What is GSA?
GSA is a drama school based in the South of England. They are a part of the University of Surrey. It trains actors, technicians, and theatrical producers, basically the industry’s next generation of backstage and front-stage talent. Moreover, it also conducts research relevant to the industry.
The Challenge
This was a yearly event and their second time with vFairs. The primary goal for the GSA Production Graduate Showcase 2022 was to provide a substantial outcome for students on their professional development journey. It aimed to evaluate how students market and promote themselves.
Moreover, the event provided ample networking opportunities for inviting industry leaders and building an environment where they can look for prospective employees. In addition, students could showcase their talent to internal organizations and apply the skills they have been taught.
Why vFairs?
The GSA team had attended many online trade shows so they researched and looked at who the providers were, especially for the media and tech industry. They looked at several events, but what vFairs was offering seemed to most align with what they wanted. Therefore, they decided that vFairs was the best option according to their budget.
The Solution
vFairs provided a number of features to the GSA Production Graduate Showcase. There were two separate exhibit halls for BA and MA students. An information desk was also present to assist attendees if they encountered any issues. Here are the key features:
User-friendly Interface
vFairs offered a flexible platform to GSA. Attendees said that it was simple to sign in and gain access to the event. In addition, students had more opportunities because international audiences could participate in the virtual event. The trade show was advantageous for both businesses and students as everyone globally could access the platform with ease. Everyone praised the platform and said they had a great time taking part in the event.
Exhibit Booths
Previously, GSA conducted two separate events for MA and BA students. However, this year they were doing a combined event for graduating students, which also increased participation. There were exhibit booths for each student representative. The exhibit booths hosted videos, photos, portfolios, and CVs. Attendees could save documents or videos, and email them to themselves for later.
In The Spotlight: 3D Virtual Environment
The team at GSA was actively looking at two other competitors when they decided to do the event virtually. However, they selected vFairs because it had an immersive and interactive environment. The attendees and exhibitors enjoyed the 3D environment immensely and found that it was conducive to productive interactions.
The Result
Moving forward, Gareth Evans, the Teaching Fellow in Sound at the University of Surrey, said that his company thoroughly enjoyed the virtual trade show hosted by vFairs. It was easier to get on as compared to last year’s in-person event. The platform made it much more accessible to a wider audience as 103 users logged in and there were 934 booth visits.
The virtual event was preferable as it prevented the need to travel. The international audience could also attend the event and students had more opportunities. All in all, they are looking forward to hosting more events with vFairs in the future.
