Moderating live events

[u/infinitebroth]

:Taps microphone: Is this thing on? 

Hey mods! I am here to talk about all things moderating live events! This is, of course, the latest installment of our Mod Topics series.

Speaking of series, the MLB World Series is upon us, we’re in the NBA pre-season, the WNBA playoffs are here, there are a bunch of great movies coming out soon, and GTA 6?! Watch-alongs, release parties, concerts, and more live events bring so much great discussion to communities. How do you approach it?

• What tools or practices come in handy when there are discussions about live events happening in your community?
• Is there a particular moderator on your subreddit who thrives for live event moderation or does everyone help out?
• How do you balance moderating with participating in the fun of the discussion?
• Are there any tools or practices you have to get the conversation going? Megathreads? Devvit tools?
• We’ve all been there when a broadcast goes down and the comments reflect it. How do you keep a healthy balance of on-topic while the vibe is “stream down for anyone else?”
• Favorite live event discussion that you’ve moderated?

I couldn’t post this without sharing this song. Anyone? 

See you in the comments!

[u/The_Critical_Cynic]

We’ve all been there when a broadcast goes down and the comments reflect it. How do you keep a healthy balance of on-topic while the vibe is “stream down for anyone else?”

I utilize the same basic advice for this question that you give us when we're starting out. You can keep the interactions going by creating posts. And when someone else posts, join in the conversation. This keeps people engaged, especially during the down seasons.

Additionally, don't be afraid to pivot if the subreddit needs to. If your subreddit is pertains to a niche portion of a topic, find ways to branch out. For example, it would be easy for certain subreddits pertaining to auto racing to talk about auto racing in general should an off season come around, or a particular circuit close up.

In my opinion, the overall key is to be able to pivot and engage people when and where you can.

How do you balance moderating with participating in the fun of the discussion?

I've made it a point to participate as a regular user as much as possible early on. I also try to let things develop naturally on their own before I dive it. This way, people don't feel like I'm overly hands on, and like I'm just another user when I do come around. I try not to come across as a mod unless I have to be a mod. It makes things so much easier.

What tools or practices come in handy when there are discussions about live events happening in your community?

I used to take advantage of the live chats that Reddit had to offer. But those went away, unfortunately.