7 Ways to Make Your Next Event Special

As with so many ventures, successful special event execution relies more and more on solid multimedia support. Banquets, gala events, corporate annual meetings and other such events usually feature some multimedia component. The public and more importantly, event sponsors have come to expect robust media offerings. If you are part of an event planning team or a planner yourself the following tips can help you meet your goals.

1.  Utilize the basic tools: Consider projecting a live video feed of event activity onto large screens. Include supporting graphics such as sponsor logos and other creative treatments.

2.  Sponsor graphics package: When highlighting your sponsors be sure to include sponsor graphics in a number of places. Your sponsorship package may include full screen logo presentations; graphics in the lower third of the screen and perhaps sponsor graphics in the right or left corner of the screen (referred to as a bug). The more views a sponsor receives the more likely the sponsor is to pay for the ad space.

3.  Sell media exposure to sponsors: Don’t just give your sponsorship media space away. Sell features of the package as separate items or as part of your top sponsorship level.

4.  The commemorative DVD: Create a commemorative DVD of your event to distribute for resale and as a gift to key supporters (sponsors, planning team, award recipients, etc.).

5.  DVD giveaway offer: Consider giving your commemorative DVD to each event attendee. This is a great way to say thank you and a way to enhance the sponsorship offering; since the DVD increases the number of times sponsor references are seen. To ensure a profit consider adding $15 or $20 to the event ticket price. A 500 person gate could yield $10,000 in revenue from the DVD distribution.

6.  Web distribution: Streaming your event online offers many benefits. First, you can sell sponsorships for the stream. Second, this is a quick and inexpensive way to expand your event audience. Finally, few organizations are presently doing this so your event will stand apart.

7.  Promotional media: Create a short trailer from your event footage to attract sponsors and attendees to future events. Your promotional trailer can be distributed via CD-ROM and on your website.

Today’s technology offers a number of great ways to leverage multiple types of media for your next live event. These tips are just the starting point for creative event media execution. With a little imagination and a good multimedia provider, your next event can be both memorable and profitable.