Tag: event profs
ABCey Presents: Tips to Write a Winning Event Proposal
You just met with a potential client and it’s time for you’re ready to get some new business! You know all the facts about your client’s event deets, what their goals are and what they are trying to accomplish. In the back of your head, you know this proposal is the key to your success! You may be a little nervous, but ABCey is here to help with some tips for a winning event proposal!
1. Address your client’s needs
By summarizing or listing all the client’s desires and goals for their event, it provides reassurance. They know you understand their vision and will create their event with them in mind. In addition, this creates a good opportunity for you to add any suggestions you may have! These needs can come from anything mentioned in the initial meeting!
2. Execution
Show your client each stage of your execution process! You can include a variety of things, including your management process and RFP stage, your strategy, creating a timeline with adjustable milestones, and/or execution! This communication ensures that the client understands each step of your planning process and will eliminate any guessing games. It also conveys your organizational skills and shows you know what steps it takes to plan an event.
3. Showcase your experience!
This is your moment to shine! This reinforces all your strengths and showcases why you’re the best choice for their event. Don’t forget to insert any big company names if you’ve organized past events! In addition, be sure to include pictures of your past events with the most relevant ones flanking the top. (We knew those event pictures would come in handy!) Also, this is a great place to input any client testimonials and references.
4. Budget
Carefully break down each component and create a visual representation of the budget. One of our favorite ways to stay organized is to use a spreadsheet! It is easy to show each variable that incurs a cost, so the client is not confused about any fee or charge! This aspect of your proposal is a game changer, so do take your time! If you need any help with your budget, Event Manager Blog has an amazing event budget calculator!
5. Be visual
Inputting images and making your proposal visual make it visually appealing and easier to digest for the client. Also, the client will have an easier time envisioning your ideas for the event!
Before you submit your event proposal, be sure to double check for any typos or errors!
Now that you’re ready, go write that winning event proposal! Which tips will you be using? We’d love to hear from you! Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook or Twitter!
ABCey Presents: Best Photo Tips for Event Photography
Capturing the raw, spontaneous moments of events is something all photographers aim to do. There are a lot of little things that can make diving into special event photography much easier or much harder on yourself. Below are a few event photography ideas of how to prepare and execute your photo skills at your next event!
Take Pre-Event Shots
The event planner is responsible for all the little details at each event. Therefore, they will love that you captured shots of the room prior to the guests arrival. Not only will it be something they can use to sell their services in the future, it will also allow them to catalog the set-up in case they have a very similar type of event in the space again. Photo from ABCey’s Loreal & Skinceuticals PR & Media event in February 2010.
Capture The Event’s Story
Every event has it’s own story. Try to capture the entire story of the event & show the full scale. Take pictures prior and snap shots as people arrive. During the main event, set your camera to burst mode and shoot as many shots as you can. Bring a large amount of memory cards, as space should not dictate how many shots you should take. Candid audience or crowd shots are nice here and there, but a good rule of thumb is that once plates go down and people are eating, keep the camera pointed away from the tables and onto the stage. Photo from ABCey’s BlackJet SF event in Union Square in February 2013.
Edit Hard & Deliver Quickly
Once you edit your photos down to the best images, bring your files into your editing software and crank out the images. Make sure your images looks crispy and clean. Get your photos to your client as soon as possible after the event. They will appreciate the efficiency and attention to their event! Photo from ABCey’s Brit + Co Remake Event Day 1.
Snap Guests Looking Engaged & Enjoying Themselves
It can take some patience, but make sure you get images that indicate everyone was having a good time. Make sure guests, especially high-level executives aren’t caught in goofy or unflattering expressions! Photo from ABCey’s Blumberg Capital event.
Capture a Full Room
You want to make sure that the event looks well-attended with lots of people. Focus in on larger clumps of people to provide shots that indicate the event was crowded! Photo from ABCey’s UpStart 10x event in May 2017.
______________________________________________________________
What photo tips to you use for events? Let us know in the comments below, or on our Facebook & Twitter pages!
Sources: Digital Photography School, MostlyLisa, ABCey’s Event Photos
ABCey Events Top 5 Bay Area Weekend Events: 1/20/17 – 1/22/17
Friday is here and the weekend is near! ABCey Events has our Weekend Lineup with the top 5 Bay Area and SF events that you don’t want to miss!
Top 5 Bay Area/SF Events
SF Restaurant Week
January 20th – January 31 | Participating Restaurants | San Francisco
Who doesn’t love yummy food and good prices? SF Restaurant Week kicks off tomorrow! Restaurant week celebrates the five star San Francisco dining community. 130 restaurants offer special multi-course pre fixed lunch and dinner menus where you can have a world class dining experience on a budget. Return to one of your favorite places or explore somewhere new!
Women’s March Afterparty
January 21 | 9pm – 3am | Tickets | Cover $10 – 30 Donation | 119 Utah St., San Francisco
Following the Women’s March happening earlier in the day in SF and Oakland go party alongside some amazing women while also helping out great causes! All donations go to Planned Parenthood and the SF Women’s Community Clinic. Come out and support ladies all around the USA while dancing in the company of Rachel Torro, Laura Lisbona, Sharon Buck, Brass Tax’s Haute Mess.
Edwardian Ball
January 21 | Doors open at 8pm | Tickets | The Regency Ballroom, San Francisco
The Edwardian Ball is an fantastic celebration of art, music, theater, fashion, technology, circus and the creations of author and illustrator Edward Gorey. This is a multimedia extravaganza that grew from an underground club party to a world wide know event! Definitely worth checking out!
Deep House Yoga
January 20 | 5pm | Public Works SF, San Francisco
Looking for a cool yoga experience? Deep House yoga combines house music and power flow yoga in a club environment to make an exercise experience you won’t forget! Get away from the typical yoga studio this weekend and decompress under blacklights while listening to a DJ.
Pier 39 Sea Lion Anniversary Event
January 20 – 22 | Tours start every hour from 12 – 3 | Sea Lion Statue west of the Pier 39 Entrance Plaza, San Francisco
Looking for some exercise with the chance of spotting some cute sea lions? Pier 39 is celebrating its 39th year by hosting fun events throughout the coming year! This weekend the pier is celebrating the 27th anniversary of the sea lions’ arrival to Pier 39 with free Sea Lion Encounter walking tours!
Will you be attending any of these Bay Area/SF events? What other SF events are you excited about this weeeknd? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook and Twitter!
#TechTuesday:10 Tech Tools For Your Meetings Or Events
#TechTuesday highlights the best and brightest ideas in the tech world. ABCey would like to recognize these up and coming technologies for their innovative ideas and impact on the event world! In today’s #TechTuesday, we present to you some of the best new Tech Tools for your meetings and events!
Tech has seen some pretty cool changes and improvements this year, and now it’s time to change up your tech tools so that you can produce better meetings and events. At ABCey, we have compiled 10 of our favorite apps and services that will keep you up to speed with all of the latest tech trends!
10 New Tech Tools That You Can’t Beat
1. Asana
Asana is a great overall web and mobile app for event professionals and others! You can track your progress from start to finish and stay on task! Team members will know exactly what needs to be done, and when it needs to be done. Not to mention, this app supports any collaboration and is free for teams of up to 15 people!
2. Meetoo
Got a huge conference coming up? That’s not the least of your troubles. Imagine the difficulty of when you’re trying to collect hundreds or even thousands of responses. Now that’s troublesome! Well, what better way to get that information than through Meetoo. Meetoo allows for real time messaging as well as live polling to get the information you need in the blink of an eye! Start your free trial today!
3. Hootsuite
You’ve got the schedule posts down for Facebook, but what about Twitter and other social media websites? With Hootsuite, you can manage your social media in the best way! Schedule ahead and leave it to Hootsuite to post and share information for you! After all, you can’t be on social media all the time.
4. HeyTell
Imagine a walkie talkie, but on your phone! That’s exactly what HeyTell is, except more modernized! You can add friends and know who you’re talking to. And to talk, simply hold and speak. “This is ABCey Events! Over.”
5. Super Planner
Have no fear! Super Planner is here! If you’ve got an iPhone, then go on ahead and download this business app. This app is great for event planners with a wide variety of tools to help with food and beverages, A/V, and venue capacities!
6. Pro Party Planner
Get all your planning needs in one place. With Pro Party Planner, you’ll be able to do a variety of tasks such as creating seating charts in a matter of minutes! You can manage all of your guests as well as track your budget easily. Also make sure to set reminders and build those shopping lists for anything that you need! Or, you can delegate your tasks to team members.
7. Monefy
As you’re planning your event, it’s important to keep track of your expenses. So Monefy them! Monefy can add expense records extremely fast and can be used on multiple devices. This app is also able to visually present how much you’re spending on each category.
8. Bizzabo
Another great overall app is Bizzabo! Bizzabo has done events right by knowing exactly what event profs need! Bizzabo also includes the website, ticketing, CRM, event app, email, agenda, networking, sponsors, updates, polls and reports. That’s a lot to offer!
9. Event Assistant
Need to check in guests? Create a whole new experience for checking in with this app! Event assistant is a custom check in flow app that keeps the line moving even if you’re offline. You’ll also be able to check the progress and see how many guests have checked in!
10. Event Farm
Organize your event before, during and after! Before your event, you can send out customized invitations, register your guests, and manage them. Check them in during your event and then after the event, and you’ll have reports and data ready at hand.
Have you tried any of these great tech tools? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook and Twitter!
Startup Monday: DoubleDutch-Live Engagement Marketing Platform
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! In today’s Startup Monday, we highlight a live engagement platform and mobile app: DoubleDutch!
As event professionals, we always try to create better experiences for our event attendees. It’s also important we have right tools for the event to run smoothly. Afterward, we really want to learn from the event, so that our next one is even better! So, how do we manage all this information? With DoubleDutch, you’re able to do all those things and more!
DoubleDutch Live Engagement Platform:
This company’s main product is their live engagement platform, which helps everyone from sponsors, attendees, planners, exhibitors, and marketers! Under this platform, there are 5 different sections: Studio, Event App, Lead Manager, Performance Manager, and Exhibitor Portal. All of these applications help to improve the event process and the overall success of the event!
Studio
First, customize your app and plan your event with DoubleDutch’s Studio! After you create the perfect app that matches your brand, use Studio to send out event invites to promote your app and event. In addition, manage your event content including: agendas, interactive maps, event information, user profiles, and more. And thats not all! You can help your sponsors advertise their posts, achievements, and activity to your guests!
Event App
Having an app for your event will be sure to impress attendees, but it’s also great for event professionals and will make your guests’ event experience so much easier! For event producers, the DoubleDutch Event app lets you give out attendee lists, surveys, polls, Q&A’s, direct messages as well as set up gaming aspects and forums. Also, attendees can create their agendas, and see profiles of sponsors, exhibitors, and speakers!
Performance Manager
Learn what worked and what didn’t with their Performance Manager! During the event, you can easily see how the event is going, what your guests like the most, poll/survey results, and more. Now you have tons of info that tells you how your event went and valuable insight for the next ones!
Exhibitor Portal
Your event exhibitors and sponsors will love Double Dutch too! Because the Exhibitor Portal lets exhibitors contact and understand their attendees, they are set to have a better booth and business! From customizing exhibitor’s app profiles and scheduling meetings to managing staff and giving offers to guests, there is nothing this app doesn’t do!
Lead Management
Finally, their platform has a Lead Management application to help you market your event! It looks at attendees’ actions, interests, and engagement, so that you can make informed decisions. Also, your attendees will love when DoubleDutch gives them recommendations on connections/sessions based on their activity at an event! Try their demo and see how DoubleDutch can improve your events!
Integration and Security
Are you currently using a different registration system? DoubleDutch has the answer! In addition to their platform, this company has added integration features that allow you to combine schedules, profiles, etc. from more than 100 other registration systems! They make it that easy!
You can also integrate with Salesforce and Marketo to have the best marketing campaigns and CRM services! Now you can use their platform with the info and work you already have. There are also security measures that make sure your data and event is safe!
Are you planning to use DoubleDutch? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook and Twitter!
5 Tips to Successfully Use Instagram for Your Event Business
Instagram has easily become one of the most popular social media apps. In 2016, it’s estimated that 500+ million people use Instagram monthly, 300 million daily, and 58% of Instagram users are 18-29 years old. Why is this important to Event Profs? Because this means Instagram can allow you to reach a larger audience, including millenials!
There are tons of research on the Instagram usage and the ways businesses can utilize it. Also, it’s important to stay up to date with what’s going on with your instagram account. So ABCey Events has created 5 tips to successfully use Instagram for your event business!
1. What to post
First, you need an Instagram account! If you don’t have one, just scroll down to #5 for tips to create the perfect account. Okay, you have an account or just created one, but now what? What do I post? hint: See below to see what types of content to post!
Types of Posts
1. Have a story: Let your followers feel like they are a part of your business and on the inside of the event action with story-like posts! However, don’t post straight advertisements. Instead, have a variety of images from selfies to video interviews. There is no limit to the content you post!
Similarly, studies suggest users want to experience the story rather than see plain objects. Salesforce found most users liked, “amusing, creative, beautiful, and inspiring” content. So maximize your Instagram reach by captivating images, posting entire event processes, features of event speakers and famous attendees, inspirational quotes, and especially human faces!
2. Relatable posts: Keep followers by posting stuff they can relate to! By fusing scenes and possible scenarios that can happen in everyday life with your products and services, followers can see how useful your products and services are!
https://www.instagram.com/p/0tpeJfAUUf/?taken-by=nike
3. Business posts: Advertise your business by posting your sponsors, events, and brand. Do this by sharing images about your sponsors in colorful and fun photos. Additionally, try to get other users, special guests, and famous people to post/tag/hashtag about your event and company. More and more people are basing their decisions on what they see on social media. Therefore, you can grow your business by having ambassadors give you some exposure!
But be careful! No one wants their entire feed filled with obvious advertisements. Learn about event marketing on Instagram below (#4 Instagram for Events).
2. Strategic Posting
Previously, we mentioned that Instagram accounts are more successful when the types of posts are different. But here are other things you can do to boost likes, follows, and comments!
1. Editing your posts: Studies have found what specific aspects of a post make them more popular. They found more people like photos with the Mayfair filter! Also, the 2nd and 3rd most liked filtered photos are #nofilter and Inkwell, respectively. In addition, you’re more likely to get likes on images that are brighter with a single dominant color, especially blue, and background space than others! Don’t forget to use Geographical locations and connect with users by a shared location. Check out Curalate’s full study for more tips.
2. Posting times: Don’t pester and annoy followers! If you are posting multiple times a day, spread them out. However, most studies suggest posting only 5-7 times throughout the week. Specifically, your best bet is to get the most likes by posting on Wednesday from 5-6pm! Additionally, don’t stress about posting right on time and schedule posts with apps like Hootsuite and Schedugram.
3. Gain followers, grow your business
1. Instagram interaction: By interacting with users, you’re sure to gain and keep followers! First off, you can simply ask questions and inviting captions that lead people to comment. From re-gramming someone’s post related to your business/event, tagging companies, responding to comments, commenting on and liking posts, and giving shout outs to your loyal followers, show your followers you care and value their support!
2. Spoil your followers: Reward your followers well by posting announcements, contests, and special offers! You can have them follow, like photos, comment, hashtag, and tag your account to be entered to win prizes and special offers! This encourages people to follow you, as they will be the first to see when you are holding contests. Now you have followers promoting your event and business to others!
4. Instagram for Events
Now, for all you event profs, we have Instagram tricks to make your next event a success!
1. #Hashtag: Make sure you use hashtags to help people discover your Instagram. Use both specific hashtags and popular hashtags so people can find your event/company easily! One study found that interactions increased with 11 hashtags, but most studies suggested using 5-10 hashtags. If your choose to include many, hide them by commenting your hashtags or hiding them many lines below your main caption. This way followers don’t get annoyed seeing them!
2. The Event: You can use Instagram to entertain your attendees and market your next event! Encourage users to post images and include your event specific hashtag in the caption. Then, companies like instafeedlive, will display them on screens around the event, making your guests feel special!
In addition, by simply using your event hashtag, your guests can leave your event with memorabilia! Printers, like Photoboxx and Luster, scan Instagram for your event hashtag and print the images out instantly. Also, you can allow guests to print a postcard and polaroid picture when they hashtag their photos! Learn more about them here. So give your event and company immediate publicity and get these tools at your next event!
3. Event hype: When showing the story of your event, there are tons of things to capture! Post about the event before, during, and after to keep the event fresh in your follower’s minds. First get them excited with behind the scene images of the venue set up with your event team hard at work! Moreover, use Instagram to not only remind followers when tickets go on sale, but also hype up attendees with event fliers and countdown day photos. This makes them feel like they are right in the middle of the everything happening at the event!
5. Creating Perfect Profile
Your profile is extremely important as it’s how they judge your account! Therefore, you need to be sure that your Instagram looks like something they should follow.
1. Your Bio: First, create a bio description that is short, fun, and interesting. But it still needs to say your business name or who you are, what your business does, and make it unique!
2. Get them to your website: If you didn’t know, links on your photo captions don’t work. Thus, the only link to get people to your website is in your bio. So make sure you include your website link, and any other informative names you want people to search and find you by (ex: Event Planner).
3. First impression/Profile pic: Along with photos and your bio, users see your profile picture first. Get a good quality photo of your logo or a picture that represents your company to bring in more followers!
How are you going to use Instagram at your next event? Tell use in the comments below or on Facebook and Twitter. Also, follow us on Instagram!
ABCey’s list of SF Weekend Events: 7/29/16-7/31/16
July has flown by and it’s time to start preparing ourselves for August! We can’t believe how fast this month went by, and ABCey Events is here to help you make the most of the last weekend in July with a list of our fave SF Weekend Events going on!
1) Startup Weekend San Francisco: Entertainment for Social Change
Friday-Sunday, 7/29-7/31 | 6:30 pm | $75 |44 Tehama St. San Francisco
Startup gurus- it’s time to block out your calendars for this weekend’s Entertainment for Social Change Startup Weekend! Bring your ideas from all different backgrounds, pitch ideas, and create teams to develop solutions to social issues. Some of Bay Area’s top mentors will be in attendance to add guidance to you and your co-founders. Then, you and your team will pitch your ideas to judges over the course of 54- hours. Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to network, connect and learn with talented influencers from around the Bay Area! This is your chance to be a part of/be the start of Silicon Valley’s next big venture! You can register for this event here.
2) The Great Mac and Cheese Melt Off SF Weekend Events
Saturday 7/30/16 | 11am- 9pm | $5 | 601 Mission Bay Boulevard North, San Francisco
Is there really a better way to celebrate the weekend than by consuming endless amounts of Mac and Cheese? This is one of those awesome SF weekend events that has a line up of amazing food! There are over 10 mind blowing mac and cheese food trucks, ready to serve up deliciousness that will leave your taste buds amazed. Make sure to try as many as you can, as you will be able to vote for your fave! With only a $5 general admission, you’ll get free beer will be served as well as and free water all day long! Looking to make the most out of this event? Upgrade your ticket to the Big Cheese Passport for just $20 in advance ($25 at the door) and indulge in 4 heaping mac and cheese samples from any vendor! You don’t want to miss out on this oh so cheesy event!
3) Berkeley Kite Festival
Sat-Sun, 7/30-7/31 | 10am-6pm | FREE | Cesar E. Chavez Park at the Berkeley Marina
Nothing screams summer quite like kites! The Berkeley Kite Festival this weekend allows fun for all ages (or something similar), so if you’re thinking you are too old for kites…think again! This festival features soaring kites the size of houses soaring in the sky, free kite flying lessons, and tons of great food and drinks to indulge in. This fun, free festival is the perfect way to spend your last weekend of July!
4) Color Splash UV Reactive
Friday, 7/29 | 9:30pm-1:30am | $15 | AURA NIGHTCLUB – 389 S. First Street, San Jose
Ready for some all night colorful fun? Then this is the party for you! This Color Splash event will be full of colorful paint blast, lasers, awesome lighting, confetti canons, and large visual LED panels. There will also be a live body painting showcase, plus go-go dancers in full body paint! Buy tickets to this one of a kind party here.
5) The Summer Wine Event
Friday 7/29 | 6pm-9pm | 1300 Potrero Avenue, San Francisco | $20
Calling all SF wine lovers! This Friday, The Ivy Society and Three Day Rule are teaming up for one epic summer wine night at Eristavi Winery. Unwind from your work week with this luxurious wine event where complimentary bread and cheese boards will also be served to help you fully enjoy the amazing wines. Plus, this event is offering its very own Lyft code to ensure you get to and from the event safely! Use the code: LYFT2SUMMERWINE for 20% off your rides to and from the event. You can purchase tickets for the event here.
So grab your fav pals and enjoy these wonderful SF Weekend events together!
Going to any fun SF Weekend Events that we missed? Let us know in the comments below or on our Facebook and Twitter!
Sustainability At Your Next Event- 5 Must Try Tips!
ABCey Events knows how important sustainability practices are- so here, green is the new black! We’re sharing our top 5 favorite sustainability tips for you to try at your next event!
1) Go Mobile
It’s time to ditch those age old paper programs at your next event and go mobile instead! Create an app for your event that will still provide all the same helpful info about your event, but is environmentally friendly. You’re now sustainable AND showing people how tech savvy you are! There are tons of websites to help create your own app, but our favorite is AppMachine!
2) Eliminate Waste
Forgo the paper plates and plastic utensils at your next event and try using chic reusable plates and silverware instead. Not only will you reduce the amount of waste produced, but it will also amp up the level of quality of your event! Not ready to bite the bullet yet in purchasing reusable china? Try out these eco friendly wooden options instead!
_____________________________________________________________________
3) Be Selective
It is important to remember that where you choose to host your event matters! Try to choose locations that are LEED certified with sustainability initiatives already in place. One of our favorite green venues in SF is The Hall, which provides all locally produced food and beverages!
4) Consider The Timing Of Your Event
If possible, hold your event during the day to save on energy required by artificial lighting. If it’s unavoidable, try using LED lighting instead- using LED lights can help reduce your carbon foot print up to 70%! Just because it’s energy efficient lighting, doesn’t mean it has to be boring. You can have almost all the same lighting effects using LED as you would with normal lighting, so there is no reason not to make the switch!
5) Sustainability in Spirits
As if you needed another reason to love happy hour… what if all your favorite drinks were now locally grown, organic, and made with seasonable products? Now they can be! By making a few simple changes, your happy hour just became a whole lot more sustainable. Add a whole new element to cocktail hour at your next event, and show your attendees how easy it is to go green!
Have any other ideas to make an event sustainable? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook and on Twitter!
ABCey’s Weekend Event Lineup: 7/15/16-7/17/16
It’s hard to believe we are already half way through July, where has the time gone? ABCey Events is here to help you make the most of what is left of July with our Weekend Event Lineup!
1) GlowCon Weekend Event| 7/16/16 | NWBLK | Sat. 2pm-2am | $25-$50 |
No Plans this Saturday? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! This awesome event is the newest type of convention that celebrates all things glow! This one part convention, one part party is one day that will be entirely lit. During the day you have the opportunity to listen to LED talks that discuss the future of glow. DJ’s will be playing through the night while performers like Dance, Flow, and Saber Battle entertain you until dawn! Dancing not your thing-not to worry, this event has something for everyone! Check out some of the latest virtual reality and 3D light projection inventions instead! You don’t want to miss out on this event, so don’t forget to preregister here for the best price!
_________________________________________________________________________
2) Shape Tech Expo 2016: Jared Leto, Nate Silver & Silversun Pickups | AT&T Park| Sat. 7/16/16 | All Day | FREE
Calling all SF techies- this event is for you! Come out to the beautiful AT&T Park this Saturday where you can browse over 50 tech exhibits, explore smart cities, robots,virtual reality, and artificial intelligence. You will also have the opportunity to listen to Jared Leto and Nate Silver discuss their visions on what might be in hold for the future! There will be a Saturday Night concert with the Silversun Pickups you don’t want to miss!
3) Dolores Park Banger Weekend Event | Sat. 7/16/16 | 11am-2am | FREE |
Who doesn’t love a good outdoor party…especially one in the beautiful Dolores Park! Its time to celebrate the best day of the weekend with some fun under the sun. So grab a few of your pals and come out this Saturday for an all day awesome party!
_________________________________________________________________________
4) Pokemon Go ‘Ocean Beach Chalet’ Meet-up | Sat. 7/16/16| 5pm | FREE
With Pokemon Go being the new fad sweeping the nation, why not meet up with other Pokemoner’s this Saturday? Head out to The Beach Chalet Brewery and Restaurant for a fun day full of Pokemon Hunting! If you gotta’ catch em’ all-this is the event for you!
_________________________________________________________________________
5) National Ice Cream Day Festival | Sun. 7/19/16 | 11:00am-5:00pm | SoMa| $5
This just might be the best event we’ve seen all summer! No better way to close out the weekend than with an all day ice cream festival-right? There will be over 15 Ice Cream vendors to serve up the frozen treat just the way you like it. And no worries, you can dance off your sugar rush with DJ Dysco Lyft, who will be spinning at the event! The first 200 people to RSVP here will receive FREE admission-so don’t wait! This is one festival you don’t want to miss!
Let us know what your weekend plans are in the comments below or on Facebook and Twitter!
10 Tips For Hosting a Flawless Outdoor Party
Summer is in full swing which means it’s all about pool parties, beach days, and enjoying the beautiful weather. ABCey knows that hosting an outdoor summer event can be tricky, but with these innovative tips, your next summer party is sure to be a hit!
1) Updated Wagon
Going to the beach, or need a Little Red Wagon? This is the tech for you! This Sport Wagon is extremely durable with lightweight UV resistant wheels. Moreover, it has a 5 sq foot tabletop with cup holders, utensil spots, umbrella slots, and built-in seats! Take anything you want easily and in style with this cool and useful tool!
2) Floating Candles That Ward Off Bugs
Are buzzing bugs driving you crazy? Ward them off with these citronella candles! Added bonus: these candles are also super cute…what more could you ask for?!
3) Chill Wine Quickly With Ice Water and Salt
Does a sudden drink surge at your party have you frantically trying to chill beverages fast? No worries, we’ve got you covered. This awesome tip will have your wine chilled in no time, making sure you’re back to spending time with guests in a blink of an eye. 
4) Nif-tea Lighting
Watch your event glow with this DIY tree lighting! Simply tie some thread around battery operated tea lights and hang them on branches. This DIY project will impress your guests and look magnificent at any outdoor event!
5) Keep Drinks Cold With Frozen Water Balloons
No one likes to drink a warm beverage. We love this awesome idea because it’s both cute and functional! Using frozen water balloons helps add a pop of color to your drink table and a fun element to your event!
6) Photo Booth Fun
Make sure your guests take home a memento with this easy photo booth idea! By simply hanging a giant picture frame from a tall tree, you can create your very own photo booth for your guests to enjoy. Grab a few friends and make sure you get that Instagram shot you’ve been waiting for!
7) Keep It Cool
We get it, these summer months can be HOT, but why should your party guests have to suffer? A simple solution to ensure your guests stay cool is by providing fans and parasols. Not only are these super chic, but they also protect your pals from the sun! There are plenty of places to pick up some fans (or make your own), but here is a great place to start!
8) Bright Backdrop
Need an easy way to decorate your outdoor party? Use fun DIY paper decorations to jazz and liven up your event. They make great decor or a backdrop for event pictures and they only take seconds to make! Learn how to make them here!
9) Set Out Sunscreen and Bug Spray
One of the most common mistakes people make when hosting an outdoor party in the peak of the summer is forgetting to put out sunscreen AND bug spray. Getting a sunburn is no fun, and nobody wants to spend their evening swatting away bugs! Plus, there are tons of cute DIY buckets to create to keep your party chic!
10) Encourage Guests To Use The Same Glasses Throughout The Party
Ease your stress by keeping your guests from piling up dirty glasses all night. There are a variety of different labeling techniques to chose from, but this is one of our fave’s! All you need to do is set out the glasses with tags pre-attached, and make sure there’s something to write with nearby the bar!
___________________________________________________
Hosting an outdoor bash this summer? ABCey wants to know if you would use any of these tips, or what we missed! Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook and on Twitter!