Ask BizBash Question Archive in Miami, South Florida for Event Planners regarding Food, Rental and Gift Ideas, Design Inspiration, Business Entertaining strategies and Decor trends

Miami, South Florida Ask Questions Archive for Event Planning professionals looking to get inspired to host a trendy and memorable event complete with elegant invitations and within Budget

Miami, South Florida event planning resource directory

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FOOD IDEAS Meeting Treats: 6 Sources for Cupcakes and Coffee The Seaquarium's Last-Minute Picnic Package Baker's New Line of Sweets Includes Customized Cookies Summer Barbecue to Go Fancy, Customizable Cupcakes Deep-Fried Goodies, Made to Order In-Office Meal Options From Morning to Night The Sweetest Thing   DECOR AND RENTAL IDEAS A Brighter, Reusable (and Submersible) LED for Decorative Effects Build-Your-Own Sofas Plates That Keep Small Portions and Sauces Separate A New Line of Eco-Conscious Trade Show Signage Decor and Entertainment in One Combined Service   TEAM BUILDING ACTIVITIES Relaxing and Action-Packed Options at New Design District Spa A Sailing Expedition With a Pirate Twist The Biltmore's New Culinary Programs for Small Groups   GET INSPIRED Helicopter Tours With Downtown Departures A New Source for Invitations With a Handcrafted Feel Planner Launches New Full-Service Floral and Event Design Company     Ask BizBash Archive 11.16.09 9:00 AM How Do You Make Staffers Feel Appreciated—at Little or No Cost? Leo Burnett's employee art gallery Photo: Courtesy of Leo Burnett In a year of cutbacks and salary freezes, perhaps now more than ever, hard-working employees need to feel valued, even in small ways. Jennifer Savica, TD Bank’s vice president of event management, rewards her staff with little perks throughout the year, like taking everyone out for ice cream in the summer, treating people to their favorite drinks at Starbucks on a cold day, and occasionally allowing casual Fridays. “I try to show appreciation for my team every day by creating a true democracy—asking their opinions, including them in many of the department decisions, and empowering them to do their job,” she says. Boston Beer Company has a gift policy that prevents employees from keeping items valued over $10 given to them by clients and event sponsors. “If someone gets something over that amount, we raffle it off to the office as a thank you,” says Kristen Smith, the company’s travel and event planner. Past items have included tickets to charity events the company has sponsored, movie screenings, and Red Sox tickets. “It’s nice to raffle these things off and make them available to anyone—and at no cost to the company,” says Smith. MORE >> RELATED TOPICS Leo Burnett, Publix, TD Bank, Boston Beer Company, Warner Brothers 09.01.09 11:52 AM What's a Memorable Way to End an Event? A fire dancer entertained the valet line at the Shedd Aquarium gala in Chicago. Photo: Brenna Hernandez When an event winds down, most guests just grab a gift bag and head for the exits. But if you’re not giving people anything (or if you are and want to end an experience on an extra-high note), here are some ways to keep attendees talking the next day. Standing in a long cab or valet line can be a buzzkill. Chicago’s John G. Shedd Aquarium’s 2008 gala had eight kinds of entertainment throughout the night, including drummers from Rhythm Revolution and fire dancers from Pyrotechniq, who performed for guests waiting for their cars after the event. “This is something we do at Shedd Aquarium on a daily basis—engage guests while they are waiting for something, to make the time go faster and the wait not seem so long,” says Jennifer Baryl, senior director of the institution. MORE >> 06.29.09 9:00 AM How Can You Make a Trade Show Booth Eco-Friendly? A Sherwin-Williams booth Photo: Courtesy of Sherwin Williams Thanks to a burgeoning green products industry, there are plenty of eco-friendly options for trade show booths, from nontoxic paint to sustainable building materials. The challenge is sorting through them all to find what really works, while remembering to consider important factors like transportation and reusability. Sherwin-Williams created its first eco-friendly trade show booth with Gallo Displays in Cleveland, Ohio, for the American Institute of Architects’ National Convention and Design Exposition in May 2008. Gallo used recycled aluminum framing and Plyboo, a wood alternative derived from bamboo. Although pleased with the results, the company made different choices when designing an exhibit for the January 2009 International Builders Show in Las Vegas. This booth was made primarily of BioBoard, a wood alternative made from recycled materials, with Plyboo and PaperStone (panels made of recycled paper) for counters. MORE >> 05.11.09 9:00 AM How Do You Thank Speakers or Presenters? NASA astronaut Dave Williams at ideaCity Photo: Gene Driskell Showing appreciation can be tricky these days. Lavish items might not feel appropriate in today’s cost-conscious climate—or get approved by the budget-watchers—but a handwritten note may not be a large enough show of thanks for a keynote speaker or M.C. Here are some memorable ways to show gratitude that strike the right chord. To thank presenters for participating in Toronto’s ideaCity, a conference that bills itself as “Canada’s premier meeting of the minds,” conference manager Allison Munro sends them a set of DVDs documenting the gathering. “It’s a great reminder of the event and allows them to revisit their favorite parts,” she says. “Many presenters would ask for a copy of their presentation anyway, so it makes us as organizers seem really on the ball.” MORE >> RELATED TOPICS Health Industry Distributors Association, ideaCity, All Day Buffet 03.09.09 8:00 AM Where Can You Find Up-and-Coming DJs? DJ Rashida Photo: WireImage FROM NEW YORK Big-name DJs bring a certain cachet to events—and a hefty price tag. But how do you find the next Samantha Ronson or DJ AM? Brent Bolthouse, longtime DJ and founder of Los Angeles-based Bolthouse Vox Events, says the best way to find new talent is in person at small venues. “We are constantly going to little clubs looking for good DJs,” he says. “Sometimes they don’t even know they can get $1,000 to DJ a party. They’re happy making a couple hundred.” Money aside, Bolthouse says the most important thing to watch isn’t the turntable but the dance floor: “It’s not about mixing; it’s looking at the crowd and seeing who rocks the crowd. You could be the best mixer, but you’re the worst DJ if the crowd isn’t having fun.” MORE >> RELATED TOPICS Condé Nast Traveler 12.29.08 9:00 AM What's a High-Tech Way to Gather Feedback? Former Mansueto Ventures consumer marketing director Stephanie Rubin has conducted pre- and post-event surveys. Photo: Courtesy of Stephanie Rubin After the guests have gone home and the vendors have been paid, work often continues for planners gathering feedback on the logistics and programming of their events or meetings. Here are some software programs that survey attendees and compile responses. For Lora Di Padova-Tannehill, director of scientific meetings for the American Society of Neuroradiology in Chicago, feedback is vital. An accrediting organization that determines future funding closely monitors the five executive-committee meetings and the 2,000-person convention she plans annually. “The evaluations of our programming need to validate that our education is providing improved quality of care to patients,” she says. Tannehill uses Web-based Survey Monkey to poll attendees on event logistics like housing, registration, food service, and venue selection. “The site is easy to develop and maintain responses and statistics for future use,” she says. “I like the features and versatility. I see it being used a lot more in the industry.” The site allows users to create surveys for free, with limits on the number of questions and responses allotted. A paid subscription with more options costs $19.95 per month. MORE >> RELATED TOPICS American Society of Neuroradiology, Inc. Magazine, Fast Company, Mansueto Ventures, JPMorgan Treasury Services 09.08.08 9:00 AM Who Can Produce a Cool Tribute Video? Stills from a variety of tribute videos. Photo: Courtesy of Lifefilm (top), Courtesy of Madprops (middle), Courtesy of Raw Films (bottom) Honoring a retiring exec or an award winner with a video about their life’s work is a great idea, but only if the piece doesn’t move guests to check their BlackBerries or sneak off to the restroom. Here are three companies that specialize in these types of films and, if asked, will travel to make it happen. With more than 20 years of combined film and television industry experience, Lifefilm Productions co-founders Peilin Chou and John Brancaccio use the same production professionals they worked with at companies such as Walt Disney Studios, MTV Networks, ESPN, and Bravo to craft their celebratory docs. The firm prides itself on delivering broadcast-quality, story-driven films that are truly entertaining. Past clients include C-level execs from Hasbro and real estate developer S.R. Weiner. Rates start at $5,000, with longer and more intensive projects ranging from $10,000 to $20,000. MORE >> RELATED TOPICS Walt Disney Company, MTV, ESPN, Bravo, Academy Awards, Saturday Night Live, VH1, A&E, E! Entertainment, NBC, Clinton Global Initiative, Miramax, Hasbro 06.23.08 9:30 AM How Do You Keep Annual Events From Getting Stale? Planners for Casey House's annual SnowBall keep things interesting with decor. Photo: Gary Beechey for BizBash “We hear from people during gala season who go to a lot of galas that a lot are boring and formulaic,” says Elaine Bowen, director of development for the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, which has hosted its annual Downtown Dinner in New York each May for the past four years. She and other planners of annual gatherings know that to ensure guests come back, each year has to be better than the last. So how do they keep their yearly rituals fresh? Though the cultural council gala follows a typical formula—cocktail reception, dinner, and award ceremony—the event is anything but. Guests have come to expect the unexpected, like guerilla dancers infiltrating the crowd, an M.C. dressed as a clown, and a huge string art installation covering the dining room. “There are always spontaneous things happening,” says Bowen. Celebrity guests are also a draw—this spring, Mayor Michael Bloomberg was an honoree, as were playwright Edward Albee and artist Kiki Smith. MORE >> RELATED TOPICS Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, Human Rights Campaign, Casey House 06.09.08 5:17 PM How can I avoid the common pitfalls that occur when planning a fashion show? Gen Art's Fresh Faces in Fashion show at the Gansevoort South. Peter Richardson Number 1: Know your audience. Madeleine Kirsh, owner of C Madeleine's Vintage Clothes, has found that since some of her fashions are really edgy, she needs to be selective as to what designers she's shown alongside and the audience she presents to. The theme of the event needs to mesh with designer's line, so that you're creating a whole atmosphere for guests and aren't left with a stark environment. Doing so ensures that attendees will be more receptive to what is being presented onstage. Number 2: Work with the pros. Lighting is crucial to a fashion show, as the wrong kind can make for poor photos, which are essential to selling the line. Beth Sobol, president of Sobol Fashion Productions Inc. and a producer of Miami Fashion Week, encourages planners to hire a lighting director with experience in fashion. DJ selection is also important, as those without runway experience might spin inadequate and non-seamless blends for a show, setting the wrong tone. MORE >> 05.13.08 11:40 AM How Can I Give Cocktails at My Events a Healthier Twist? Navan Spa Martini BizBash Cocktails flow freely at any successful event. But how do you make your drinks healthier for your guests and help them avoid a hangover the next morning? Tony Abou-Ganim, known as the Modern Mixologist and currently featured on Iron Chef America, emphasized using natural ingredients at this year's Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival. A simple syrup really is simple to make-one part water to one part superfine sugar-and is significantly healthier than most sweeteners bartenders use. Other unique sweeteners he suggested include fresh-squeezed juices, agave nectar-a natural low-glycemic sweetener-and pure sugarcane. Avoid high-fructose corn syrup-common in most sweeteners today-which is harder for the body to process than all-natural ingredients and can actually contribute to hangovers. The vitamins and antioxidants in natural ingredients will help the body recharge the next morning. 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