Scheduled to present during a Wistia webinar? Read through this guide first to make sure you’re prepared.
Quick tips
Join the webinar on your laptop or desktop using Google Chrome.
Work from an area with a strong wifi connection.
Close unneeded tabs and apps.
Disable unneeded Chrome extensions.
Plug into a power source.
Step 1: Find your panelist link
Before the webinar, locate your panelist link. You can expect to receive this link directly from the webinar host. Do not share this link with others.
If you have a Wistia login and have been invited to manage the webinar, you can also find this link in the “Share” section of the Webinar Overview Page. You cannot share the same Wistia login for multiple hosts or panelists.
Join the webinar on your laptop or desktop using Google Chrome.
See the Webinar Participant Types overview to learn more about the panelist role.
Heads up
Safari, mobile devices, and iPads are not supported for host and panelist experiences at this time.
Step 2: Check your camera, microphone, and speaker
Your panelist link will direct you to the webinar join page. Here, you’ll be prompted to enter your name, select your camera, a webcam background if desired, microphone, and speaker.
You can also check your livestream connection strength to see if you need to complete any additional steps, such as closing unnecessary applications or browser tabs, or moving closer to your router.
Step 3: Join the event room
Once you’ve confirmed your device settings and tested your livestream strength connection, click “Join” to enter the event room. We recommend joining the event room at least 10 minutes before the scheduled event time to ensure you have time to familiarize yourself with the room controls.
Once you’re in the event room, double-check your network connection by clicking the icon at the top right of the page.
Also, test out your audio and video controls to ensure you can turn them on and off.
By default, you’ll be backstage when you first join the event room. Backstage is a private area visible only to other hosts and panelists throughout the webinar.
Before the webinar goes live, you will only be audible and/or visible to the other hosts and panelists, whether you are onstage or backstage.
Once the webinar goes live, you will be automatically muted when backstage. You are only visible and audible to the audience when you are brought on stage.
During the webinar, you can “hold to whisper” to communicate with the other hosts and panelists backstage. This audio will never be heard by the audience or presenters on stage.
Tip
Check the private chat to stay updated on any messages from the webinar hosts or other panelists.
If you can't unmute or turn your camera on once you're on stage
Sometimes a panelist has working audio and video during prep, but loses mic or camera control after the webinar goes live. If that happens:
Leave and rejoin using your original panelist link—this resolves the issue in most cases.
If rejoining the event doesn't work, open the link in a new incognito/private browser window (Chrome).
Make sure you're using the exact panelist link the host sent you, on a laptop or desktop in Chrome (Safari, mobile, and iPad are not supported).
Still stuck? Ask your host to remove you from the stage and bring you back on.
If none of these steps work, let your host know so they can reach Wistia Support during the event. Our Webinar Hosting and Troubleshooting Guide is also available for more tips.
Step 4: Go live and present
When the webinar is about to go live, you’ll see a 3-2-1 countdown timer on your screen, and a red dot will appear in the top-left corner indicating the webinar has started and that the audience can see the stage.
When it’s your time to present, the host will bring you on stage.
You can always confirm whether your camera and microphone are turned on in the top-right corner of the event room.
The following permissions and actions are available to you in the event room:
Action | Panelist | Host |
Join backstage and go on stage when invited | ✓ (Host brings you on) | ✓
|
Enable/disable your own camera and microphone | ✓
| ✓
|
Share your screen | ✓ (Host must add and remove it from the stage) | ✓ |
Advance uploaded PDF slides (next/previous) | ✓ (When on stage) | ✓ (Only the host can upload PDF slides) |
"Present" mode / add links to the stage | — | ✓ |
Bring people on/off stage | —
| ✓
|
Choose a webcam virtual background | ✓ (Host sets background options) | ✓ (Set options in Customize → Event room) |
See draft polls | ✓ | ✓ |
See submitted and public questions | ✓ | ✓ |
Approve, reply to, post, or delete questions | ✓ | ✓ |
Post/edit/delete your own chat messages, upload files to chat, reply to chat | ✓ | ✓ |
Submit a chat message to Q&A | ✓ | ✓ |
"Hold to whisper" to hosts/panelists backstage | ✓ | ✓ |
Tip
As a host or panelist, you can share your screen onstage separately, even if your camera is backstage. This option may be used when sharing a presentation, but the video and audio are not part of the presentation.
Remember to keep an eye on the audience chat for questions, and the backstage chat for instructions from your host.
Note
When you share your screen during a live webinar, the event room might not be visible to you if you have a single monitor. In this case, you may want to use a second monitor or ask another host or panelist to share their screen.
Step 5: Leave the event room
You can leave the event room at any time by clicking the “Leave” button in the bottom-left corner.
Let us know if you have any feedback, and we hope to host you again soon!
Troubleshooting
Having trouble accessing the event room, presenting, or using your microphone and camera? See our detailed Webinar Hosting and Troubleshooting Guide for common issues and solutions.