Month: October 2015
ABCey’s Weekend Lineup: Halloweekend
It’s that time of year when the air gets chilly, the leaves get crunchy, and pumpkin everything! Hauntingly fun atmospheres and events are coming into the bay area. ABCey’s weekend lineup will keep you tuned in to all the Halloween weekend festivities for an exciting and spooky weekend.
1. Halloween Extravaganza
Friday, October 30th, 2015 | 5pm to 8pm | Bayview Opera House, SF | FREE
The party starts this Friday with food, fall themed activities, and family fun at the Bayview Opera House. Wear your best costume to win the contest or get ready to carve pumpkins while listening and watching live ‘Thriller’ themed dance performances. There is something for everyone at this event with face-painting and trick or treating for the kids and a beer and wine garden for parents. RSVP here.
2. Mayhem Mansion
Friday & Sat, October 30th – 31st, 2015 | 7pm to 10:30pm | 2007 Franklin Street, SF | $20
Halloween isn’t just for the kids anymore! Get ready to be scared in a uniquely haunted tour through an old 1886 Victorian. A haunted host will guide you through the thrills and chills located at every twist and turn in this beautiful historic home. Adults can prepare to be spooked at the ‘Spookeasy’ bar, enter a raffle, and learn more about the home. Say hi to Casper! Find out more here.
3. Ghost Ship Halloween VIII
Friday & Saturday, October 30st – 31st, 2015 | 9pm to 4am | Pier 70, SF | $50-65
Located in the heart of dog patch, Ghost ship Halloween boasts of cutting edge modern art installations made from all recyclable materials. Along with the overwhelming atmosphere of large scale indulgent creations there will be 70 featured DJ’s to create a Halloween dance party that goes all night long. Find out more here.
4. ScareCo: Haunted Hornet
Friday, & Saturday, October 30th – 31st, 2015 | 7pm to 12am | 707 West Hornet Ave Alameda, CA | $40
We all know houses can be haunted but haunted boats? Try something different this year by venturing on the USS Hornet. Walk through the haunted gallows while experiencing tidings from spooky creatures and mythical beings! Don’t be too surprised if you see the un-dead greeting you with a mischievous smile, there are plenty of those as well. Get tickets here.
5. Howl-O-Ween
Saturday, October 31st, 2015 | 11am – 2pm | 428 11th Street, SF | FREE
Bring all your little werewolves out to the yard this year with this fun and free dog Howl-O-Ween! There will be a pup parade where you can show off your costumed pooch as well as treat themselves to some dog friendly candy by Paw Patch Pastries & Pet Boutique! Oh, and there is human food there too.
What makes you most excited about this weeks weekend lineup events! Let us know in the comments below or find us on twitter and facebook! Happy Halloween!
Startup Spotlight: Splash
Startup spotlight 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 and would like to share with the friends and followers of ABCey Events.
ABCey knows the value of a good event ticketing app, which is why we have chosen to spotlight an up and coming San Francisco startup that provides ticketing services and more! Splash is of particular interest due to its unique customization capabilities and interactive qualities and it’s booming success after the win of SXSW13. Not only does Splash offer awesome ticket/check-in but it doubles as a marketing and interactive guest platform that other competitors are lacking.
Here are the top 5 things we love about Splash:
1. Complete Website Customization
Registration for an event should create anticipation and excitement for attendees. Using a bland registration platform could potentially be the “kiss of death” in attendee numbers. Splash allows full event planner digression when designing the web based platform for events to give each event the unique online vibe that will carry over to the real thing.
2. Real Time Social Media Integration
Here at ABCey, we are all about killing two birds with one stone. Splash makes it easy and convenient to do so by eliminating the middle man so we can get our guests set with interactive tools. Event planners can utilize the app to check in and scan tickets as well as live stream photos guests take. Smile for the selfie!
3. The Online After-Party
When the event is over, we need the data that matters. Splash delivers by allowing detailed user profiles and client lists to be tracked as well as complete analytics of web traffic, emails and all the social media interaction. Having this information at our fingertips allows for growth and change event planners need for future event reach.
4. Top Brand Representation
Reputation is everything. Splash is used by many top reputable brands including Spotify, Sundance, and Thrillist. Although this start up is only four years old it has made a lasting hold in the event marketing world which says a lot about the great service they provide for event planners.
5. They Walk & Talk
A company that provides insider knowledge on the complex world of event planning is something all event planners look for when using a ticketing and marketing platform. Splash’s blog outlines their experience out at their events with their services along with photos to document the guest interaction. Seeing and reading success stories makes them all the more appealing.
What do you think about Splash? Let us know in the comments below or find us on twitter and facebook!
5 New Tech Innovations for Events
There is no foreseeable end to technology and the amazing capabilities of what it will do for the future of events. ABCey will explore 5 of the most budding tech advances that could develop into some very cool features for events!
1. NFC tech
NFC tech originally stems from RFID but is an even more advanced solution. An NFC (Near Field Communication) chip is a part of one wireless link that when connected with another chip transfers data within seconds. These chips run on very low amounts of power so they are energy efficient. ITN International is a company that utilizes this technology for events like conferences and trade shows.
2. Memory Spot
HP unveiled this high tech chip that’s the size of a grain of rice! This chip can attach to any object discretely and hold boundless amounts of media and data. HP reveals the chip to be a merging of the “digital and physical worlds”. One such example is a picture album with the chip attached to it, when pressed audio from the visual can be heard. Find more about this new tech here.
3. RuBee
This new on the rise tech boasts of the highest security that can go through steel and even liquid. RuBee operates on radio waves and active transceivers that communicate peer-to-peer. This tech gets farther reach ranges the RFID and also provides a cheaper option. While this new tech is used mainly for security purposes, we can see this tech evolving into something more mainstream for event usage. Find out more on RuBee here.
4. BLE Tech
BLE, otherwise known as Bluetooth technology or iBeacon uses transmitters to connect in mobile apps to share data. Users can find guest attendees in a specific venue, see who’s arrived and view profiles on the people there on their mobile app. One can see data analyzing movement of guests and time spent in a certain area. We like how the company FISH integrates this technology with various others mentioned to utilize multiple tech platforms.
5. Wireless Microphones
Try a wireless movable microphone for audience engagement! These state of the art microphones connect to any sound system with their built in receiver. The company Catchbox has a feature which allows the mic to be muted when the box is in motion. This is a great tool for audience interaction that allows guests to be seen and heard.
Which of these new inventions are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments below or find us on facebook or twitter!
5 Unique Options for Event Registration
Registration for large events can be quicker and more steamlined thanks to new event tech on the rise. This is crucial for massive events because it allows improvement of the guests experience in terms of a fast and easy check-in, instant data collection, and even payment options. ABCey will explore 5 different registration programs and the strategies some of these top companies use to check in thousand of guests!
1. RFID tech
What is RFID tech? RFID stands for radio-frequency identification which utilizes electromagnetic fields in order to transfer data to objects with tracking tags that hold even more electronically stored information. A Montreal based company Connect & Go is a leader in the in this tech. In a project they did for WE day, they created bracelets embedded with tech that allowed for guests to register before the event and could also connect the bands to their email, facebook, and twitter. And of course, take selfies at event kiosks and instantly save them.
2. Online Registration Software
Custom online registration software allows users to implement ones own registration creation. Etouches is an online registration software and tracking platform that allows the user to implement the registration questions, agenda, and check in while also being able to creatively tailor the fonts, colors, and logos so that they are cohesive with your event. You can print badges with bar and QR codes for your guests.
3. Mobile Check-In App
Since everyone has their phones on hand mobile check in seems like the most obvious choice, especially with the rise of new mobile applications that can personalize and simplify the event check in process. One such mobile app called Boomset assists the event manager with just that. You can make a variety of registration adjustments straight from your phone and can even collect guest selfies upon check in to immediately print badges or store for your records!
4. WordPress Event Registration
WordPress has a function that allows admin users to curate their own event check-in guest list as well as offers editing features for detailed transcripts on registered guests and easy payments. There are multiple WordPress plugins you can utilize for event management. Event Manager has all these features and is even integrated with Google Maps.
5. Event Marketing Companies
Try an all in one event marketing company that merges multiple tech aspects to get the job done. Make your event registration as high tech as possible like the company FISH! They offer a “Live Event Operating Systems” which means they offer a multitude of registration options including pre-registration, mobile, and onsite registration.
With all this new technology on the rise the future of registering and data sharing for events is endless! Tell us which tech seems the most effective to you in the comments below, or find us on facebook or twitter!
How to Build an Event Budget in 3 Steps
It’s hard to tell just how much you’ll be spending on a big event, let alone what exactly you’re spending it on. ABCey breaks down how to build an event budget so you can tackle the production head on, and outline what you need and where you’ll need it!
1. Set an overall budget amount (estimate)!
- Don’t get too stuck on the exact budget for all line items upfront. Use placeholders room for growth but be realistic.
- Decide on a budgeting tool you want to use, or just build your own in google sheets, which allow for easy collaboration and transparency with your clients. We like the Productify app, because it gives ready made templates that are easy to manipulate, saving you time creating one. They also offer walk through budget tutorials for the beginning event planner making things easy and accessible.
2. Set up columns and categories for line items
Columns and categories are essential for clearly organizing any and all information on the items in your budget. Make sure to include as much detail as possible.
- Item title
- Item description
- Assigned vendor
- Budgeted amount
- Negotiated amount
- Actual amount (cost)
- Payment(s)
Helpful budget templates can be found here (all free!).
3. Set up line items
Use your designated budgeting tool to fill in the categories with each corresponding item so you’re creating a subgroup! Here are some examples:
- Food & Catering: Food, Beverage, Cakes, Staff Fees, Service Charge
- Venue Expenses: Space, Room Rental, Parking, Security, Connectivity
- Floral & Decor: Floral Displays, Rentals, Signage, Room Decor, Table Decor
Once you have set these items into place, you can set percentages for each category that will represent the cost of your event in a more accurate way. You can then decide what you would like to focus on, or downsize depending on your events needs.
Things to remember:
- Get a few quotes from at least 2 vendors for each service before you commit!
- Always update your information with the budget tool when there is a change so you don’t lose track
Once you follow these simple 3 steps, the event planning process should be well underway! Did you find this helpful to creating your event budget? Let us know with a comment or find us on Twitter and Facebook!
5 Ways To Connect Event Attendees With Tech
ABCey is always on the lookout for new tech trends that can change up the way attendees experience their events. We’re highlighting some of the best and brightest apps and trends so that you can be up to date on the ever changing event planning experience.
Here are 5 of some of the best new tech trends to help your guests network and connect to create a more immersive experience!
1. iBeacon
Apple has introduced another cutting edge technology that will change the distribution of information from phone, places, and people. Using Bluetooth (LE) signals iBeacon can identify location instantaneously, sense other phones, and gains information on people around them. Using the iBeacon for events can link attendees by being alerted to exactly who is where during an event which allows for easier navigation through the event, finding recognizable colleges, and recommend networking.
See what the Eventbase app did with iBeacon here.
2. Wearable Tech
Wearable technology is vastly growing in variety and complexity. Whether it be a pair of glasses, a shirt, or accessory this kind of tech is a great way to track engagement and allow attendees to see information in a more convenient way. Guests can get into the competitive spirit and participate in more activities with freedom from their smartphone.
Find out just how effective wearable tech can be in this article by BizBash.
3. 3D printing
3D printing was once an exclusive privilege because of the high price cost of equipment but has recently become more affordable. Attendees can have a keepsake to take home with them that they created with the printers to remind them of the event. It allows guests to be interactive with the event tech which makes for a more immersive experience.
Check out the low cost 3D printing that Carbon 3D offers here.
4. Engagement and Interaction with Speakers
Head speakers are largely the main focus of any corporate event but can lose guest attention if unable to connect with them in a personal way. Hand raising questionnaires are a thing of the past with new mobile apps that allow the guests inquires and participation to be apart of the speakers presentation experience. The Livecube app allows guests to gain “points” for checking into conferences on their mobile phone and getting prizes at the events for the tweets they post through out the event.
5. Projection Art
We like how guests can add input and post during an event via a social media app but when we can take that interaction and make it into tangible art that is something we love! Projecting attendee tweets on the wall in a creatively is a unique way for guests to see their comments being a part of the over all experience.
See more amazing projection mapping here.
All the new tech trends facilitate guest networking and connection in the event atmosphere. Which tech will you incorporate to add a little more to your events? Let us know with a comment or find us on Twitter and Facebook!