Sesame Street at the White House: How Decibel Got Involved
COMPANY NEWS, LIVE EVENTS
In mid-June, the creators of Sesame Street began a new campaign Little Children, Big Challenges: Incarceration seeking to help young children whose parents are in prison. The campaign aims to reach out to the 2.7 million American kids who have one or both parents in jail, especially those under the age of 8. Sesame Street is teaming up with the White House s Office of Public Engagement to help children better understand this separation and aid parents in talking about incarceration with their young ones.
The makers of the hit children s show are launching a new range of Muppet videos and exercises dealing specifically with this difficult issue. On June 12, the jolly figures of Cookie Monster and Abby Cadabby, as well as Alex and Murray were at the EEOB and White House to help roll out the campaign alongside administration officials.
Decibel Management was deeply honored to be a part of this event with Sesame Street and the White House. It was great to know that all the children who will benefit from the program will see Sesame Street characters and White House officials in the best possible light and from their most flattering angle. Although with such good-looking stars, doing so was child s play. Decibel handled the monitor mix and the video for the puppeteers, as well as general event management for the lead up to the event.
Decibel vs. Snowstorm at the H agen-Dazs Concept Shop Launch: Decibel Wins
COMPANY NEWS
January 24th was already a gutsy date to launch an ice cream shop. Throw in a surprise blizzard, and you get an event management challenge. Hey, winter storm Lola? CHALLENGE ACCEPTED. Check out the video after the jump.
H agen-Dazs Concept Shop Launch from Decibel Management on Vimeo.
When Decibel partnered with Ketchum PR to organize and promote the launch of H agen-Dazs new concept store in Bronxville, New York, no one could have predicted a 6- to 8-inch snowfall the night before the event. Thing is, though, these things happen, and trite but true the best tool you can have in this industry is a get- er-done attitude.
With the outdoor weather putting a cramp in our ice cream giveaway tent setup, we fell back on Plan B, bringing the activities indoors. In need of additional space, the team made a few quick calls, and the owner of Pete s Tavern & Restaurant, immediately next door, graciously granted us use of the space. Great turnout.
The shop itself is a working example of H agen-Dazs new in-store experience, and the company plans to open 12 new stores this year all based along the same lines. The new design features digital menu boards, leather eat-in booths, a tasting station, and a dessert theater counter, where customers can watch employees craft fancy frozen treats.
Many thanks to the quick-thinking souls that made this event a success, and congratulations to H agen-Dazs on their shiny new location.
Merry Christmas to All from Decibel Management: Our End-of-Year Roundup
COMPANY NEWS
Christmas already? Good heavens. This year has flown by, as all years do, and as we see the new year rounding the bend, we d like to take a moment to look back and salute the last 12 months. We ve been working on a showreel of our top moments of 2014, which we re super excited about posting, but in the meantime, a quick roundup of Decibel s 2014 highlights.
A look at some of our 2014 projects
We took on quite a few repeat clients this year, honing events that we ve managed for the last few years running, plus a couple of new projects and challenges. Not for the first time, Decibel Management tackled the annual National Book Festival, sponsored by the Library of Congress on the National Mall. This event sees hundreds of thousands of visitors annually and is a truly gratifying undertaking. Come on, who doesn t like watching people get excited about reading? It s a joy.
We also stepped back in for the annual National Small Business Week sponsored by the SBA, the Glass Packaging Institutes annual meetings, the DoubleTree by Hilton CookieCare Mobile Tour, and additionally several unique events for nationally-recognized brands (H&R Block, Clorox) with our friends at PR powerhouses Ketchum and FleishmanHillard.
Some of our other projects have included the T. Rowe Price National Sales Meeting, some trade show work for ACell, and more forays into political event management with the Republican Attorney General Association.
A shoutout to friends and vendors
It takes a huge team to pull off large-scale events, and everyone s gotta be on the ball. We feel extremely lucky to be partnered up with some of the most on-it folks in the biz, companies that we trust to back us up in creating some killer events. We particularly want to give some love to the folks who keep bringing the skills year after year. That list includes:
- EventEQ
- M1 Interactive
- CGS Premier
- GES
- Optima GFX
- Greenroom Communications
- Polaris Logistics
- Nomadic Display
- Olympic Case
- Design Foundry
- Legacy Scenic
- Matrix Display
- Access Passes
No really, Merry Christmas
It sounds like a platitude, but platitudes are platitudes for a reason: looking back on this year, we re grateful. We re grateful that we know so many incredible, interesting and capable people; grateful for the opportunity to work in a field that never fails to fascinate us and keep us on our toes, grateful for all of our terrific clients and friends.
We wish you all an incredibly fulfilling 2015, a year that is full to the brim with new experiences, huge successes, and of course, lots of love. We hope you re spending the season surrounded by loved ones and lots of cheer. From everyone at Decibel Management, Merry Christmas and the happiest of New Years.
Oooh, Kudos! Decibel Wins Silver at Event Tech Awards
COMPANY NEWS
Shweet! This just in: Decibel and our partners took home the silver for Best Audience Interaction for the Get Your Billion Back America campaign.
Decibel partnered up with Ketchum Public Relations and M1 Interactive to create an experiential kiosk aimed at educating about potential money lost when personal taxes are done improperly. Event Marketer, who hosts the awards, explains best:
The kiosk, which Lively describes as part-ATM machine and part-video/photo booth, is located within a 20-foot by 20-foot activation at high-traffic locations. Participants take a two-minute quiz on an interactive touch screen, answering multiple-choice questions about the campaign and what they would do with a billion dollars, then the machine spits out $10 bills, which represents their piece of the billion. The kiosk also takes their photo or a video with the cash, which they receive via email. On-site brand ambassadors answer questions about H&R Block and schedule tax preparation appointments.
Here s a little glimpse of the campaign:
Check out the Event Marketer site for all 2014 Event Tech Award winners.
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!
Behind the Scenes with Decibel Management: How an Experiential Event Comes Together
BACKSTAGE, COMPANY NEWS, EVENT INDUSTRY, LIVE EVENTS, TRADE SHOW
If you have ever wondered what goes into a technical and experiential event build, take a look behind the scenes with Decibel Management and our amazing production team for the building of the H&R Block- Get Your Billion Back experience.
The development, programming and construction was challenging, complex, and delivered on a lightning fast timetable. We were truly only able to succeed because of the great team we assembled. This included our partners: M1 Interactive, CGS Premier, Greenroom Communications, and EventPro Strategies as well as great clients in Ketchum Public Relations as well as H&R Block.
H&R Block Get Your Billion Back America Campaign
COMPANY NEWS, EVENT INDUSTRY, LIVE EVENTS
In early 2014, H&R Block launched an experiential marketing program that builds off their Get Your Billion Back America ad campaign. The tour puts the brand in the hands of consumers and rewards them with cash.
Developed in partnership with Ketchum, Decibel Management designed and created a custom, interactive kiosk composed of four computers, multiple touchscreens, cameras and ATM components.
The 20-foot-by-20-foot kiosk is set up in high-traffic locations where participants take a two-minute quiz which includes imagining what they would do with a billion dollars. As a reward, the kiosk dispenses up to $100 per participant.
This kiosk is definitely a first of its kind. It is part ATM, part photo/video booth and was built from scratch for the Get Your Billion Back events hosted by H&R Block. And it was built in 6 weeks, from concept to completion.
H&R Block Rewards Consumers With Cash
Marketing Daily
By Tanya Irwin
March 26, 2014
http://www.mediapost.com/
H&R Block has launched an experiential marketing program that puts the brand in the hands of consumers and rewards them with cash.
To build off the Get Your Billion Back America ad campaign, Ketchum, Decibel Management, M1 Interactive and CGS Premier created a custom, interactive kiosk composed of four computers, multiple touchscreens, cameras and ATM components.
The 20-foot-by-20-foot kiosk is set up in high-traffic locations where participants take a two-minute quiz which includes imagining what they would do with a billion dollars. As a reward, the kiosk dispenses up to $100 per participant.
The kiosk is definitely a first of its kind for us or for anyone, says Christina Lively, H&R Block director of brand strategy and integration. It s part ATM, part photo/video booth and was built from scratch for our Get Your Billion Back events.
The activation concept is based on a study H&R Block conducted last year that revealed that when taxpayers prepare their own tax returns, about one in five is leaving money on the table by not claiming all available tax credits and deductions, Lively says. These inaccuracies contribute to more than $1 billion in unclaimed money.
The kiosk program is available in Atlanta, Los Angeles, Kansas City and New York. The campaign includes four spots running on broadcast, digital and social media.
The reaction has been incredible, Lively tells Marketing Daily. We set out to surprise and delight consumers, and this activation did just that. Consumers can t believe that H&R Block is giving away real money and long lines formed very quickly in all of the markets.
About 600 consumers have gone through the experience, and thousands of others have been exposed to the brand onsite and through event videos, she says.
Lively said it has not been determined whether the kiosk will be expanded to more cities next year.
We ve had a lot of fun with this throughout the season and would love to continue surprising and delighting people the way we have with our Get Your Billion Back events, she says.
Event Wrap-Up: The Archdiocese Gala
COMPANY NEWS, UNCATEGORIZED
Catholics the biggest party animals on the planet, amirite? We kid, we kid we kid because we love! In any case, as it so happens, the Archdiocese of Baltimore throws a pretty excellent shindig every fall a black tie gala to raise money for their schools and this year we were proud to be among the organizers.
Held on October 3, this year s gala was staged at Towson University s SECU Arena, which was transformed into an elegant dining hall decked in blues and purples, with gauzy white curtains and exquisite flower arrangements. In addition to a delicious dinner, guests were treated to an evening of student performances and alumni talks. As in past years, this month s event drew around 800 attendees, whose generous donations go to supporting Archdiocesan schools and raising funds for need-based scholarships.
All in all the evening went off without a hitch, and succeeded in raising funds for a good cause. It was our pleasure and pride to be involved in such a fantastic event. Thanks to The Classic Catering People, EventEQ and Select Event Group for their amazing work!
Check out pics from the event below:
We re Hiring: Social Media Specialist
COMPANY NEWS
Hey there, job seeker.
We re a DC-area event management and production agency looking for a part-time social media specialist to handle our social content, accounts and strategy, as well as keep up with SEO, paid ads and general updates to our website. You should also have knowledge of video and photo editing and metric analysis experience. Initial focus will be developing our overall marketing and social communication strategy, and then actually being able to execute it. It ll be up to you to develop the strategy across all social platforms, discover, choose and write up the best posts, seek out event-related content and manage ads in any given week and across a range of categories, plus curate and edit a selection of blog content.
Who we re looking for
You like variety, but you re not a flake. The thought of doing the same thing every day makes you shudder a little. Except like, showing up for work. You do that with astonishing regularity. You re snarky, yet personable. We re not looking to make yet another event management post about COVID. We want our content to have a little bite to it, but that bite should be tempered with a strong streak of positivity. Overall, our ideal candidate will be obsessively organized, adaptable, naturally curious, extremely creative, responsive, and plugged in someone who never leaves home without a power bank because OMG panic.
You re reasonably social
We like a misanthropic shut-in as much as the next company, but this role will require you to be the voice of dB and talk to a bunch of people and stay connected to the large event scene, so it s probably best if you enjoy that sort of thing.
You get shit done on your own steam
Yes, you ll have a boss, but on a day-to-day basis, you ll be reporting primarily to yourself, so you gotta be self-motivated. Look, you know if you re a self-motivated person. You know, because no one s ever made wistful comments about your potential. You know because everyone seems to walk slower than you do.
You re bothered by unnecessary complexity
You have plenty of empathy for busy people and know how to present information clearly and succinctly in grab-and-go format.
You ve made your stamp on the social interwebs
We re not looking for an influencer. But you should have a curated personal social space, and demonstrated knowledge of social, paid and SEO.
Oh yeah, and you write
You write well and you write fast, you know how to write for varied audiences across varied platforms, and you write in a tone that s both conversational and approachable. Not just sometimes-I m-funny-when-I-tweet write. Not I ve-been-working-on-a-novel-for-a-decade write. You re compelled to write, a lot, by some power beyond yourself.
What we offer
Lots of freedom and flexibility, reasonable pay, and a boss that s on your team.
What we need from you
Please send two examples of corporate or brand social sites that have been curated by you. Also shoot over your curated personal accounts as well as any writing samples, by-lined published writing, articles, blogs or the like that fit the bill above. Will also review video and photo edit samples. Selected individuals may be asked to complete a mock or freelance-based assignment as part of the interview process. The results will factor into the final decision. Successful candidates will provide the hours and days you can work (during regular business times) and WHY a part-time role is a fit.
In? Talk to us.
David Sonntag
david@decibelmanagement.com
Fine Print
Location: DC, LA, NYC, RDU, or Virtual
Compensation: Based on 1-3 years of experience
Hours/Duration: Must be available during regular business hours targeting 20 hours a week.
What: Own the social media program. Represent the voice of dB in social content. Build social media strategies. Work with our in-house design to produce standout creative social assets. Lead the paid effort. Report on and improve qualitative and quantitative results.
How to be a top candidate for this job: Minimum one-year hands-on experience in Social Media Management. 2-4 years of experience in a social media role, with an agency or in-house experience (event or agency brand experience preferred). A passion for social media, branding, and building online communities. Writing and grammar skills; ability to develop interesting social media posts and campaigns for a boutique event management company. Video and photo editing experience. Understanding of social metric analysis. Exceptional attention to details. Degree in marketing, journalism, PR, advertising or a related field, or equivalent work experience.
dB Blog #318: The Best of Both Worlds: Hybrid Events Offer Unique Benefits
BRAND ACTIVATIONS & MARKETING, COMPANY NEWS, EVENT INDUSTRY, EXPERIENTIAL, LIVE EVENTS, PRODUCTION, TIPS & TRICKS, UNCATEGORIZED, VIRTUAL EVENTS
It s no secret that producers of large-scale events have had to quickly rethink almost every aspect of their existence due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Hybrid and virtual events took off, becoming the new normal for marketers and event organizers, with the majority of major events using updated technologies in their event planning to accommodate new health and safety concerns.
Hybrid events are not new. They have been around for years now, usually consisting of an in-person event combined with some kind of live streaming technology that allows viewers at home to tune in. That format still exists, but is quickly evolving. The COVID-19 pandemic has added serious fuel to the fire, necessitating events to embrace virtual and hybrid options, which ultimately means new technologies and greater innovation. Here are some awesome benefits hybrid events can provide for audiences and event organizers.
Let s start with some data. A recent study conducted by LinkedIn, based on interviews with more than 1,800 marketers across 13 countries, gives us insight into the current attitude of the events industry towards virtual and hybrid events. Of those interviewed, 85{04d9822e7d95da125d508d8e1efbcf2edc79acd8aec1f0bbdcbd6a6f684f9bb3} had held a virtual event in the last year and 28{04d9822e7d95da125d508d8e1efbcf2edc79acd8aec1f0bbdcbd6a6f684f9bb3} said that between 91-100{04d9822e7d95da125d508d8e1efbcf2edc79acd8aec1f0bbdcbd6a6f684f9bb3} of their events are now fully virtual. The same data revealed that event marketers are predicting 40{04d9822e7d95da125d508d8e1efbcf2edc79acd8aec1f0bbdcbd6a6f684f9bb3} of events will be virtual, 36{04d9822e7d95da125d508d8e1efbcf2edc79acd8aec1f0bbdcbd6a6f684f9bb3} will be in-person and 24{04d9822e7d95da125d508d8e1efbcf2edc79acd8aec1f0bbdcbd6a6f684f9bb3} will be hybrid events, combining what could be the best of both worlds, if they are produced well.
Hybrid and virtual events are changing the capability expectations for marketers and event management companies. Skills nowadays should include producing and directing video content, having technical knowledge of different platforms, being able to moderate online comments and discussions, and understanding how to amplify the event on digital marketing platforms after the fact.
While all of that might seem overwhelming, we think it s all worth it and the events industry is largely in our camp. In that same study we mentioned earlier, LinkedIn also predicts many event organizers will develop a digital twin or create an online component of their event to ensure they are getting the most out of their investments. On top of the potential increase in ROI, the shift in the event industry towards hybrid and virtual events also poses serious benefits for audiences, event management companies, and the environment.
Let s put this in the context of hybrid events. Hybrid events are actively experiencing a growth spurt. These new grown-up events will be integrated experiences for both virtual and physical attendees. They can be tailored to individuals preferences, allowing for a wider audience and more speakers, and open the door for more extensive discussions and post-event promotions. They harmonize the magic of an in-person event while enjoying the extensive reach of a virtual one.
For conferences and speaker based events, hybrid events massively widen the scope of the experts from which they can choose. Now, organizers can invite and host speakers from nearly anywhere in the world. With more speakers comes more interested individuals. The virtual side of the event can accommodate many more attendees than an in-person venue ever could.
Hybrid events create the opportunity for the event to stay connected and relevant long after the in-person experience has ended. Organizations and companies can continue to extend the hype around their events with post-event campaigns and/or repurposing content for blogs and social media. This can help retarget attendees, gaining access to an entirely new audience beyond the one that attends the in-person experience. Hybrid events uniquely allow organizers to engage two types of attendees, measuring success both in-person and through an online community that will continue to grow long after the actual event is over.
For the environment, hybrid events, and virtual events even more so, pose an interesting solution to some of the more wasteful practices used for large-scale events. Hybrid events have the added value of maintaining the balance between sustainability and the joy of having an in-person experience. Again, the Linkedin research found that 42{04d9822e7d95da125d508d8e1efbcf2edc79acd8aec1f0bbdcbd6a6f684f9bb3} of organizers will continue to produce virtual events in some capacity because they are more environmentally friendly than in-person sessions, reducing the need for transport, and cutting down on disposable items.
Inclusivity is another awesome perk of virtual and hybrid events. Having a virtual side to an event opens up the experience to more people, especially those who, for a myriad of reasons, might not have been able to access it in-person. Now, anyone can take part in the event from the comfort of their own home, with options for closed captioning, transcription technology, or other health and safety necessities.
This is all predicated on the fact that you produce a Hybrid event well. We have all seen some real disasters and epic fails over the past two years. We have also seen some very large AV companies claim they can host virtual or hybrid events, only to discover that they really do not have a handle on the platform, basic best practices, or have platform tunnel vision for their specific tech platform. What we know is that there is no platform panacea. They all do something really well, and many try to do lots of things pretty poorly. This also includes true accessibility and 508 compliance. With this in mind, it is important to have a solid vendor with an in depth knowledge of the landscape, that can anticipate needs and hiccups before they become problems and one that you trust.
As we enter 2022, we can t wait to see how major events start to push the technological and social boundaries of the industry.
For more information about organizing hybrid events get in touch with the team at Decibel!
