Fireside chats in the 21st century

A lot has changed since the 1930s. We now have video conferences, email (like Gmail), the internet, and so many other means of communication.

Despite technological advancements, a fireside chat’s purpose remains the same: to make everyone feel relaxed and leave the audience with more information than they came in with.

If you are interested in holding a fireside chat to address your company, you need to ensure that your audience can trust and see you as a real person, just as millions did with FDR.

Benefits: why host a fireside chat?

The original FDR fireside chats were an incredible success — they calmed the nerves of many Americans and lifted an entire nation’s spirits.

Granted, you might not have the same resources or access that FDR had, but today’s fireside chats still offer several benefits:

✅ Boost transparency and trust

Leaders can share insights directly, demystifying decisions and fostering an open environment. Audience members can feel more connected when they hear personal stories and can ask questions in a relaxed setting. Open dialogue encourages questions and shared understanding are the way to go!

📖 The opportunity to share information

Fireside chats often come in question-and-answer formats, making the audience think about the questions being asked. By answering these questions during the conversation, the guest or presenter will impart useful information to your audience.

Event audiences across the globe can benefit from hearing panelists share their stories and break new ground within topics of interest.

🛋️ Guest speaker authenticity

Because fireside chats are free flowing conversations at their core, invited speakers are more likely to be at ease than they would during formal presentations or webinars. Many people are uncomfortable being the center of attention, so fireside chats are an excellent way to share the focus with more than one person.

🤝 Speaker and audience connection

The informal setting establishes a bond between the speaker and the audience. The more comfortable your speakers feel, the more inclined they’ll be to delve deeper into topics and share their knowledge with your audience.

Fireside chats also create new levels of connection and employee engagement within companies, as they bring both leadership and non-leadership team members together in a friendly setting.

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What are some fireside chat formats?

In order to take full advantage of the benefits of fireside chats, make sure you choose the right format for your company events. Here are three of the most common fireside chat formats to model your in-person, online, or hybrid event after.

🗣️ Live fireside chats

Like a TED Talk, these live fireside chats happen in an auditorium, conference room, or some other gathering of people.

It’s a good idea to set up your fireside chat for maximum audience engagement by including a facilitator to keep the conversation moving. This also encourages two-way communication between the expert or keynote speaker and audience members.

🖥️ Virtual fireside chats

Any virtual event planner knows that staying flexible is critical, especially when working remotely. Technical difficulties and other issues can arise, so preparation (including preparing for delays) is important.

Instead of using a physical location, you can explore the virtual fireside chat format. Your audience has the benefit of tuning in from anywhere around the world to listen to you and your guests. Your guests will also have the benefit of broadcasting wherever they may be, making it easier to source speakers who may not be able to attend otherwise.

You can still hold a live fireside chat for your company, even if conducted virtually — just be sure to equip yourself with a top-notch professional live streaming platform or check out an all-in-one virtual events solution to bring your broadcasts live.

📼 Pre-recorded fireside chats

Aren’t fireside chats supposed to be live? There are no rules set in stone. And there are plenty of benefits to using the pre-recorded fireside format.

One benefit of pre-recorded content is that you can easily edit and fine-tune the conversation. You can also engage fully with your audience in the comment section of the live fireside chat as the presentation occurs.

Another benefit to using pre-recorded content is that you minimize the potential of real-time mishaps or technical issues during a live stream. By pre-loading your content, you're better able to control the audience experience and make for a smoother fireside chat.

The final big benefit to pre-recorded chats is that there are plenty of tools available to create professional pre-recorded content. For example, Vimeo's one-take video creation tool allows users to leverage AI scripting to generate content, a teleprompter to help speakers overcome stage fright, and text-based editing that allow users to edit footage in the same way they edit a word document.

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How to boost confidence when filming a fireside chat

If you want to improve your public speaking and presentation skills for your next fireside chat, check out our tips to help improve on-camera confidence at each stage of your production.

⬅️ Fireside Chat Pre-production

Preparation is key to on-screen confidence. Before getting in front of a camera, make sure you have a list of topics, talking points, or key themes you want to cover. Brainstorm some general ideas about what you want to discuss. Jot down your thoughts or even just words — full sentences aren't needed yet. Then write a script (or have our AI script generator help you) and either commit it to memory or use it to practice and refine your talk track.

⬇️ Fireside Chat Production

Lights, camera, action. If you want to feel your best, you need to look your best. That starts with good lighting. You don’t necessarily need expensive equipment — face a window and let the natural light do its thing. You could also spring for a professional light if you’d like; just make sure you place it slightly off to the side so that your eyes (or glasses) aren’t reflecting a ring into your camera lens.

Set up your camera so that it’s positioned at a flattering angle (we don’t want to see up anyone’s nose) — this means at or a bit above the speaker’s eye contact line. It’s a wonder what a slight shift in the camera angle can do for your body language.

During your live segment, you can also encourage audience participation by including ways to participate through live chat, polling, and Q&A with your speakers.

➡️ Fireside Chat Post-production

After your live event, you can add in post-production elements that support your (or the speaker’s) expertise and make for an engaging watch experience. Polish your footage by removing any filler words or trim your video to create a highlight reel. You can also try layering in interactive video elements like hot spots, overlays, and branching to make for a more engaging on demand video experience. If you have any particularly insightful moments or snippets, you can repurpose your event content by creating short clips for other marketing material.

Top tips on how to organize a fireside chat

Here are several tips that can assist you in making your fireside chats successful.

1. Choose the right participants

Not all panelists and moderators are equal. Some are excellent at fielding media inquiries, while others are more comfortable talking to large groups. To get the right guest or lecturer, look for someone exciting with the ability to hold the audience’s attention with their words and stage presence.

Since you want your guests to open up, you must have a capable moderator or interviewer who can ask the right questions and keep the chat on a captivating path.

2. Prepare in advance

Although an informal setting is key, your goal is to leave your audience with fewer questions than they came with. Thus, the interviewer should be well-prepared. Practice asking thoughtful questions (more on the best fireside chat questions later). Also, send these questions to your guest(s) ahead of time so they can prepare, as well.

Preparation also involves knowing the critical points of the chat and creating the right structure in advance. Logically organize questions and topics. A conversation without direction will leave the audience wondering why they are wasting time attending the chat when they could be doing something else.

It might be helpful to peruse past fireside chats, panel discussions, or town halls your company has conducted to get a feel for the process. A video library can be helpful to centralize past video content your company has produced.

3. Make interaction a necessity

To get the best from a fireside chat, you should make the chat as interactive as you can. For example, when building a webinar presentation, it’s important to create an interactive discussion that involves bringing the audience into the conversation. Let your audience ask questions, participate in live polls, and allow them some leeway in directing the conversation.

Encourage questions beforehand and during the chat, perhaps via a Q&A tool. You should set aside time for a question-and-answer session. To ensure a high-quality Q&A, you can decide who will send in questions and go over these questions in advance.

4. Create a relaxed atmosphere

Arrange comfortable seating, dim lighting if possible, and emphasize informality.

5. Keep it concise

Aim for 45-60 minutes to maintain engagement.

6. Follow-up

Share key takeaways or a recording for those who couldn't attend.

15 great fireside chat questions to ask at your next event

In a fireside chat format, the best questions are asked for the audience’s benefit. The goal is to strike a balance between conversational and educational initiatives and topics. Personal questions can create a human-to-human connection between your guests and the audience. Another great category of questions involves professional growth and development.

Here are some of the best fireside chat questions to ask your guests:

1. What is your biggest challenge today?

2. What's a recent failure or setback that taught you a valuable lesson?

3. Who has had the most influence on your life and why?

4. What's a decision you've made that initially felt risky but ultimately paid off?

5. Where do you see the next big opportunity for innovation within your industry?

6. What changes would you like to see happen in your industry?

7. How do you create an environment with diverse perspectives?

8. What's a common misconception people have about your role or industry?

9. How do you stay motivated and inspired?

10. How do we encourage experimentation and calculated risk-taking?

11. What's one book, film, podcast, or experience that has profoundly impacted you?

12. What advice would you give to someone just starting out?

13. What legacy would you like to leave behind?

14. Do you have a morning ritual or routine?

15. How do you relax?

It’s always a good idea to do your research about the topic of conversation and the guest speakers you want to invite. That way, you can tailor your fireside chat to your audience.

Fireside chat FAQs

What's the difference between a fireside chat and a panel discussion?

A fireside chat typically features a main guest and a moderator, focusing on a deep dive into that individual's experiences, their insights, and their perspectives. A traditional panel discussion, usually involves multiple speakers, usually 3-5 people, who offer diverse viewpoints on a shared topic, with the moderator guiding discussion among the panelists rather than interviewing just one.

Who usually participates in a fireside chat?

The core participants in a fireside chat are the guest (usually a CEO, senior executive, a celebrity, or an industry expert) and a moderator who steers the conversation and asks questions. The audience will range from employees within a company to external attendees at a conference, depending on your event's purpose.

What is the main goal of a fireside chat?

The primary goal is to provide a platform for genuine conversation, transparency, and connection. This can involve sharing strategic insights, providing personal outlooks, discussing challenges and failures, providing personal anecdotes, or addressing audience questions. This format could be considered to be more engaging than a formal presentation with a PowerPoint deck!

How long does a typical fireside chat last?

There are no strict rules on the length of time the chat should last. Many fireside chats run for approximately 45 to 60 minutes. This allows for a broad discussion while maintaining audience engagement and preventing fatigue from a multi-hour event.

How can I make a fireside chat engaging for the audience?

Key elements for engagement include a well-prepared moderator, thought-provoking and diverse questions, encouraging audience participation through Q&A, and a comfortable, informal setting. The guest's willingness to be authentic and share personal anecdotes can set the experience apart.

Turn fireside talks into something your audience will remember

Fireside conversations can improve your company’s transparency, collaboration, and connection through education and participation. Live streaming and using virtual event tools like Vimeo are excellent solutions for planning, editing, and executing your next fireside discussion. Vimeo offers all-in-one virtual event solutions to empower just about anyone to produce a stunning fireside chat.

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Nathan Ojaokomo