5 Fancy-Pants Ways to Serve Plain ol Water
TIPS & TRICKS
I don t know what it is about serving specialty water, but people love it: there s something about it that feels decadent. And yet there s really nothing so easy as tossing a handful of fruits or foliage into a pitcher. We ve all got the lemon gig down, but it doesn t cost much to kick it up a notch. Even better? You can match your water to your color palette.
Lavender
Visually arresting and strongly fragrant, tossing a few sprigs of lavender into your water pitchers creates a rural, musky floral scent. Lavender oil is strong, so you won t need much maybe 2 sprigs per pitcher. The water and lavender should soak together for a few minutes prior to serving, so it s good to have multiple pitchers on rotation. (Pro tip: Lavender also does wonders in a pitcher of lemonade).
Cucumber
We couldn t get enough of our first try of cucumber water. Cucumber is famously hydrating, and when we toss it in a pitcher and let it soak, the effect was deeply thirst-quenching: a wonderful mixture of freshness and savory. This one is probably best served in summer, and, unlike lavender water, feels a bit more gender-neutral.
Mint
Too early for a tipple? Let plain ol water stand in for morning mojitos. Muddle up at least 10 sprigs of mint before soaking them in your pitcher.
Goji Berries
Another eye-catcher, toss a handful of brilliant red goji berries into a pitcher of water or at the bottom of each guest s water glass. When the glass is full, the delicate berries slowly float and sink from the top of the glass to the bottom. As they soak, they fatten slightly and a acquire a soft raisin-like consistency. Goji berries are a visual addition only: they impart almost no flavor to the water at all. Bonus: anti-oxidants!
Ginger
Ginger water is excellent in both cold and warm weather, and pairs well with Asian-inspired cuisine. Peel your ginger first, then cut into spears or rounds. Half a large root will flavor a pitcher.
A/V Inspiration: 5 Amazing Video and Light Art Installations
EVENT PRODUCTION INSPIRATION
If you re familiar with some of our audio-visual work, you ll know Decibel has done some interesting projects in the past on projection / facade mapping, and we frequently draw inspiration from cross-disciplinary visual artists. These five videos are stunning examples of using light and video to create brilliant and artistic spaces. May they inspire you in the creation of a unique visual environment at your next event.
BASE Video Installation
Set up in 2006, this psychadelic video installation from Lima, Peru, plays with the viewer s perception of space, its dimensions and limits. It will not just be the physical space where he stands, but also of his condition as a reflection of society. The video illustrates how the effect was achieved, using mirrors and videos projected onto the floor.
320 LICHT | SPATIAL EXPERIENCE from URBANSCREEN on Vimeo.
320 Degrees Licht Spatial Experience
Created by German installation large scale projection design group URBANSCREEN, the 320 Degrees Licht Installation uses the cathedral-like beauty of the Gasometer Oberhausen as the starting point for a fascinating game with shapes and light. Within a radius of 320 degrees graphic patterns grow and change on the 100-metre high inside wall of the Gasometer.
The observer experiences the interplay between real and virtual space, in which the Gasometer seems to dissolve into its own, filigree structures and yet finally always reverts to its clear shape.
LIGHT CANVAS 2 from Joanie Lemercier on Vimeo.
Light Canvas 2 by Joanie Lemercier
This exceptional work is more than an installation: it s like a gallery and an installation combined into a light-augmented environment. Light Canvas, by artist Joanie Lemercier, is a series of paintings enhanced by cleverly projected light. The results are magnificent and endlessly inspiring.
Vanishing Point from United Visual Artists on Vimeo.
Vanishing Point
Created by United Visual Artists: Vanishing Point employs perspective as both tool and visual outcome to reshape, redefine and represent a space. Inspired by sketches of Leon Battista Alberti, Leonardo DaVinci and Albrecht D rer, UVA sends lines into space from an arbitrary vanishing point, creating different volumes, divisions and rooms to be explored by the audience.
advection | robert seidel | projection on a water fountain | lichtsicht biennale 2013/2014 from Robert Seidel on Vimeo.
Advection
Holy moley we love this idea. Artist Robert Seidel created a projection over the mist of a water fountain, pairing it with intense audio. Maybe a bit heavy-handed for a fundraising soiree, but the idea of projecting light visual on water is very enticing.
It s the most wonderful time of the year . at Decibel!
BACKSTAGE, COMPANY NEWS, EVENT INDUSTRY, EVERYTHING ELSE, LIVE EVENTS, PERMITS
Decibel Management has been very busy since September and we are happy to finish out 2013 with an exciting amount of events we were fortunate to be a part of during the fall months!
National Book Festival, SHIRE Mobile Tour, National ATI Day, Glass Packaging Institute s Annual Meeting, Clorox Caroling with Busy Phillips, NextGen Climate Action Summit, Raleigh Christmas Parade, London Financial Forum, just to name a few.
We have already told you all about the National Book Festival in our last post, but we have lots more to share with you.
We worked with SHIRE to produce a mobile tour that went to two different cities to promote awareness about ADHD. Both the client and the participants had great feedback and we are looking forward to travelling again in 2014!
National ATI Day took place at the Newseum in October. We worked with our longtime client FleishmanHillard to produce the event that focused on the Made by Me National Challenge which brought a student made video idea to life with a professional video producer to create the new Above the Influence commercial.
Of course we loved working the 2013 Glass Packaging Institute s Annual Meeting- especially because it was held in Sonoma, California. Attendees participated in an Annual Golf Tournament, association meetings over three days and of course, a Wine Tasting Reception. Really, when in Rome!
Earlier this month Clorox launched their new campaign Bleach it Away for the Holidays. Clorox selected Busy Phillips to endorse their campaign. She joined the Clorox Carolers at two locations in New York City to sing about holiday s bleachable moments to people passing by.
NextGen Climate Action gathered at Georgetown University to host a summit discussing the Keystone Pipeline. Decibel assisted with registration, production, and logistics behind the summit to ensure a successful event for the client.
WRAL TV in Raleigh, NC gave us a call about a week before the Annual Christmas Parade with a potential rainy weather situation. Since we couldn t change the weather they asked if we could provide a tent for their on-air talent to be covered in case of rain during their broadcast. We provided a custom tent that fit perfectly on top of their scaffold and everyone remained dry throughout the parade.
Decibel also went international this year! Dave Sonntag was tapped by Linder and Associates as the producer for the Financial Inclusion 2020 Global Forum in London. We worked with a great team to produce a great event.
Phew. We have a few weeks to enjoy the holiday season and then we are gearing up to launch a tour in January! Stay tuned for Blog posts, Facebook Updates and Tweets about everything happening at Decibel.
New Department of Transportation Regulations for Mobile Tours
EVENT INDUSTRY
We love mobile tours around here and have been part of quite a few over the years. Mobile Tours, for the uninitiated, are essentially traveling events and can take on many forms and involve many different type of vehicles, including tour coaches, equipment transport, buses, food trucks, custom fabricated vehicles, SUVs and trailers the whole deal.
That being so, many of the Department of Transportation (D.O.T.) regulations that govern mobile tours can be confusing, and we wanted to take the opportunity to pass along a few of these important rules for a safe mobile tour. If you re considering hiring a mobile tour operator yourself, it s best to check that they re familiar with the current regulations.
Is your tour subject to the regulations?
Most of the tours that we produce are subject to D.O.T regulations. While there are operators out there that disregard this, it is important for you to understand if your tour is subject to these regulations. If your tour includes the operation of any single vehicle, or combination of vehicles (truck & trailer) that weigh in excess of 10,000 pounds moving across state lines while conducting commercial operations, you will need a D.O.T. number, and will need to comply with all applicable Federal Motor Carrier Regulations. The penalties for non-compliance can get pretty nasty.
Custom cookie truck for the Doubletree by Hilton mobile tour
Hours Of Service
Hours of Service refers to the maximum number of hours a professional driver can work in any given week, for how many consecutive days, and how many rest periods are required. The regulations also make a distinction between drivers that are carrying property, and drivers that are carrying passengers.
Hours of Service is one of the most important safety factors on tour, and this is by far the most abused and disregarded element of all the regulations. This is particularly important for mobile tour producers to know, as the Hours of Service regulation applies not only to driving hours worked by the driver, but any additional hours worked by a driver on non-driving tasks. We understand that on most mobile tours, the driver is typically involved in the setup and production of the event, and we know those hours add up fast, so it s important to keep a strict eye on
Keeping correct Hours of Service is a process that begins in the route planning phase, making sure that the tour stops are spread out enough to be able to comply with the rules. On July 1, 2013 the regulations regarding drivers work hours changed for the first time since 2003. The changes reduced the amount of time a driver can work in a 7-day week and also defined egregious violations of maximum driving time which now call for the maximum civil penalties for violators (this could include jail time for company owners that permit or allow violations to occur).
11 Hour Driving Limit: A Driver can only drive a max of 11 hours after 10
off duty
14 Hour Limit: A driver may not drive after they reach 14 hours. This includes the time the driver is used to set up and tear down a mobile tour.
60/70 Hour On Duty Limit: A driver may not drive after 60/70 hours in 7/8 consecutive days. The 34 hour reset may only be used once per week and needs to include (2) 1am-5am overnights.
You can download the official info sheet below for basic reference. Please use the FMCSA rules in their entirety for the details necessary to operate.
Download New Regulations (PDF)
More things to keep in mind
Driver Qualification Files
DQFs must be completed and on hand at the tour operator s location. These files must include background checks, driving records, medical certificates, drug screens and more.
Vehicles & Maintenance Records
Check that your tour operators and tour producer are completing their daily vehicle inspections, and that they have proof that certain repairs were performed by a qualified repairman (and yes, the regulations define how a repairman is qualified). Other requirements include fire extinguishers, warning triangles, and other safety gear.
Proof of Insurance
Ya gotta have insurance! But not only must the tour operator maintain a certain level of financial responsibility, the coverage must be registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Licensing & Insurance Division (talk to these guys) and the evidence of coverage must be shown on a specific form called the MCS-90.
And they re gonna check that you re doing what you say you re doing, too. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration also conducts new entrant compliance audits within 18 months of obtaining your D.O.T. number. Audits can also be conducted for other reasons, like when problems are found during roadside inspections.
Companies must be able to prove they have an effective set of policies and procedures which promote compliance otherwise they can face fines in excess of $11,000 per violation.
The best approach is to remember the old adage an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure . Take the time to be sure both your operation and your agency is within the regulatory guidelines and you can rest a little easier and pay more attention to your customers.
Keeping Warm: 4 Neat Ways to Incorporate Fire into Your Event
TIPS & TRICKS
It s hard to lure attendees out of doors once the February chill sets in, but the promise of a roaring fire might galvanize your audience to bundle up and get outdoors. Here are a few ideas for (safely) incorporating fire into your next event.
Safety first, kiddos
There s the snuggly warmth of a toasty bonfire, and then there s the raging inferno of horror as you stare at the pile of rubble where your venue used to be, bracing for the influx of lawsuits. If flames are in any way part of your event, cross all your t s: Ensure that your event location is up to code, that fire extinguishers are readily available, fire exits clearly marked, and that there aren t any combustibles around. You may also need a permit do feel free to contact Decibel if you need help with those arrangements.
Fire Dancers for Hire
Fire-based acts, like world-famous Flambeaux, can really turn up the heat. Headquartered in New York, Flambeaux gets booked by A-List clients like IBM and Heidi Klum, and their act is a mix of acrobatics, dance, fire-breathing, and fire-eating. Being among the world s best may put Flambeux out of your price range, but most major cities have a few fire performance troops available for hire.
Fire pits
Fire pits can be a real hazard, and they can severely limit available venues. There is, however, such a thing as an electric fire pit, like this rental unit from Talk of the Town:
Fire Writing
Professional pyros like Lancework, Add Fire Inc. and similar vendors can render words, images, or any logo in sparkling flames, as a stand-alone piece or as a great complement to a traditional fireworks display.
Fire-Themed Venues
Hold your event in an old fire station, at a fire museum, or other fire-themed venue. The Aurora Regional Fire Museum in Illinois, for example, is open for meetings and event rentals, and includes an indoor theater. Many cities, like Houston and New York, have similar facilities.
Good Trade Show Giveaways: Empathic Trade Show Shwag that Sells
TRADE SHOW
Tis the season for giving, but on the trade show circuit, tis the season all year round. Trade Show participants are expected to load visitors down with fun shwag, but it s all too easy to waste money handing out items that won t further your business objectives. We tend to find that the best goodies that demonstrate a level of empathy, either empathy specifically for booth visitors or empathy in general.
Toothbrush
Okay, it s not like, Silicon-Valley-snazzy or anything, but trade show attendees have often just gotten off a plane. Sometimes they hit ground with an hour to run to the hotel, throw their stuff down, and leave. And when you get to a trade show where you re expected to network and you realize you ve forgotten to brush your teeth? That can pretty much ruin your day. Help a business traveler out they may return the favor. Quantum Labs has a good selection of size and style options.
Lip balm
Air travel is dehydrating, and chapped lips can make a conference uncomfortable. Branded EOS sphere lip balm looks pretty spiffy, and attendees will be grateful for the relief. Rush Imprint does EOS spheres at anywhere between $6.35 and $5.54 per unit.
Eco Garden Kit
A gardening kit wouldn t necessarily be the right giveaway for all brands, but it does demonstrate your company s commitment to sustainability. Made from recyclable materials, Empire Promos kit contains gardening gloves, a bamboo-handled cultivator, transplanter and weeder/pruner.
Branded Charging Station
Someone, somewhere in that conference hall is running out of batteries, and is wistfully staring at an electrical socket that s mounted 4 feet off the ground. This charging station by 4Imprint lets attendees make use of out-of-the-way sockets by providing a platform that balances devices on the wall.
Clorox Twitter Fountain
COMPANY NEWS
Event Marketer recently featured Clorox s launch of the Twitter-powered water fountain at SXSW Eco which highlighted the #safewaterproject.
Check out the article here!
Unique Event Formats: Pecha Kucha Night What it is and how to host one
LIVE EVENTS
Pecha Kucha (also called Pecha Kucha 20 20), is a nifty presentation format in which speakers have a very short, controlled period of time in which to introduce a series of Powerpoint slides. Traditionally held after work hours, Pecha Kucha was first conceptualized by expat architects based in Tokyo as the perfect event format to allow chatty architects to showcase their design work without rambling on too long. The event genre has since outgrown its architectural roots to accommodate a wide range of disciplines
The Pecha Kucha website features videos of past Pecha Kucha events and a global map of upcoming PK nights.
The presenter themselves is not in control of the rotation speed of the slides, and can t advance the slides on their own. The presenter stands in front of the presentation, and is granted exactly 20 seconds to speak about the content of each slide. The 20 second rule is sacrosanct: even if the presenter is done speaking before the 20 seconds is up, the current slide remains on the screen until the 20-second timer runs out. If the speaker over-shoots the 20 second mark, the controller will change the slide regardless. The 20 slide rule is treated with the same rigidity: presenters must show 20 slides, no more, no less.
The tight timeline and tight restrictions of this highly structured format makes for some excellent creativity.
What you ll need to organize a Pecha Kucha:
- A projector and large screen
- Laptop or computer loaded with all presenter s slides
- Ideally 2 microphones, one for the presenter and one for the slide controller
- An easy-to-reset timer for the slide controller
- Seating area for attendees
Presenters should submit their presentations to the organizer before the event so that organizers can run a quick compatibility check with the Pecha Kucha guidelines, and can predict how each event will go.
It might be wise to check out a local Pecha Kucha before you host one of your own. The official Pecha Kucha site has a mapped listing of events, so check out this page to find the Pecha Kucha nearest you.
National Book Festival 2013
COMPANY NEWS, LIVE EVENTS
For the third year running, Decibel was selected to manage the logistics and event operations for Washington DC s annual National Book Festival. Check out this behind the scenes video showcasing our work.
National Book Festival 2013- Behind the Scenes with Decibel Management from Decibel Management on YouTube.
Held every year on the National Mall and attended by tens of thousands of guests, the Library of Congress annual National Book Festival is one of Decibel s flagship events. The 2013 festival marked Decibel founder Dave Sonntag s 9th year on the NBF organization team, and Decibel Management s 3rd year handling NBF logistics.
More than 100 authors held events in the genre-specific pavilions, including Joyce Carol Oats, Margaret Atwood, Justin Cronin, and Christopher Buckley.
Decibel handled every aspect of the event, including collateral design management, site permitting, setup, breakdown, audio, and other logistics.
How to Screen Celebrity Speakers: Booking Tips for Your Event
EVENT INDUSTRY, TIPS & TRICKS
It s a tough wake-up call for readers of Perez Hilton or the Daily Mail: all those famous people who make headlines and sell newspapers don t always make engaging speakers at events. Sure, big names are great at getting butts in seats, but it s easy to forget that expertise or fame doesn t necessarily relate to engaging stage presence unless the celebrity is familiar and comfortable with the in-front-of-a-podium format. Here are a few things to remember when booking a celebrity guest at your event.
Run their talk through an approval process (just like everyone else)
Most conference planners would blanch at the idea of a keynote speaker being allowed to go on stage without casting a glance at their presentation materials, and without making sure the speech fits into the theme of the event as a whole. This should not change if your speaker has a face known to millions ask to see the goods before anyone takes the stage.
They re on the clock too
Celebrity speakers are often hired to appear at dozens of various conferences and events, and one can easily blur into the next. To ensure your to-do is not seen as yet another payday, ask your celebrity speaker to spend some time discussing how you can best tailor their speech and presence to your event s needs you deserve it.
A performer does not always a speaker make
You wouldn t ask an air-conditioning repair guy to fix your fridge. Same deal here: Well-known news anchors, singers, actors and media personalities may be dynamic on screen or on the air, doing what they love best, but that magnetism many not translate when facing a rapt audience of strangers. They may not have experience writing their own material, or they may be used to another performance format that bears little resemblance to public speaking. Similarly, famous subject experts may really know their stuff, but may not be used to explaining it or discussing it with laymen.
If possible, look to book celebrities with speaking experience. While booking agencies can get you the talent, it is important to utilize YouTube and other social networks to search for videos and examples of past speeches, if any, for a preview of what you can expect.
Michael Douglas could make a killing if he appears as Gordon Gekko
Give them a safety net
Some celebrity speakers, particularly on the political lecture circuit, just have it. From a lifetime of media training, they can take the mic in any packed conference room and deliver a speech that will enthuse and motivate a crowd at an annual meeting for chartered accountants. Others do not. If an event manager feels that their speaker will flounder alone, arranging to have them as the guest star in a panel discussion may be the best solution. This allows them to shine in specific moments, giving the audience their money s worth while taking away much of the pressure.
Screen for (and do your best to accommodate) divas
In addition to appearance fees, many celebrities will provide a sheet of requests called a rider , a list of additional instructions for everything from which snacks they d prefer to have available in the green room, to, in Kanye s case, requiring all chauffeurs to wear 100{04d9822e7d95da125d508d8e1efbcf2edc79acd8aec1f0bbdcbd6a6f684f9bb3} cotton fabrics. It s a good idea to get your hands on a rider before the booking actually occurs. If someone is going to require seven bottles of Dom in the green room, it ll be good to know that as early as possible.
Where to find some celebs!
APB: Speakers International A large listing of A-list speakers, including sample speaking topics, videos and biographies.
WSB: Washington Speakers Bureau The Washington Speakers Bureau brings audiences quality speakers and experts whose ideas are changing the face of business and inspiring the world.
Booking Entertainment A large agency with some great names