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April 25, 2014
(Pictured, left to right) Thom Singer, Leslie Weekes, and Kelly Woo
(Pictured, left to right) Thom Singer, Leslie Weekes, and Kelly Woo
Photos: Courtesy of Thom Singer, Michelle Lindsay Photography (Weekes), Courtesy of Kelly Woo
The PTTOW Summit, held in May at Southern California’s Terranea Resort, encouraged conference attendees to sit with one another and answer some of life's big questions. A spinning wheel positioned adjacent to a seating group offered a series of topics—like 'hate,' 'doubt,' and 'purpose'—to break the ice and make the exercise more interesting. The coffee table positioned at the seating group offered a workbook that participants could open to find questions or activities to do together, and the event also offered 'conversation cookies,” fortune cookies filled with more conversation topics. JOWY Productions was behind the event’s production.
The PTTOW Summit, held in May at Southern California’s Terranea Resort, encouraged conference attendees to sit with one another and answer some of life's big questions. A spinning wheel positioned adjacent to a seating group offered a series of topics—like "hate," "doubt," and "purpose"—to break the ice and make the exercise more interesting. The coffee table positioned at the seating group offered a workbook that participants could open to find questions or activities to do together, and the event also offered "conversation cookies,” fortune cookies filled with more conversation topics. JOWY Productions was behind the event’s production.
Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images for PTTOW
So-called “dine arounds” are hallmarks of the Engage luxury wedding industry summits, offering opportunities for small groups to interact and to give them some intimate time with event speakers. Each speaker plays host to a table of 10 randomly selected attendees, encouraging guests to mix and mingle outside their circle of friends. And to make the experience more fun, table assignments are given in playful ways. For instance, in Las Vegas attendees selected from among personalized playing cards that all bore speaker photos and restaurant names.
So-called “dine arounds” are hallmarks of the Engage luxury wedding industry summits, offering opportunities for small groups to interact and to give them some intimate time with event speakers. Each speaker plays host to a table of 10 randomly selected attendees, encouraging guests to mix and mingle outside their circle of friends. And to make the experience more fun, table assignments are given in playful ways. For instance, in Las Vegas attendees selected from among personalized playing cards that all bore speaker photos and restaurant names.
Photo: Scott Clark/Readyluck
Similarly, for Engage at Palm Beach's the Breakers, custom fabric flowers indicated each attendee's designated table number.
Similarly, for Engage at Palm Beach's the Breakers, custom fabric flowers indicated each attendee's designated table number.
Photo: Chellise Michael Photography for Elan Artists
At Cisco Live, held in San Francisco in May, attendees ate lunch outside every day, with about 1,500 seats at large round tables—or on blankets available for those who wanted to find friends or experience a more casual setting. In another networking opportunity, Cisco Live attendees were also invited to join peers and Cisco experts in small groups over lunch for a chat about technical topics of the group's choice. The 'Table Topics' discussions offered a fresh perspective on the issues that the masses were talking about at Cisco Live, for instance cloud security. Anyone was also welcome to start a discussion on a new topic and lead the agenda by finding an open table and posting the topic so other interested attendees could find it and join.
At Cisco Live, held in San Francisco in May, attendees ate lunch outside every day, with about 1,500 seats at large round tables—or on blankets available for those who wanted to find friends or experience a more casual setting. In another networking opportunity, Cisco Live attendees were also invited to join peers and Cisco experts in small groups over lunch for a chat about technical topics of the group's choice. The "Table Topics"  discussions offered a fresh perspective on the issues that the masses were talking about at Cisco Live, for instance cloud security. Anyone was also welcome to start a discussion on a new topic and lead the agenda by finding an open table and posting the topic so other interested attendees could find it and join.
Photo: Mitra Sorrells/BizBash
Similarly, for the TED Conference's simulcast event, TEDActive, held in the Southern California desert last year, about 700 guests gathered for a picnic lunch. The conversation-facilitating twist was that picnic baskets were available not for individuals, but for groups of seven—so each person had to meet six new attendees with whom to eat and talk.
Similarly, for the TED Conference's simulcast event, TEDActive, held in the Southern California desert last year, about 700 guests gathered for a picnic lunch. The conversation-facilitating twist was that picnic baskets were available not for individuals, but for groups of seven—so each person had to meet six new attendees with whom to eat and talk.
Photo: Marla Aufmuth
Sometimes it takes a little break from formal networking talk to get the creative juices flowing—and the personal connections happening. To that end, TEDActive also set up informal game stations on hay bales around the venue as ice breakers for guests.
Sometimes it takes a little break from formal networking talk to get the creative juices flowing—and the personal connections happening. To that end, TEDActive also set up informal game stations on hay bales around the venue as ice breakers for guests.
Photo: Alesandra Dubin/BizBash
Some organizers get the networking going before the event doors even open to maximize the opportunities for interaction on site: Metropolitan Events & Production was behind a pre-event networking campaign for the 2012 shows that took place in both Chicago and Orlando. Organizers encouraged attendees to use social media to post selfies they took while holding signs that said 'Meet Me at the Makeup Show,” along with their names and the event’s hashtags. The stunt was intended to build community and promote face recognition when the show kicked off. Organizers gathered the images and shared them on the event’s social channels to further build visibility among the participants.
Some organizers get the networking going before the event doors even open to maximize the opportunities for interaction on site: Metropolitan Events & Production was behind a pre-event networking campaign for the 2012 shows that took place in both Chicago and Orlando. Organizers encouraged attendees to use social media to post selfies they took while holding signs that said "Meet Me at the Makeup Show,” along with their names and the event’s hashtags. The stunt was intended to build community and promote face recognition when the show kicked off. Organizers gathered the images and shared them on the event’s social channels to further build visibility among the participants.
Photo: Courtesy of the Makeup Show Chicago
The Exhibitor Show's 'Dinner With Strangers” program offered people attending the show solo a chance to maximize meal time for networking, instead of dining in their hotel rooms alone. Attendees could join group reservations arranged by organizers at multiple restaurants for each night of the show. Sign-up sheets in the conference registration area detailed the eatery's name, type of cuisine, approximate cost, and reservation time.
The Exhibitor Show's "Dinner With Strangers” program offered people attending the show solo a chance to maximize meal time for networking, instead of dining in their hotel rooms alone. Attendees could join group reservations arranged by organizers at multiple restaurants for each night of the show. Sign-up sheets in the conference registration area detailed the eatery's name, type of cuisine, approximate cost, and reservation time.
Photo: Courtesy of Exhibitor Show
Evolero
Evolero

Evolero is an event website and management system that launched in January and is focused on creating an engaged community of attendees before, during, and after an event. The system invites attendees, speakers, and sponsors to link to their social networks and content they have created in their personal profiles. In addition to links for registration, programs, speakers, and sponsors, an Evolero site also includes a Pinterest-like display of relevant tweets, blog posts, and other content connected to the event. The content continues to update after the physical event ends so planners can maintain communication with attendees leading up to the next event.

Photo: Courtesy of Evolero
Chirrpy
Chirrpy

Chirrpy is an online platform created by three event professionals. Planners can use Chirrpy to manage ticketing, promotion, and check-in for their events. The system provides a self-service tool to create an event website that can include custom fonts, colors, text, photos, and videos. Details can be instantly shared through email, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, and organizers can track ticket sales, revenue, and other data in real time. Chirrpy can be used for both paid and free events, where ticketing may be necessary for crowd control. In addition to the Web interface, a Chirrpy app for iOS offers the same functions and adds mobile check-in capability.

Photo: Courtesy of Chirrpy
Attend.com
Attend.com

Attend.com is a full suite of event planning and management tools that released several updates this summer. The new interface includes Event Plans, which contains registration forms, email invitations, surveys, and reports; Event Plan Wizards, which links information from multiple smaller events within a larger function; and updated contact tools that sync from both online and in-person registrants. Also this summer, Attend.com added a wireless name tag printing feature to its mobile check-in app: hosts check-in guests on iPads, which triggers the printing. The system also offers text-message alerts for V.I.P. arrivals, online surveys, and post-event reports.

Photo: Courtesy of Attend
Eventgrid
Eventgrid

Eventgrid is a cloud-based system to manage registration and ticketing for conferences, trade shows, concerts, tours, and festivals. In addition to standard tools such as customized event websites, multiple pricing levels, and social media integration, Eventgrid recently added the capability for planners to create custom seating charts and for purchasers to choose their own seats. Additional advanced features include the ability to sell event merchandise with Eventgrid’s store functionality, integration with Salesforce and other customer relationship management programs, and a mobile app that can automatically check in people using iBeacon technology.

Photo: Courtesy of Eventgrid
Wizathon
Wizathon

Wizathon is tailored to nonprofit organizations that host fund-raising events such as walks and runs. The system automatically creates personal fund-raising pages for each participant during the registration process. Participants can customize their pages with graphics and text and share them on social networks or via email. For the organizer, Wizathon creates an event website customized with the organization’s logo and colors. The site manages registration and sponsor integration and offers tools such as an event clock countdown and leader boards. The company also provides a written guide and personal consultation on fund-raising strategies.

Photo: Courtesy of Wizathon
Img 5511
Photo: Nadia Chaudhury/BizBash
United Airlines sponsored a lounge at the Cell, across the street from programming at the SVA Theatre, on Saturday and Sunday, where consumers could have drinks and watch a live feed of a sold-out session.
United Airlines sponsored a lounge at the Cell, across the street from programming at the SVA Theatre, on Saturday and Sunday, where consumers could have drinks and watch a live feed of a sold-out session.
Photo: Jason Carter Rinaldi/Getty Images for The New Yorker
Vodka brand Elit by Stolichnaya sponsored the same space for a party on Friday evening.
Vodka brand Elit by Stolichnaya sponsored the same space for a party on Friday evening.
Photo: Donald Bowers/Getty Images for The New Yorker Festival
Elit by Stolichnaya served caviar at the Friday-night party.
Elit by Stolichnaya served caviar at the Friday-night party.
Photo: Donald Bowers/Getty Images for The New Yorker Festival
Larry David spoke to New Yorker editor in chief David Remnick on Saturday.
Larry David spoke to New Yorker editor in chief David Remnick on Saturday.
Photo: Thos Robinson/Getty Images for The New Yorker
As part of its sponsorship, Acura used its vehicles to transport more than 1,000 festivalgoers between event venues.
As part of its sponsorship, Acura used its vehicles to transport more than 1,000 festivalgoers between event venues.
Photo: Thos Robinson/Getty Images for The New Yorker
An Acura activation at one festival venue included photo ops inspired by New Yorker cartoons.
An Acura activation at one festival venue included photo ops inspired by New Yorker cartoons.
Photo: Thos Robinson/Getty Images for The New Yorker
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