Thanks for your interest in presenting at our virtual conference! Here are the terms & conditions you’ll need to accept in order to be considered as a presenter at virtual GSMCON2021. If selected as a presenter, you’ll need to sign a digital agreement with Government Social Media LLC (GSM) that you read and accept these terms.
1. What We’ll Do
A. Speaking proposals will be reviewed by us and we’ll share this information with any advisors, staff members and third parties selected to review speaker proposals.
B. We’ll give you free admission to participate in the rest of the virtual event at the All Access level. This complimentary admission is not transferable.
C. We may promote your participation in our event using your speaker profile information on websites, social media, email, ads and other promotional activities.
D. We’ll provide you with useful demographic information about the online audience, such as common job titles, geography, agency types, etc.
E. We may give you feedback and advice about the direction of your session and what may resonate best with our attendees.
F. Our team will facilitate an online recording session with you (if you’re not recording on your own) during your appointment – See dates below. We may edit the recorded session as needed for length or clarity.
2. What You Commit To
A. You must inform us prior to signing this agreement if you have any need or disability that will make it difficult or impossible to fulfill any of these terms, and let us know the assistance you require to do so. We will do our best to accommodate requests.
B. You agree to amend your session title, description and general direction based on any feedback from GSM.
C. If you cannot host your session or need to cancel for any reason, you will notify us as soon as possible and you will not receive complimentary admission. You may recommend a replacement presenter, but you understand that GSM may or may not accept the replacement and may choose to cancel the session entirely or assign the topic to another speaker.
D. You must use the slide deck template provided by GSM. You’ll provide your final slide deck (may be in PDF format and any notes may be omitted) and any supporting materials such as handouts to us by Friday, March 12, 2021, to be saved with your session and accessible by participants. We’ll provide guidance on making your files accessible, including structure and alt text.
E. If you want to use a virtual background, you’ll either use our provided speaker backgrounds, or get GSM’s approval for using your own by March 18, 2021.
F. You’ll complete your speaker profile information within the timeframe requested.
G. You’ll respond to us in a timely manner with regard to scheduling, including your session time slot.
3. What You Need to Know About the Virtual Sessions
A. Sessions for the 2021 event are 100% virtual and there is no physical, in-person event.
B. Your virtual breakout sessions or demos will be semi-live, including a pre-recording and live Q&A during the event. Sessions will be 30 minutes pre-recorded and 15 minutes live (where you give a recap and do Q&A with viewers via their questions in the chat box). Your total session time slot is 45 minutes.
C. Your session will be pre-recorded with you and our GSM team at a scheduled time between the dates of March 1-12, 2021. We’ll air your pre-recorded session in a time slot during the event on March 23-25, 2021.
D. While we air your pre-recorded session, you’ll monitor the chat box. It’s up to you if you want to answer any questions in the chat. Then, you’ll be switched to a livestream for 15 minutes – we recommend recapping highlights of your session and answering questions.
E. During your pre-recording session with us, you’ll need to be ready to give your presentation as though there were a live audience. You’ll need internet, webcam, slide deck (using our template), good audio such as a headset, and a quiet room. Recordings will take place via Zoom using our account, which we’ll send you an invitation for. We’ll use up to the first 15 minutes for you to get settled in, and when we start recording, you’ll give your 30-min presentation from start to finish. If you’re doing a demo, the website, application or device will be recorded as well.
F. During your pre-recording session with us, or via email, we may ask you to record a quick, 30-second promo clip for your session, which may be used for GSM promos and marketing.
G. Want to record on your own? If you have the resources and would prefer to produce a high quality 30-minute recorded session on your own, it’s encouraged but must be approved. We may ask you to submit a video clip of what your session will look like. If approved, you’ll need to provide us with the final video file (via Dropbox, Google Drive or similar and in .mp4 or .mov format) by Friday, March 5, 2021.
4. What Our Content Standards Are
A. You will not hold GSM liable and release the company from any repercussions, liabilities or damages should any advice you offer be misconstrued, shared on the internet or anything else against our policies for participants.
B. You agree to be professional and courteous in your remarks and slides, and not to disparage, shame or ridicule any members of your team, agency or the public during your presentation or in other communications on the event platform.
C. You understand that participants are not allowed to record, repurpose sessions, or share them publicly – but due to the nature of any virtual event being online – you are solely responsible for the content of your session and you are advised not to disclose private, sensitive or damaging information. Screenshots or footage of direct messages from the public should have the profile name and picture blurred and identifying or personal information should not be shown.
D. In the event that you do not meet the deadlines established by GSM, requiring repeated follow-up, you understand that your session and participation may be canceled. No reimbursements will be made for any non-refundable expenses.
5. How We’ll Use Your Session & Materials
A. You agree that we may record your session and and place it and any supporting materials on the event platform for viewing by registered participants, including after the event. GSM may use your session recording or additional materials for other purposes such as marketing and may package it together with other sessions for sale and you grant GSM a copyright release to do so.
B. Your session recording is for exclusive use by GSM and you are not permitted to repurpose it for any other purpose, including other events. You aren’t restricted from re-creating your content and topic area for other purposes, but your GSMCON session recording may only be used by GSM.