How do I get started broadcasting on Happs?
Happs offers FREE world-class broadcasting tools, a community eager to collaborate, and a simple way for viewers to support creators financially. How can we help you get started? Shoot us an email with any questions.
There are two simple ways to Go Live
Smartphone: Download and go live from the Happs app on iOS or Android.
or
Computer: Broadcast from your computer using the Happs Broadcast Studio.
Using the Happs Broadcast Studio
The Happs Broadcast Studio enables you to customize your broadcasts with professional tools. It offers a pre-live lobby for guests. You can use it to add pre-recorded video and custom graphics. And it lets you multicast live to all of your social media accounts. Each broadcast is recorded and available for you to download and edit afterwards too.
To get started, go to Happs and complete the sign up process. Follow the instructions given in the video tour above or the screenshot tour below (note: information given here is for broadcasting from Happs using Google Chrome on a computer)…
Go Live
Go to the “Go Live” tab located in the top lefthand corner of the screen. (Use the Google Chrome browser.)
Create new broadcast
Then click “Create new broadcast.”
Not ready to live yet? You can also click “Schedule an upcoming broadcast” so your show’s all set up and ready to go when you’re ready.
Broadcast settings
Title your broadcast, add hashtags, choose portrait or landscape mode, and hit “Create broadcast.”
Right after you detailing the “create new broadcast” page can you add that they can also schedule one for days in advanced to prep their shows.
Stream to your socials
Select the social media channels where you want to stream your video.
Enable camera/microphone
Enable your camera and microphone in Google Chrome. (Please note: Other browsers are not yet supported by Happs.)
Join broadcast
You can choose to use an external microphone/camera here if you prefer. Otherwise, it will use your default microphone/camera. When you’re done go ahead and hit “Join broadcast.”
Program window
You’ll see your program window which is what will appear onscreen to your viewers. Below the window, you have the four different layouts you can choose.
Invite people
You can invite others to join you on your broadcast by clicking “Invite people.” Note: They must also be signed up for Happs.
Invite guest(s)
Search and find the person(s) you want to add to your broadcast.
Broadcast Permissions
You can choose whether you want your guest(s) to be a Director or a Participant. A Director can control everything in the Broadcast Studio. A Participant can not.
Guest settings
You can control the settings for each of your guest(s). You can adjust each person’s volume, you can choose if you want their video cropped to fit the screen, and adjust their name/title/location.
Upload image/video
You can also upload an image or video to run during your broadcast.
Uploaded Video Settings
You can adjust the volume and layout of your upload. You can also choose to loop video or add a “pre-recorded” banner that is shown to viewers.
Layout options
You have different layout options. You can choose which person or upload appears at the top by clicking the “1” button next to whatever you want to appear at the top.
Hero mode
Hit the “Hero” button to have a person, image, or video take over the screen.
Comments
On the lower left area of the screen, you can type a private comment (viewable by the participants in the broadcast, but not by viewers) or a public comment that all viewers can see.
Notifiers
You can enter notifers (Click “Notifiers” on the left side), enter the text you want to see, and then it will show up in upper third of your broadcast.
Takeovers
“Takeovers” are similar to “Notifiers” but let you take over the entire screen with the message you enter.
Settings
“Settings” is where you can edit options you’ve already chosen and also contains some emergency buttons that can help you troubleshoot during a broadcast.
At the top, you can edit the title of your broadcast.
Beneath that, you can edit your hashtags. “Social multicasting” lets you edit the destinations where you plan on sending your broadcast.
“Audience Program Orientation” lets you choose between portrait and landscape mode. You must select your orientation before you go live (you won’t be able to change this once you’re live). If you change orientation, please be patient. It can take the server a few moments to update.
“Graphics” lets you determine if your awards and goals show up in banners. When you receive an award during the broadcast, a banner is displayed that shows viewers. You can also decide if you want to show your dollar goals for that broadcast. (You can also change these default settings in your “Happs profile settings” so you don’t have to change them every time you broadcast.)
“Animate layout transitions” lets you have smoother transitions when you remove/add someone to the program window.
“Reset program layout” lets you remove everything from the program window. This is especially handy when you accidentally delete something from your uploaded content after it’s been activated. Resetting lets you add everything you need back to your broadcast.
“Restart graphic server” is occasionally needed when the graphics server isn’t starting up in the program window. If you continue to experience issues, please contact Happs support and we’ll help.
Video tutorial
Learn more and see all the above in action via this Broadcast Studio Tutorial video.
Have a question about broadcasting on Happs? Contact us via email. We’re here to help!
Common questions
You might be asking one of these common questions about Happs:
- How do payments and awards work on Happs?
- Why should I broadcast on Happs instead of somewhere else?
- Who else uses Happs?
Good news: Our Introduction to Broadcasting on Happs has the answers to all these questions and more. And you can learn more about Happs awards here: Happs awards let viewers financially reward broadcast journalists. (There are other helpful articles at the Happs blog at Medium too.)
What are the top benefits to broadcasting on Happs?
Get top-tier guests for your broadcasts. Collaborate with our growing community of creators, artists, musicians, journalists,and experts from around the globe. Get in touch and we’ll help you connect with fascinating members of the Happs community.
Monetize your work. Happs gives you a way to make money directly from your broadcasts. Viewers can financially support your journalism via monthly sponsorships and micropayments (aka awards). Happs allows you to develop a sustainable income while maintaining full control of your broadcasts.
Reach a wider audience. Build your live audience across multiple social networks via Happs, which lets you stream to Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and elsewhere in real time. You can also reach new people by collaborating with other journalists and becoming one of Happs featured broadcasters.
Look like a pro. The Happs Broadcast Studio enables you to customize your broadcast with professional tools. With Happs, you can look just as polished as the reporters seen on CNN or BBC.
Get world class support. Our experts are here to guide you through each step of the process. Get in touch and we’ll walk you through setup, discuss best practices, and introduce you to other journalists on the platform.
Get paid to broadcast your own show
Happs is the best way to launch a broadcast and get viewers to pay you “Sounds complicated. I broadcast, but I’m not an entrepreneur.” Don’t worry, we’ll make it easy for you. Get in touch and we’ll show you how Happs’ system of awards and sponsorships offer the ideal solution.
The first step is to get up and running with a regular show. Within a few weeks, you’ll start building an audience of viewers who support, follow, and comment on your broadcasts. After a few months, you’ll see real financial results as viewers sponsor you and give you awards. A few hundred supporters can support a livelihood. A few thousand makes it lucrative.
Sound like a dream? Let’s turn it into a reality. Just hit reply and let us know what you’re struggling with and we’ll help you solve it. Get in touch.
What should you broadcast?
A common question we get: What can I broadcast on Happs? Answer: All kinds of things. Some examples of show topics on Happs…
- Political commentary
- An interview with multiple people
- On the ground reporting from a protest march
- Drawing a political cartoon
- A tour of the Louvre in Paris
- Sea life at an aquarium in Chicago
- Instant recap of sports highlights
- Storm chasing
- Border wall indigenous protests
- Live concert with song requests
- Much more…
You can view some of the top broadcasters on Happs at this About Happs page.
Get in touch
Need help? Contact us via email. Also, we’d love to learn more about you so we can introduce you to other broadcasters on Happs who have similar interests. What’s a topic that you’d like to discuss when broadcasting? Let us know.
