The Wedding Bells Are Ringing – So What’s Your Meeting ID?

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2020 was going to be the best year yet.

Your invitations were sent out, you purchased the dress, you lined up the perfect photographer and have a great DJ booked.  This is going to be the best day of your life.

Fast forward to March and wow how things have changed.

Brides-to-be all over the world have been thrown a curve ball that not even Alanis Morissette could have predicted in her famous song Ironic.

So where do you go from here?  After all, you’ve spent countless hours planning for the day that would signify the start of the rest of your lives.

With the current COVID-19 pandemic halting all gatherings over 5 people, couples are left with a tough decision – cancel, reschedule, or improvise?

Cancelling surely isn’t an option when you ask most and rescheduling will be quite tough given the large number of people in the same position as you.

That only leaves one option.  Improvise.

If the pandemic has taught us one thing, it’s to think outside of the box and many are utilizing technology to fill the void where human interaction used to play such a large part.

So why not say your “I Do’s” virtually?

This new trend seems to be taking over as couples can now be married via the popular video meeting app Zoom.  This April 2020 article from The Verge shows how happy couples worldwide have utilized the internet to tie the knot with all of their guests in attendance, well sort of.

Although your loved ones will not be there to walk you down the aisle, they won’t be left missing out on the festivities.

So what do you need to make your wedding day a “virtual wedding day”?

It’s simple. You need a venue that can provide you with a large enough space and the reliable technology required to host your big day.

That’s where we come in.

At The Rostie Group, our wide array of spaces are fully equipped to make your special day a success.  With state of the art video meeting technology and reliable connections, we’ll be sure to take care of everything, leaving you time to concentrate on those important vows.

For more information about saying yes to your big day at The Rostie Group, please visit www.rostiegroup.com or call (416) 214-1840.

Video Conferencing – The Essentials of Looking Good

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Even if you are admittedly “old-school” and prefer face-to-face communication, chances are that you will one day have to turn to video conferencing to stay in touch with colleagues and clients.

You may think video conferencing doesn’t demand the same level of polish you would bring to an in-person interview or client meeting, but the visual impact is still very much the same.

We have come up with six top tips to help you make the best impression during a video-conference.

  1. Light it up : Lights and angles are just as essential in video conferencing as they are for photo shoots and selfies. As a general rule, avoid fluorescent lights as they can be harsh and cast unflattering shadows. Place your primary light source behind the camera, this way your light and your camera are both pointing in the same direction.
  2. Choose a neutral background: Whether you are conducting your video conference at home or in a formal office, make sure your background is always professional. Less is more. In other words, you may be fond of all those family pictures hanging on the wall but the person on the other side of the camera may find them distracting.
  3. Dressing for your videoconference: Choose solid, bold colors. Simple jewelry is best. Ladies, avoid earrings that dangle or any accessories that makes noise when you move. For most video conference calls, you can wear whatever you want from the waist down -unless you think you might need to stand up for some reason, though I feel if you’re going to rock a power suit on top, pj or tracksuit bottoms wont help you feel your at your most professional or empowered best.
  4. Maintain good eye contact: You will look like a complete novice if you are not looking directly at the camera during the video conference, always imagine the person is in the room with you. You wouldn’t keep looking at the floor or out the window if it was an actual face to face meeting would you?
  5. Get the best audio visual: If you do a lot of video conferences, consider investing in an external webcam with high definition capabilities. Depending on your surroundings, you may want to use a headset during your call. However, a video chat without headphones looks more natural, and in my opinion more professional.
  6. Keep your notes nearby: A top tip I once read was, if you ever need to look at some notes during your video conference, jot them down and tape them next to your camera so you’re not shuffling with pieces of paper during the meeting. It helps you stay on track also in case you get a little nervous and forget what you were going to say.

Even if you feel nervous about video conferencing, remember that practice makes perfect. Once you get the hang of being in front of the camera, you will have mastered yet another invaluable business skill-the art of the video conference.

And you can start right now by booking one of our meeting rooms. They are all equipped with full video conferencing equipment so you can start practicing for the big day!

classrooms can be virtual

Classrooms… But Make them Virtual

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Over the past couple of weeks, self-isolation and social distancing have become the standard for people around the world. Contrary to initial thoughts, this practice is looking more like the ‘new-norm’ rather than a momentary solution. It’s important that we all take the advice of our leaders and follow instructions to protect those around us from sickness.

It’s especially important that businesses who are able to encourage their employees to work from home moving forward. With a multitude of different platforms to choose from, employees can connect to each other seamlessly from devices that they may have. At Toronto Meetings, we organize and conduct videoconferences for various clients on a daily basis, as well as for our own staff while we work from home.

While many business meetings can transition to phone calls, or simple gatherings via face time, it’s important to remember how much information is conveyed via body language, and facial expressions, that not having it available is like losing one of your senses.

That’s where we come in…

Over the last few weeks we’ve helped a handful of our clients’ set-up and run ‘Virtual Classrooms’ through the training rooms in our centre, allowing attendants to log into their session remotely. There is no need for business to shut-down completely while we’re all staying home, now is the time to adapt to current situations and react responsibly.

In our rooms, you have access to two 80-inch LCD television screens at the front of the room, and two at the rear. Your instructor can project from a variety of different sources directly to the classroom, shifting easily between powerpoint, doc-cam, or many other mediums.

Do you use GoToMeeting, Skype, Webex or Zoom? Not to worry, our new Polycom Studio Video Bars support all major platforms. Your instructor is the only person that actually needs to be present! We’re more than happy to look after everything on our end, as we usually do, so you just have to show up ready to present!

So if you’re ready to continue your classes virtually with no interruptions, check out our available rooms here, and book today!