Backstage allows you to create and manage professional live streams directly within Swapcard, removing the need for third-party streaming software. Using HD RTMP streaming, organizers can invite speakers to sessions, select who takes the stage, and manage the flow of live broadcasts. Up to 99 speakers can be invited, with 16 speakers able to share the stage simultaneously.
Benefits:
No need for external streaming apps
Real-time control over who appears on stage
Supports screen sharing and speaker management features
Full integration with Swapcard for seamless speaker and moderator participation
Monitor speaker connection quality in real-time."
Customize backgrounds and use banners to highlight key info."
How to set up Speaker Backstage
1. Create a Session
In the Studio, go to Content → Session to create a new Session.
Select start and end date of the session
Select format & video as Swapcard Backstage
2. Add a moderator to your stage
A unique Moderator can be assigned to the Backstage Session.
The backstage moderator should be part of the event as an attendee, but they do not need to be part of the Organization or have access to the Studio.
By default, the session creator is designated as the Moderator and can invite speakers. However, the Backstage Moderator role can be reassigned by others, allowing anyone with access to the Session settings to update the Moderator.
Enter the session
In Format & Video, select a moderator in the Video tab.
3. Add the speakers to Backstage
To enrich the streams, Backstage allows users to share moderator and participant screens.
Speakers can then join to start participating in an event app session.
To add speakers :
Enter the session
In Speakers, select speakers using the search bar.
How can Speakers and Moderators join Speaker Backstage
There are two ways that Speakers and Moderators can easily join the Speaker Backstage.
Via an invite link that is sent manually by the Organizer to the Speaker(s) and Moderator(s)
By opening the Event App and navigating to the Session they have been assigned to.
Once in the Session, invited Speakers should see a button prompting them to join the Stage.
Clicking on the Join Backstage button will redirect to the Speakers and Moderators, with the option of selecting their hardware while in the Waiting Room or when in the stream.
They can also toggle mute or unmute and turn the camera on or off. Moderators can decide who takes the center stage and who is on the stream by simply toggling the user switch to on.
A default layout template will be available for now, and different ones will be available at later dates. The option to go live or end a stream on the event app is also for the moderators to decide by simply clicking the “Go live” button in Backstage. There is no need to be present in Studio.
If Moderators wish to have control of ramp credentials, stream data, and so on, they can continue using all of the existing features in Studio for RTMP. Both Speaker and Moderator versions are accessible at any time from mobile and web app Backstage.
How to use Backstage
How to select hardware
Speakers and Moderators alike have the option to select hardware while in the Waiting Room or when in the Live Stream. They can also toggle mute or unmute and turn the camera on or off. Moderators can decide who takes the center Stage and who is on the stream by simply toggling the user switch to on.
Production Tools
Moderators have exclusive control over the broadcast flow:
User Toggle: Use the switch on each participant's thumbnail to move them from the "backstage" to the "live stage."
Go Live: The "Go Live" and "Stop live" buttons are controlled by the moderator directly in Backstage.
Speaker Names: In the Settings panel (right side), toggle "Display speaker names" on or off to manage the look of the video thumbnails.
Customize Streaming Background: Moderators can now personalize the background of the streaming content directly from Backstage to align with event branding.
Connection & Quality Monitoring: Backstage now displays real-time connection status for every speaker. Moderators can spot weak signals or audio/video issues before they impact the broadcast.
Custom Backstage Banners: Use the banner feature to display important info, highlight audience questions from the chat, or signal key session moments to the attendees.
Screen sharing
Both Moderators and Speakers can share their screens.
Note: While a Speaker is sharing their screen, only the Moderator has the authority to "push" that screen share onto the main Stage for the audience to see.
Rules and limits
When you go live
Attendees see the video player from the availability start time, even if you haven't gone live yet. By default, the availability start time is the session start time. From then on, until the moderator clicks Go Live, attendees see a black player with a loading icon instead of the session banner. To avoid this, go live before the availability start time, or set the availability start date in the session's Format & video ➡️ Video tab to the time you plan to go live.
The stream takes a moment to reach attendees. After the moderator clicks Go Live, the stream needs some time to be processed before attendees can watch it. Meanwhile, attendees see a loading player, and the video then starts on its own: refreshing the page doesn't make it faster. To have the video play as soon as the countdown ends, go live a few minutes before the availability start time; attendees don't see the stream before that time.
The Go Live button can lag behind on a weak network. The button switches to Stop live when Backstage receives the broadcast status in real time. On a weak or restricted network, this update can be lost: the button keeps showing Go Live even though attendees already receive the stream. Reload the Backstage page to refresh the button; clicking Go Live again while the broadcast is running doesn't restart it.
If a connection drops
A device that goes offline is disconnected from Backstage. Backstage recovers from brief network hiccups on its own, but if a speaker's or moderator's device loses its internet connection, they're disconnected and see a connection-lost screen, even once the network is back: they must reload the page to rejoin. Anyone who rejoins comes back off stage and without their screen share, so the moderator must switch them back on stage and push their screen share again once they've restarted it. Until then, attendees don't see or hear them in the stream.
For podium and moderator computers, use a stable internet connection, wired if possible, and keep a backup device ready. Run a test session with every speaker before the event to check their connection, camera, microphone and screen-sharing permissions.
Speaker Backstage provides organizers and moderators with full control over live-streamed sessions within Swapcard. With easy speaker management, screen sharing, and real-time production features, Backstage is an ideal solution for professional event broadcasting.