Live Streaming a Funeral

When we lose a loved one it can feel as if the world has stopped, and yet there’s still so many decisions that need to be made in a short amount of time. These feelings can be further compounded when loved ones aren’t able to join us in person. 

Funeral Live Streaming enables you to share the service with those who are unable to attend, whether separated by distance, or for venues with limited capacity. It can bring comfort to know that while you aren’t able to be together you are still able to share that moment in real time. 

What to consider

Venue and setup

Funerals and tangihanga are held in a variety of venues, which can influence the way the funeral is presented. A speaker in a small chapel might not require a microphone to be heard by mourners in person, however for a livestream a microphone will still be required. In a larger venue where microphones are used the sound engineer will need to ensure the speakers are audible both in person and online. Gravity has discrete and convenient solutions for the range of funerals so that speakers can concentrate on delivering their tributes. 

Another consideration in varying venues is camera placement, and the number of angles required. To really connect in a way that feels like you’re in the room your viewers will want to see the speakers close-up, but an additional wide shot will allow them to see the room and feel the atmosphere. Speaking at a funeral is already difficult, so our technicians work with the funeral directors to ensure cameras are positioned in a way that speakers don’t feel like a deer in the headlights, while still capturing everything in a way that connects with those online. 

Platform 

There are a variety of options when choosing your platform for a livestream. For a funeral service you want to ensure an uninterrupted experience so it’s best to avoid services such as Facebook live. For a seamless option Gravity recommends live streaming to a private Youtube link, which can be embedded on an appropriate webpage provided by the Funeral Directors. The stream would be available to anyone you choose to invite, who has an internet connected device such as a smartphone, tablet or computer. You could also include a copy of the funeral booklet in a digital format for those at home. 

Share the love

Gravity recommends you acknowledge those watching online during the funeral, to remind them that they are part of the service even though they’re not there in person. If anyone abroad wishes to speak they could supply a pre-recorded tribute to play during the service, or speak live from their own location. 

Leave the details to us

At a difficult time you’ll have plenty to focus on, so leave the nitty gritty bits to us. Gravity’s team has the experience to ensure the service stream goes smoothly. We can cater our service to your requirements, with potential for dedicated staff monitoring audio, manning and selecting camera views, and monitoring the stream itself from the viewer side, to ensure there are no issues. We’ll also record the stream so it can be played back afterwards, in the event that anyone watching experiences technical issues of their own. 

Dealing with loss can be difficult, but when it comes to celebrating a life we hope to make it as easy as possible. Click below for more information about our Live Streaming services, or get in touch with our team to discuss live streaming for funerals today.