Tag: events
ABCey Presents: 10 Creative Event Promotion Ideas
Event promotion is essential for putting on a fantastic event. However, it can start to feel like you’re using the same techniques over and over again. ABCey recognizes that keeping your event marketing strategy fresh can be a challenge, so here are 10 creative event promotion ideas that are sure to attract huge audiences!
1. Comp Passes
Offer sponsors, exhibitors and vendors attendee free passes so that they can share them with their best clients or invite their colleagues, family, and friends. They can help return the favor by sharing them on social media to help spread the word!
2. Chatbots When People are Buying Tickets
Use chatbots to take care of anyone looking for answers on your website before they commit to buying tickets. Live chat on your website, Facebook messenger, and text chatbots can answer any questions potential attendees might have, so that there’s less of a chance they’ll leave the page and forget to purchase tickets!
3. Create a Live Spectacle
Plan a live activity that can grow and develop in a busy public place over a period of a few hours so that passers-by can stop and watch! This could be a group of artists making a huge structure or art piece of some sort. Try to make it relate to your event and create a timelapse of progress, so you can share it online to further promote your event!
4. Gear Your Content Marketing Efforts Towards Leadership
When it comes to creating your own content, it can be tempting to focus on search engine optimization and stuffing your copy with keywords, but this isn’t an effective way to increase your attendance. Instead, try to create thoughtful content that showcases your event brand as a thought leader, so that people view your company as a place they can turn to for new, insightful information. The more people trust your brand, the more likely they are to support you!
5. Host a Free or Sponsored Webinar
If your event is business related or offers some sort of expertise, a webinar can offer a preview of what to expect to draw people in. If you give them valuable information in the free webinar, it’ll make them wonder how much more they can gain from attending the actual event!
6. Set Up a City Photo Booth
Instead of just using a photo booth at the actual event, try using one as a promo opportunity by setting it up somewhere in the city beforehand! This can be simple by just getting a polaroid camera or an iPad, signed backdrop curtain with event dates and details, and fun props to get people excited!
7. Use Image Quotes From Past Attendees
Gather quotes from past attendees and overlay them on images from the event. Note their name, job title, and organization if they give you permission to share it. These make for great social media and blog posts to promote your next event!
8. Pop-Up Henna Wall
Who doesn’t love Henna? Set up a pop-up stall at a local event or the local supermarket and have an artist offer Henna tattoos to people passing by! Have the Henna artist create a unique style that incorporates your logo or represents your event theme. Use this opportunity to hand out event details, and offer free swag or discounts to those who show up on event day with their henna tattoo!
9. Social Media Takeover
Let someone else from your company who doesn’t usually control your social media accounts to take the reins. This could be your interns or bloggers, for example. It will offer an alternative voice and can present a different perspective. The goal is to encourage people like them to start following your event account!
10. A Photo a Day
In the months leading up to the event, try to share a photo every day from your past events on social media. This will give potential attendees a taste of what your events are like. If previous attendees appear in the photos, tag them (after getting their permission) to encourage them to share the photo as well!
Which event promotion idea will you use?
We’d love to hear from you! Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook or Twitter!
ABCey’s San Francisco Weekend Lineup: 8/3-8/5
It’s almost Friday! ABCey brings you this week’s SF Weekend Lineup with the top events happening in the Bay Area! Get excited for this fun-filled weekend ahead!
WorkshopSF Night Market
August 3rd | 7-10pm |Free Entry |WorkshopSF
Every first Friday, WorkshopSF hosts an open house/party with DIY, art, fun and community. For August’s first Friday event, WorkshopSF is hosting a Night Market where they’re showcasing several vendors who used to take classes at their location and are now successful artists! There will be locally made wares, art, and designs available for purchase, as well as beer and mac and cheese. Bring your friends!
The 420 Games
August 4th | 8AM-2PM |$4.20-$50 |The Spreckles Temple of Music Bandshell in Golden Gate Park
Get some exercise and join in on the 5th annual San Francisco 420 Games! This event kicks off with a 4.20 mile run/walk/jog/ride (whatever you want), and leads into a Yoga cool-down at The Music Concourse Bandshell. Following the exercise portion of the event, there will be 2.5 hours of Beer Tasting from 11AM-1:30PM, industry exhibitors, live music, educational speeches, and more! If you want to show your support for marijuana or learn more about it, then this is the event for you!
Free Films in Dolores Park
August 4th | 7PM |Free Admission |Dolores Park
The Film Night in the Park outdoor film series is back and kicks off this Saturday evening at 7PM! Every Saturday starting this weekend, a new movie will be played on a huge screen in Dolores park for a whole month. Attendees are encouraged to picnic before the film starts, and refreshments will be available at the park as well. The movie playing this weekend is The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. Come out and relax with a good movie classic and the beautiful scenery of one of SF’s best parks!
Jerry Day
August 5th | 11AM-6PM |Free Admission |Jerry Garcia Amphitheatre (McLaren Park)
The 16th Annual Jerry Day is an annual civic and cultural event that celebrates one of the great rock guitarists of all time and San Francisco-native, Jerry Garcia. And yes, he did inspire the name of Ben & Jerry’s delicious Cherry Garcia ice cream flavor. This all day concert and festival brings together an eclectic group of performers, including several who played with the Jerry Garcia Band in the ’80s and ’90s. Don’t miss out on this festive event that is sure to make you feel nostalgic!
Beer Brewing Class
August 5th | 10AM-1PM |Free Admission |Preserved
Learn how to brew a 1-gallon batch of a German Hefe Weissbier! You’ll quickly hear about the history and chemistry of beer brewing before getting hands on. Make your own beer to take home and taste samples from a few breweries. Now that sounds like a fun way to spend your Sunday afternoon!
What does your SF weekend lineup look like?
Which events are you most excited about? Any that we missed? We’d love to hear from you! Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook and Twitter!
ABCey’s Tech Tuesday: 10 Event Organization Apps to Help You Stay Sane
#TechTuesday highlights the best and brightest ideas in the tech world. Today’s #TechTuesday features the 10 best event organization apps to help you stay sane and organized as an event planner!
1. Super Planner
There’s a new iphone / ipad app on the scene that is garnering a lot of buzz…and for good reason. Super Planner is an event industry app developed by Howard Givner, and is one of the most in-depth mobile tools on the market today.
It is a digital encyclopedia of industry calculators convenient enough to carry with you everywhere in your purse or pocket. Just as a good measuring tape, hotel directory, business calendar and frequent flyer miles are mainstays for the planner, so too should be the Super Planner.
2. 24me
This app acts as a personal assistant to help you stay on task with your planning. It includes integrated calendars, to-do lists, and notes. 24me keeps track of your tasks and schedules all in one place and sends you reminders for them so you don’t forget. The app also reminds you about bills and other important information, as it connects to your financial institutions, service providers, and social networks. This app is especially great for smaller events!
3. Asana
Asana is a great way to keep everyone on your event planning team in the loop! It lets you assign tasks to different team members while keeping track of who’s doing what. Asana gives you the ability to easily monitor what’s getting done and who’s getting it done.
4. Boomset
Boomset helps speed up the registration process by allowing you to check people in using QR codes, print bases and create wristbands. It also integrates with other platforms you might already be using for your event, so it makes registration simple!
5. CamScanner
CamScanner basically transforms your phone into a scanner. It’s great for digitalizing contracts, agreements, marketing material and other important documents you need to send to clients. It also has the ability to convert documents into PDFs. Now that’s convenient!
6. Timebridge
Timebridge makes scheduling fast and simple! The app collects information about everyone’s availability, takes into account preferences, and then automatically arranges a good meeting time. This is a great way to arrange meetings or even events with a lot of people without having to deal with the long back and forth of emailing!
7. Blossom
This event organization app helps simplify communication between the event planner and the client. It allows you to create a card system detailing different sections of the project, so everyone knows what stage each part of the event is at. There’s even a client review card so the client can approve the final step!
8. Eventgrabber
Sometimes it can be hard to find events you want to attend. Luckily, Eventgrabber can help! It matches people with the types of occasions they’ll likely be interested in. They can look at the top events going on, see the most popular events with locals, and even order a taxi or an Uber to take them to the next party. As an event planner, this app is extremely useful for attracting guests who would genuinely be interested in your type of event!
9. Heytell
This app essentially turns your smartphone into a walkie-talkie, making communication with your event staff easy! There’s no need to hang on to multiple devices, and it prevents you from having to physically locate various members of your crew during the actual event!
1o. Pingg
Pingg is a great tool for running your events, as it lets you create invitations, guest lists, and thank you messages for your attendees all in one place! Not only this, but you can also add a gift registry, schedule reminders, and search for local services for your event as well. This handy app let’s you keep all the little details of your event organized!
What event organization apps do you use to stay sane when planning events?
Event planning can be extremely stressful and overwhelming, and these tools are guaranteed to help simplify your job! Which apps you use? Are there any we missed? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook and Twitter!
How to Create Corporate Swag Bags Your Attendees Will Love
Swag bags can be a great way to thank your guests and give them a lasting memory! However, you want to make sure that the items you include are unique and memorable so that they don’t get thrown in the trash. Here are some tips for creating meaningful corporate swag bags that your attendees will love!
1. Eye Masks
Eye Masks are a great way to advertise your event if you put your logo on it. They’re useful and can easily be packed into a carry on. This is an especially good option if your guests are traveling to your event!
2. Portable Phone Chargers
Corporate events can often last the whole day or even multiple days and many attendees rely on their smartphones for navigation, emails, networking, etc. They’re bound to run out of battery at some point. Make their lives easier by giving them an easy way to charge their phones while at your event! They’ll be happy to skip the stress of searching for an outlet.
3. Cord Tacos
Cord tacos keep all the different cords your guests are most likely traveling with nice and organized. From phone chargers, headphones, computer chargers, and more, your guests are guaranteed to find this cute tool useful!
4. Self-Care Kits/Event Survival Kits
Corporate events can be long and stressful. Make your guests’ lives easier by providing them with a kit filled with all sorts of essentials. From tissues and pens, to stress-relieving toys and lotion, there are many things you can include that will make your guests’ experiences at the event and traveling to the event more comfortable.
5. Hydroflasks
Hydroflasks always come in handy and will help your guests stay hydrated. Also, adding a logo to it increases the likelihood that your guests will use it! It’s eco-friendly and reusable as well, which is a huge plus!
6. Unique Snacks
Snacks are always needed, especially for long events. Even though food is often provided at corporate events, snacks are a good option that your guests will love!
7. LED Rings
It’s always nice to find a fun item in your swag bag, so put in an LED ring! It’ll stand out and is an item your guests will find especially useful if there’s an after party!
8. Experiences
People love experiences! Give your guests a reason to keep your bag by including a voucher for a special, VIP experience at your event, or tickets to a nearby attraction! This will make them feel more excited about being at your event and they’ll feel like they’re getting something out of it.
9. Seasonal Items
Seasonal items can be extremely useful, especially if they apply to your event location. For example, if your event is in a sunny, warm area, consider including sunglasses or flip flops with your event’s logo on it! Try using attractive colors and patterns to make your swag bag stand out!
10. Professional Books
By choosing a book as one of your gifts, you’re showing your guests that you care about their growth and well-being. Find books that align with your brand and industry that can inspire your attendees. If you don’t want your guests to have to carry around an entire book, you can always provide access codes to professional ebooks, so they can easily read them on their electronics!
Which bag ideas will you use for your swag bags?
What’s the best gift you got from attending a corporate event? We’d love to hear from you! Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook and Twitter!
ABCey Presents: How To Incorporate Nature Into Your Next Event
Humans love feeling connected to nature, and it can be very therapeutic too! Well, there’s a new emerging trend in the event industry that relies heavily on the bioliphic design concept. It also seeks to incorporate naturally designed spaces into your events. Read more to learn about the many benefits of nature-inspired events, both for the event planner and the attendees.
There are 4 Main Benefits of Nature-Based Design that have been scientifically proven. These include, improved well-being, improved productivity, enhanced creativity, and an increased likelihood of positive emotions. These all come from feeling connected to the outdoors, and all of them are helpful for event managers seeking to make their guests happy!
How to Do It
There are two key strategies to incorporating nature into your events:
Look for venues that naturally showcase the outdoors!
This could include outdoor terraces and balconies, views of the water, such as the ocean, lakes or pond, and abundant natural light through skylights and large windows. Green walls and water features, gardens and outdoor greenspace, or décor that uses natural materials, like wood and stone are also good options!
Bring the outdoors to an indoor venue! There are several ways to do this, such as:
- Seeing nature: You can accomplish this through digital signage and walls, backdrops, artwork, and murals that include elements of nature. Live herbal centerpieces, hedge rows, or an indoor garden, forest, or water feature can also give your guests a sense of being outside!
- Hearing nature: Events can get pretty loud and busy, so what’s more desirable than a nice spot to get some peace and quiet? Start by selecting a location within the venue that’s as quiet as possible. Offer speakers or headsets with natural sounds of running water, ocean waves, bird song, etc. that your attendees can listen to when they want to relax!
- Feeling nature: Textures like wood, sand, water, stone, and grass stimulate biophilic responses, so try to find a way to incorporate these into your event space! These materials could be used in onsite hubs, lounges, and exhibit booths, for example.
- Smelling nature: Even just the smell of the outdoors can connect people to the outside world. Try infusing your event space with natural scents using essential oils. By picking the right scent, you’re sure to generate positive feelings among your guests!
What’s one of your favorite nature inspired events?
How else have you seen nature incorporated in the events you’ve attended or planned? We’d love to hear from you! Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook and Twitter!
Source: Event Manager Blog
ABCey’s #TechTuesday: Top 5 Event Tech Trends in 2018
#TechTuesday highlights the best and brightest ideas in the tech world. Today’s #TechTuesday features the top 5 event tech trends to make your events stand out.
1. Facial Recognition
Facial recognition serves many different functions at events, such as speeding up the registration process, improving security, and it helps with getting feedback from attendees. FR also allows you to reach new audiences via social media. Try encouraging your guests and staff to post photos of the event to Facebook and to tag themselves, which will help showcase your event!
2. Artificial Intelligence (AI)
AI has also recently joined the event tech trends family, mainly because it has the ability to personalize guests’ experiences. One aspect of AI that has caught the attention of event planners are chatbots, which offer automated customer service to guests. Give it a try!
3. Event Apps
Event apps can help your event run more smoothly and efficiently, and has been a prominent event tech trend for a while. Grupio and CrowdCompass are just a few of the great event apps we recommend. Use our list of the Top 5 Apps for Event Engagement to find the best app for your next event!
4. Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR)
These two tech trends are on the rise and can help make your event more interactive. VR is useful if you want to transport your guest into a completely different world. AR is helpful if you want your guests to be able to incorporate the environment around them so they can view and interact with it on their personal devices. Which one will you use?
5. Social Media
There are so many new ways to incorporate Social media into your next event. Try having a social vending machine filled with event or brand related swag/apparel! Another social media trend to use at events is a hashtag mosaic. Luster has a fun tool that takes your event hashtag to make a mosaic wall. These tools are sure to get your guests excited!
Which event tech trend will you use at your next event? We’d love to hear from you! Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook and Twitter!
ABCey Presents: 10 Tips to Thrive at Pride!
Pride is finally here! ABCey has a list of 10 tips that will help you survive and make the best out of this weekend full of love and festivities!
1. Sun Protection
Afternoons in our foggy city may be cool, but be sure to put on some sun protection (sunscreen, lip balm, sunglasses) before you leave the house to avoid some nasty sun burns!
2. Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate
We may not even know it, but it’s easy to become dehydrated when we spend the day dancing and keeping up with our favorite floats at Pride! Don’t forget to bring your own Hydro Flask water bottle to save a few bucks and to stay well-hydrated.
3. Bring Ca$h
Many local vendors will be at Pride, so be sure to bring some cash to support your LGBTQ-friendly businesses in case they don’t accept credit cards!
4. Phone Charger
You’re going to be taking pictures and videos all day, so make sure you bring a portable charger so that you don’t run out of juice. Snap away!
5. Go Hands Free
You won’t worry about losing your phone or any of your free Pride swag when you put it in a cute bag!
6. Comfortable Shoes
We all have those super shoes that we’re dying to wear out, but opt for your comfiest shoes because you’ll be on your feet all day!
7. Add Some Rainbows!
What Pride outfit is complete without rainbows? Whether it’s on an umbrella or on your socks, add a rainbow for a little more fun!
8. Rainbow Glitter
If you don’t have the perfect outfit for Pride yet, don’t worry! Rainbow glitter is the ultimate makeshift outfit! Cover yourself in glitter and head out to the parade! What else could you possibly need?!
9. Pride Balloons
What’s more fun than balloons? Use rainbow balloons to accessorize your outfit or to just carry around the parade!
10. Bring Your Friends!
Friends make any event better! Round up all your closest friends to eat amazing food and to make memories you’ll talk about for years!
Which one is your favorite tip to thrive at Pride? Do you have some of your own? Let us know in the comments and on Facebook and Twitter!
For more pride-inspired fun, ABCey Events has a Pre-Pride Checklist for you!
ABCey’s Weekend Lineup 7/28-7/30
It’s almost Friday! ABCey brings you this week’s Weekend Lineup with the top events in the Bay Area for the upcoming weekend! There is everything from kite festivals and yoga fests to picnics and music in the park!
Weekend Lineup: Berkeley Kite Festival
July 29th-30th | 10am-6pm | Free Admission, Parking $15| Berkeley Marina, University Ave and Marina Blvd
Who said kites were only for kids?! Come fly your kite at the 32nd Annual Berkeley Kite Festival and West Coast Kite Championships. The event will also include music, food and hands-on activities for everyone to enjoy!
Yoga Fest
Saturday, July 29th | 10am-5pm | Free Admission | Sports Basement Berkeley, 2727 Milvia St, Berkeley, CA
The Yoga Fest in Berkeley is finally here! Join this event with your fellow yogis as there are 5 different classes to choose from. If you come join the relaxation and fun, you will have the opportunity to get 20% off at the Sports Basement store!
Music in the Park
Saturday, July 29th | 12pm-8pm| Free Admission | Mission Dolores Park, San Francisco, CA
Come party at Dolores Park while listening to live music from local musicians! Sit back, relax and have fun with your friends and family under the sun in the beautiful park of San Francisco!
Presidio Picnic
Sunday, July 30th | 11am-4pm | Free Admission| Main Post Lawn, 103 Montgomery St, San Francisco, CA
Who doesn’t love food trucks?! Off The Grid at The Presidio is back for families to enjoy good food and fun activities! Even though there will be tasty food, there will also be free activities such as yoga classes, games and a photo booth!
What events will you be attending this weekend? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook or Twitter!
ABCey’s Weekend Lineup 7/20/-7/23
It’s almost Friday! ABCey brings you this week’s Weekend Lineup with the top events in the SF Bay Area for the upcoming weekend! We feature everything from Christmas in July and Sundaze Day Party to an Outdoor Movie Night and a Shakeout Run!
Weekend Lineup: Beer Garden Nightlife
July 20th | 6:pm-9:45pm | Tickets $12-$15| 55 Music Concourse Dr, San Francisco, CA 94118
Start your weekend early with Cal Academy’s Beer Garden Nightlife! California Academy of Sciences combines locally brewed beers, music and incredible science to create an unforgettable night in their pop-up beer garden! Cal Academy is having over 12 local breweries come out for the event!
Christmas in July
July 21st | All Day | Free Admission| Pier 39, The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA 94111
Everyone loves the holiday season, so why not celebrate twice this year with Christmas in July! Pier 39 is hosting this fun-filled day with tons of festivities all day! It’s the perfect way to spend time with your family and friends after a long week of work!
Presidio Outdoor Movie Night
July 21st | | Free Admission | Civil War Parade Ground, San Francisco, CA 94129
Presidio’s family friendly movie night is the ultimate way to relax and enjoy the beautiful summer weather! Gather your friends and family and head out to Presidio for an outdoor movie night!
The San Francisco Marathon’s Official Shakeout Run
July 22nd | 8 | Free Admission |Festival Pavilion, 2 Marina Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94123
Get active this weekend and join everyone in the San Francisco Marathon’s Official Shakeout Run! This run is the perfect way to start your Saturday morning!
Petcube Rescue Block Party
July 22nd | 11:34 | Tickets $20| Spark Social, 601 Mission Bay Blvd N, San Francisco, CA 94158
The Petcube Rescue Block Party combines pets and partying to create the ultimate celebration! Not to mention, there will be food trucks and entertainment too! Who wouldn’t want to come out and celebrate?!
San Francisco Symphony on the Waterfront
July 23rd | 12 | Free Admission| Pier 27, The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA 94133
The San Francisco Symphony is hosting their 3rd annual free concert this weekend that you won’t want to miss! Spend your Sunday relaxing outside at the Waterfront and enjoying some awesome symphonic music!
Sundaze Day Party
July 23rd | 2 + | Tickets 0-$20 | The Endup, 401 6th St, San Francisco, CA 94103
End your weekend with a bang with Sundaze Day Party! Keep the party going this Sunday and head out to The Endup for a day filled with dancing, drinks, friends and a good time!
What events will you be attending this weekend? Let us know in the comments below or on our Facebook or Twitter page!
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.
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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