Enabling Webinar Backstage

Zoom Webinars Backstage provides another area that runs before, during, and after a session for webinar host, co-hosts, and panelists to be when not actively presenting in the webinar. Panelists can enter this backstage or “green room” before the webinar begins and even multiple times during a webinar.

Panelists in the backstage can also still view and hear the live session, allowing them to follow the presentation and know when it's their cue to rejoin. This can also be useful for webinar moderators or production assistants, who would prefer to remain off screen, but still need panelists’ access to chat, polling, and Q&A features.

At the end of the Webinar, the host can also end the webinar for all attendees, while keeping all panelists for a debrief or post-production discussion.

This is similar to the Webinar Practice Session, which is only available as a staging area before the webinar is started live and cannot be returned to after beginning the webinar.

Once this feature has been enabled for your account or user group, learn how to use Webinar Backstage during the live session.

This article covers:

• Enabling Webinar Backstage
  • Account
  • Group
  • User
  • For an individual webinar
  • For a Zoom Events webinar

Prerequisites for enabling Zoom Events Webinar Backstage

• User with Zoom Events license

Enabling Webinar Backstage

Account

To enable or disable Webinar Backstage for all users in the account:

1. Sign in to the Zoom web portal as an admin with the privilege to edit account settings.
2. In the navigation menu, click Account Management then Account Settings.
3. Click the Meetings tab.
4. Under the In-Meeting (Advanced) section, click the Webinar Backstage toggle to enable or disable it.
5. If a verification dialog displays, click Enable or Disable to verify the change.
6. (Optional) If you want to make this setting mandatory for all users with Zoom Events licenses in your account, click the lock icon  , and then click Lock to confirm the setting.

Group

To enable or disable Webinar Backstage for a group of users:

1. Sign in to the Zoom web portal as an admin with the privilege to edit groups.
2. In the navigation menu, click User Management then Groups.
3. Click the applicable group name from the list.
4. Click the Meetings tab.
5. Under the In-Meeting (Advanced) section, click the Webinar Backstage toggle to enable or disable it.
6. If a verification dialog displays, click Enable or Disable to verify the change.
   Note: If the option is grayed out, it has been locked at the account level and needs to be changed at that level.
7. (Optional) If you want to make this setting mandatory for all users in the group, click the lock icon  , and then click Lock to confirm the setting.

User

To enable or disable Webinar Backstage for your own use:

1. Sign in to the Zoom web portal.
2. In the navigation panel, click Settings.
3. Click the Meetings tab.
4. Under the In-Meeting (Advanced) section, click the Webinar Backstage toggle to enable or disable it.
5. If a verification dialog displays, click Enable or Disable to verify the change.
   Note: If the option is grayed out, it has been locked at either the group or account level. You need to contact your Zoom admin.

For an individual webinar

To enable or disable Webinar Backstage for your own webinar:

1. Schedule a webinar, with registration or without registration required.
2. Select the check box to enable Before the webinar starts, hosts and panelists can access and then select Backstage.
   Note: If you only see the Enable practice session option available, Backstage has not been enabled or is not available for your account. Please check the prerequisites and enablement instructions above.
3. Enable other settings and features as needed and click Schedule.

For a Zoom Events webinar

To enable or disable Webinar Backstage for your own Zoom Event (multiple sessions or single session event) or recurring series event:

1. Sign in to Zoom Events.
2. Create Zoom Event or recurring series event.
3. For a Zoom Event (multiple sessions or single session event):
   1. Complete the basic event setup.
   2. Under Manage, click the Advanced Options tab.
   3. Under the In-Session section, click the Webinar - Backstage toggle to enable or disable it.
4. For a recurring series event:
   1. Finish the first 2 sections (Event Card and Event Profile), then proceed to the third section, Event Options.
   2. Under Advanced Options, in the Joining the Event section, click the Webinar - Backstage toggle to enable or disable it.

To learn more about using Backstage in the live session, refer to the Using Webinar Backstage article.