Launching Launches

Today was a day of firsts, for sure: the first snowfall in some parts of the East Coast, and we’re sure it’s someone’s first birthday out there. But for the inner tech-lover in all of us, we’re excited about the launch of #techsytalk by @lizkingevents.

Liz is an old friend of the Boomset crew, and head of one of the most tech-savvy event firms here in NYC. Their launch of Techsy Talk is aimed at bridging the gap between event technology and the event professional. The industry is going digital, haven’t you heard?  

                             

Another huge launch that we’re excited to share comes from our friends over at Forté Events and the start of their newest division, Forté Labs. If you’re an #eventprof and you’re in NYC this November, you’ll definitely want to sign up for their 4-hour training intensive course. It’s a half-day of learning how to create balance in your work and personal life, covering topics pertaining to event professionals such as, “Building A Business That Creates The Life You Want” and “Expanding Your Market,” popular topics from Tami Forero's most popular classes.

                  

We’re letting you know now because tickets are sure to go fast and you can’t miss out on the expertise and advice that Forté has to offer. You’ll also get to check out another great NYC venue, Loft227, where the event will take place next Tuesday, November 19th.

We’ll see you there!

For more information and registration, click here. 

Guest Post: Diversifying Your Menu

Every single person who has ever needed to work with a chef or caterer to create a menu wants to develop a unique experience for their guests. By the age of 25, I figure most people have been to more than a few weddings, parties, galas or formal dinners and the need for something ‘new’ and ‘unique’ is even more important. 
Some questions one might ask are:
  • How do you develop a delicious, flavorful menu of items people have not had before? 
  • Why not just give people a meal you know they will like?
  • How does cost affect the decision for the type of food I order?
It is important to work with a vendor who 1) has industry experience 2) has cooked various types of cuisine 3) can work with any budget and still supply a delicious meal. Many chefs come up with their own creations, but some of them also spend time researching recipes or reading cookbooks for inspiration. And while I’m sure they can come up with something great, I think it is also the responsibility of the client to have an idea of what they want. Going to a caterer and saying, “do whatever you want, we give you creative freedom, just make sure it tastes good” is like standing at a fork in the road and not knowing which way to go. It is your job to to communicate some amount of the idea of what style you’d like, your cost and expectations. 

If you want something unique, don’t always rely on a chef to know what your dream food is. Take it into your own hands. Find pictures, recipes, Pinterest boards, blogs dedicated to what you like. Pick a color, flavor or wine to be the theme of your event. Have something for your caterer to work with. By looking at photos and blogs (plus all of the food you’ve already seen at said events) you will also be able to determine what you do NOT want. This is equally important in deciding what you do want.
To conclude: any event you organize should be as unique as your clients. People generally don’t remember food after an evening, so create something people will talk about for week, months, years! Find a caterer or chef you can trust, and is open to being creative and try new things with you, and go for it!
              
Jenn Glucklich, B.S. Event Management
Voila!
Specializing in Day-Of Coordinating and Events

Ever have a creative menu that made your event really stand out? Tell us about it!

Guest Post: REVOLUTIONIZE REGISTRATION

The fabulous “Queen of Details” and #eventprof Liz King of Liz King Events knows how crazy registration at an event can get. Still handwriting your guest list? See what Liz has to say about that:

I’ll admit, I talk a lot about technology and sometimes I think that we are really getting it as an industry. But then I attend an event and stand in a 40 minute line waiting to check in and receive my name badge. If I waited to register, I usually have to fill out a piece of paper with my registration information and get a sticky name badge that doesn’t look anything like the rest of the attendees. I recently attended an event where they were having people handwrite their name, company name, address, credit card information and other important information on a little piece of paper to count as their registration. I started getting flashbacks to the 90s and was legitimately shocked at how far we had NOT come when it comes to the check in process. However, let me not be so harsh. I know that technology is not easy for everyone and the message still needs to get out there in a much bigger way. So, if you are still doing the old-fashioned check in process, here are a few things you should consider. 

Online Check In: 

There are many companies who will provide you with the opportunity to check people in using an iPad vs. your printed out excel sheet. There are a few benefits to this. First of all, it looks better. And, that is really important for the professionalism of your event. Also, the wait time is much shorter. It only takes someone a second to find someone on an online check in sheet versus flipping through pages of printed excels. Also, apps that allow you to check in people virtually give you the added benefit of being able to make real-time changes. If someone registers for your event a minute before they walk into the door, you will still have their name on the list. Then, you can be more confident that someone whose name is not on the list really has not registered. And, it makes everyone feel included in the registration line. 

Name tags

One of the other huge holdups at the registration line is the name tags. I’m never a fan of handwritten name tags, as I don’t think they look great for the brand and they’re incredibly time-consuming. It’s amazing how long it takes people to write their name down! Instead, well-branded and preprinted name tags are the way to go. Even better is if you can print nam tags on the spot. Of course, one of the hassles with preprinting your name tag is that you need to find a designer and a vendor and this process can be quite expensive. There is also little to no accommodation for people who register at the last minute. As you know, people normally register 2 to 3 days before your event so you could be missing quite a few name tags if you have to send your design file to the printer in advance. Instead, there are some companies that will come and help you print name tags as soon as the person is checked in through the app. This process is incredibly quick and you can still add your brand. This makes it look incredibly professional and will make sure that all of your attendees have a great-looking name badge that is consistent.

In short, having a smooth registration process may seem like peanuts, but it changes the impact of your entire event. If a person waits too long in line or sees a difference between their registration process and someone else’s, they are unhappy before they even get to experience your event. Don’t let this happen. Make sure that your registration is smooth, quick and painless and you will see that the reception to your overall event is even greater.

                               

Check out more of Liz’s tips and connect with her @lizkingevents.

Boomset offers you all of the convenience and other neat features that professionals like Liz want and need. We’re also compatible with Eventbrite, Meetup, and Facebook events.

                                  So, when’s your next event?