We have talked in the past about how to livestream a service and why families may choose to do so, but what if your attending one of these virtual services? Do you know the proper etiquette to follow? While many people may be familiar with in-person services and what to wear, how to act, etc.., virtual services are a newer trend that many people simply do not have experience with. If you are attending a loved one’s virtual service after their cremation services in Rockford, IL. keep reading as we cover the basic etiquette you should know.

Make Sure to Show Up on Time (and a Little Early)

With a virtual service, some people may be under the impression that if they show up, or rather, log on, late it wont matter or be an interruption. This is simply not true. Just as it is rude to show up late in person, it is also considered rude to show up late virtually. Make sue you show up at least 10 minutes early. This will give you time to get settled, log in to whichever platform the service is being held on, and have the host allow you access.

Ensure Your Camera is On

Yes, it’s true that for most work meeting on Zoom you can get away with sometimes having your camera turned off, but this isn’t a work meeting and you need to make sure your camera is on. Having your camera on shows that you are there and present to what is going on. If you have to leave your computer for a few minutes, you could turn your camera off, but make sure to turn it on as soon as you return.

Remember- You’re on Camera!

Having your camera on means you need to be conscious of what you are doing, and what else is going behind you. Make sure you are not doing anything distracting such as eating, writing notes, playing on your phone, or doing any other multitasking. Make sure your full focus is on the service.

To help attendees not get distracted, make sure your environment is free from things that may take the focus off the service an onto you. For example, your dog may be the cutest one in the world, but now is not the time for it to run in the room and jump up on your lap.

Mute Your Microphone

While you want your camera on so that the host and other attendees can see you, you want to make sure your microphone is on mute. Even if you are alone in your home and feel as nothing will make any noise, it’s better to be safe than sorry. You don’t want to take the chance only to have your smart phone go off because of a notification you received.

Dress Appropriately

If you were attending a live in-person service, the attire you would need to wear would be semi-formal. The same is for a virtual service. Just because you are not physically at the funeral home or church, you still need to dress like you are.

Covid-19 brought a lot of changes into our lives, one of these being virtual services. Even though the restrictions have been gone for some time, the trend of streaming services has remained. If you need more information about cremation services in Rockford, IL. or streaming services and other service options, contact us anytime. We’re here to help!