4 Ideas for Christmas Productions in a COVID-19 World

Well… in January of 2020 no one was guessing we would have many churches meeting entirely online, schools not putting on their annual holiday shows, and corporate events getting canceled. In fact, our last blog post of 2019 was Christmas stage design examples that people could use in 2020!

Of course, stage design is still important. There are churches that are meeting, and there are some schools putting on smaller events. However this year, the thought of Christmas does feel a bit different. Traditionally in the live event world, Christmas is a busy season!

With the way this year is playing out, it certainly is time to start thinking through what “Christmas” is going to look like for your organization. Here are some ideas on ways to approach Christmas this year, and how apps like ProPresenter or ProVideoPlayer may play a role in that picture.

GO BIG OR GO HOME

So you like tradition, huh? Maybe consider keeping it big if that’s what you’ve always done. This doesn’t mean ignore local laws or regulations. But just because you may not be at full capacity, does not mean you can’t do things with a bang. Consider adding more event or service times, or even doing things with a big focus on production, but in a new way! Are you in a warmer climate year-round? Have you thought about going outside or to a large event center? Of course, ProPresenter can deliver some amazing looks for your lyrics inside and out! PVP3 can take your video playback game to a new level this year to give people something more exciting to end what may have been a difficult year.

KEEP IT SIMPLE

I know, we are production people. But productions can be great even on a smaller scale. You can use ProPresenter for your lyrics, a small band, and basic lighting and do a simple Christmas Eve or even “Eve’s Eve” events or services. Separate it over multiple nights, and multiple times to accommodate any social distancing requirements. Multiple smaller more intimate experiences could be a nice change of pace for 2020! Combine this with an online-stream for those who want the intimate experience with their family.

DO SOMETHING UNIQUE

Okay so simply taking your normal production outside isn’t good enough? Try something unique! One idea is a drive-through event with music, live skits, projected visuals, & lighting. This year, you could take the opportunity to try something you’ve never done before. Or rethink an old idea! Want to make a big impact but do it differently than normal? Consider doing some sort of “drive-through” experience for people incorporating different forms of art including, projection mapping with PVP3, holiday lighting, small skits, live music, & more! Check out this awesome Christmas outdoors set up at the “Christmas Capital of Texas” last year from Lightware Labs!

FOCUS ON THE IN-HOME EXPERIENCE

What if this year, you don’t do any sort of in-person production? I know, call me crazy. There is value in creating experiences for people to have with their family and loved ones at home or away from your physical building. You could create a pre-recorded event of sorts, record it through ProPresenter, and then allow individuals to watch it in their own timing, or even stream live right out of ProPresenter for a more real-time experience. An extra cool tip would be to have some sort of “grab-bag” where families could get some physical materials to use with the experience, even if that was a digital solution on your organization’s website! Check out ProPresenter’s live streaming options.

So what do you think?

Planning for this season does not have to be stressful. There are so many creative options out there! It’s best to start planning ahead so that you can be prepared. Planning ahead means you don’t have to rush last-minute to accomplish your brilliant ideas! We can’t wait to see what your productions look like this holiday season.

Learn more about ProPresenter’s leading presentation software capabilities for churches and houses of worship here.