Tech Tuesday: 3 Technologies to Wow Attendees

Tech Tuesday highlights the best and brightest ideas in the tech world. ABCey would like to recognize these up and coming companies for their innovative ideas and ability to think outside the box!

As event professionals, we are constantly looking for ways to be creative and offer attendees something unique and special during events. Here at ABCey, we have found three great event technologies to help capture attendee’s attention and increase engagement!

1. Beak Labs| During an event, it is expected to have visuals and pictures but with Beak Labs, the visuals become a story through design and technology using short film, smartphones, and tablets. They combine media and technology to create immersive and interactive digital art experiences for attendees. In addition to video installation, Beak Labs can create “Tweetlantis” and “Planet140”, large-scale digital backdrops showcasing social media during the event. What a cool way to impress your audience and create something they will remember!

2.Blippar | Hosting an event with some big brand name sponsors? Or, just looking for a new way to engage your attendees? Blippar is a free app enabling users to bring the world around them to life using the camera on their smartphone. The app scans and recognizes graphic images such as logos or ads and offers exclusive content and interactive opportunities including games, videos, and virtual photo booths! The content can be anything the brand or event host wants to share and can range from event calendars to a virtual photo frame that can be shared on social media. We love that this app has so many features that can really help create a memorable experience for your attendees.

3. CrowdSync | Ever wish you could see those pictures or video that the person next to you is taking? This app allows users to relive events by merging attendee’s pictures and videos at the same time and same place. When the user uploads their content, it will be matched to other content from the same event. This app is also a great way to connect and expand your network! Let your attendees know about this app and unlock some awesome post event footage.

Would you try any of this event tech for your next event? Let us know in the comments below, or on Facebook and Twitter.

Start Up Monday – SideCar

Startup Monday is ABCey’s weekly post that features some of the best and brightest companies in the Bay Area. They are often companies that we have our eye on or have worked with in the past & would like to share with friends and followers of ABCey Events.

This week, we’re excited to feature Sidecar — a San Francisco based transportation network that provides convenient and affordable transportation across the country. Ride-share companies seem to be in the news everyday in the bay area, but we love SideCar because it offers features that other similar companies do not! More firms in the market are making the ride-share industry super convenient, and we love it!

SideCar matches riders with drivers in their area, but also offers them a choice of which driver they want to pick them up, male or female, and what kind of car that driver has! If you like your driver, you can make him/her a favorite and see where he/she is on the map whenever he/she is on duty. The final great advantage of SideCar is that not only is it an on-demand service, you can also schedule your pick up in advance. When we tried it out, there were some great promo codes available that make it easy and fun to sign up!

Have you tried SideCar? How does it stack up against similar ride-share services you have tried? Could this service be used to get attendees to and from events? Let us know what you think of Sidecar in the comments below, or on Facebook and Twitter!

DIY Event Decor & Gift Ideas

Summer is here and it’s time to DIY! The freedom to customize colors and create something all on your own is what we love most about crafting. This week, we’ve found five ideas that can be utilized as fun decor for events, or can be gifted to friends & family. The possibilities are endless with DIY projects, so channel your inner Martha Stewart and give these DIY’s a try!

1. Edible Flower Pot: This DIY project allows you to essentially have your flowers and eat them too! All you will need to create this jar is colored paper to create the flowers, and the ingredients for the chocolate yogurt and granola. The chocolate yogurt is made up of 12 ounces greek yogurt, 1 tablespoon of cocoa powder, and ½ teaspoon of almond extract. To top it off, the chocolate granola ingredients is 1 cup granola, 1/2 tablespoon of coconut oil, 2 teaspoon of cocoa powder, ⅛ cup of chopped almonds, and ⅛ cup of coconut. This delicious idea was found on The House That Lars Built and can be used as a name card at parties or given as a gift to those with a sweet tooth!

2. Beer Bottle Vases: This colorful project was discovered on Brit + Co and puts an awesome twist on the ordinary flower vase! After peeling off the labels of the bottle, you will need spray paint (colors of your choice!), painter’s tape, and puff paint. Grab the tape to start creating designs and voila! Puff paint can be used to create dotted designs that pop out from the bottle. Make sure to let dry for about 30 minutes before spray painting. The finished product makes a beautiful vase for centerpieces or the perfect housewarming gift!

3. Chevron Cork Board: Wine corks have a great amount of versatility when it comes to DIY projects, so save them up! This project found on IKEA Hackers is a fun way to display pictures or information at an event. After gathering corks, you will need a drill frame, spray paint, foam core, cardboard, and a glue gun. Remove the glass and cut a piece of foam core to fit behind the cardboard oval. Prime and paint the frame with spray paint, then lay out the chevron pattern on cardboard. Using a hot glue gun, glue the corks in pattern and hang it up for display!

4. Lemon Boat Name Card: With it being summer right now, we couldn’t help but include these adorable name cards in our top picks for DIY projects! You will needs lemons (obviously!), toothpicks, and two types of printed paper to complete the sail boat. Cut the paper into curved half triangles and glue them to both sides of the tooth pick. Your guests are guaranteed to be impressed by your creation! This idea was found on Delightful Projects.

5. Hanging Garden: Ring in summer with this simple DIY hanging planter to add a splash of green indoors or outdoors! The step-by-step guide to this project was found on Design Sponge. To create the hanging garden you will need 2 square terra-cotta pots, 1 bundle of cotton clothesline cord (50 feet), 1 bundle of green cotton venetian-blind cord, 1 brass snap hook, and 8 to 16 wooden beads. Thread the clothesline and green cord through the snap hook and feed your cords through the draining holes in the pots. Flip the pot over and repeat the steps to add the second pot. Gather the excess rope and knot it at the bottom. Attach the beads to each cord, knotting below to secure in place. Once the pots are hanging, add your plants and display your vertical garden!

Will you be trying any of these DIY projects? Let us know your favorite one and share pictures of your completed creation with us in the comments below or on Facebook and Twitter!

ABCey’s Weekend Lineup 6.12.14- 6.15.14

Looking for something fun to do this weekend in and around the City? Here at ABCey, we have you covered from electronic picnics to World Cup viewing parties to fun things to do with your dad on Father’s day!

Featured event: Sunset Island |Saturday, June 14|12:00am-9:30pm|Great Lawn, Treasure Island| What better way to celebrate the last official weekend of spring and usher in summer than an outdoor picnic and festival on Treasure Island?! The groovy musical guests include Phuture, Kyle Hall, Beautiful Swimmers, Awesome Tapes From Africa and many more! And the best part of all, the event will be bringing in some of the best local food trucks from around the Bay Area, including Senor Sisig, Mr. Nice, Eat Fuki, Curbside Coffee and Me So Hungry.

1. Waterfront Flicks: Outdoor Film Night |Thursday, June 12|8:00pm|Jack London Square, Oakland| Looking for good movies to watch this summer? Look no further than the kickoff movie night at the Waterfront in Oakland this Thursday evening in Oakland. This is a summer-long-event and is free every Thursday night! For this Thursday evening, they will be showing Gravity, and for the rest of the summer’s movie schedule, check out the website. They show a mix of new and old movies, perfect for everyone to find a movie or two they want to see over the summer!

2. 2014 World Cup Live Outdoor Big Screen Party |Saturday, June 14|9:00am|Civic Center Plaza| In honor of the World Cup “kicking off” this week, there will be an outdoor viewing party taking place in the plaza of the Civic Center! This is an all day and completely free event, so why not take your favorite sports buddies and friends over to the center on Saturday and watch Colombia take on Greece at 9am, Uruguay and Costa Rica at noon and Italy versus Germany at 3pm. This sounds like a great place to get into the soccer spirit and watch the World Cup!

3. Burning Man Precompression |Saturday, June 14|7:00pm-2:00am|8410 Amelia Street, Oakland|With only 81 days left until the renowned Burning Man festival in Black Rock City, Nevada, make sure to head over to Oakland to get a small taste of what is to come! This event is held at NIMBY and is an indoor/outdoor event, with 6 stages of epic beats, art cars, fiery installations and much more. Make sure to get there before 9pm, when tickets only cost $15, after that it bumps up $10 to $25!

4. North Beach Festival |Saturday and Sunday, June 14-15|10:00am-6:00pm|North Beach District, San Francisco|North Beach is celebrating its 60th annual festival this year. This two day event is free and welcomes you to come and explore! During these two days, the streets of North Beach shut down while food vendors, artists, musicians and craft vendors flood the area. Lovingly known as the Italian district of San Francisco, expect some of the best Italian food you will ever eat! You really do want to make sure that you make it over to this festival and bring dad as a special Father’s Day treat!

5. Giants vs. Colorado Rockies |Sunday, June 15|1:05pm|AT&T Park, San Francisco|Of course, there are always baseball games going on in the Bay Area, so that is nothing special. However what is special is that on Sunday, Father’s Day, the Giants play at home! If your father loves baseball and you have yet to get him a present, head over to Stubhub or the Giants ticketing area and pick up a couple of tickets to make your dad’s day as special as you can!

This Father’s Day weekend is filled with so many different things to do, it’s bound to be an incredible holiday! Let us know how your weekend goes in the comments below or on Facebook and Twitter!

Top 5 Gifts For The Techy Father!

With Father’s Day coming up this Sunday, the only question is – what do you get for the tech-savvy dad in your life? Even if he’s got all the basics covered, there are still plenty of gadgets out there to surprise him with! At ABCey Events, we did some brainstorming and came up with a list of high-tech gift ideas we think he’ll love. These could also be great additions to a gift bag for your next event!

1. Fitbit |$60 |For all those active dads out there, we suggest Fitbit. Named as one of the most wearable technology devices out there, Fitbit tracks steps taken, distance traveled, and calories burned. Fitbit even continuously syncs your stats to your computer and smartphone. This is a total time saver and can help dad keep up his healthy lifestyle!

2. Mophie Juice Pack | $79.95| This one is for the dad that are constantly on their iPhone. Whether it’s checking emails, FaceTiming, or just playing Candy Crush, his battery probably drains pretty fast. A Mophie Juice Pack almost doubles the length of the charge while guarding the smartphone from every-day wear and tear.

3. Piper| $239.00|The Piper is an all in one security system that helps you safeguard your home while you’re away. Piper is equipped with a motion detector, microphone, and a siren. It also has a 180 degree wide angle lens to view a whole room. The best part of the Piper is that it can send updates and notifications straight to your phone! Give your dad some peace of mind knowing his home and family are being safely watched.

4. The Brydge:Keyboard for the iPad| $99| This high quality aluminum keyboard and stereo speaker is great for all the dads that travel. The keyboard is linked via Bluetooth and makes the iPad more like a laptop in minutes! It also protects the display when closed and provides stereo speakers instead of the iPad’s monospeaker for a clearer, louder sound system.

5.Google Chromecast | $35|This thumb sized USB device plugs straight into the HDMI port of your television. Set it up with a simple app, then send your favorite shows, movies, music, and more to your TV using your smartphone, tablet or laptop. It supports Netflix, Youtube, Hulu Plus, and Chrome. So if your dad ever wants to watch NBA/NFL YouTube highlights on the big screen, this is the present for him!

Skip the ties and socks this year and get your dad a cool new tech gift! Which one would your dad love? Tell us in the comments below or on Facebook and Twitter!

Tech Tuesday: 3 Apps to Engage Conference Goers

As #eventprofs, we understand that one of the major goals of conference planning is attendee engagement! Whether it be before the conference begins, during the Q&A, or a post-event evaluation; we must continue to elevate the experience. We’ve found 3 great new apps that will help increase engagement for your conference throughout!

Before: Topi | During large conferences, it can be daunting to look around a convention center without knowing many individuals. At events, Topi is synced to include the individuals attending the conference and split people into different categories. Before the guests arrive on site, they will have access to the Topi app to identify the most relevant individuals attending. The app allows guests to expand networks and be better prepared to meet others!

During: Crowd Mics | Suddenly the long Q&A session at the end of a speaker session no longer seems as dreadful! Crowd Mics is an app that will turn a smartphone into a portable microphone that can be heard through a room’s sound system. It also has the ability for text commenting, for those individuals less willing to share. We love how Crowd Mics is engaging audiences and creating greater interaction between guests and speakers!

After: waggl | One tough issue we face as event planners is gaining feedback from conference attendees post event! This new app allows planners to pose a question to guests, who can then respond on mobile devices. Once an attendee anonymously responds to the question, they can vote on responses by other guests to the same question. As more votes are tallied to the question, a leaderboard is formed to show the top 5 responses to the initial question. This type of feedback will garner new insights for the future as guests are able to give responses in a fast and helpful manner!

How do you see these apps helping attendee engagement?! Let us know in the comments below, or on Facebook and Twitter.

Startup Monday: AnyPerk

This week, we’re excited to feature AnyPerk — a San Francisco based startup that provides employee perks and benefits to other startups and small companies across America. We heard about AnyPerk in news about its recent partnership with the national ride-share company, Lyft, and we are really excited about its progress and the passion that it shows in changing office culture!

AnyPerk provides amazing perks such as markdowns on phone bills, cheap gym memberships, and discounts at restaurant to employees of small and medium sized companies. These perks are usually reserved for larger companies with lots of employees. This is made possible because AnyPerk unites employees of small and medium companies into one large target audience that appeals to the big brands providing the perks. Participating vendor partners benefit from increased visibility to large numbers of employees dispersed through the nation as they are now able to distribute perks to employees they might otherwise have missed in their marketing campaigns.

AnyPerk makes employees more efficient by rewarding them with perks, and spreads the fun atmosphere that we have in San Francisco across the country. Not only do we think this company is awesome, but we really admire the changes they are making by making perks accessible to everyone!

Wouldn’t you love to work for a company that gave you the AnyPerks? Let us know what you think of this great idea in the comments below, or on Facebook and Twitter!

Top 5 Techy Gadgets for Summer!

Here at ABCey, we love planning get-togethers, especially during the summer months! Since the Bay Area is at the heart of technology, we took the opportunity to search for new must-have gadgets that would be fun for outdoor events. Even though we seem to be beginning the June gloom here in San Francisco, you can pretty much guarantee a sunny and warm SF between September and early November (aka Indian Summer)! So, get ready to party with our Top 5 techy gadgets and make those BBQ’s, roofdeck parties, and beach days a bit more exciting!

1. Karma Wifi | $14/ GB | Karma Wifi is a pay as you go service that allows users to purchase different levels of Wifi for their mobile devices. This service is unique from other mobile wifi hotspots since there are zero monthly payments, the data purchased does not expire, and it can be shared between users. Karma is available in over 80 cities nationwide, and is simple to purchase additional data as you travel! We love how this service allows guests to stay connected, while still enjoying the company of other attendees outdoors.

2. ECOXBT Speakers | Waterproof Bluetooth speakers | $129.99 | Here is the next crowd-pleaser for pool parties this season! ECOXBT Speakers connect to any Bluetooth device and have the ability to submerge and float in water. As guests enjoy a leisurely day at the pool, they can still control their music without the extra hassle of getting out of the water. The best part is the 10 hr battery life and small size to travel around with guests.

3. Polaroid Socialmatic Camera | Shares & Prints Photos Instantly | Price & date to be released Summer ’14 | Polaroid is transforming the way photos are taken and shared to social media sites with this new, innovative camera! It has the ability to print on specialized Zero-ink, smudge & water resistant paper, and is simultaneously powered through Android to post to social media sites instantly. While the camera isn’t available for purchase until late Summer 2014, we still think this would be a great addition to any gathering!

4. iGrill Mini Smart Grilling Thermometer | $39.95 | This device is perfect for your next cookout and will benefit your summer barbecuing skills! The iGrill Mini aids the chef in making sure that the meat is cooked to the correct temperature, so you never have to worry about over or under-cooked meat again. It connects via Bluetooth up to 150ft away, so the host is able to enjoy the party while still monitoring the food! Don’t miss out on this must-have for your next barbecue!

5. Remote Control Beverage Cooler | $59.95 | This gadget will definitely be the star of your next outdoor event! This device is essentially an ice chest that will keep drinks cool and can roll around the party bringing guests’ drinks. It has a 60ft radius from the controller, and will add a smile to every individual it rolls on up to!

Which gadget is your fave?! Let us know which one you love the most in the comments below or on Facebook and Twitter.

ABCey’s Weekend Lineup 6.5.14- 6.8.14

The summer kickoff parties are in full swing this weekend and here at ABCey Events, we can’t wait to attend some of these fun and exciting events in the Bay Area! As usual, there are plenty of events to choose from and this weekend we narrowed down some of our favorites including parties, fairs, and festivals!

Featured Event: DISTRIKT Revel Station| Saturday, June 7th|1:00 pm-10pm|16th Train Station Oakland|Head over just across the bridge to Oakland and attend DISTRIKT Revel Station. This event is a non-profit electronic music party and the only fundraiser in the Bay Area prior to Burning Man. The party will feature 4 areas of sound by DJ’s DISTRIKT, Dusty Rhino, Friends and Family, and Opulent Temple. Food and beverages will be offered and a cool new lounge area will be built making this year the biggest year DISTRIKT Revel Station has had! This sounds so fun and we can’t wait to see pictures and hear how this event goes! This event is 21 and over with $20 presale / $30 door.

1. Sunset Artisan Fair |Saturday June 7th|11:00 am-4:00pm|3635 Lawton St. San Francisco|The Artisan Fair is an annual event featuring handmade DIY(do it yourself) crafts by local artisans. These include jewelry, art, sewn goods, accessories, and more. Also included at the event are gourmet street food and deserts with live music! Every year 100% of the proceeds go to a charity organization. Sounds like a great way to spend a Saturday!

2.Basic Training Hayes Valley Launch Party |Saturday June 7th|12:00 pm-4:00 pm|432 Octavia St. San Francisco|Do you love to workout outdoors? Come attend the launch of The Basic Training fitness hub, an innovative outdoor workout space for public use in Hayes Valley. The free, pop-up fitness pod will transform a previously unused parking lot to a colorful, bright, multi-use space. The day kicks off with free Basic Training workout classes from 8 am until 12 noon at the top of every hour. Starting at noon, the party begins with free food, free drinks, music, and giveaways until 4 pm. So get sweaty with Basic Training’s day of fitness and fun!

3. Union Street Festival|Saturday, June 7th-June 8th|10:00 am-6:00 pm|Union Street to Gough to Steiner Street., San Francisco|Looking for a place to try new food, craft beer, and wine all while enjoying local art and community groups? Come visit the Union Street Festival this weekend. For the 2014 festival, the six blocks of the event will feature a unique collection of fashion, food, technology, crafts, and health and fitness booths. Grab a couple of friends and experience this long-standing San Francisco event.Free to attend but bring money for food and drinks!

4. Silent Frisco| Sunday, June 8th| 11:00 am| Ocean Beach San Francisco|Love to dance and listen to music? This San Francisco based event uses cutting edge technology to enable artistic expressions with headphones! Silent Frisco will provide more than 3,000 two channel festival optimized headphones for attendees. These headphones operate on two simultaneous long-range feeds providing the best audio. This enables attendees to enjoy the music while neighbors enjoy peace and quiet. Silent Frisco always tries to find places where concerts normally wouldn’t be and their mission is to get people under the stars, out in fields, or at this year’s venue, Ocean Beach! Silent Frisco is featuring 2 channels: Boys Vs. Girls. The two hour set will include: Kraak & Smaak • An a Sia• P um pkin• J *Labs• Motion Potion• LAURA Lisbona• DEEJAY THEORY• HOLLY RICH• DING DONG • KIMBA• Matt Haze. We can’t wait to see this event come to life!

5.California Dreaming- Poolside Party+ Fashion Show +Trunk Show |Sunday June 8th|12:00 pm-7:00 pm|The Hotel Phoenix 601 Eddy St. San Francisco|Come check out the best of the best in local San Francisco DJ’s and Designers while enjoying some poolside fun in the sun! The second annual party will feature eleven DJ’s and seventeen, with more to be announced, designers. This is a great chance to bring along some friends and support local talent! We love a good pool party and this one sounds like a ton of fun!

This weekend is guaranteed to be a great time with all these fun events. The girls at ABCey want to hear what you will be up to! Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook and Twitter.

DIY Gold Dipped Mason Jars

Summer is in the air, and the farmer’s markets here in San Francisco are overflowing with beautiful flowers! With that in mind, ABCey thought it might be fun to get crafty and make some decorative vases. Since mason jars are quite popular right now, we decided to take it up a notch and add a unique gold-dipped edge, all gold, and an ombre to the mix with our jars. They were so fun to make that we wanted to share the results with you!

MATERIALS:

Metallic Spray Paint (We used two different types of Gold – Krylon Metallic and Ace Hardware Metallic, the Krylon was our favorite, it’s rose gold-ey and has great coverage)
Mason Jars
Water Based Paint
Paint Brush
Masking Tape

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. First and foremost, put down lots of newspaper, preferably in a well ventilated space or outside — the spray paint gets messy.

2. We started with all gold jars, which require an easy couple layers of spray paint, and you’re left with a simple, elegant, golden mason jar. Stand at least 12″ away from the jar as you spray or it goes on too thick. A couple light coats is better than one thick coat.

3. To make only part of the jar colored, tear off a piece of masking tape and wrap it around the jar to mark the line where you want the color to end.

4. Turn your jar upside down on the newspaper and spray your jar with spray paint above the tape line.

5. Let it dry and apply another coat once it dries, but watch out for tricky drips if you apply a thick coat. After the paint is dry, simply remove the tape. It is likely that some paint will have leaked under the tape. Just used a sharp object to scrap it off. It should come off easily.

6. The next step is a little trickier. We loved these gold dipped jars so much that we decided to try some other styles so we painted some of our half gold jars pink on top! We wanted blush colored spray paint to do the other half but they didn’t sell blush colored spray paint, so we used paint and a paint brush. Make sure you use water based paint, it will come out more smoothy and make less of a mess.

7. We were able to do ombre with the paint and paint brush, an upside to not having that second color of spray paint! We took the pink color, applied it to an inch thick strip of the jar above the previously sprayed gold (make sure you do spray paint first, it dries faster and gives you a great guide for where to put the rest of your paint).

8. As you move up towards the mouth of the jar, make different batches of paint and add more white to each batch. We applied three batches and each was about an inch thick. The blending worked out really nicely because the paint dripped down after we were done. You can see that the blush pink gets lighter as you move upwards.

All in all, we’re loving this look and this quick DIY. Hopefully we’ll be doing a couple more in the near future! How did yours turn out? What did you use your painted jars for? Share you thoughts with us on Facebook and Twitter or leave us a comment below!