THERE ISN'T A PLACE ON EARTH THAT LOVES, OR HAS MORE EVENTS PER YEAR THAN LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA. MOST NOTABLY, HOLLYWOOD-CENTRIC EVENTS THAT GET BROADCAST ACROSS THE WORLD, LIKE LAST NIGHT'S GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS. SERIOUSLY--THERE ARE AT LEAST TWENTY (20!)-PLUS RELATED EVENTS BEFORE AND AFTER JUST THE GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS. THAT'S A BUSY WEEKEND FOR EVENT COMPANIES IN LA LA LAND. WE GAVE YOU A RUN-DOWN OF THE EMMYS LAST YEAR AND WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE FUN TO LOOK IN DEPTH AT THE GOLDEN GLOBES, TOO. MOST REPORTAGE WILL FOCUS ON THE NOMINEES AND WINNERS, THE FASHION AND STYLE, AND THE MERIT OF THE ENTERTAINMENT. HERE, HOWEVER, WE LIKE TO GEEK OUT ON THE THINGS THAT MATTER MOST: LIGHTING ELEMENTS, MENUS, THEMES, STAGE DESIGN, AND SO MUCH MORE.
Read MoreONE OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCES BEGINS TODAY IN LAS VEGAS, THE CONSUMER ELECTRONICS SHOW (CES) PUT ON BY THE CONSUMER TECHNOLOGY ASSOCIATION. THIS ANNUAL EVENT SHOWCASES INNOVATIONS IN ELECTRONICS AND TECHNOLOGY ACROSS A BROAD SPECTRUM OF APPLICATIONS: PERSONAL, HOUSEHOLD, CORPORATE, RECREATIONAL, ENTERTAINMENT--ANY ASPECT OF TECHNOLOGY THAT MIGHT BE APPEALING TO CONSUMERS.
THIS YEAR, THEIR FOCUS IS ON TWO RAPIDLY EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES: ROBOTICS AND VIRTUAL REALITY, SO THERE ARE SOME REALLY FUN THINGS TO SEE AND EXPERIENCE. BEYOND THIS, THOUGH, WE WANTED TO EXAMINE THE FOUNDATIONS OF WHAT MAKES THIS CONFERENCE COMPELLING TO MORE THAN 175,000 ATTENDEES ANNUALLY (INCLUDING MORE THAN 7500 MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA AND HUNDREDS OF GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS).
LET'S LOOK AT WHAT THEY DO WELL AND HOW YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO APPLY THEIR IDEALS EVEN ON A SMALL SCALE FOR YOUR OWN EVENT.
Read MoreWE HOPE YOU TOOK ALL OF OUR ASTUTE ADVICE ON HOW TO PREPARE FOR AND RECOVER FROM YOUR NEW YEARS FETE. WE ARE TRYING TO FINISH UP THE LAST OF THE BUBBLY AND CAKE BEFORE OUR RESOLUTIONS KICK IN. WE ARE ALSO LOOKING FORWARD TO THE YEAR AHEAD OF US. WE ARE ROLLING OUT SOME EXCITING NEW THINGS FOR THE BLOG THIS YEAR BUT FIRST, WE WANTED TO HELP YOU THINK THROUGH YOUR EVENTS FOR 2017 WITH CLARITY. SO WE ARE TAKING A DEEP-DIVE INTO ONE TOPIC TO START THIS YEAR: EVENT PLANNING. WE WILL BE DISCUSSING HOW TO DO IT BEST, HELPFUL TOOLS, AND WE ARE ALSO HARD AT WORK ON A TOP SECRET SPECIAL SURPRISE JUST FOR YOU!
HAVE A SEAT, GRAB A PEN (OR OPEN YOUR GOOGLE DOCS) AND GET READY TO TAKE SOME NOTES. HERE ARE OUR FIVE EASY STEPS FOR SETTING A GREAT FOUNDATION FOR YOUR EVENTS FOR THIS YEAR.
Read MoreTHE COUNTDOWN TO 2017 IS ABOUT TO BEGIN. WE ARE SO PROUD OF OUR BLOG, WE THOUGHT WE WOULD CELEBRATE WITH A GREATEST HITS COLLECTION FOR 2016. THESE ARE THE BLOG POSTS THAT OUR LOYAL READERS, CLIENTS, INDUSTRY COHORTS, AND COWORKERS ALL LOVED THE MOST. SO, HERE THEY ARE, OUR TOP TEN BEST BLOG POSTS OF 2016, JUST FOR YOU! DRUMROLL, PLEASE...
Read MoreAAAANNNNDDDD, WE'RE BACK. WE HOPE EVERYONE HAD AN AMAZING CHRISTMAS (OR ARE STILL HAVING AN AMAZING HANUKKAH). CONGRATULATIONS! YOU MADE IT THROUGH THE MAYHEM OF COOKIE BAKING, DINNERS WITH POLITICALLY-OPPOSED RELATIVES, AND CHILDREN FUELED BY COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF SUGAR AND PRESENT-OPENING ADRENALINE. YOUR CHRISTMAS-ERA EVENTS MAY BE OVER, BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE, THE COUNTDOWN TO THE NEW YEAR (AND MANY, MANY NEW YEARS EVENTS) IS JUST ABOUT TO BEGIN. SO, TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND LET US GET YOU READY TO HAVE YOUR GAME FACE ON WHEN THE 31ST ARRIVES. YOU NEED TO BE RESTED AND READY TO RING IN 2017. WHETHER YOU'RE THROWING THE EVENT IN QUESTION OR ATTENDING AS A GUEST, HERE ARE OUR BEST TIPS FOR STAYING COMFORTABLE AND SANE.
Read MoreLAST MONTH, WE TOLD YOU ALL ABOUT OUR COMMITMENT TO VETERANS, INC. AND WE ROCKED OUR VERY OWN 22 PUSHUP CHALLENGE. AS A COMPANY, WE FEEL VERY COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING GOOD WORK BEING DONE IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU SOME OF THE OTHER CAUSES THAT ARE NEAR AND DEAR TO US AND WHY WE BELIEVE IN THEM. THERE ARE MANY GREAT ORGANIZATIONS OUT THERE WORKING TO MEET STRUGGLES WITH SUPPORT, ILLNESS WITH HEALING, IMPROVING ACCESS TO NEEDED RESOURCES, AND MAKING WISHES COME TRUE.
Read MoreWE ALL KNOW THAT GOOD FOOD, A BEAUTIFUL VENUE, A COMPELLING THEME, A GREAT SUPPORT STAFF ARE AMONG THE THINGS THAT AMAZING EVENTS ARE MADE OF. AND YET, EVEN WITH ALL OF THOSE ELEMENTS IN PLACE, THERE IS A CERTAIN SOMETHING, THAT IF IT'S MISSING, YOU REALLY KNOW IT. IF IT'S THERE, YOU MIGHT NOT REALLY BE ABLE TO PINPOINT WHAT IT IS THAT MADE AN EVENT SO INCREDIBLE. IT'S KIND OF LIKE THE HOLIDAYS--IT'S NOT ABOUT THE TREE OR THE MENORAH, THE GIFTS, OR THE LIGHTS. THERE IS AN EPHEMERAL QUALITY THAT IS HARD TO PUT YOUR FINGER ON, A KIND OF MAGIC, IF YOU WILL, THAT MAKES EVENTS TRULY MEMORABLE. SO, IF YOU CAN'T ACTUALLY PLAN FOR AND MANUFACTURE THIS GREATNESS, HOW DO YOU NURTURE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR A REALLY AUTHENTIC AND MEANINGFUL EXPERIENCE? LET'S FIND OUT...
Read MoreWE'VE GOTTEN SOME GREAT QUESTIONS FROM OUR READERS AND HAVE DECIDED TO ADDRESS SOME OF THEM HERE, AS OFTEN AS WE FEEL INSPIRED TO, IN A QUESTION AND ANSWER POST.
ONE OF OUR LOYAL FANS WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT THIS NOT-SO-NEWFANGLED THING CALLED A MICROSITE THAT SHE HAD SEEN FOR A WEDDING SHE ATTENDED. IT'S TRUE THAT LOTS OF COMPANIES ARE USING MICROSITES FOR VARIOUS REASONS. SO DO YOU NEED ONE FOR YOUR NEXT EVENT?
WELL, THE ANSWER IS PROBABLY YES. WE KNOW, WE KNOW, YOU'RE JUST GETTING YOUR HEAD AROUND KEEPING YOUR CENTRAL COMPANY WEBSITE UP TO SPEED--WHAT'S THIS NOW? WE HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS YOU NEED AND WE'LL TRY TO KEEP IT AS SIMPLE AS POSSIBLE SO YOU CAN GET ON WITH MAKING YOUR EVENT THE BEST IT CAN BE.
A FEW POSTS AGO, WE GAVE YOU SOME ADVICE ON HOW TO AVOID HOLIDAY EVENT DISASTERS. STILL, WE KNOW, IT'S POSSIBLE THAT THERE MAY STILL BE GLITCHES. SINCE HOLIDAY PARTY TIME IS IN FULL SWING, YOUR NEXT FEW WEEKENDS ARE PROBABLY STACKED WITH GATHERINGS AND EVENTS TO CELEBRATE THE SEASON. WE DECIDED THAT IN LIEU OF MORE SERIOUS ADVICE, WE WOULD GIVE YOU A LITTLE LEVITY INSTEAD. WE SCOURED THE INTERWEBS FOR HOLIDAY PARTY STUFF AND NONSENSE, FROM UGLY SWEATERS TO DRUNK COLLEAGUES. MAY NONE OF THESE COMICAL TRAGEDIES BEFALL YOU THIS HOLIDAY SEASON. ENJOY!
Read MoreEARLIER THIS WEEK IN OUR EVENT TRENDS FOR 2017 POST, WE PROMISED A DEEP DIVE ON SOME OF THE TOPICS WE COVERED. WE WILL WORK ON THAT THROUGHOUT THIS UPCOMING YEAR. BUT ONE TOPIC SEEMED LIKE IT NEEDED ATTENTION BEFORE THE NEW YEAR. IT'S THE THING MOST BRANDS ARE STRIVING FOR: LOYALTY. WE'VE HEARD PEOPLE ARGUE THAT BRAND LOYALTY IS A THING OF THE PAST, OR THAT IT'S AN IRRELEVANT GOAL, BUT WE DISAGREE.
REPEAT BUSINESS IS ONE THING IN THE MARKETPLACE, BUT TRUE BELIEF AND REAL ALLEGIANCE IS ANOTHER. TRUE LOYALTY IS ORGANIC, BORN OF A DEEP CONNECTION BETWEEN THE COMPANY AND THE CONSUMER. SO, HOW TO APPLY THIS TO YOUR EVENTS? IF YOU PLAN TO CREATE AN ANNUAL EVENT, THIS IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT IN ORDER TO HAVE BOTH CONSISTENT ATTENDANCE, AS WELL AS INCREASES IN ENGAGEMENT. EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE AN ANNUAL EVENT IN MIND, APPLYING SOME OF THESE PRINCIPLES TO YOUR COMPANY, YOUR BRAND, OR YOUR EMPLOYEE RETENTION, CAN CREATE THE KIND OF DEVOTION ANY COMPANY WOULD BE GRATEFUL TO HAVE.
IN OCTOBER, WE TOLD YOU ALL ABOUT THE EVENT TRENDS WE HAD SEEN IN 2016: NEW TECHNOLOGY, FOOD AND BEVERAGE FADS, DESIGN TRENDS, AND INNOVATIONS IN BRANDING AND ENGAGEMENT. WITH THE NEW YEAR ONLY A FEW WEEKS AWAY, WE THOUGHT YOU MIGHT LIKE A LITTLE JUMPSTART ON YOUR IDEA GATHERING SO YOU BEGIN THE YEAR AHEAD OF THE GAME. A LOT OF WHAT WE ANTICIPATE FOR 2017 BUILDS ON THINGS WE SAW IN 2016, WITH SOME FRESH NEW TWISTS.
Read MorePOOR LESLIE KNOPE. SOMEONE MUST NOT HAVE READ OUR GIFT GUIDE BEFORE GIVING HER A HOLIDAY PRESENT. BROWSE OUR IDEAS BELOW FOR SOME GREAT WAYS TO SHOW YOUR GRATITUDE TO ANYONE ON YOUR LIST. WE'VE GOT SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE. IF YOU MISSED PART 1, DON'T WORRY, YOU CAN READ IT HERE. GET YOUR GIFT WRAP READY...
Read MoreYOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO...OUR QUICK AND DIRTY GUIDE TO EVENT INVITATIONS. ACCORDING TO PREVAILING ETIQUETTE, INVITATIONS TO ANY EVENT SHOULD BE SENT OUT AT LEAST SIX-TO-EIGHT WEEKS IN ADVANCE OF YOUR CHOSEN DATE. WHETHER OR NOT YOU SENT OUT A SAVE-THE-DATE, YOU WILL NEED TO SEND OUT INVITATIONS OF SOME KIND. THANKS TO MODERN INNOVATIONS, BOTH PAPER AND DIGITAL, YOUR OPTIONS ARE MANY AND STYLISH, INCLUDING EVEN VIDEO AND MULTI-MEDIA OPTIONS. HERE ARE A FEW OF OUR FAVORITE IDEAS FOR PAPER INVITATIONS AND SOME SOURCES WE LOVE FOR WHEN YOU'RE THINKING OUTSIDE OF THE ENVELOPE.
Read MoreHAPPY THANKSGIVING, EVERYONE. WE HOPE YOU HAD A GREAT WEEKEND. AND WE FIRST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR BEING ONE OF OUR LOYAL READERS. TODAY WE ARE EXPLORING HOW WE CAN SHOW OUR GRATITUDE TO OUR STAFF, OUR CLIENTS, OUR VENDORS AND ANYONE ELSE WHO DESERVES OUR THANKS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON.
EVERYONE LIKES MONEY (TIPS, EXTRA BONUSES) SO IF YOU'RE STILL AT A LOSS AFTER READING THIS, A LITTLE CASH IS ALWAYS APPRECIATED. HOWEVER, IF YOU'D LIKE TO GO BEYOND THE MONETARY OFFERING, HERE ARE SOME CREATIVE IDEAS FOR SHOWING YOUR APPRECIATION. THE MOST MEANINGFUL GIFTS ARE THE MOST PERSONAL SO BEGIN WITH KNOWING YOUR AUDIENCE: WHO IS THIS PERSON AND WHAT DO THEY LOVE? BY THE WAY, THIS IS PART ONE OF TWO--THE REST OF OUR GIFT GUIDE WILL COME OUT NEXT WEEK, JUST IN TIME FOR YOUR HOLIDAY SHOPPING.
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