Tag: eventprofs
ABCey’s Weekend Lineup: 3/ 4/16 – 3/6/16
We love the weekends and we want to make sure that you enjoy them to the fullest. Take advantage of these [hopefully] work-free days and sleep in a little bit; relax. And if you want to get out and have some fun, ABCey’s Weekend Lineup has got you covered with some exciting events that involve orchestra music, chocolate AND an alcohol tasting party! Say what?!
1. “Off the Grid”: Friday Night Food Truck Party
FRIDAY MARCH 4TH, 2015 | 5PM – 10PM | FORT MASON | FREE*
It goes down at Fort Mason on Friday nights. If you love food, then Off the Grid is your type of party. Featuring over 30 food trucks, food tents and dessert carts, this is one food-tastic party. Steamed bao buns? Check. Lobster rolls? Got it. Frozen Custard? Yes Please! Come with a full wallet and an empty belly and spend the night indulging in all the food truck offerings.
2. Awesome Orchestra Classical Jam: Video Game Music
FRIDAY MARCH 4TH, 2016 | 7pm – 10pm | UPTOWN BODY & FENDER, OAKLAND, CA | FREE
Calling all gamers and musicians! Are you ready for a musical adventure? If so, then join Awesome Orchestra Collective this Friday for a night of amazing orchestra music in a fun and casual environment with people like you who get excited by incredibly high musicianship. Part open rehearsal, part performance, they provide sheet music for those of you who want to join in and an open space for those of you who just want to listen. This Friday’s theme is Video Game Music and it’s going to be one epic night you don’t want to miss.
3. International Chocolate Salon
SATURDAY MARCH 5TH, 2016 | FORT MASON | 10AM – 6PM | $20 ADV/$30 DOOR
Chocolate on chocolate on chocolate! Satisfy your cravings this Saturday with chocolates from some of North America’s finest chocolatiers and confectioners. The day will be filled with chocolate tastings, chef and author talks, and wine tastings, so all my chocolate lovers need not miss this sweet event. Head over to their website to get more info and purchase tickets.
4. SF Weekly’s Drink 2016 Tasting Party
SATURDAY MARCH 5TH, 2016 | 1PM – 5PM| CITY NIGHTS | $20-$25
Why not toast to the weekend? This unique, buffet-style tasting event will feature samples from 20+ breweries, wineries and distilleries. And to make sure you’re not drinking on an empty stomach, they’ll be providing complimentary appetizers. Tickets can be purchased here.
5. 2016 San Francisco History Days
SUNDAY MARCH 6TH, 2016 | 11AM – 4PM | THE OLD MINT | FREE
Get your learn on this Sunday at the Old Mint which will be transformed into pop up museums of San Francisco’s history. San Francisco has a rich and full past that many people don’t know about, so here’s your opportunity to get an in-depth look into this amazing city. Visit here for the full schedule of events.
We hope you get a chance to take some time out for yourself this weekend. If you plan on heading to any of these events, hit us up on Facebook and Twitter and tell us how it was!
Startup Monday: Slack
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!
When it comes to the workplace, collaborating in a team is the norm. Although extremely beneficial, it requires continuous back and forth dialogue which can sometimes get a little hectic and disorganized when having to communicate through multiple online platforms. We’re all about efficiency and productivity here at ABCey, so today we’re highlighting Slack, a messenger app that is sure to improve your team communication, making it more simple and more efficient.
Channels:
Team Conversations are organized into Channels. You can create different channels for specific departments, groups or conversations. Public channels are open for all members of the team, allowing them to pop in at any time and join the conversation. Private channels are for confidential projects that can be viewed by invitation only.
Direct messages:
Need to communicate to someone directly? Use the direct message function to send private and secure messages.
File Sharing:
Working on an event proposal or drafting a contract? Documents, images, pdfs, spreadsheets can be uploaded into a particular channel and team members can view the document and make comments on it.
App Integration:
Need to access your twitter feed? You can streamline the tools and systems you already use by plugging app notifications into particular channels.
Search and Archive:
Everything in Slack is archived. You can search for specific conversations or even content within a particular document that was shared on a channel.
Device Syncing:
Sync the desktop app with your mobile phone and you’ll always be connected to the conversation.
Slack is the perfect platform to organize your team communication and increase daily productivity. Planning on using this amazing app for your team? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter!
ABCey’s Weekend Lineup: 2/26/16-2/28/16
With the weekend just around the corner, I hope you decide to trade in your business suit for some jeans and shades! The Bay area has been warming up, and it’s the perfect weather to open up the windows and take a walk around the park. For this week’s weekend lineup ABCey wanted to take advantage of the forecast and give you some great outdoor events to choose from!
Friday February 26th, 2016 | 5:00pm – 9:30pm |2460 Sutter St. | $12 Adults $8 Students (Seniors & Kids under 12 free)
If you’re looking to travel the globe without the baggage fees, step out to Pacific Heights Friday night and experience a taste of Russia! The festival will host an array of events that are triggered to entice all senses. So if you’re looking to indulge your tastebuds with some authentic Russian food or admire the art of traditional dance, this event is the place to be!
THE COMEDY ROAST OF DONALD TRUMP
Friday, February 26th, 2016 | 8pm | Pappy’s, Berkeley | $10
One of the most debated candidates for this year’s election has been nominated as the guest of honor for this month’s comedy roast hosted by RoastSF! Mr. Trump will not be in attendance for this event, however, his impersonator is KNOWN for his class act impression, and will be severely roasted by 8 improv comics. Regardless if you love him or you hate him, it’s no question that you won’t have a hurt stomach from laughing at this event!
HOMELESS HOMES POP UP WORKSHOP
Saturday, February 27th, 2016 | 11am – 6pm | Nimby, Oakland | FREE
Want to make a difference in your community? Homelessness in The Bay area has been the topic of discussion, especially with the growing tents that are vacating the streets. This Saturday and Sunday, this pop up workshop is uniting people within the community to take a hands-on-approach by creating micro-homes for the homeless. Start off your Saturday the right way by giving back to those in need!
Saturday, February 27th, 2016 | 1pm-4 pm | Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara | $79-$125
For all of the bacon lovers (we know how many of you there are), this is an event you don’t want to miss! Enjoy the VIP treatment of walking the field while enjoying a brew and a slice of bacon. Guests will be able to indulge in 50+ bacon infused dishes and proceed to wash them down with a choice of 100+ craft beers and cider samples, all of which are from some of the best local vendors and breweries! Enjoy games, some fun in the sun, and if you’re feeling brave, sign up for the bacon eating contest, which is sure to leave you full for days!
MARDI GRAS CELEBRATION TREASURE ISLAND FLEA
Sunday, February 28th, 2016 | All Day | Great Lawn, Ave of the Palms, Treasure Island | $3
If you can’t make it out to New Orleans this year to celebrate Mardi Gras, the Treasure Island Flea has the solution! This Sunday, local street musicians and New Orleans menus will be fused together to make this event come to life. Choose to shop from the 400+ curated vendors while trying a 2-fo-1 TI Flea Hurricane Cocktail as you watch the city transform, this is a great way to kick back and relax before Monday! 
A GATHERING OF ROYALS- ACADEMY OF FRIENDS 2016 GALA
Saturday, February 28th, 2016 | 5pm-10 pm | San Francisco Design Center, San Francisco | $225.39-&757.95
Are you planning to watch The Oscar’s Sunday night? If so, and you’re looking for a change of scenery, head down to the San Francisco Design Center for a great cause! Not only does this gala give you the opportunity to dress up as if you were at The Oscar’s, but 100% of the proceeds are directed towards HIV/AIDS services in the Bay area. Enjoy complimentary food, wine, and champagne, and if you’re feeling up to it keep partying at the after party at SF Oasis!
What event(s) are you placing on your calendar for this upcoming weekend? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook and Twitter!
#TechTuesday: Spinn Coffee
#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!
What’s the best part of waking up? Why, it’s coffee of course! Nothing gets the day started quite like a piping hot cup o’ joe and for the busy professional, caffeine first thing in the morning is necessary for a productive day. For the coffee junkies out there, your mornings are going to get even better in the near future with Spinn Coffee, a WIFI connected coffee brewing machine.
Spinn uses centrifugal force to brew its coffee with beans only. No cups, pods or filters means zero environmental waste. Prefer drip, french press or espresso? Spinn can do it all.
How it works.
Download the Spinn App.
Connect your SpinnBrew to your WIFI network. Once connected, you can customize how you prefer your coffee to be brewed.
Brew coffee right from your phone.
Spinn uses only quality coffees from local and international roasters. Get connected to these community roasters through the app where you can browse, shop and review their coffees.
You can add your fave coffee beans to your Beanlist that acts as your coffee playlist. When your faves get low in stock, they’ll be automatically re-ordered and delivered right to your door.
It gets even better than that. Want to wake up to the sweet aroma of freshly brewed coffee? Set Spinn to start making a brew while you’re still in bed and your coffee will literally make itself.
Why we love it. Spinn is the reinvention of coffee for the modern, technology-driven world; it’s a smarter way to drink coffee. It takes care of you by doing the coffee making for you and takes care of our planet by creating a more sustainable way to enjoy your favorite morning pick-me-up.
Need Spinn Coffee in your life? You can pre-order now!
Be sure to let us know how much you love your java on Facebook and Twitter!
Startup Monday: Gone|Selling on Demand
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!
Out with the old and in with the new! To start the new year off right, we want to help you lead a more productive life by tackling one unproductive nuisance: clutter.
Our living and working spaces are constantly full of so much junk and clutter. We tend to accumulate more stuff than we need, buying more and getting rid of less. Oftentimes, we either let the clutter continue to pile up or we resort to donating everything. Figuring out the how and where to sell our items is such a hassle and with our busy lives, we just don’t have the time. Today, we’re highlighting Gone, a startup that will resale, recycle and upcycle all of your old junk. 
Gone is a concierge service that makes selling your unwanted items a whole lot easier. They manage all the logistics of the entire selling process so that you don’t have to and they unsure that all of your items get sold for the best possible value.
HOW IT WORKS:
Once you decide what items you wish to sell, you can either upload a pic into the app or through a text message. Gone will then pick up the items at the location of your choice.
After inspecting the items, Gone will set a selling price and list it for sale within 1-5 business days. In order to get the best bang for your buck, they analyze transactions from around the world in order to determine the proper market prices. The marketplace that they use to sell the items depends on the demand and average price for said item.
After your items are packaged, Gone will contact buyer, negotiate a deal and ship your items. You are able to monitor this entire process within the app!
PAYMENT:
Gone makes the payment process easy by allowing you to choose from several options: check, PayPal or Amazon Gift Card. After they deduct costs for preparing items for sale (inspection, pricing, postage and packing materials), they charge a commission of 7%-15% depending on the demand of the item. You’ll then receive payment within one to several weeks of sale.
If, for whatever reason, your items don’t sell within 90 days, they’ll either send the items back to you or extend the selling period for another 90 days. When needed, Gone can arrange a tax write-off for donations and even recycled items.
We love how Gone has revolutionized online selling, helping to make your life easier, clutter-free, and more productive.
Thinking about using this service the next time you have items that need to be sold? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook and Twitter!
#TECHTUESDAY: SKIDDLE- Weekend’s Matter
#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!
“A small fish in a big pond” is how any person can feel living in a large city, especially San Francisco! The “Things to do” lists extends for miles, but still some remain unaware of the events and excitement occurring a few steps from their door. Skiddle recognized this detachment and brought a resolution with their Weekends Matter app! Before we even go into the deets, this event library includes more than 100,000 events at any given time! Combining that stealthy number with the additional features, it’s no question why this app is featured on this week’s #TechTuesday!
It’s a Friday night and there’s nothing to do- until you open up your Skiddle app and find all of the events occurring within your location! Events range from anything as large as a music festival to something as simple as an art exhibit. The beauty of this app is that it identifies with all interests, which is why it has such an extensive gallery. Don’t feel like scrolling through an entire archive? That’s okay! You can search events by date, location, category, what’s trending, and even Skiddle’s recommendations!
Every once in awhile there’s an event that’s so good it requires you to pack your things for a few days and explore a new territory! However, planning the housing and transportation can be a little strenuous especially when it’s a group. If you’re looking for simplicity, Skiddle has a search feature to scope out the nearest hotels to your event venue. Still confused on how you’ll get to the actual event? If you’re looking for a lift, Skiddle is integrated with the Uber app (first ride is free for the newbies!) or if you’re within walking distance and choose to sightsee it offers directions to your event location!
Looking for some new music to listen to? This app has access to music clips via Spotify to give you a taste of an artist before purchasing any tickets! Once you find your new favorite artist, you can track them and receive alerts when new events are announced. When your event is finally available and you’re ready to purchase tickets, don’t worry! There are no booking fees with this app and ticket delivery is instantaneous!
Why we love Skiddle Weekend’s Matter: Learning new things is what keeps us young! This progressive app introduces users to a range of events that extends beyond their regular “going out” vocabulary. Discovering new music is as easy as a click, which can inevitably lead to a random night on the town to experience something different! It’s exciting to see how many avenues and options are literally at the tip of our fingers, and how simplistic it’s been made for our convenience. This database was made for enjoyment and that statement is clear with the ease of it’s accessibility!
So, where are you headed next? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook and Twitter!
Startup Spotlight: Snapcastr
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!
A growing trend that has been sweeping almost every event blog is the necessity for audience engagement and interaction! Conferences, Festivals, and Sporting events all call for larger scale audiences that must be enticed to attend, excited through out, and anticipating the event return for the coming year. So, the question is, how do we as event planners create this buzz? This Monday, we would like to highlight Snapcastr, a tech-driven company that provides all of these solutions through their social media platform!
THE BUILD UP!
Before we get to the main attraction, we must have a plan of action, and Snapcastr certainly does! Their #Hashtag Campaign supplies companies with clear marketing and event strategies from the very beginning to ensure that promotion is being maximized. In addition, their Social Event Display optimizes on audience connection. These event displays are customizable to create a unique and exclusive feel that can educate and boost audience interaction! By the way, sponsors they did not forget you! These displays have a space for your logos to market your companies and thank you for your support!
WE’VE ARRIVED!
Integrating social media interaction at an event is no longer a question, it’s a MUST. Snapcastr’s Live Social Wall enables guests to feel connected with their live tweets, posts, and shared experiences utilizing the hashtag you created with the #Hashtag Campaign! However, it doesn’t stop there.
Hosting a sporting event anytime soon? The FanPhoto feature creates guest incentive to tweet and promote your event at a chance to be featured on their team’s video board or Jumbotron!
Not sold yet? We have a few more to share! The Leaderboard feature highlights your top fans, top contributors, and/or top influencers! This is a great way to recognize your fans for their dedication or your contributors and influencers for their amazing support!
Have an opinion you want to share? Twitter Polling enables guests to participate in polls concerning your event, which will not only keep them engaged, but it will give you some great insight to their interests and what they’re looking for!
SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!
One of the best features of this company is the data capabilities that come with it! With all of these social media platforms being utilized, moderation and control is a necessity, and Snapcastr provides it. Interested in knowing your guest’s thoughts? The reporting features enables you to measure fan impact based on conversations. As well, you can monitor the growth of your social media accounts with real time analytics. This capability is a great way to track your success and pinpoint any problematic errors to ensure growth for the upcoming year!
What’s your favorite feature of our Startup Monday featuring Snapcastr? Let us know in the comments below or message us on Facebook or Twitter!
Friday Faves: SF Event Venues – Bimbo’s 365 Club
San Francisco is an event planners paradise. Being such a beautiful and vibrant city, there are a myriad of unique venues to choose from when it comes to planning your next event. Here at ABCey Events, we want to highlight and share some of our favorite local treasures!
Bimbo’s 365 Club has been a San Francisco landmark for the past 65 years. Originally opening on Market Street in 1931, it was established after the Great Depression to revive the spirit of San Francisco and bring fun back into the hearts of the people. Moving to its current location on Columbus Ave in 1951, it quickly became known as the hottest nightclub in town. Today, it’s a sought after venue for special events, private parties and concerts.
Step inside and you’ll immediately feel like you’re transported back in time to the golden age of entertainment. Designed with Art-Deco influences, the venue is dripping with elegance and class.
Surrounded by lush velvet drapes, the showroom showcases terraced dining platforms with tiered seating and elegantly draped tables topped with glowing candles.
They boast a full production stage with theatrical lighting, a front of house sound board that produces state-of-the-art sound and a large dance floor. They also host a bar, full kitchen available to caterers and valet parking upon request. With a capacity for up to 685+ for private parties or receptions and between 150-475+ for dinners, this venue is sure to meet all your event needs.
Clearly, it’s not hard to see why Bimbo’s 365 Club is one of our favorite venues. With its timeless decor, state-of-the-art amenities and incredible seating capacity you’re sure to wow every guest at your next event. Let ABCey know if you’d like help planning your next event there!
Wouldn’t you love to plan your next event here? Also, what are some of your favorite San Francisco treasures? Be sure to let us know in the comments below, or on Facebook and Twitter !
Top 3 Tech Trends for 2016
Who’s ready to kick off the New Year? As we say goodbye to 2015, and move forward into 2016, there’s a few technological developments that are just too good to leave behind! These trends are taking huge strides in not only the tech world, but the event planning industry!
ABCey explored 3 of the Top Tech Trends for this upcoming year! From planning to entertainment, these trends have been proven to be extremely beneficial for a successful event!
1) AFFECTIVA
Want to know what your guests are thinking? Affectiva has analyzed over 3.5 million faces to match expressions with emotions. This software has app capabilities that enable it to analyze an audience’s interest and reactions to give the host better insight on the crowd’s engagement level. Their online demo gives you an idea of how it works!
2) GEORAMA
Not enough hours in the day? No problem! Georama has made it easy for event planners to find anything from an event venue to entertainment- no car required! These live virtual tours can take place from something as small as your phone with two way audio capabilities so all questions can be addressed. Not to mention, these tours are access code friendly, which provides the luxury of privacy!
3) OCULUS RIFT
As we dive deeper into the 2000’s we can expect our technological development to expand with us. Live experience interaction is no longer a foreign topic when it comes to events. Trends like Oculus Rift, allow educational conferences to become less boring and more interactive! What was once a conference room could now be an exotic land, and this tech device can be utilized for training and simulation purposes to create a more “real world” experience.
We can’t wait to see what the future holds for event planning. What trends do you like the best? Let us know in the comments below or find us on Facebook and Twitter!
ABCey’s Weekend Lineup: 11/13/15 – 11/15/15
Time flies when you’re having fun! Make the most of this festive season by getting out this weekend and attending some of the many exciting events that this city has to offer. ABCey’s Weekend lineup is back again with even more fun bay area events to spice up your weekend!
1. Friday Nights at the de Young
Friday, November 13th, 2015 | 5PM – 8:45PM | de Young Museum | FREE
Tap into your artistic side with fun Friday events at the de Young! This isn’t your regular museum visit. There is live music, hands on craft making, performances, tours, and even film screenings. This week there is a hypnosis tour in the sculpture garden that lets us get in touch with our inner selves. Sounds enlightening, right?
2. Hardwell
Friday, November 13th, 2015 | 8pm | Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, SF | $65
For those Friday nights where you want to get off work and dance the night away, there is a DJ to the rescue. Hardwell, the world renowned electronic/dance DJ is coming to the Bay this Friday to create an amazing live experience you will remember all the way until next Monday. Tickets can be purchased here.
3. Green Festival
All Weekend, November 13th-15th, 2015 | All Day| Cow Palace, SF | $15
Go green this Saturday with the 2015 Green Festival! The focus is on health and wellness with this event, featuring live speakers discussing healthy and sustainable habits and many other green focused activities. You can also shop with over 250 eco friendly vendors and learn how to put those greens to good use with demo cooking classes. See the event guide here.
4. Holiday Boutique
Saturday, November 14th, 2015 | 10AM-5PM | Los Altos, CA | $FREE
Get your Christmas shopping started early with a holiday boutique filled with tons of unique hand crafted items made by local artists and vendors. There is jewelry, gourmet food, holiday decor and much more great gift ideas! The best part about this is that the proceeds go to Children Advocates of Silicon Valley which supports foster children. Talk about shopping for a cause!
5. Chocolate Salon
Sunday, November 15th, 2015 | 10AM-5PM | Fort Mason: The Generals Residence, SF | $25
Few things are sweeter than Sundays and chocolate, which is why pairing the two is a genius idea! Join the tasting party this Sunday at the Fall Chocolate Salon hosted in Fort Mason at a quaint old Victorian. There are over 30 chocolatiers and masters of culinary art there to educate and more importantly provide samples of their exquisite luxury chocolates! Get tickets here.
With so many great events happening this weekend, which ones will you attend? Let us know in the comments below or find us on twitter and facebook!