Selected Instagram photos with the #Bonnaroo hashtag were displayed on the sides of the two main stages between sets. Instagrammers were also encouraged to submit their photos for the official fan documentary, True Roo: Fan Faces of Bonnaroo, by tagging #TrueRoo.
With the hashtag #PopChipsToTheRescue, PopChips sponsored a so-called "rescue hut." Supplied by Tuff Shed, the activation was stocked with items that festivalgoers often need, including cell phone chargers. There were also games, a relaxation area, and an oversize prop frame that guests could use for photos. After the festival, PopChips worked with Habitat for Humanity to donate the hut to the Chicago community.
Lollapalooza brought 300,000 fans and 130 music acts to Grant Park in Chicago from August 2 to 4, and brands vied to get in front of the throngs of media, music fans, and tastemakers. At the "Samsung Galaxy Experience," Samsung offered henna tattoos on festival grounds. Guests could pick a design from photos displayed on the Galaxy S 4 and Galaxy Note 8.0. At another station, flower wreaths were available.
On Saturday of Lollapalooza weekend, Fiji Water and Gilt City hosted the Better-Than-Backstage Rooftop Pool Party. Treats included snow cones made with Fiji Water. The event's main feature is an intimate performance from a Lollapalooza act, and this year's event offered live music from MS MR.
The 2013 South by Southwest music, film, and technology festival wrapped March 17, with an estimated 150,000 people turning out for all or part of the 10-day event in Austin, Texas. Plastic housewares brand Glad and Keep America Beautiful partnered to provide 13 trash, compost, and recycling areas, diverting much of the festival's waste. Adding another layer to the activation, artist Jason Mercier created a mural of America made from SXSW trash, with digital prints of the artwork available for download.
For those who wanted a permanent souvenir of SXSW, the Asos Music Lounge included an on-site tattoo artist for V.I.P. guests. The three-day music venue and restaurant was presented by the British fashion online retailer at the Cedar Door Bar & Grill.
SodaStream debuted new flavors of sparkling waters by chef Paul Liebrandt at an event at New York's Gramery Park Hotel in January. The brand showed off newly redesigned machines as well as the flavors in areas of the venue that had a color theme such as green, red, or orange. Papush produced the event.
At the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, the shoe brand Merrell displayed its Capra hiking boot—named for the Capra mountain goat—in a display that looked like rough mountainsides. The look brought to life a virtual reality experience offered at the activation in which guests undertook a mountain trek that involved crossing a rope bridge and escaping a landslide. MKG along with Hill Holliday produced the activation.
At a preview of Adam Lippes for Target collection in August, David Stark Designs used buffalo plaid blankets, pillows, travel bags, and other items in rooftop picnic at New York’s 620 Loft & Garden. The products were not just for show: Guests used them during the event.
A display can use artistic interpretations of the actual product. At this year’s South Beach Wine & Food Festival in Miami, Coca-Cola presented its bottle in a sand sculpture at the Coke Cabana. The display was part of Coke Bottle 100, the brand’s 100th anniversary celebration of its bottle, which debuted in 1915.
Sugar Factory, the restaurant and candy emporium, used its confections in a number of topiary-like candy arrangements that served as centerpieces at the July opening of its Ocean Drive location in Miami. Gummy bears, gum drops, lollipops, and other candies figured into the decor. Live It Productions produced the event.
Color-blocked boxes of PatrĂłn tequila served as a photo backdrop at the Art of PatrĂłn event in May at LA River Studios in Los Angeles. In another layer of product display, models wore dresses made from PatrĂłn boxes, corks, tissue paper, and recipe booklets. Photographer John Ganun of Scenario Photography created the backdrop, and Abel McCallister Designs produced the event.
PopSugar's entrance tunnel featured action-oriented phrases about “living your best life.”
The Late Late Show host James Corden opened the CBS Upfront, which was held at Carnegie Hall on May 18, with a musical spoof of Hamilton. The Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon performed a similar comedic spin on the musical at the NBC Upfront the day before.
Instead of the traditional theater format, the music network’s 2016 presentation, which was held at Skylight at Moynihan Station in New York on April 21, created a pop art trade show called “Buy MTV,” with interactive booths for upcoming series and initiatives and a faux storefront featuring limited-edition MTV collectibles.
Just two hours before the presentation, news of the singer Prince’s death broke. Doug Herzog, president of Viacom’s music and entertainment group, opened with a tribute to the icon as purple lights washed over the venue.
The event featured a performance by Grammy Award-winning rapper Kendrick Lamar.
This year, the media technology company ditched the traditional, staid presentation format of media-buying events for a block party, which took place at the South Street Seaport in New York on May 3. The event took over four city blocks—more than 50,000 square feet—of the revitalized Seaport District.
Guests were able to engage with the brand’s products and partners through interactive activations, such as a free-throw game from the N.B.A.
The AOL show Coach Snoop follows Snoop Dogg's inner city youth football league; the rapper performed at the event.
To celebrate Telemundo’s 2015 success, NBCUniversal threw a private party for the network’s advertising clients at the Manhattan Center’s Hammerstein Ballroom in New York on May 16. Produced by Ray Bloch Productions, the event featured relaxed lounge seating, small bites, and cocktails.
The night was capped off with a performance by Jennifer Lopez. Since Telemundo’s Upfront presence was incorporated into a combined NBCU presentation, which was held earlier that day at Radio City Music Hall, the evening event allowed the network to stand out and engage a targeted audience.
The theme of the digital brand’s NewFront, which was held at the Altman Building in New York on May 4, was "Inspiration Meets Action"; its presentation featured a multidimensional stage backdrop.
A large photo backdrop, which greeted guests as they entered, was comprised of buttons with buzzwords.
Hearst Magazines Digital Media hosted its first NewFront House Party at Hearst Tower on May 4, unveiling a slate of original video programming and partnerships. 360 Design Events designed the event.
The show kicked off with an appearance by Channing Tatum and the guys from the upcoming Magic Mike Live, which is part of a year-long content partnership with Hearst brand Cosmopolitan.
The guest check-in area included tall floral arrangements encased in Lucite stands.
Daveed Diggs and Leslie Odom Jr., stars of the Broadway hit Hamilton, opened and closed ESPN's Upfront—which was held at the Minskoff Theater on May 17—with original performances.
In addition to star athletes, team mascots like the New York Mets' Mr. Met were in attendance at the sports network’s event.
For the digital brand’s NewFronts event, which was held at the Skylight at Moynihan Station in New York on May 2, Portland-based creative and production studio Dot Dot Dash designed and produced a multimedia environment featuring playful vignettes, including a kitten with laser vision, and lots of emojis. The presentation took place on a custom-built stage and included three main projection screens and 25 individually projection-mapped orbs.
The event boasted the theme “Welcome to the Feast” and aimed to show how the media company could feed guests’ minds, hearts, and businesses.
The Turner network hosted its annual Upfront party at Terminal 5 on May 18, filling the venue with giant inflatable characters from its shows.
Guests entered the event through a water-like 3D projection.
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Hip-hop artist Nicki Minaj performed and hosted an impromptu dance contest on stage with audience members, offering a cash prize to the guest who drew the most cheering from the crowd.
After its morning presentation at the Lyric Theatre, which featured the theme “United We Stand, Together We Grow,” Univision hosted a lunch reception at Gotham Hall in New York on May 17. The colorful decor featured the network’s signature colors and logo.
Guests could test out their bilingual skills at a recording booth presented by Flama, an English-language digital video site that offers short-form content and series. The activation was a live version of a comical video shown during the presentation.
At the summertime fund-raiser outside of Chicago in 2010, Bill Heffernan of HMR Designs used thousands of sheets of cellophane and chromed lightbulbs to design 16 cloud-like chandeliers. As night fell, a pink lighting scheme gave the floating fixtures a raspberry-hued glow.
The National Ballet of Canada went with a “White Hot” theme for its fourth annual fund-raiser at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. Four models dressed in white body suits and wigs stood guard atop risers on the stage as guests entered the hall for dinner, and event organizers created a cloud effect on the stage.
