Cell Phone vs Human - Samsung's Staring Contest

The Challenge Sixty minutes? Can I stare at a cell phone that long? That was the question going through the minds of the curious who stopped at the Samsung kiosk set up at the Zurich Main Station in Switzerland. The rules stated it was okay to blink, but you couldn't look away from the Samsung S4. If you could maintain your gaze for an hour it was yours. If you looked away, even for a second, you lost. And the phone,equipped with Samsung's Smart Pause feature, would be the first to know.

And Now for the Rest of the Story

But Samsung didn't tell the whole story. They left out the part about the crazed guitarist, the accordion player, the hot dog vendor, and the bickering couple. That was just a warm-up for the remote-control car gone a-mok, and the barely-restrained attacking dogs. Contestant after contestant fell prey to the parade of distractions.

The Content

In this era of cutting edge marketing strategies, Swisscom, a Swiss mobile company pulled off one of the best experiential marketing examples ever. And just as they planned, it's gone viral on youtube. Now, not only those present in the train station, but everyone who's viewed the video knows about Smart Pause, which as Mashable explains, is a feature wherein the S4 knows if you, in the midst of watching a video, look away. It then pauses the clip until you turn back, whereupon it resumes.

A marketing event like this cannot happen just anywhere. First and foremost a location must have lots of open space, and a steady stream of passers-by. Many venues in Miami would fit the bill. Chief among them is Soho Studios, a 65,000 sq ft multi-purpose Miami event space and convention center in the Wynwood District, that hosts fashion shows, commercial shoots, Art Basel events, trade shows. It's a prime spot for any out-of-the-box event.

World's Largest Congo Line on Miami Beach

More and more marketing agencies today are utilizing experiential marketing as part of their client’s overall marketing plans. Experiential is marketing that consumers “experience”. Rather than traditional marketing that demonstrates a product or projects images about how consumers should feel about a product, experiential marketing is hands-on. It gives potential customers an opportunity to interact and leave feeling good about the product. It works because it builds a bond between the brand and the consumer that can be extremely powerful. Venues in Miami are becoming a popular place for many experiential marketing efforts, including one for Evian water.

South Beach was the setting for the brand’s efforts to set a record for the world’s longest roller skating conga line. The conga line was part of Evian’s “Live Young, Skate On!” event at Collins Park. Participants were treated to amusing T-Shirts, creative skate dancing, a photo booth, colorful skates, an appearance by actress Gabrielle Union, and of course lots of Evian water. The event was a perfect combination of beach, water, sunshine, and experiential marketing. When it was all said and done, 197 people participated in the event, and as you will see from this YouTube video, they were exactly the people Evian is targeting. They were successful, by the way, in setting the record.

More and more experiential marketing events in Florida are taking place. If you are looking for a great locale and venues in Miami that may be suitable, contact us at Soho Studios. In the trendy Wynwood District, Soho Studios has 65,000 square feet of versatile event space Miami has used for fashion shows, Art Basel Wynwood, and South Florida's hottest parties. Our clients have included Ford Motor, Puma, Absolut, American Apparel and yes, Evian. Miami’s event season is November through March, so let Soho Studios help you take advantage of the crowds. Contact us today and let us talk about the opportunities that await you at Miami's premier event space, Soho Studios.

Google Loon takes off

Thinking of an event exclusively in local terms will become obsolete once Project Loon gets off the ground. Project Loon is a concept developed by Google to expand the reach of the Internet around the world. It is a network of balloons that will float in the stratosphere and offer Internet access to remote and rural areas throughout the world.

Each balloon will travel 20 kilometers above the Earth's surface. The balloons will follow wind currents in the stratosphere to form a global network. People will be able to connect to this network using a special antenna. The signal bounces from balloon to balloon and then returns to the Earth to provide Internet access.

A single balloon can provide connectivity speeds comparable to 3G Internet over a 40 kilometer region. Each balloon has a specialized radio antenna that uses 2.4 and 5.8 GHz bands.

http://youtu.be/m96tYpEk1Ao

Project Loon promises to change the face of event planning around the world. No longer will an event in the best party venues Miami has to offer be limited by any geographic restraints. Project Loon will make it possible for live web streaming to reach even rural African villages and create a truly global event.

Event production will take this into an account. A concert in Miami, for example, can book acts that have appeal on a global scale so that more people pick up the live stream from one of the popular event venues in Miami. World famous art exhibitions like Art Basel Wynwood can include artists and art lovers from nations that have limited or no access to such events in the past.

The first test phase of Project Loon began with the launch of 30 balloons in New Zealand in June 2013. If the test meets with success, Internet service by balloon will become a reality. And it will change how event planning and event production is done in Miami and other places around the world forever.

Choosing a theme for your event

Are you trying to plan a Miami event and feeling overwhelmed by a multitude of choices? Are you in need of a few tips on planning your event? It's not surprising. Right now, you're probably trying to figure everything from catering to entertainment and what kind of décor. Should you have swag or gift bags for your event? Those just a few of the many decisions that you need make during event planning.

One of the best ways to narrow your choices down is to have event management choose a theme for the event. Having a theme will also give the event an overall cohesive look. Even "serious" events such as business conferences can benefit from having a theme.

The theme that event management chooses should be one that ties in with the general purpose of your conference or event. For instance, a company beginning a new venture could use "sailing" as its theme, as in "Sailing into a bright new future."

Once a theme is chosen, you will see how the other pieces will fall into place. With the "Sailing" theme, for example, you can now choose nautical colors and decorations. If you are going to have swag, select items related to sailing or the ocean and then present them in gift bags adorned with sea creatures. As for dining options, you might want to choose seafood or give your menu items names with sailing references such as "Barnacle Bill's Burgers."

When choosing a venue, try to find one that will naturally compliment your chosen theme, such as a seaside location for the "Sailing" event, or one that is neutral, such as Soho Studios, which is located in Miami's vibrant Wynwood Art District. This is a 70,000-square-foot "blank canvas" of a structure that can be transformed to meet the needs of your theme.

While not every event needs a theme, having one will help you greatly narrow down your choices and will also help make marketing your event easier. Potential attendees are more likely to remember an interesting themed event over one that fails to conjure up a mental image.

Viral Video - The Blue Bouquet

One of the most cutting edge marketing tools available today is experimental marketing or experiential marketing. Brand sponsored flash mobs, large art installations and events are just some examples of experiential marketing. Another way to go is to film a social experiment and post a video of it on YouTube.

Recently, Taco Bell staged a social experiment to promote the launch of their latest culinary creation, the Cool Ranch Doritos Locos Taco. Fans of Taco Bell’s Facebook page were given directions to go to a flower shop in Manhattan’s meat packing district and provide the secret password – The Blue Bouquet. Once the password was given, a Taco Bell representative, cleverly disguised as flower shop worker, presented them with a bouquet of blue flowers and a Cool Ranch Doritos Locos Taco. Some folks came in and asked for the taco directly and were met with perplexed stares. The whole thing was wildly entertaining and the video went viral with over a million hits on YouTube.

http://youtu.be/spzsY9FuqCo

Another way for effective brand exposure via experiential marketing is through an event production. At Soho Studios, a venue in Miami, Absolut Vodka hosted Absolut X, a free concert featuring indie rock favorite Bloc Party and drinks mixed with the clear libation Absolut is famous for. Soho Studios is known as a hub for experiential marketing events. Among all the other venues in Miami, Soho Studios versatility and capacity for large scale events allows event planners the freedom to use their imaginations to produce top of the line experiential marketing events that create the buzz that all brands are looking for. Whether you are looking to launch your brand or looking to increase the exposure of your existing brand, experiential marketing is a highly effective marketing tool.

Live web streaming for marketing

Broadcasting your event live on the internet is a great way to engage your audience. Some of the biggest music festivals in the world incorporate live event streaming to enhance user experience for their fans. To make your event stand out amongst all the others being held at the venues in Miami, incorporate these mechanisms and reap the benefits. Everyone loves a good show, even if they can’t make it there in person.

If you intend to put on a music festival streaming your event live is an excellent addition to your event production. Live event streaming has been a successful marketing tool for some of the most well known music festivals around the world such as Coachella, Bonnaroo and Miami music festival giant - UMF or Ultra Music Festival.

Most music festivals offer live event streaming for free to their audience; however there will be some costs to you the concert promoter provide the stream. There are a number of ways your ticket sales can aid in generating revenue. Make your ticket sales flexible by generating a number of different options for people to select from when purchasing tickets. You can offer different VIP packages with a special seating area, an opportunity to meet some of the artists, or a “speed pass” to long concession lines.

As a concert promoter your primary goal is to engage as large of an audience as possible. Some people may not be able to take off from work or have other obligations that prevent them from attending your music festival in person. Live event streaming is the next best thing to being there and thanks to event streaming options no one has to be excluded.

Live music venue in Miami

There are plenty of live music venues in Miami but not all of them can offer the excellent setting and service that Soho Studios is known for around the Miami-Dade region. We love putting on music festivals in Miami and have the best resources to meet your needs. Read on to find out more about why your concert will be considered epic if you decide to put on your show at Soho Studios.

There are many factors to consider when selecting an event space in Miami, once you decide on a lineup you should start thinking about what numbers you need to achieve to be successful and selecting a venue that can support your vision. There are plenty of Miami venues out there but it is about putting on the best presentation possible and we can assist the process. Reputation and buzz are clutch components for packing the house.

There are a many different choices of party venues in Miami. The choice you make reflects upon your efforts and the outward style that people interpret about your company or performers. Do not get stuck inside a low quality venue that scares away the fans. Bands and performing artists like playing to big crowds. Those people want a safe venue with great sound. Plus, if you can offer something unique about the event then that date can become a truly memorable experience for all the attendees. Make sure your promotions stick out in their mind and memory by getting your show into the best venue possible.

Thanks for reading, we hope this has helped to inform you about our event space and helps to clarify your choice. Contact us regarding the specifics of your live show and we can help you cover all the bases in terms of the venue from our angle. We will help you to produce some awesome shows that will keep your crowd talking and excited for the next event!

Attracting the right Trade Show attendees

From November through March, there are trade shows in Miami every week. Industry events and conventions are common in this city that has so much to offer. There are many details to putting together a successful trade show. You'll need the right venue, logistics, vendors, ticketing and so much more. Trade shows however, cannot succeed unless you are attracting the right trade show attendees.

Certainly there are the traditional sources of marketing like trade magazines, but there are some additional ways to attract the right attendees. Let’s take a look.

LinkedIn

By its very nature LinkedIn is almost custom made to attract the right trade show attendees. Look for like-minded groups or start your own. LinkedIn is all about networking and trade shows are certainly a great vehicle for that.

Facebook

Make sure you have an event page and you invite people to it. Every day talk about the variety of events and vendors that will be at your event. Be sure to mention some of the other lures of the city, including South Beach.

Create a Trade Show App.

There are companies that can customize an app specifically for your trade show. These apps can offer discounts, keep attendees updated, encourage referrals, and build anticipation. They also have a variety of uses during your event, like sending reminders and promoting vendors.

Don’t Forget Regional Marketing

While your trade show may attract attendees from throughout the country, you can market to those within driving distance. These people will find attending the event more cost effective. This can be done through press releases to regional media, and of course by targeting like-minded companies within the region directly.

If you are looking for the premier multi-purpose event space Miami has to offer, we invite you to tour Soho Studios. Our 65,000 square foot facility has been used for events for such globally recognized companies as Puma, Evian, Ford Motor Company, Telemundo and America Apparel.

Our staff of experienced professionals will help you create an event that will be positively reviewed for months to come. Contact Soho Studios for a Miami, Florida trade show that will impress!

How to put on a music festival

Early bird and advanced tickets for Ultra Music Festival in Miami sold out in minutes. That’s pretty remarkable, considering the event is 10 months away. Advanced ticket sales have already ended for Coachella in California, even though the show isn’t until April of 2014. In Tennessee, The Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival draws hundreds of thousands to a 700 acre farm in the middle of, well…Tennessee.

How do these festivals do it?

The first ingredient is time. Building a successful event is like building a successful business. Be prepared for the long haul. Your first year event might not be a good as your 3^rd year event. But if you build it properly, they will come.

The venue and atmosphere is critical. Where the event is held and how the event is perceived will add to your success. Bonnaroo uses their remote location as an asset, a venue that leaves your troubles behind. Miami music festivals like Ultra Music Festival, held during the same week as Winter Music Conference, tend to take advantage of the city’s vibe. It helps that there are such eclectic venues in Miami.

Many music festivals in Florida and elsewhere will have a charitable tie-in. Among the many charities that Coachella supports is The Painted Turtle, a camp for children with serious medical conditions. Offering support to charitable organizations allows for some additional exposure and potential access to a group of event volunteers.

Successful music festivals offer a variety of fan experiences from general admission to VIP upgrades and artist meet-and-greets. They also start selling their tickets close to a year in advance, and limit the amount of tickets each individual can purchase. This creates a year-round buzz about the event. People plan their year around some of these festivals.

Having a strong artist line-up with loyal fan bases is also important. Many festivals load their line-ups with up-and-coming artists that are rapidly gaining fans. They bring this momentum to these festivals.

If you are considering event space in Miami, Soho Studios is a 65,000 square foot, multi-purpose venue. It is located in the Wynwood District, home of Art Basel Wynwood. From music events to fashion shows, Soho Studios is Miami premier facility. See why worldwide brands like Ford Motor, Evian, Absolut, Puma and more have trusted Soho Studios with their name. We invite you to talk with our team and let's explore the possibilities.

The key elements to an unforgettable trade show booth

Trade shows are one of the best marketing tools you can use for your business. Setting up a trade show booth is a good way to attract attention from potential customers, network with others in your industry and demonstrate what you company can do with its newest products and services. A trade show booth only works effectively, however, if people notice it in the first place.

Creating an unforgettable trade show booth means doing everything necessary to stand out from the crowd. Trade shows can feature hundreds of companies grappling for attention from the same target audience.

You can make sure no one skips your booth by incorporating these key elements:

Use Social Media

Social media is a quick and effective tool for getting the word out about your booth and get people chatting about your company. Use a custom Twitter hashtag and send out tweets about your company booth from the trade show. Post a Facebook update to let people know where you are and offer special promotions and prizes to trade show attendees via your Facebook page. These things will help generate tons of buzz in a short time.

Get Visual

Many people are drawn to interesting or funny videos. You can capitalize on that by running a short video on a loop at your booth. It can be an advertisement for your products or services or it can offer testimonials from satisfied customers. You can pair the video with a memorable tune. All you need is a laptop or tablet with speakers, to get you going.

Offer Swag

Everyone likes getting free gifts. You can't go wrong bringing along plenty of swag for trade shows. Hand out everything from pens to baseball caps. The main thing to remember is to brand each item with your company's logo and colors. It will spread your company name among the attendees and create several walking advertisements for your products and services.

Create Dynamic Signs

Avoid boring signs. Use bright and bold colors. Create a catchy slogan to pair with your company logo. Give people a reason to stop and look when they pass by your signs at the trade show.