Overview
Make your virtual sessions stand out with Zoho Backstage’s OnAir features! From branding your session with custom logos and backgrounds to managing hosts, lounges, and audience engagement tools, everything you need to create a polished and interactive experience is just a few clicks away. Whether you're hosting a keynote, panel, or casual networking lounge, you’re in full control of how your event looks, feels, and flows.
General Setup
Customize your OnAir session's appearance by uploading your event logo, setting a background, and choosing the session ambience.
Uploading a Logo
- Navigate to Manage > OnAir > General from the Dock.
- Click Upload Logo.
- Choose the event logo from the library or upload a new image.
Changing the Background
- In the Background section, click the Change button. The OnAir Background panel will appear.
- Choose from the available default backgrounds and click Save.
- To upload a new background:
- Click the Upload button in the OnAir Background panel.
- Select a background from the library or upload a new image.
- Click Save.
Changing the Ambience
- Scroll to the Ambience section.
- Choose between Dark and Light modes.
- The default background options in the Background section will update based on the selected ambience.
OnAir Preferences
The OnAir Preferences panel allows organizers to customize attendee interaction, engagement, and visibility settings during online sessions. These settings help tailor the virtual event experience based on event goals and audience type.
- Navigate to Manage > OnAir > General from the Dock.
- Click the Adjustments icon on the top-right of the screen. The OnAir Preferences panel will appear.
Participant List
Control how participant details are displayed to others in the session.
- Show Participant List: Choose who can be seen in the participant list.
- All – Everyone attending the session.
- Hosts, event team members, and speakers – Only key personnel.
- Hosts and event team members – Only organizers and moderators.
- Show Participant Count: Choose whose count appears in the session.
- All – Show the total number of attendees.
- Hosts, event team members, and speakers – Show the count of key personnel.
- Hosts and event team members – Only show internal participant count.
Reactions
Configure how attendee reactions appear in the session.
- Show Reactions:
- With Participant Name – Display reactions along with the name of the person who reacted.
- Without Participant Name – Display reactions anonymously.
- Off – Disable reactions for the session.
Recordings
Manage the recording behavior of your session.
- Auto Record Session: Enable this option to automatically begin recording when the session starts.
Engagement
Enable or disable interactive features to drive audience participation. The following are available as toggles:
- Polls – Allow organizers to conduct live polls during the session.
- Q&A – Enable attendees to ask questions.
- Anonymous Questions – Allow attendees to submit questions anonymously.
- Allow Attendees to Reply – Let attendees respond to questions in the Q&A.
- Chat – Enable the chat panel for text-based communication.
- Allow Attendees to Raise Mic Request – Permit attendees to request permission to speak during the session.
- Direct Messages – Allow private messages between participants.
- Meetings – Enable small-group breakout meetings during the session.
Click Save to apply your changes.
Hosts
Assigning a New Host to a Track
- Navigate to Manage > OnAir > Hosts from the Dock.
- A page showing the event days and the tracks scheduled on each day will appear.
- Select the event day you want to manage.
- Click Manage Hosts for the relevant track. The Add Host panel will appear.

- Choose an existing event member as a host from the Select Host dropdown.
- Or, click Invite Members to add new hosts. The Add Members panel will appear.

- Enter the Email addresses of new hosts or select from existing portal members.
- Choose the appropriate Role for each host.
- Click Add.
- Once a host is assigned, the Co-Host field will appear.
- Choose an event team member to be the co-host.
- Click Save.
- If your event is in draft state, click Publish to publish your event. If already live, Republish it.
Changing the Host
- Click Manage Hosts for the relevant track.
- Click the X icon next to the current host or co-host.
- Assign a new host or co-host following the steps above.
- Click Save.
- If your event is in draft state, click Publish to publish your event. If already live, Republish it.
Lounges
Create virtual lounges in your OnAir event to encourage networking and informal conversations among participants.
Creating a Lounge
- Navigate to Manage > OnAir > Lounges from the Dock.
- Click Add Lounge. The Add Lounge panel will appear.

- Enter the Lounge Name.
- Enter the Lounge Capacity (maximum: 20 participants).
- Set Lounge Access:
- Open to All: All participants and event team members can access the lounge.
- Open to a specific group: Restrict access to attendees, speakers, sponsors, event members, or staff.
- Configure Lounge Settings by enabling or disabling the following:
- Video Settings
- Screenshare
- Polls
- Chat
- Click Change Background to update the lounge background.
- Choose from the default lounge backgrounds (these vary based on the ambience set in the General tab).
- You can also upload a custom background image.
- Click Save to apply the background.
- Click Add to create the lounge.
- If your event is in draft state, click Publish to publish your event. If already live, Republish it.
Editing a Lounge
- Navigate to Manage > OnAir > Lounges from the Dock.
- Click the Edit button associated with a lounge. The Edit Lounge panel will appear.
- Make the required changes.
- Click Done to apply the changes.
- If your event is in draft state, click Publish to publish your event. If already live, Republish it.
Deleting a Lounge
- Navigate to Manage > OnAir > Lounges from the Dock.
- Open the dropdown menu associated with the lounge you want to remove.
- Click Delete.
- Confirm deletion in the dialog box.
- If your event is in draft state, click Publish to publish your event. If already live, Republish it.