Stage Access

About

Ready to take your webinars to the next level? Kaltura's Stage Access feature can make your webinars more interactive, engaging, and enjoyable for both hosts and attendees. The Stage Access feature offers three different modes: "Everyone on Stage", where any participant can join the stage, "Request to Join", where participants can send requests to join the stage, and for full control, there's "Invite Only", where the moderator manages access.

With Stage Access, you won't need to worry about keeping tabs on raised hands, and you can customize the experience to fit your specific webinar needs. It's a simple way to have more control and flexibility regarding stage access.

Access

You can access the Stage Access feature in two different ways:

• From the settings menu at the bottom of the screen.

• From the 3 dots menu at the top of the participants list.

From the menu, choose one of the three options.

Everyone on stage 

In Everyone on stage mode, participants can join the stage without obtaining prior permission.

Here's how it works:

1. Participants click the Join stage button (as shown in the image above).
2. A 'Get ready to join the stage' notification displays for participants to check their devices.
3. By clicking Join stage, the user instantly goes live on stage. 

Join by request 

In Join by request mode, the user can send the moderator a request to join the stage with just one click.

Here's how it works:

1. To join the stage, simply click Ask to join stage.
2. The moderator receives a pop-up notification indicating that (user's name) wants to join the stage.
   If multiple users request to join the stage, the moderator will see them all in the participants list to the right of the screen.
3. The moderator can either click Decline or Bring to stage.
   
4. When the participant has been approved, they get a 'You have been invited to join the stage' notification, and they can set up or confirm their devices before clicking Join stage.
5. If a participant's request is declined, they receive a notification informing them their request to join the stage has been declined. 

Participants also have the option to withdraw their request by clicking Cancel request.

Invite only 

In Invite only mode, participants do not have the option to voluntarily join the stage or request to join (although they can still raise their hand). In this mode, the moderator can send an invitation directly to a participant from the participants list.

Here's how it works:

1. The moderator clicks the 3 dots menunext to the participant's name, and selects Invite on stage. A confirmation pops up on the moderator's screen confirming the invitation was sent to (user's name).
2. The participant receives a 'You have been invited to join the stage' notification. 
3. The participant can check their devices, then click Join stage or they can click Decline invitation if they don't want to join the stage.
   

FAQs

How many people can be on stage at one time?

The stage can accommodate up to 100 participants, including the moderator(s). However, there are only 25 cameras, so even if more participants are on stage, only the most recent 25 will be displayed. The number of people on the stage is monitored automatically, and the moderator can see this number in the participants list. 

What happens when the stage is full?

If the stage reaches maximum capacity, the last active speaker (the user that hasn't spoken for the longest time) will be removed from the stage, making room for the new participant. The speaker who is removed can always go back on stage by clicking Join stage.

Can the moderator remove people from the stage?

Yes. Moderators can return a participant to viewer status by clicking on their name in the participants list and selecting Remove from stage or by hovering over their thumbnail and clicking the 3 dots menu, then selecting Remove from stage.

The user will get a notification that they are now a viewer.

How can I leave the stage?

You're unable to do so on your own; only the moderator has the ability to remove you from the stage. However, you can turn off your mic and camera.

What's the default mode?

It depends on your Kaltura product. In Kaltura Events, the default setting will be Open Stage. In Webinars, the default will be Ask to join stage. You can preset your preferred default mode for both Open Stage and Ask to join stage. Decide in advance which mode you want to use as the default for your session.

Can the moderator change modes in the middle of a session?

Yes. If the moderator switches modes during a session, participants will be notified, and those on stage will remain on stage.