Moving the Blog

Hi,

I loved blogger, but it is time to move.

I am switching the blog to our corporate website:

http://eventblog.onsiteevents.com/

This should make it easier, although I have to go in and reenter all of the previous posts one by one so if you read this you may be reading things twice (or having de ja vu).

Keith

Event Planning Technology

So you, a client or presenter has to give a presentation that requires them to do more than the standard advancing of slide, they actually need to use a mouse. Until now, that required the person to use a mouse that was on a podium or desk, no parading around the stage as presenters (me included) like to do.

OnSite Events has found a little item that makes life a little easier. The GyroTransport Air Mouse Presenter. It is very, very cool and has a built in gyroscope so you can walk around the room and move the cursor at the same time. In addition the mouse has some built in features that add to any presentation including built in flash memory to store your presentation.

According to the website (so I do not get the specs wrong):

“Astound the crowd with special effects accessed through a simple flick of your wrist like zoom in and enlarge, launch a video, activate a timer on screen for a 15 minute break, link to a web site, hi-lite text, advance slides - do it all without ever going back to the PC or even pointing at the PC.”

--Innovative gyroscopic motion-sensing technology for in-air navigation and cursor control
--Built-in 1GB* Flash Memory with auto launch for PowerPoint
--2.4GHz RF technology – up to 100-foot range for cordless freedom and remote control
--Media Control Software with over 80 dynamic tools pre-loaded on Flash Memory

This handy little item is available at many retail outlets and online through sites like CDW, Amazon and TigerDirect.

Check out the manufacturer’s site at:

http://www.gyration.com/en-us/professionalpresentation.html

Just a thought,

Keith
http://www.onsiteevents.com/

Incentive Travel Destination - Iceland

Incentive Travel – Iceland

Planning an incentive that is not the same old song and dance has gotten harder and harder over the past few years but there are still some adventures that are unforgettable and within budget. One that the crew here at OnSite Events can recommend is Iceland.

A land that is full of culture and adventure, both minutes from each other is a definite plus when planning any meeting or event. The capital city of Reykjavik is exciting with fantastic restaurants, bars and museums. Temps in the summer are the in 50’s which is quite pleasant if you are coming from sweltering Chicago or New York.

Imagine swimming in pools heated by geo-thermal energy while looking at snow capped peaks, all in the middle of July. After you relax and unwind in the pools, your attendees can sample other adventures such as glacier tours, snowmobile riding, river rafting, tours on horseback, helicopter or even boat- the possibilities are endless. One of the most exhilarating adventures is taking off and touring in your own self drive 4x4 (or with a guide).

The coolest thing about summer in Iceland are the days themselves, which are long (not long like, we had a long day, I need a nap). The sun is up and shining 23.5 hours a day, almost no night. This can make for interesting scenarios, imagine being in a pub at 2:00 am and the sun is still shining!

Flight time from the East Coast (JFK is a prime jump point) is less than 5 hours. Closer than Hawaii for many attendees from the States. This makes getting there easy, affordable and a must for companies planning great incentives or meetings. Round trip tickets start at about $499.00 from New York or Baltimore.

Not sure where to begin, feel free to drop me a line or check out some Iceland Resources:

The official Tourist Site for the Capital Reykjavik:
http://www.tourist.reykjavik.is/

Visit Iceland (the Iceland Tourist Board):
http://www.icelandtouristboard.com/index.html

The Iceland Convention and Incentive Board:
http://www.radstefnuskrifstofa.is/english/

My thanks to the Iceland Tourist Board for the great images, mine of course are never as good.

Just a thought,

Keith
www.onsiteevents.com

Procurement Departments and the Meeting and Event Planner.

The call comes down from on high, your company or client is now going to involve procurement in the planning, staging and production of events and meetings. UH-OH.

Yes, there is room to be concerned, but since you can not fight this one it is best to get on board early and learn the systems that will now be in place. We (OnSite Events) work with our clients that have implemented these strategies to keep costs down. In most cases it has been painless, in others not so much.

The biggest effect we see as a third party planning firm is that procurement departments treat events like widgets rather than living breathing things. Sometimes it is difficult to quantify the ROI of a particular event, things drastically change at the last minute or the scope of work gets re-written over and over. As planners, we already plan for this and adapt as required.

In order for the procurement solution to be effective across the enterprise, planners must be involved in implementation of a procurement solution, not simply told that they must now adhere to new regulations. Procurement departments need to understand that we as planners take pride in keeping event costs as low as possible; in fact we thrive on it. As successful meeting and event professionals, whether in-house or third party we are a companies champion and look after its pocketbook and best interests. As a third party planner, if OnSite Events comes in under budget while reaching the stated event goals, we keep the client. If an in-house planner does the same, they keep their job.

Procurement Managers need to understand that the widget model will not work and is sometimes counter productive to a companies best interests. If a company loses a venue, hotel location or preferred rate because budgets are held up while awaiting approval, they are actually responsible for costing a company additional funds.

My two cents on the subject are this. Procurement is not our enemy, in the proper setting and environment they can actually be beneficial and help large organizations keep costs controlled across the enterprise. In order to be successful, they must include the planning experts at the earliest possible time. Remember, if you thought enough about an individual to hire them as an in-house planner, or enough about a third party planning company to contract us, use our expertise to make your cost wrangling goals achievable while keeping your needs, goals and reputation intact.

Just a thought,

Keith

www.onsiteevents.com

Ideas for Better Event Planning This Spring

Seth Godin has a few helpful hints for us all since it is time to turn the clock forward, I thought I would add some of my own for those in the event planning community.

Check the batteries on your smoke detectors, back up your hard drive etc. All perfect and must do’s for this time of year. His tips on Credit Cards are fantastic, if we all did them, credit card companies would shudder. Here is a link to Seth’s.

http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2007/03/weekend_useful_.html

Here are some things event planners should do now that we are springing forward:

• Take a look back at all of the events you had in the past year and think of three things that would make your next event better……….and do them.
• Go out to bid on your next two events, even if you are under contract. Even under contract, knowing market value can help you get a reduction in event planning fees. Feel free to tell the event company you are asking to bid. I would bid even if you were under contract because when your current contract is up, you will remember me.
• Clean out your desk and old files. Throw out those 2006 city guides, the black book and industry catalogues. Replace them with 2007. I love that one.
• Plan to attend three event industry events this quarter. This is only one per month.
• Seek and use the services of a good CVB occasionally.
• Get an event give-away that people will actually use, or at least talk about.
• Get better graphics for your tradeshow booth. Do it now, even if you go over budget for Q1 or Q2. The return will far outweigh the cost.
• If you are a rock star, hire people who work as hard as you do.
• If your people work harder than you do, you need to step up or step aside.
• Train your event staff to be attentive, nice and full of knowledge. Get rid of the seat warmers and people who do not pull there weight, the rest of your team will not only thank you, you will probably get promoted or get more business.

There are a thousand more that I can think of, and a thousand more that I have not, but this is a small step.

Just a thought.

Keith
www.onsiteevents.com

Second Life and Event Planning

I have read a lot about second life meetings (you know, second life..... the virtual world where you create a personal avatar and live out experiences that range from the daily mundane, work to a lot of other interesting internet things).

It seems that many companies including IBM are actually having real meetings, press conferences and product launches in the virtual world. Not sure how I feel about this, sometimes I think it is cool, sometimes silly. I mean, to create a viable avatar to live in this world, takes a lot of time and energy.

I do think that there is a place for what these companies are doing, but I would not put the whole bank on it. It targets only one segment of the population (If this is the segment that is best for your product or service, by all means, lay it on and lay it on good). If you are going to have a second life meeting or event, have one in the real world to compliment it.

You can find out more about these meetings in a lot of current publications, I think that Inc. Magazine just did an article. Here is a link to Successful Meetings, they have an article on the cover this month.

http://www.mimegasite.com/mimegasite/articles/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003553920

Just a thought,

Keith

www.onsiteevents.com

Event Planning Themes, Cold is Hot

Cold is looking to be cool this year, no pun intended! I had a feeling cold, ice and snow would be great themes this year!

My friends at Event Solutions Magazine have an article this month entitled:

“Ice Industry is Heating Up”

Check it out at: http://www.event-solutions.com/breaking_news/ice_industry_is_heating_up

Great themes (and great event planning) can take an average event and make it spectacular, add a little creative brainstorming and you can capture the moment and create an event that attendees will be talking about for a long, long time. Sounds better than rubber chicken.

Just a thought,

Keith
www.onsiteevents.com