A little over 10 years ago we had the opportunity to work with Wiley Publishing to author Guerilla Marketing For Dummies. I must admit writing a book was never on my “to do” list, simply finishing reading one was more my thing. However, the process was quite the experience and I couldn’t be happier to count it as one of my professional achievements.
The jackets are out, leaves are changing colors, and Starbucks is pumpin’ the pumpkin like it’s going out of style. Let’s take a look at some experiential activations that we’ve seen draw great crowds and great press this time of year.
As kids return to school this month it got me thinking. How do professionals (no matter the industry) educate themselves and stay ahead of the latest learnings and trends within their respective careers? So, whether you’re a prospective graduate or a seasoned executive, I’ve outlined my top six resources for “getting schooled.”
I read an article recently suggesting Experiential Marketing may have hit its peak. Personally I think we’re just getting started. While the various methods we use to execute Experiential may alter and adapt, the media itself, and the benefits it holds, seem as strong as ever.
While we are an experiential agency at heart, we’re increasingly tasked by our clients to help produce their internal events as well. Here are some tried and true practices we believe help make employees and attendees walk away feeling even more proud of what they do and where they do it.
As a brand looking to spread awareness, the heat of a city summer can sometimes be a deterrence. But not to worry, we’ve got you covered like SPF 50.
Finding the right venue for an event here in New York City can be harder than finding a job, an apartment, or even a date. Ok, maybe that’s exaggerating a bit, but it’s still not always an easy task. Part of being a full-service production agency is being able to help clients navigate this process (of finding a venue, not a date). Offering up the venue is one thing – following through on things like in-house AV requirements, venue capacity, nearby hotels, and of course, availability, can quickly add pages to that venue deck.
In the case of CNN’s “The Movies”, we were fortunate that our client recently relocated their offices to Hudson Yards, so deciding where to execute the event was a little easier this go around.
As you may be aware, Hudson Yards is the largest private real estate development in the United States by area. It’s New York’s newest neighborhood and home to more than 100 shops and restaurants, offices for major brands and organizations, significant public art and cultural institutions including The Shed and The Vessel, as well as 14 acres of public plazas and gardens. And if you haven’t tried the milkshakes at Kith, I suggest doing so immediately (after you finish reading this blog post, of course).
One of the many reasons we were excited to work with CNN again is that this would be the first experiential activation of this kind at the venue. Being first to market on anything carries its own weight, especially in the event world. As if there wasn’t enough pressure to execute flawlessly before, this factor certainly weighed heavily on us, in the most exciting way possible.
Happy to say the event was a huge success. We had thousands of visitors, live shots from CNN’s Brooke Baldwin, and even guest appearances from Austin Powers and Cher from Clueless.
Below are a couple shots from the event. There’s even one with yours truly and Akeem, from Coming to America.
See? Told you so.
As everyone’s aware, venues themselves can vary as much as the weather forecast on event day. There’s really no way I could cover it all here, but what follows are just a few things that come to mind when deciding where to activate:
CNN The Movies Pop Up Video Store Experience at Hudson Yards in NYC
Inside CNN’s “The Movies” throwback video store
After years of being onsite at activations across the country, it seems people often show up at an event not always realizing just how much goes into planning it. I suppose the same holds true for a Broadway show or new restaurant opening in your neighborhood. Perhaps a future blog will focus on some of the more behind-the-scenes work that’s not always visible to the naked eye.
For now, I’ll say congratulations to the team here behind the CNN event – Rachel Jenkins, Linda Rhodes, and of course Lenetta Pesotini, as well as everyone else from MAG who pitched in to help. And to our good friends CNN, thank you for entrusting us with helping to raise awareness of “The Movies.” We’re already looking forward to the next one.
Moving sucks.
Least that’s what you tell yourself as you begin to relocate your offices after 6 years. The amount of “stuff” you accumulate as an event production company is pretty incredible, think storage wars on steroids. In the walk back to my desk as I was packing up I passed a stormtrooper, a box of stuffed animals, an assortment of wicker baskets, and signage from a network that I’m pretty sure doesn’t exist anymore.
Then there’s the personal belongings. The ceramic plaque your kids made you on Father’s Day, or the picture from that family vacation you took almost 10 years ago (also reminds you to change the pictures of your kids more often). There’s NDA’s for clients that never materialized, and contracts with clients that changed the shape of your career. There’s thank you notes from interns recognizing and appreciating the attention you showed them during their brief time in your office, and notes from colleagues that have moved on and took a moment to thank you for helping them get there.
The more I think about it, moving doesn’t really suck, it’s perhaps the best opportunity to figuratively start something new. Each year (or if you’re like me, each week), you think about what you want to accomplish, both personally and professionally. Moving gives you the opportunity to throw away what’s not important, so you can make room for what is. It’s a new place to get your coffee, a new view from the conference room, and for some of the team here, a new place to walk your dog when you (and your pet) could use some fresh air.
Perhaps most importantly, moving can be a true sign of growth. Not every company makes it, and as a business owner perhaps I remind myself of that way more than I should. So personally, I’m beyond excited to be part of a company that’s growing both in terms of size and stature. Moving to a new space, with new furniture, and yes, even a new phone greeting (sorry Kevin), only further demonstrates the company’s strength and opportunity.
We’re fortunate here at MAG that since the acquisition, we’ve seen many upgrades. A new IT system, cleaner policies and procedures around HR and Finance, and now a completely remodeled space that we can call home for at least the next 10 years. We now have offices across the country, and soon internationally as well. Our client list has grown, along with our capabilities both here at MAG as well as across the entire group of companies under the BDSmktg umbrella.
As I took the last picture off the wall I thought back when we started all of this almost 20 years ago. I could not have done it without the support of so many amazing clients, colleagues and partners. It was certainly a dream to one day sell to a larger organization that could help us grow in ways we couldn’t do on our own. I’d like to think of our new office as a new beginning for MAG, where we will welcome new team members, new clients, new capabilities, and new excitement for all of us.
At EventTech 2017, we saw the nation’s leading experiential marketing specialists offer their insights into how the new year — 2018 — will change the industry. Naturally, our own Erin Mills was a featured speaker.
In her presentation, Erin demonstrated that experiential marketing firms are going to spend 2018 leveraging new and developing technologies to generate B-to-B conference and event content that’s more democratic and more responsive than it’s ever been before.
Here’s how…
So every year around this time I get a friendly email from my digital designer reminding me that my Thanksgiving blog article is due in a week.
Her gentle nudge also pushes me to perhaps reflect deeper than I normally would on a Monday morning.
But I love it, I really do.
I love thinking about all the good in this world, and, more importantly, the good that’s around me.
Closest to me are my friends and family. Equally as important though is my business, and the team here that keeps it fun and successful.
Last week we held a “Friendsgiving Dinner.” Let’s just say, I’m sure everyone in the room wouldn’t mind if it became a monthly tradition. Besides the homemade dishes, rows of crockpots, a dessert table, and (many) bottles of wine, there was an overwhelming feeling of happiness and togetherness.
When I was pushed to make remarks (I should know by now this is going to happen and perhaps prepare something in advance next time) I said how lucky we are, or, dare I say, I was, to be at a place where people want to be in a room together, share a meal, and, more importantly, share a laugh.
I know we’re not the only company that shares these values. One only needs to look at a “Best Places to Work” list and, alongside benefits and office atmosphere, is high company morale and team building activities. But, for every agency that takes the time to instill these values, I’m sure there are plenty that don’t.
I know it’s hard sometimes to find time to step away from the day-to-day and do things that matter. In a perfect world, we would have that Friendsgiving meal here every month. But all of us lead busy lives, and our roster of clients and projects keep us pretty busy here as well.
So maybe it’s not a lunch with co-workers. Maybe it’s a walk with a friend, a good deed, or even a monetary donation. Wouldn’t it be great if everyone made an effort to do just one extra nice thing this holiday season? Can you imagine that?
This year our holiday gifts will once again have a pro-social element tied to them, we’re already planning next years “MAGVolunteers,” and when the office manager announced that we received this year’s Winter Wishes from NY Cares, I’m proud to say within minutes they were all snatched up.
It’s not nearly enough, but it’s a start, a step in the right direction. I’m looking forward to so many things in the year to come – health and happiness, an even stronger year for the group, and other ways to do our part in making the world a better place.
Happy Thanksgiving.