The Seven Deadly Sins of Event Planning
TIPS & TRICKS
When they go off without a hitch, mega events can be magic but when you get to the big leagues, there s a lot that can go wrong, from problems with the venue to equipment malfunctions to running over budget. So how do you keep things running like clockwork from beginning to end? Read our seven deadly sins of event planning below for a look at the dos and don ts of pulling off a large-scale events.
1. Not Having a Backup Plan
When you re planning an event, one of the last things you probably want to think about is everything that could go wrong but this is key to preventing potential hiccups from turning into disasters. Don t wait till the last second to make contingency plans; perform a risk assessment early on in the planning process, imagining all possible complications and ways to prevent or provide a solution to those complications. Start with your worst case scenario: extreme weather or a problem with your venue. Draw up a list of backup venues in the area and make sure to gather all attendees contact information in case of a last-minute location switch. It s also a good idea to check and double-check all of your arrangements to avoid any nasty surprises. If possible, do a dry run ahead of the date to make sure all equipment functions correctly, and line up backup equipment if necessary.
2. Underestimating Costs
We get it you ve drawn up your budget, and it s a thing of beauty. Everything s accounted for, costs have been reduced, and it balances out perfectly. We hate to tell you this, but: you ve forgotten something. or something will pop up last minute, or your number of attendees will balloon unexpectedly, or something will break, or The point is, despite doing your risk assessment, you can never account for all exigencies, which is why you need to leave a cushion in your budget. The bigger the cushion, the more secure you can feel.
3. Keeping Bad Records
We re not just talking about bookkeeping here as you advance through the planning process, it s crucial to keep track of all the changes that occur, no matter how small, to avoid impacting your budget or timeline. A good way to prevent nasty surprises is to set up a procedure for documenting every deviation from the original plan. The person requesting the change should describe it in detail so that the event manager can review how the change will affect the budget, needed manpower or schedule.
4. Not Getting to Know Your Collaborators
As much as type-A planners would love to control everything themselves, it s simply impossible when organizing a big event. While you may have a handle on your own staff, your partners are a whole other kettle of fish. Get to know your collaborators early on contractors, vendors, caterers, and so on so you can get an accurate picture of their resources, skills and workloads. This way you can better stay on schedule and shift tasks around if necessary.
5. Goldilocks-ing Your Social Media
There s a balance that must be struck when promoting your event via social media not enough and people forget that it s happening; too much, and you risk overexposure or, worse, alienating attendees by spamming their feeds. Approach your social media promotion mindfully, and think about what it looks like on the receiving end. Don t just post the same thing over and over; strive to create fresh, interesting content that draws people in, doesn t take too long to consume and intrigues rather than beats them over the head with event promotion.
6. Not Allowing Enough Time for Setup
There s nothing that looks more unprofessional than seeing staff running around setting up when the event should have already opened. Avoid this embarrassing situation by drawing up a detailed production schedule that includes not only a timeline, but specifics regarding who is responsible for what task, where they should be and when. Of course, you know what they say about the best-laid schemes of mice and men even if your schedule looks fool-proof, you never know what can happen. That s why it s essential to build in at least a 30-minute buffer to account for any last-minute contingencies.
7. Mis-Estimating Your Crowd Numbers
Now for the most unpredictable part of the whole equation your attendees. Among the biggest things that can go wrong is mis-estimating the size of your crowd. Too many, and you ll cause a jam-up, with a shortage of resources; too few, and your event space looks like an awkward high school dance. Nip this in the bud by setting up a good registration process that requires RSVPs (even if the event is free) so that you can get a fairly accurate body count. Try not to make it too arduous though, otherwise folks will be less likely register. Also make sure to have a good check-in process for when attendees arrive. It may seem superfluous, but check-in can help avoid long lines, gives people an idea of what s going on, and primes them for the evening.
A Yuletide Throwback Thursday: 3 Christmas Event Traditions, Then and Now
EVENT INDUSTRY
Merry Christmas! And a cheery tis-the-season thank you to all our vendors, partners, readers and clients. You guys are our favorite people; we wouldn t be here without you, and we wish you all a holiday season decked in lights and smothered in gravy. Not to get too sappy on ya, but this is inevitably the time of year when our thoughts turn to the past, and we remember with gratitude how far we ve come not just as a company, but as an industry. Fancy a spot of history?
Macy s Thanksgiving Day Parade
Started in 1924 by Macy s department store employees, many of whom were first-generation European immigrants. Proud of their new American heritage, they wanted to celebrate the American holiday of Thanksgiving with the type of festival their parents had loved in Europe.
[The] employees marched to Macy s flagship store on 34th Street dressed in vibrant costumes. There were floats, professional bands and live animals borrowed from the Central Park Zoo. At the end of that first parade, as has been the case with every parade since, Santa Claus was welcomed into Herald Square. At this first parade, however, the Jolly Old Elf was enthroned on the Macy s balcony at the 34th Street store entrance, where he was then crowned King of the Kiddies. With an audience of over 250,000 people, the parade was such a success that Macy s declared it would become an annual event.
What started as an audience of 250,000 is now closer to one million.
Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting
Here s one for the event designers: did you know that the electric Christmas light was invented by none other than that titan of power, Thomas Edison? Before that, people lit their Christmas trees with actual candles, causing no shortage of house fires. The very first electrical Christmas tree lights were used in 1882 by Thomas Edison s business partner, Edward Johnson, but they didn t really catch on until President Grover Cleveland used them at the White House. Thirty years later, the official Christmas tree tradition at Rockefeller Center began in 1933 (the year 30 Rockefeller Plaza opened), [but] the unofficial tradition began during the Depression-era construction of Rockefeller Center, when workers decorated a smaller 20 feet (6.1 m) balsam fir tree with strings of cranberries, garlands of paper, and even a few tin cans on Christmas Eve (December 24, 1931), as recounted by Daniel Okrent in his history of Rockefeller Center.[10] One claim is the tree had some gum wrappers and detonator blasting caps as decorations.
These days? Things are little more polished:
Good Save: the NORAD Santa Tracker
Did you know that the much-beloved NORAD Santa Tracker program began with an event marketing slip-up?
The program began on December 24, 1955, when a Sears department store placed an advertisement in a Colorado Springs newspaper which told children that they could telephone Santa Claus and included a number for them to call. However, the telephone number printed was misprinted and calls instead came through to Colorado Springs Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) Center. Colonel Harry Shoup, who was on duty that night, told his staff to give all children who called in a current location for Santa Claus. A tradition began which continued when the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) replaced CONAD in 1958.
These days, the program is run by a series of volunteers and staff. Here s the ad misprint that made history:
Neat, yeah?
Five Candy-Inspired Cocktails for Halloween
FOOD & CATERING
Nothing makes for a better Halloween event than combining childhood thrills and chills with grown-up delights. Because let s face it even if your guests have outgrown trick-or-treating, everyone still loves dressing up and digging into their favorite sugary treats, whether that means Reese s peanut butter cups (delicious) or Necco wafers (barf). The best way to do that? Inventive Halloween cocktails that satisfy everyone s sweet tooth while channeling the holiday s spooky fun. Here are five imaginative tipples that are perfect for your next Halloween event.
1. Candy Corn Cocktail
Candy corn may not have the panache of, say, tropical flavored Skittles or king-sized candy bars, but it s an old faithful in terms of Halloween loot. Tasty, festive and inscrutable (seriously, how is this tri-colored traffic cone supposed to represent corn?), candy corn offers a perfect theme for Halloween cocktails. This boozy take on the classic candy, created by The Food Network, is based on a candy-corn infused vodka, which combines with citrus-based cordials for some brightness and lift, along with egg white to give it a velvety froth. Get the full recipe here. Who would ve thought candy corn could be so classy?
2. Syringe Shooters
On the other side of the cocktail spectrum are syringe shooters, a distinctly un-classy, but incredibly fun take on spooky Halloween drinks. Simply mix up a batch of Jello shots (strawberry makes for a nice bloody hue) and then draw the liquid into a syringe before chilling. According to Myscienceproject.org, 60ml syringes are ideal just remember to take out the needles.
3. Zombie Brain Jello Shots
For a slightly more gruesome take on jello shots, try out these zombie brain monstrosities, which combine vodka, liqueurs, jello and condensed milk to create a jiggly, gray brain exterior. The inside is filled with a raspberry concoction to add a bit of delicious, delicious gore. While this may not be practical for large-scale batches, they re a nice option if you re looking to add a creative twist to your Halloween cocktail list.
4. Bleeding Heart Martini
Most Halloween cocktail garnishes range from the disgusting (brain hemorrhages courtesy of curdled Bailey s) to the playful (vodka-soaked gummy worms, anyone?). Which is what makes this one so special it s grotesque while still creative and classy; in other words, exactly what you d expect of Martha Stewart. Simply make a martini as usual, and then, instead of an olive, top it off with a skewered pickled baby beet to resemble a recently harvested heart. See what we mean? Frightful but low-key.
5. Reese s Martini
Consistently voted as Americans favorite Halloween candy, Reese s peanut butter cups remain one of the holiday s most beloved confections. While the idea of transforming that peanut-butter-chocolatey goodness into an evening tipple may sound a bit, shall we say, over the top, several enterprising mixologists have figured out a way to do it. This recipe calls for Van Gogh Dutch Chocolate Vodka, Castries Cr me Peanut Rum and chocolate liqueur or, you could take a slightly cruder approach and simply blend a Reese s peanut cup with vodka. We re not judging! However you re able to pair the goodness of Reese s with some booze is ok by us.
Top 3 Experiential Marketing Campaigns of 2017 (Thus Far)
BRAND ACTIVATIONS & MARKETING, EVENT INDUSTRY, EVENT PRODUCTION INSPIRATION, EXPERIENTIAL, LIVE EVENTS
Experiential marketing. Engagement marketing. On-ground marketing. Event marketing. Whatever you want to call it, can be very successful if done right.
The goal of experiential marketing is to form a memorable connection between the consumer and the brand to make a lasting impression, influence purchase decisions and ultimately build brand loyalty. It s proving to be a valuable part of a company s marketing plan, especially for large, faceless brands who can be viewed as out of touch with the general public.
With the explosion of new technology (like virtual reality) in the past year, combined with good ol fashion creativity, we expect 2017 to show us big things for experiential marketing. Here are some of our favorites so far.
The Casper Nap Tour & SXSW Takeover
Casper, one of the heavy-hitters in the mail order mattress-in-a-box industry, took this year s South by Southwest Festival by storm. For starters, they had their Nap Tour RV strategically stationed to help exhausted festival goers take 8-minute power naps. Attendees got to experience the comfort of a Casper mattress in a private pod, complete with slippers, a cold brew coffee, and a dog bed if they also had a furry friend.
Casper also partnered with the Standard Hotel s One:Night app to help people find a last minute, reasonably priced hotel room in an otherwise completely booked city. Each day at 3:00pm, the One:Night app released 20 rooms that could be booked for just $99 (more reasonable than the other hotel prices in downtown Austin during this time, which ranged from $250-$1,200). Guests got to sleep in comfortable rooms outfitted with a Casper mattress, pillows and slippers. Car service was provided by Tesla, and you could even request a real mom from the front desk to come read you a bedtime story.
Thanks to Mother Nature, Casper really solidified themselves in people s memories when an unexpected snowstorm cancelled flights in the North East at the end of SXSW. Casper extended their event to help stranded attendees find rooms, and even threw a Stranded in Austin party with rapper Warren G.
Talk about turning a nightmare into a dream.
XFINITY Fast & Furious Drive-Out Cinema
XFINITY partnered with the release of the next Fast & Furious movie, The Fate of the Furious, to take two of their customers on the ride of their lives. Excited to see and sit in some of the super cars from the movie, the two contest winners strapped in to watch a sneak peak of the film. That is until the people in the driver s seat suddenly discovered that the keys had been left in the car. Cue revving engine, confusion and adrenaline.
Turns out the people in the driver s seat were the actual stunt drivers from the movie, and they take the two unsuspecting super fans straight through the wall of the theatre and into an explosion-packed stunt ride. It was literally just like a scene from the movie. While this experience wasn t had by many people in-person, the YouTube video posted about it did a great job of capturing the event. While watching, you instantly start imagining what you would do in that situation. It evokes a feeling, a rush.
Plus, it s just flat-out funny to watch these people s faces as they flail about doing donuts next to impressive pyrotechnics.
Crayola Retires a Classic
Crayola made waves in the social media sphere by announcing that they were going to retire one of their iconic crayon colors from their 24-count box. They set up a giant box of crayons in Time Square, and had a countdown going on their website to March 31, 2017 (National Crayon Day) when they were going to announce live on Facebook which color would be getting the ax. Engagement and buzz on social media was high, as Crayola encouraged people to share which color they hoped to keep around (there s lots of Cerulean fans out there).
As it turns out, a box of the new crayons made its way onto shelves one day ahead of schedule, and of course an excited fan spotted it and posted it to Twitter. We give major props to the Crayola social team for reacting to this leak swiftly and positively by saying the color Dandelion just couldn t wait, and decided to announce his retirement a day early. This fast-thinking, positive spin saved the campaign, and may even end up gaining it more attention in the long run. Who doesn t love a good spoiler scandal? Here s wishing that Dandelion enjoys his golden years.
Do you have a favorite 2017 experiential marketing campaign that didn t make this list? Let us know! Tweet us at @DecibelEvent. We re social butterflies.
6 Amazing Event Venues for Book Nerds
VENUES
You know what lit nerds want? They want to dine in musty halls of learning. They want to sip cocktails on the porch of Hemingway s hideaway. The US is rich in event venues with a connection to literary history. Here are a few of our top picks:
Algonquin Hotel, New York
Back in 1919, the Algonquin Hotel was home to the Algonquin Round Table, a coalition of writers and other literary ne er-do-wells that included Dorothy Parker and Marc Connelly, who met in the dining room for luncheon and poker. The Library Boardroom, the hotel s meeting space, also houses the hotel s famous book collection.
The Rainbow Room, New York
Mentioned in a JD Salinger short story A Girl I knew , the Rainbow Room is a major fixture in New York s glitzy history. First opened on October 3, 1934, [The Rainbow Room] was originally conceived as a formal supper club, where the elite and influential of New York could gather to socialize over cocktails, dine on fine cuisine, and dance to the strains of legendary Barry Winton s Orchestra (Band) on a revolving floor. Today, the event space can accommodate around 300 guests.
Margaret Mitchell House, Atlanta
Listed on the National Register of Historic Sites, this is the very location where Margaret Mitchell penned Gone With the Wind. The three story Tudor revival home, which includes the apartment Margaret Mitchell wrote her best-selling novel, contains four intimate parlor rooms and one event room on two floors with covered porches and balconies, and is surrounded by manicured lawns.
National Archives Museum, Washington DC
What it is about old scrolls that sets the literary heart thumping? The National Archives Musuem houses some of America s oldest documents, and in terms of event locations, if you re throwing a gala in DC, the National Archives Museum is pretty near the top of the list for Federalist chic. There are five event spaces in total, including a 290-seat theater, a series of smaller conference rooms, and the Rotunda galleries which boasts 75-foot vaulted ceilings, marble floors, and bronze accents and are just steps away from the permanent home of the original Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, and Bill of Rights.
The Catered Affair @ Boston Public Library, MA
The Catered Affair joins forces with the Boston Public Library to provide one of the most unique and historic event venues in the city. Ornately designed spaces in a variety of sizes offer businesses a unique opportunity for corporate events.
Bookbindery, Culver City, CA
Once the site of an actual book-binding shop, Bookbindery has now been transformed into two multi-purpose concrete and exposed brick event spaces totaling 19,000 square feet, plus a 2,500sqf prep kitchen.
Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum, Key West, FL
Sip rum cocktails under the very eaves where Hemingway spent 10 years banging out brilliance? Yes, please.
The Hemingway home was built in 1851 in the Spanish Colonial style, and was constructed of native rock hewn from the grounds. The home was in great disrepair when it the Hemingways took ownership, but both Ernest and Pauline could see beyond the rubble and ruin, and appreciated the grand architecture and stateliness of the home. The massive restoration and remodeling they undertook in the early 1930 s turned the home into the National Historical Landmark that thousands of tourists visit and enjoy today.
The Incredible Impossibility of the Super Bowl Halftime Show
EVENT DESIGN, EVENT INDUSTRY, EVENT PRODUCTION INSPIRATION, EVENT PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY
As you re making your last minute game-day dip selections and 60-inch TV purchases, there s a group of brave people who have been prepping for this Super Bowl Sunday since last year.
Spoiler alert: It s not any member of the Falcons or the Patriots.
No, for these ambitious folks, the game really begins when the players leave the field. It s halftime.
It s showtime.
A Logistical Nightmare
The team that puts on the Super Bowl halftime show truly accomplishes something incredible. While normal stage setup for a stadium-size concert usually takes a day or more, the Super Bowl halftime stage is assembled in just minutes six minutes to be exact.
According to Charles Coplin, VP of Special Events for the NFL, last year s Super Bowl XXXVIII (with the halftime show featuring Coldplay, Beyonce and Bruno Mars), they had six minutes to bring the stage on and set it up, and six minutes to break it all down. Oh and not to mention, leave the field in pristine condition for the second half of the world s most prestigious football game.
You see, not only do these incredibly elaborate stage setups have to happen quicker than the time it takes to boil six cups of water, they also have to do so without the help of heavy machinery or motor vehicles. Cranes and trucks could tear up the field or bump a goal post. There is way too much at stake to cause a delay of game due to a rogue rig.
Yeah there really isn t any room for mistakes. Like zero room. Because when they say that the Super Bowl halftime show is a huge stage, they mean that both literally and figuratively. What happens on that stage will be seen. By millions. Live. (Or maybe with a slight delay to prevent any future wardrobe malfunctions. )
In fact, there have been many years when the halftime show actually gets more viewership than the football game itself. This was true for last year s show. Super Bowl 50, which saw the Denver Broncos beat the Carolina Panthers 24-10, had an average viewership of 111.9 million TV viewers. And when was its largest viewership of the night recorded? That s right. During halftime. 115.5 million TV viewers. And even that s rounding down.
This count from Nielson doesn t include out-of-home viewers who went to catch the game at a bar or at their friend s house. It also doesn t include online streaming viewers, or the nearly 70,000 fans that filled Levi Stadium.
OK, so the stage has to be setup in six minutes, using predominantly volunteers and virtually no heavy machinery. There can be no damage done to any area of the field. The performance needs to be executed flawlessly coordinating A-list performers, dancers, lights, sound, props and pyrotechnics because millions of people will be watching live. And then in another six minutes the stage has to be taken down and everyone tucked back in their seats before halftime ends, with zero damage to the field.
Oh yeah, and you also have to put on a halftime show that kicks ass.
Pushing a 12-minute Show to the Limit
What truly makes halftime amazing is that even with all of these restrictions, it still has to be an unforgettable show. It still has to astound the audience. It still has to keep us talking about it, comparing it to other halftime shows year after year.
Each Super Bowl halftime show tries to push the envelope a little further. Increase the WOW factor just a little more. Let s look at some examples, shall we?
1993 Super Bowl XXVII This is the show that really kicked off the modern halftime extravaganza. In the beginning, Michael Jackson impersonators seemingly morphed from within the digital scoreboards, appearing on top of them to dance high above the stadium. Then, Michael Jackson himself shot up from the stage floor and stared down the audience for a full 90 seconds without moving. A full 90 seconds.
A halftime spectacular featuring Michael Jackson wows a SB XXVII crowd of better than 98,000 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on 1/31/1993. Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images Photos (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)
1995 Super Bowl XXIX Produced by Disney, this performance featured a live-action Indiana Jones skit, complete with 13 professional stuntmen, skydivers, Patti LaBelle, and one guy who got lit on fire (intentionally). While this halftime show received a lot of ridicule, it was the only one to feature stuntmen and live fight scenes no matter how hokey.
1996 Super Bowl XXX The headliner, Diana Ross, had 12 wardrobe changes, and left the stage in a helicopter.
2007 Super Bowl XLI This show featured a remarkable performance by Prince while it actually rained. The pouring rain wasn t planned, but the show definitely did go on. And it was fucking awesome.
2012 Super Bowl XLVI This year had an impressive stage completely outfitted with projection mapping. DWP Live, the projection mapping crew, spent nearly 3 weeks getting things ready in Indianapolis. The stage looked spectacular moving and transforming beneath Madonna and her dancers.
Photo By: Brad Duns via MomentFactory.com
Photo By: Brad Duns via MomentFactory.com
2015 Super Bowl XLIX Katy Perry rode in on a GIANT animatronic tiger (that looked like a lion), and then left by flying around the stadium on a star.
This year, we are eagerly awaiting the over-the-top antics of Lady Gaga. Rumor has it she will be performing alone, maybe with a small cameo by Tony Bennett, but we d love to see some surprise guests. There s also some high flying rumors that she will perform on top of the stadium, or suspended down from the roof in someway a rumor she has neither confirmed nor denied. She did, however, say that her stage would be athletic, so that sounds fun.
The 2017 halftime show has been designed by Bruce Rogers from Tribe Inc., who has been designing the Super Bowl halftime show for more than a decade. LeRoy Bennett has also joined him this year as a co-production designer. We expect the results from this dynamic duo to be nothing short of legendary.
Will you be tuning in to this year s 2017 Super Bowl LI halftime show? We ll be there, and we ll be live tweeting at @decibelevent so follow us and talk to us to let us know what you think. Bring on the guacamole.
Level up your floor plans: Great 3D modelling tutorials for event producers
EVENT PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY
Curious what it takes to DIY your spatial models? Want to be able to throw together a 3D walkthrough of an event area? Feeling like adding another skill to your set? Self-improver, we applaud you. We ll be looking at tutorials that introduce some of the most commonly-used programs in the 3D layout-i-verse, AutoCAD and SketchUp, but the truth is, you can use almost any 3D design program to create a room, site, stage, or interior space. Blender, for example, is a free 3D modelling suite with a robust user base and fan community that publish new tutorials frequently.
AutoCAD
Oh hoh! We re feeling feisty, I see. Goin for gold. Feeling powerful and full of vim. Okay. If we re starting with the heavy lifting, we d better take it slow. AutoCAD, as you probably know, is primarily an architectural tool for drafting, but it s been adapted for use across multiple industries. The software is very complex, comprising a full suite of industry-leading tools for 2D and 3D spatial design.
2D room layouts created in AutoCAD can also be exported to the other 3D design programs, so it s not unheard-of for event designers to use AutoCAD for creating the room structure and dimensions (a function at which it excels), and then finish the rendering in Blender or SketchUp.
Learn the basic controls: Hitchhiker s Guide to AutoCAD
This multi-part tutorial from the makers of AutoCAD covers the basic functions and features of the program.
45-minute AutoCAD starter video
Already a bit tech-savvy? Rather not suffer through 12 lessons to get a grip on the basic tools? This video takes a faster approach to familiarizing you with the workspace.
2D Floor Plans
Starting with flat models, this 20-minute tutorial walks you through the basics of building a floor plan in 20 minutes .
Turning Plans into Models in AutoCAD
A 16-minute overview on how to turn a flat plan into a 3D model.
Your First Set of Plans in AutoCAD
Geared more towards up-and-coming architects, this 17-lesson, pay-to-play course from digitaltutors.com is the Cadillac of AutoCAD tutorials. Check this out if you re interested in learning advanced interior and spatial design modelling.
Sketchup
SketchUp is a popular 3D drawing tool created by the good men and women at Google. There is a free version of sketchup for personal use, most professionals who plan to do a good deal of modeling spring for the pro version ($695). 3D objects can be created from scratch in Sketchup, or, as mentioned, can be imported from tools like AutoCAD (here s how).
Once you ve got a good command of the software itself, you can trawl the SketchUp 3D Warehouse for pre-made 3D furniture and decor items to toss into your room layout. The SketchUp site also offers a few of its own getting started videos, or check out these tutorials created by independent designers:
Learning the Workspace
How to create your first-ever SketchUp 3D model.
Create a 2D Floorplan
Today I am going to walk you through my process for drawing a 2D floor plan in SketchUp from measurements I ve taken at a client s home or business (in the field).
Creating a 3D Model from a Floor Plan
How to turn a 2D floorplan into a three-dimensional layout in SketchUp.
How to Use SketchUp to Create an Event Layout
Once you ve got the basics down, this video will teach you how to use SketchUp to layout a meeting room, banquet hall or other event space.
Site Modelling in SketchUp
For the very ambitious, here s a look at creating an entire 3D site plan for a large outdoor event.
Give Up
No? Too hard? Too much sitting and clicking while you burn through productive hours like a lava flow through Pompeii? No sweat, friend. There s a reason Social Tables is successful. Head over there, sign up, and do your floor plans the point-and-click way. We won t judge.
8 Bad Ass Products You Need For Events from CES 2017
EVENT INDUSTRY, LIVE EVENTS, TRADE SHOW
When you re a kid, wonderment can be found around every corner. When you re an adult, there are three main places you can go to experience that same childlike rush of awesomeness: Disneyland, Legoland and CES.
Unlike Disneyland, the magic displayed at CES is real; and unlike Legoland, it isn t larger than life, it is life. These are the futuristic, cutting-edge products straight out of The Jetsons and they re right here, right now. (Or at least in prototype.)
The Consumer Electronics Show featured 3,800 companies showing off products in a record 2.6 million net square feet of exhibit space with gadgets ranging from the brilliant to the fucking insane. So, we ve rounded up our favorites for rock star event professionals. Take a look:
Razer Project Valerie Triple-Screen Laptop
(Photo Credit: Razer)
Razer has created the world s first portable laptop with triple monitors. The additional screens are built-in and fold back into a 17-inch laptop case to take on the go. Unlike most laptops, it s a 12-pounder, but has a top-of-the-line graphics card and technology to date.
It may be meant for gamers, we re imagining the Project Valerie used in a command center overlooking your event floor. Even at 12 pounds, it would be easier to lug around than your laptop and two monitors when you need extra screen space to quickly and efficiently manage your next main stage. Unfortunately, this bad boy is only a prototype for now and isn t for sale yet. Our credit card is ready, Razer. Just say the word.
Smart Shoes from Under Armour
As if we didn t love them enough already, Under Armour has won our hearts again. Smart Shoes have been tracking running speed and cadence for about a year now, but this new update takes the cake. Jump six times in a row, and Smart Shoes 3.0 will measure how tired you are, letting you know if you re ready to run, need a break, or need an extra warm-up. Now if only they could design a smart shoe with a built in foot massager for those endless event days on the trade show floor. 4.0 release, pretty please?
Samsung Gear VR 4D Experience
(Photo Credit: Samsung)
One of the most popular demos at #CES2017 was the Samsung Gear VR 4D Gyro Experience. It had people seeing, hearing and FEELING the thrills of a space race. The line for this ride was super long, but also super worth it. Building a custom amusement park ride on your show floor really ups the ante for VR, and it wasn t the only virtual reality demo Samsung brought either, they had quite an impressive lineup! We re big on VR over here at dB, and can t wait to see where this technology will take us in the near future.
LG OLED TV Tunnel
(Photo Credit: Steve Marcus/Reuters)
LG is known for showing everyone up at CES, but they really outdid themselves with this stunning LG OLED TV Tunnel display. The TV Tunnel was a totally immersive display that transported you to another world, without the need for a virtual reality headset. It s made up of 216 55-inch LG OLED 4K TVs, working insync to display spectacular views of the solar system, jellyfish, whales and other astounding images.
While this display is showcasing the outstanding abilities of LG TVs, we can see this TV Tunnel being used at a variety of different events. Right off the top of our heads? We re thinking red carpet movie premiere entrance. Boom. You re welcome.
Kanex MultiSync Folding Bluetooth Keyboard
Here s a smaller, simpler, yet super helpful device spotted at CES 2017. The Kanex MultiSync folding keyboard is an uber portable keyboard that connect to any of your devices by Bluetooth. Event days are long and fast-paced, and the last thing you need slowing you down is slowing punching out an email on your smartphone. Whip out this bad boy and you ll get that email done in half the time, assuming you can type on a keyboard faster than you can text, that is.
The best part? The keys really compress just like those laptop keys you know and love. Bonus: it retails for just $50.
BACTrack Skyn World s First Wearable Alcohol Monitor
(Photo Credit: BACtrack)
There s nothing quite like enjoying an ice cold adult beverage after working a long event day. (Truth be told, we prefer Don Julio to Dos Equis, but don t tell The Most Interesting Man in the World.) Chances are if you don t have another early call time, you ll need to be up early to catch a flight home, so monitoring your alcohol consumption is key. And that s where BACtrack Skyn comes in.
BACtrack Skyn is the world s first wearable alcohol monitor. While wearing the sleek BACtrack Skyn, you can learn when you re approaching higher alcohol levels so you can make better decisions about when it s time to call it a night. There are currently two working prototypes, a standalone wearable that goes around your wrist, or a band that integrates with your Apple Watch for seamless alcohol consumption tracking, continuously and in near real-time. Bottoms up.
Fossil Releasing More Than 300 Fashion Smart Watches in 2017
(Photo Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)
Move over, Apple Watch. Fossil Group is releasing a line of smartwatches this year, but promise to continue to focus on being fashion-first. So you can still look sharp while getting your emails, checking your event schedule, and tracking your steps.
There are over 300 connected watches to be released in 2017 from brands like Armani Exchange and Misfit, in addition to 2016 s brands Kate Spade and Michael Kors, to name a few. Classy yet functional, that s how #eventprofs roll.
Moshi s Arcus Backpack
The Arcus Backpack may not be the flashiest item at CES, but it certainly is quite useful for hard-working, ridiculously good-looking event professionals like you and I. Described as the clown car of backpacks by CNET, this bag certainly has a place for everything. It can easily fit a DSLR camera and several lenses, as well as a 15 computer, tennis shoes, notebooks, cords, candy bars and more. It has a special crush-resistant compartment for your cell phone, glasses or other delicate items, as well a side water bottle holder to keep you properly hydrated.
The designers at Moshi said they wanted to create a backpack that they would actually use, and we can honestly say we would be happy to use this one.
What did we miss that could be useful in our event management corner of the universe? Get at us on Twitter at @decibelevent or on Instagram at @DecibelManagement and let us know!
Three Experiential Installations that Solved Actual Problems
BRAND ACTIVATIONS & MARKETING
Ginormous wall-mounted drum kits. Experimental tea-time pop-up bars. These are cool, and we love them. And yes, it is always Pimm s O clock. But experiential really goes to the next level when it can be applied to problems that plague our community.
What the Phonics
Total geniuses Andrew Spitz and Momo Miyazaki noticed something weird about the street names in Copenhagen: no one could pronounce them but the Dutch. Which sucks, because if you don t live somewhere, you probably have to ask for directions a lot, and that s embarrassing enough as it is. Solution? The What the Phonics project, a kickass idea that blends cheeky design with much-needed function into a cool little device that helps passers-by pronounce arcane street names, like Rosenborggade and Nyhavn .
The Piano Stairs
The Fun Theory, an initiative of Volkswagen, maintain that fun is the best way to change people s behavior for the better. And to prove it, they built an interactive musical staircase that s a lot more exciting than riding an escalator. Their project returned measurable results, with 66{04d9822e7d95da125d508d8e1efbcf2edc79acd8aec1f0bbdcbd6a6f684f9bb3} more people choosing the stairs than normal. The Fun Theory has tackled a pile of tough issues with the same methodology, using fun to encourage drivers to obey the speed limit, recycle glass, use seat belts, and refrain from littering.
Nike interactive billboard
BBDO created an interactive billboard for Nike in Argentina, inviting passersby to have a run on a treadmill that logs a communal kilometer count. For each kilometer run, Nike donates a set amount to UNICEF, urging that Training for the 10k doesn t only help you. For each kilometer run, you will be helping UNICEF.’
Bonus: the anti-Cancer Punching Bag
We actually featured this in another post on the blog recently, but it s so awesome, we re throwing it up here again. If you haven t seen this project, an experiential punching bag that lets participants fight cancer with their fists, check this out (it s available to rent for events, people):
Four Cool Auto-Industry Experiential Marketing & Activations
BRAND ACTIVATIONS & MARKETING
We re on a car kick this month that deconstructive shallow dive into the intricacies of auto unveilings turned up a lot of good stuff, including a long list of experiential campaigns by auto manufacturers from which we ve picked out four of the best.
The Kia Dream Chute
You remember when you were a kid, and you couldn t understand grown-ups and their stupid architectural decisions? Like, if you owned a house, why would you choose to build a living room where a giant ball pit could be? And Why O Why would you not build a water slide from your bedroom window into the pool? Kia gets it, man. That s why they built a huge two-story slide in London s Westfield Shopping Center to celebrate the launch of the 2014 Kia Soul, a car that hasn t forgotten how to have a little fun. The Dream Chute was equipped with a camera that snapped shots of everyone s slide-ride O-face, which visitors were offered as souvenirs.
Pong made out of Smart Cars
Imagine you re a Daimler smart car. Everyone loves your idea. They just they just can t get past your lack of sex appeal. They can t see past your good girl exterior to the whip-cracking, garter-wearing party girl you are. BBDO to the rescue.
BBDO created this experiential event for car-maker Daimler to showcase their new electric car at the Frankfurt Auto Show. They created an interactive version of the classic arcade pong replacing the paddles with cars. Members of the public got to play the game and experience the driving fun of an electric car in an interactive way.
2014 Toyota Corolla Launch
Sometimes you just gotta blow the lid off everything and get fancy. Liquid nitrogen cocktails. Roasted pork belly with licorice grits. New cars floating down out of the clouds. No, really, get a load of this Wolves of Wall Street madness: As a finale to the spectacular performance, a 2014 Corolla descended from the ceiling Also acrobats, I guess? I m not sure if this qualifies as experiential but it definitely qualifies as an experience.
Audi Spheres Project
Augmented reality, video walls, touch screens this future-and-then-some installation is basically a Holodeck that lets participants interact with the future of the Audi brand.
The interactive exhibition, Audi Sphere, was launched in front of Christiansborg Palace, the seat of the Danish Parliament in Copenhagen. In three large spheres visitors can experience key aspects of Audi s cutting edge technology: Audi ultra, Audi e-tron, and Audi connect a networking strategy for all Audi vehicles.
