For many people this year, the best seats for the Boxing Day Junkanoo Parade were at BahamasLocal.com.
Braving very cold weather (so you didn’t have to) the BahamasLocal.com team was on Bay Street sending live sounds and video from the parade.
It was the first live broadcast from BahamasLocal.com and, despite a few technical challenges, it was a success.
Then on January 2, BahamasLocal.com did it again, bringing you the Bahamas Association of Athletic Assocations’ (BAAA) Annual Awards Luncheon live.
Live streaming is the latest tool in the BahamasLocal.com kit for putting The Bahamas and Bahamians on the World Wide Web.
PHOTO: Leslie hosting live Junkanoo at BahamasLocal.com
Streaming the Boxing Day Junkanoo parade proved that Bahamian events can have tremendous appeal. More than 2,000 people from six countries watched Junkanoo on BahamasLocal.com. In all, 2,200 viewers from countries including Alaska, Barbados, Jamaica, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States watched Junkanoo from their computers.
Using an online messenger service, dozens of people wrote in with shout-outs, congratulations and a few bits of constructive criticism, including:
“You're doing a great job Bahamas Local. You also have an awesome host. She should be on-camera reporting more. Great job!”
“ROOTS, right here! But love all of the groups. What an amazing show the Bahamians put on.”
“It is very magical! Well said.”
“I bet you can hear Junkanoo in Miami. : )“
“Thank you sooooooooooooo much for your LIVE stream. Love Bahamas Local!”
“Looking for my boy Alex Wasitch who is with ROOTS! All the groups are AWESOME!”
“Yaaaaaaay Bahamas Local. Great footage! All is perfect! THANK YOU SO MUCH. Sending love from Hollywood, CA. Evelyn Vaccaro”
BahamasLocal.com would like to thank everyone who watched with us and wrote in!
Answering a few questions about the experience, members of the BahamasLocal.com team had some interesting things to say about their Junkanoo experience:
What was the best part about your Junkanoo streaming experience?
Jason (CEO): The interaction with the people viewing the stream. They all had a connection to The Bahamas.
Leslie (Administrator/Video personality): Knowing that there were actually viewers from all over the world who were taking advantage of the opportunity to view Junkanoo on BahamasLocal.com. There were viewers from as far as Alaska, Sweden, the United Kingdom; parts of Canada; from the East to West coast of the United States and as far South as Miami; as well as we had viewers in our own backyard like Eleuthera and Long Island.
It was great to view the feuds between Saxon and Valley Boy supporters in the chat room and heart warming to know that we were able to help some viewers get through their homesickness by watching our live stream.
Patrick (Information officer/Graphic Designer): The best part about the live streaming was the fact that it was incredibly interactive. Unlike television broadcasts where you basically have no idea who's viewing or what they think, we were able to chat, respond and give feedback almost instantaneously. Definitely is a cool experience.
Where there any challenges?
Jason: Everything was LIVE even mistakes.
Leslie: We had challenges with sound and the weather's extreme conditions overshadowed most of the night's experience.
What stands out in your memory from the experience?
Jason: Our viewers LOVED what we did and most said thanks.
Leslie: It was great to view the feuds between Saxon and Valley Boy supporters in the chat room and heart warming to know that we were able to help some viewers get through their homesickness by watching our live stream.
What did you learn from the experience that will affect future shows?
Jason: We Will be doing lots more.
Leslie: I know to keep my comments to myself when near the microphone and if the urge to express myself gets the better of me....to do so far away!!! ;-)
What was your favourite viewer response?
Jason: “Thank you sooooooooooooo much for your LIVE stream. Love Bahamas Local!”
Leslie: The most touching viewer comment came from a lady who was so grateful that BahamasLocal.com streamed Junkanoo because she had just moved to Atlanta only weeks earlier and was truly beginning to feel the effects of being away from her homeland. She couldn't stop thanking us for doing what we did.
To learn more about streaming live video on BahamasLocal.com email streaming@bahamaslocal.com.
Links to video from the broadcasts:
