Going Live
Once your show is created, this guide covers how to start streaming and manage the live experience as a producer.
Live shows
Pre-show stage
When you open a live show before it starts, you enter the pre-show stage. This is your preparation area where you can:
- Test your camera and microphone
- Review your agenda
- Wait for the scheduled start time
A countdown timer shows fans when the show will begin.
Starting the show
When you are ready, start the show. A confirmation dialog appears to ensure you are ready to go live. Once confirmed:
- The broadcast begins and fans can see and hear you
- The first agenda topic becomes active
- Producer controls become available in the sidebar
Managing the stage
During a live show, the Fans panel lets you manage who is on stage:
- See all connected fans and their status
- Stage requests — Fans can request to join the stage. When requests come in, the Fans panel highlights in red with a count badge showing the number of pending requests.
- Invite to stage — Bring specific fans on stage to participate
- Manage camera and microphone permissions for on-stage participants
Advancing the agenda
The Agenda panel shows your planned topics with a progress indicator. Advance to the next topic when you are ready — a confirmation dialog ensures you don't skip topics accidentally. Fans see the current topic displayed during the show.
Ending the show
When the show is over, end it from the producer controls. A confirmation dialog prevents accidental endings. After ending, the show transitions to replay mode where fans can rewatch the content.
RTMP shows
Getting your streaming credentials
When you open an RTMP show, FanFest generates streaming credentials. The credential panel supports two streaming protocols:
RTMP
The standard streaming protocol supported by virtually all broadcasting software:
| Credential | Description |
|---|---|
| RTMP URL | The ingest server URL to paste into your streaming software |
| Stream Key | The unique key that identifies your stream |
SRT (Secure Reliable Transport)
A newer protocol that offers lower latency and better reliability over unstable networks:
| Credential | Description |
|---|---|
| SRT URL | The full SRT connection URL (includes stream ID and passphrase) |
| Host URL | The SRT server hostname |
| Stream Key | The SRT stream identifier |
| Passphrase | The encryption passphrase for the SRT connection |
| Listen Port | The port number for the SRT connection |
Each credential has a Copy button for quick clipboard access. Use whichever protocol your streaming software supports.
Configuring your streaming software
- Open your broadcasting software (OBS Studio, Streamlabs, vMix, etc.)
- Navigate to the stream settings
- Select Custom RTMP (or SRT if using that protocol)
- Paste the URL and Stream Key from FanFest
- Start streaming
Once FanFest detects your incoming stream, the video appears on the show stage and fans can watch.
Reset credentials
If you experience connection issues, the Reset button regenerates fresh streaming credentials. This is only available when the stream is idle (not actively receiving data). After resetting, you will need to update the credentials in your streaming software.
Simulcast management
If you configured simulcast destinations during show creation, the Simulcast panel in the producer sidebar lets you:
- See all configured streaming destinations (YouTube, Facebook, Twitter/X, TikTok)
- Toggle individual destinations on and off
- Reconfigure destination settings
- Add new destinations during the show
Simulcast management requires the Admin role.
Producer controls during RTMP shows
RTMP shows have the same producer sidebar as live shows, except:
- No Agenda panel (RTMP shows do not have agenda topics)
- Fans panel shows connected viewers and stage requests
- Contests, Media, and Offers panels work identically
Media overlays
The Media panel lets you upload and display images or media overlays during any show type. You can:
- Upload media files
- Toggle media visibility on and off
- Only one media overlay can be active at a time
Fan experience during shows
While producers manage the show, fans enjoy:
- Live video — Camera feeds (live shows) or professional streams (RTMP shows)
- Real-time chat — Conversation with other fans and producers
- Reactions — Quick emotional reactions during the show
- Contests — Quizzes and raffles appear on the stage when activated by the producer
- Offers — Promotional offers appear alongside the video content
- Stage participation — Request to join the stage and speak with the producer (live shows)
Mobile experience
FanFest provides optimized layouts for mobile viewers with:
- Portrait-friendly video display
- Mobile-specific chat and controls
- Touch-friendly contest participation (quiz answers, raffle interactions)
Replay
After a show ends, it becomes available as a replay. Fans who missed the live broadcast can:
- Watch the recorded content with full playback controls (play, pause, seek)
- View the show at their own pace