Event Spotlight: Mobile Theory All Hands Company Retreat

We’re gearing up over here at the ABCey HQ for this week’s company retreat for Mobile Theory Inc., a division of Opera Mediaworks and the 3rd largest US mobile network! Mobile Theory is a a mobile advertising network that provides technology, solutions, and services to deliver advertising campaigns for brands, publishers/app developers, advertisers, and end users.

We were super thrilled to help out with their first ever All Hands event at the Meritage Resort and Spa in Napa Valley. Their jam packed itinerary includes a private event at the acclaimed Artesa Winery, daytime work sessions, a private wine tour, tasting and luncheon at Silverado Vineyards, and of course some poolside lounge time!

Mobile Theory has taken the executive role in everything from founding brands to building brands for top interactive companies like Tribal Fusion, Quantcast, Greystripe, Collective Media, Engage, Unicast, 24/7 Real Media and Glam Media. MT’s network of premium-quality mobile sites and apps provides exclusive, unduplicated reach to 90 million mobile Internet users, accessing 8 out of 10 US smartphone users via 1.2 billion impressions per month. WOWZA!

We can’t wait to meet the Mobile Theory team. A big welcome goes out to the NY, Midwest, LA, and Boston offices. Stay tuned for an event recap and be sure to leave us your thoughts below or on Facebook & Twitter!

Event Spotlight: Khazanah Nasional

We are super excited to be producing an event this coming Sunday, September 22nd, for Khazanah Nasional! They will be opening up a new office in beautiful downtown San Francisco. The event is Malaysian themed and they will be welcoming their Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak!

Khazanah Nasional Berhad is the Government of Malaysia’s strategic investment fund. They promote economic growth and make strategic investments on behalf of the Government. They have invested in over 50 major companies around the world which range over a broad spectrum of work.

ABCey was hired to manage all aspects of event planning and production including, AV, lighting, catering, decor, florals, entertainment, videography and photography, and we couldn’t be more thrilled!

10 Of Our Favorite DIY’s For Your Next Event!

We all know that planning events can get costly, so why not save some $$$’s and make a few things on your own! Creating your own decor saves cash, gives the event a personal touch and is tons of fun! Here are a few of ABCey’s favorite DIY’s that you can try for your next event!

1. Glitter Letter Banner | Use these signs to direct guests to food or the event. They would look great for bride and groom chairs or your upcoming holiday party.

2. Outdoor Cabana | Outdoor events are always fun, but give your guests a beautiful place in the shade to hang out when it gets to warm.

3. Tissue Paper Flowers | A cheaper alternative to real flowers, these tissue paper flowers are super easy and look great at any party.

4. Glitter Mason Jars | Not only are these beautiful alone, but put a candle in them at night and the reflection they make is amazing.

5. Gilded Piñata Makeover | This piñata makeover is so simple and let’s you have a piñata that fits your party theme.

6. Hand Dotted Tumblers | You can buy glasses at the dollar store and transform them for dirt cheap! These tumblers are a great addition to any party.

7. Tassel Garland | Not only do these look great at an event, but they also look great as a decoration at home. (Our’s is above our desk!)

8. Coasters | Every event has some sort of beverage, so save your furniture by offering these natural coasters to guests.

9. Bottle Cap Candles | These candles burn a little over an hour, so they’re a great quick fix for any party and look cute scattered about.

10. Squash Bowling | If you’re having an outdoor event, keep guests entertained with this fun homemade game of bowling.

Which of these DIY’s do you like best? Let us know which one’s you’ll try in the comments below or on Facebook and Twitter! Happy crafting!

Thumbtack To The Rescue!

How many hours have you spent online, researching a local service? What if, instead of finding a few possible places, looking up their numbers, calling and leaving a few messages and hopefully hearing back from them in a few days, you could get up to 5 quotes from interested, qualified professionals within 24 hours?! Cue Thumbtack.

Thumbtack is a San Francisco based company (yay!) that offers a free program that allows you to find professionals in your area – and quickly! Thumbtack verifies all of it’s professionals to ensure you are getting the quality of service you deserve AND they receive no advertising money from service professionals, so there is no room for bias. Each provider is qualified through a rigorous checkpoint system, guaranteeing your selection of a safe and qualified professional. All you have to do is send out a request with your needs and within 24 hours you will have interested experts ready to review and choose from!

This website is great for personal use as well as for businesses! Event planning is all about bringing together so many different services and putting on a seamless event that incorporates them all. This group is great, because they do the background work for you and you are guaranteed experienced professionals that will get the job done – well! It takes the guesswork out of hiring someone which can make the difference between a good event and a great event!

How cool is that?! At ABCey, we love almost anything that saves us time! We’d love to hear some of your experiences with Thumbtack or similar groups! Let us know your thoughts in the comments below or on Twitter & Facebook!

ABCey’s Weekend Line-Up 9.12.13-9.15.13

As the weekend approaches, ABCey would like to share our top 5 (Free) events that we’re most excited about this upcoming weekend! From food truck’s to boat races, we’ve got you covered! Every Thursday, check in with ABCey for the inside scoop on cool events happening in our beloved Bay Area

1. San Francisco Scavenger Hunt | Saturday, September 14th | 2:00 p.m. | San Francisco Public Library and surrounding area | Here’s your chance to explore San Francisco in a fun and interactive way! This event gives you the opportunity to explore the city while adding a competitive aspect. Bring your problem solving skills and let the games begin!

2. America’s Cup Superyacht Regatta: Final Race Day | Friday, September 13th | 12:30 p.m. | Marina Blvd. & Fillmore St. | Spend a day in the lovely fresh air down by the Marina and watch the finals races of America’s Cup! Some of the largest boats will be displayed and raced this day, so don’t miss out!

3. “Off The Grid” Friday Night Food Truck Party | Friday, September 13th | 5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. | Fort Mason Center | If you not only love food, but love GREAT food, this is the place to go. There’s over 32 food trucks that offer options for the whole family to eat at, so everyone’s happy! It’s a great atmosphere and you are guaranteed to leave happy and full!

4. Sea Music Festival | Saturday, September 14th | 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. | Hyde Street Pier | What’s better than a day by the ocean filled with good music? Not much. This festival offers tons of live performances of traditional songs of the sea as well as a larger performance that evening for a mere $5.

5. International Dragon Boat Festival | Saturday, September 14th | 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. | California Ave. & D Ave. | So many boat events this weekend! This one is worth checking out because of the exciting and fast paced boat races involving beautifully decorated boats. There will also be crafts, martial arts and live music among other things!

What are your plans for the weekend? Let us know which of these you’ll be attending in a comment or a tweet. Thanks to FunCheap SF for the cool ideas and stayed tuned each week for ABCey’s favorite picks for the weekend!

5 Easy Ways To Go Eco-Friendly For Your Next Big Event!

There is so much emphasis on being environmentally conscious nowadays, so ABCey has come up with a few tips on how to plan your next event while keeping the environment in mind. Here are a few of our favorite ideas to make your event that much more environmentally friendly! We challenge you to try at least one of these next time you have an event. We sure will!

1. Use plants as favors! It’s the gift that keeps on giving!

2. Design the menu according to the season and focus on locally grown food. (It usually tastes better anyway!)

3. Decorate with eco-friendly items. Try some dried flowers for a beautiful display! Check out Etsy for some beautiful, handmade options!

4. Shop your local antique store for vintage finds. Mismatched cups make for a fun atmosphere!

5. Collect pictures electronically by giving guests a hash tag for any pictures they post! You’ll collect so many funny pictures from everyone’s point of view!

What’s your next event and how are you going to incorporate eco-conscious planning? Let us know with a comment or a tweet! Make sure to follow us on Pinterest and stay updated with ABCey for more fun party planning tips!