Communication, Connection, Creativity are Key for Events
- Gail Silverman
- Jun 8, 2020
- 4 min read
As the world is opening up from the Pandemic, many of us are still taking a cautious approach and continuing to social distance, work from home, use face coverings and avoid large gatherings. And although many businesses are moving forward, in the event industry we still have a long road ahead of us before large live Festivals and events will return. Many properties I consult with have postponed well into the Fall and several into 2021. See list below for updates.
Continuing to connect with audiences, and also exhibitors, sponsors and other partners is still going to be key over the next several months. I have seen many Festivals and events out there with creative virtual content offerings, but just as many who have done very little to stay in touch with their audiences. It's also been surprising to hear from my exhibitor network about a lack of information and updates from the events they paid and signed up for. I know it can seem a bit overwhelming for events with tight budgets and limited manpower, but with just a little effort and creativity you can stay in touch and keep up excitement for your event.
Here are some thoughts, ideas and suggestions for staying connected and moving businesses forward.
Even if its just once a month, put together some e-mails to both your exhibitors, sponsors business partners and attendees with updates about your event. Include any news on scheduling and plans, some engaging content from your performers and presenters or past events. You can announce any virtual offerings or even give updates on plans and protocols for safety when the events move forward. You can also include information from existing sponsors and exhibitors to give them some added exposure and provide value.
Creating a virtual event is a great way to connect with your community, and there are many new platforms popping up to assist in launching these experiences. Just a few I have learned of recently and am investigating are, Festicket, Backstage Pass, Rushtix and Dive. Do a little home work you might be surprised what you can do even on a limited budget, and possibly even generate some revenue. For programming there are various options including presenters and performers recording and submitting content remotely, or you can opt for a more live experience via standard platforms like Zoom, Facebook & IG Live and other livestream platforms.
Even if a virtual event seems like too much to take on, events can keep fans engaged on social channels and you should be continuing to post on a regular basis. Most events have a plethora of content available , so dig into those archives, find a good editor and share often! How about asking your fans and followers to contribute? Many attendees return year after year and have their own archives of images and videos, encourage them to share, run some contests for exclusive experiences or cool merch! This goes for you brands and exhibitors too!
There is some really cool creative stuff happening in the event industry, have you heard about the new Drive-in events popping up around the world?! Read this
Bizbash article to learn more.
If you are a company who would normally be out in the field sponsoring multiple events during Fest season, virtual experiences and an event's social following can offer a creative new exposure opportunity for brands. There are even new opportunities for Virtual Vendor Villages, stay tuned for more info on this.
There are so many resources out there available to learn, generate ideas and get your creative juices flowing. I know some of us are experiencing a bit of digital and livestream overload, but I encourage you to pick and choose a few things that are most relevant or interesting to you and carve out a bit of time for learning and sharing. An alternative from just watching webinars, classes, and live streams is to reach out to someone new in your field and arrange a brainstorming idea sharing call. Zoom is great, but if you need a screen time break, just opt for an old fashioned phone call 😁
Hope you found some of my musings helpful, if you want to brainstorm some ideas for your brand, need to get in touch with Festivals and events to explore virtual opportunities, or just need an update or information, Revolutionary Consulting is here for you. Please feel free to reach out to for any assistance or consultation with your events or marketing efforts or just to say hello!
Some updates on events and Festivals in the conscious space.
LOCATION: MIRACLE SPRINGS SPA, DESERT HOT SPRINGS, CA
STATUS: POSTPONED. NEW DATE: NOVEMBER, 19th - 23rd, 2020. Refunds are not being offered at this time and all tickets and vendor reservations to roll-over to new dates.
LOCATION: LOS ANGELES STATE PARK
STATUS: POSTPONED. NEW DATE: OCTOBER 8, 2020. All vendor and sponsor reservations are still active and applications are still open. Virtual live stream mass meditations being offered. Refunds are not being offered at this time and all tickets and vendor reservations to roll-over to new dates.
LOCATION: MAMMOTH, CA
STATUS: POSTPONED. NEW DATE: AUGUST 27-30th. Refunds are not being offered at this time and all tickets and vendor reservations to roll-over to new dates. Hosting a Fundraising campaign for scholarships for first responders.
LOCATION: BOULDER, CO
STATUS: POSTPONED. NEW DATE: JUNE 10th-13th, 2021. Free online virtual Festival gathering, Yoga Collective & Resilience, June 12th - 13th, 2020, featuring 30+ practices, talks, meditations, and live music.
STATUS: POSTPONED.
NEW DATE: JUNE 24-27th, 2021
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