Open a Bevy Virtual Conference Backstage, prepare speakers, use Backstage chat, and broadcast to the Stage. A Backstage link opens the room only — microphone, camera, screen share, and broadcast depend on the person’s live permissions.
Backstage is the staging room for a Conference Stage. Hosts, moderators, and people with Presenter mode prepare there before content is broadcast to attendees watching the Stage. Only Stages have Backstage — off-stage Sessions do not.
Create and name Stages in Agenda Builder on the conference event (Legacy Dashboard). Day-of host overview: Use Bevy Virtual Conference as a host/moderator. Stage setup: Configure the stage in Bevy Virtual Conference.
Important: A Backstage URL only opens the Backstage room. It does not grant Presenter mode or Moderator mode. Listing someone as a Speaker in the event’s People settings also does not. Someone who joins with the link and no live grant appears as an attendee until a host or moderator turns on the mode they need.
Open the backstage
Hosts generate a Backstage URL when they create a Stage in Agenda Builder. The URL is also available from stage details and from the event agenda for hosts and moderators.
- Ask the speaker to RSVP with the Bevy account they will use during the event.
- Copy the Backstage URL from the stage details or event agenda.
- Share the URL with the speaker.
- After the speaker joins, grant the permissions they need from Participants → Actions.
People who receive the URL must sign in and have an active attendee record for the event. The URL does not bypass event or ticket access requirements.
Note: Off-stage Sessions have no Backstage, and Session Join stays Starting soon until 15 minutes before start — including for hosts. If speakers need an earlier technical check, put the content on a Stage. See Configure a session in Bevy Virtual Conference.
Understand backstage permissions
| Role or setting | What it allows in Backstage | How it is granted |
|---|---|---|
| Speaker (event People settings) | Displays the person on the public event page and agenda. Does not grant microphone, camera, screen share, moderation, or broadcast. | Event People settings |
| Presenter mode | Microphone, camera, and screen share in the current Backstage session. Does not start or stop the Stage broadcast. | Participants → Actions → Presenter mode |
| Moderator mode | Manage participants and start or stop the Stage broadcast. Saved for this event and restored when the person rejoins. | Participants → Actions → Moderator mode |
| Host (chapter team) | Host and moderator capabilities in the live room, including broadcast controls. | Chapter team permission (Add live session) |
Staff and Presenters in the Participants list are filters based on current permissions. Moving or categorizing a person does not grant rights — use that person’s Actions menu. Full role matrix: Roles and permissions in Bevy Virtual Conference.
Prepare a speaker before attendees join
- Create the Stage so its Backstage room and URL are available.
- Have the speaker RSVP with the account they will use on event day.
- Join Backstage as a host or moderator and send the speaker the Backstage URL.
- After the speaker joins, open Participants in the tray.
- Select the speaker, then open Actions.
- Turn on Presenter mode so they can use microphone, camera, and screen share.
- Turn on Moderator mode only if they also need to manage participants or start and stop the Stage broadcast.
- Ask the speaker to confirm that microphone, camera, and screen-share controls are available.
Tip: Rehearse with the same signed-in account and device the speaker will use during the event. Presenter mode applies to the current room session and might need to be granted again after the speaker leaves and rejoins. Moderator mode is saved for this event. Screen share steps: Share your screen in Bevy Virtual.
Use backstage chat
People in Backstage can use:
- Backstage chat — group chat visible only to people in Backstage (not to Stage attendees).
- Public chat — Stage chat visible to Stage attendees.
- Direct messages (DMs) — private messages to another event attendee.
Use Backstage chat for production cues.
Use Public chat when you intend for the Stage audience to see the message.
Broadcast to a stage
Only a host or someone with Moderator mode can start or stop the broadcast from Backstage. Presenter mode alone does not provide broadcast permission.
- In the bottom tray, select Broadcast.
- In the confirmation prompt, select Broadcast again (wording: “Broadcast this session?”).
When broadcasting is active, the control changes to Stop broadcasting. To stop, select Stop broadcasting and confirm (“Stop broadcasting this session?”).
Note: If you need to appear on camera or share your screen but do not see those controls, ask a host or moderator to turn on Presenter mode from your Actions menu. If you need to control the broadcast, ask for Moderator mode.
To push the Stage to an external destination (encoder / RTMP), see Live stream to a stage in Bevy Virtual Conference and Simulcast a live event.
Leave the backstage
If you entered Backstage from the shared URL, save that URL so you can re-enter. Hosts and moderators can also open Backstage again from the event agenda.
Record from the backstage
When event recording is enabled, the Stage broadcast is recorded automatically. You can also record the Backstage room separately with the Record control. Full steps and download locations: Record a Bevy Virtual Conference event.