosting events online - and that trend isn’t expected to go anywhere.
For event planners, this hybrid-virtual world means shifting the focus from booking venues and catering food, to organizing breakout rooms and minimizing technical issues.
We explore some of the best ways to make money as a virtual event host, so you can guarantee a steady income while your event planning business adjusts to the new virtual landscape.
Work as an Independent Freelancer
Pays: You can make anywhere between 33k-66k per year depending on how qualified you are and how much time you put into it. Most freelancers charge around $100 per hour, with a two-hour minimum.
Pros: The more qualified you are, the more you can choose to charge. You also decide your hours.
Cons: You have to do the work. This means finding your own clients, and not getting paid for all the work that you do on the side: preparing, planning, etc. You miss out on things that other programs offer, like bonuses for referring clients, guaranteed work, etc.
Training Requirements: Get familiar with Zoom, Teams, etc - and show a demonstrated record of the companies you’ve worked with, including testimonials. Be confident running breakout rooms and be creative enough to come up with your own activities when clients leave it up to you. This could include speed networking, fun icebreakers, meet and greets, and more.
Join an Affiliate Program Through Glimpse
Glimpse both hosts virtual events on its own platform (using its unique match-optimization AI) and can be embedded into other platforms, including Zoom. Glimpse’s program is two-fold: you get paid for bringing people on to the platform, and you get paid for hosting events with their clients.
Pays: As an affiliate, you get paid up to 50% of the subscription cost for every client that you bring onto Glimpse’s match-making platform. Additionally, Glimpse refers you to their clients who are seeking a virtual event host and you keep 100% of that pay.
Pros: You eliminate the “middleman” of the agency; Glimpse doesn’t take any sort of cut from the money that clients pay hosts. You also don’t have to market yourself; Glimpse adds your profile to its list of vetted virtual event hosts.
Cons: Glimpse may be a bit more competitive in terms of who it accepts. Application is a near instant process, but its program tends to select only the most qualified applicants.
Training requirements: Advanced knowledge of Zoom and breakout sessions is a prerequisite, but once you join the program you will be trained in how to use Glimpse’s own platform (though knowledge before is always a plus).
Join a Company’s "Certified Host" Roster
If you have your own virtual event host business, access more clients by joining a company like Hopin’s virtual host roster. Fill out a quick form explaining what your company does, what you charge, etc.
Of course, you’ll need to have familiarity with Hopin’s event platform and a demonstrated record of success for your business.
Hint: don’t have your business set up yet? You can scroll through some of Hopin’s existing partners to get an idea of what those look like.
Work as a Part Time Contractor
Companies are always looking for virtual event hosts, but that kind of work especially picks up around the holiday season. These are some companies that offer part time/semi-part time work as a virtual event host:
Ryptic Team Building (https://teambuilding.ryptic.com/).
Pays: $16-20/hr
Pros: Looking for people who have a knowledge of Zoom and Powerpoint, but do not emphasize that you must be an experienced Zoom host. Actors, comedians, etc are encouraged to apply.
Cons: May not be a long term/ongoing opportunity; depends on need.
Training: Required, but unclear what training entails.
Teambuilding.com (https://teambuilding.com/)
Pays: $34/hr per 90 min shift, plus bonuses & gratuity
Pros: Fully remote. Company has a great attitude about the remote work environment and making the workweek fun. (Their job postings are objectively funny, too.)
Cons: Currently hiring for seasonal only, but also employ year round (October-December)
Training: must have serious experience with Zoom, specifically breakout rooms.
Happied.co (https://happied.co/instructor)
Pays: Typically $150 per 1-hour happy hour event
Pros: Great pay. If you’re a bartender, chef, etc. with people skills, you make a great fit.
Cons: Happied looks for people with a specific skill that they can present; if you are just a virtual event facilitator, this might not be the option for you.
Training requirements: Familiarity with the platform.
Did we miss a great opportunity? Comment below or email me at samantha@joinglimpse.com