What to Expect from Citi at Taste of the Nations

Hello June!  With the Taste of the Nation coming to Miami in less the two weeks,  we are hearing how the tour started out with a bang when recently hosted in New York City. Citi, one of the proud sponsors of the event, set up shop at this charitable event in April 2016 and offered amazing social experiences to its card carrying members who were lucky enough to have private passes. The bank then encouraged those who engaged in the event to take to social media to share their experiences.

The Appetizers

Citi's appetizers were mouthwatering but the way they were presented was perhaps even more noteworthy. The appetizer platters were suspended from helium balloons right near the check-in counter to entice people to want to come in and have a taste. Other white balloons were placed nearby and these turned blue as people got on their social media accounts to tell people about Citi's great food.

The Drinks

Well known mixologist Eamon Rocky served up some amazing Avion tequila "Tigritas" as guests enjoyed relaxing in the lounge. As guests enjoyed their drinks, they were able to charge their cell phones, check out the 60 inch touch screen display to find out more about Citi's dining platforms and talk to brand ambassadors. At the photo booth inside the space, guests were once again encouraged to take to social media to share photos of the event as the number of meals and amount of money donated to charity was dependent on social activity of those who participated in the event.

Other Goodies

Citi set up a unique social vending machine as part of the event. Guests who posted to their social media accounts while at the machine received Citi-branded goodies such as oven mitts, wine stoppers, wine pourers, aprons and a USB loaded with recipes for tasty treats.

Get in on the Action

Taste of the Nations is coming back to Miami on June 17, 2016 and we here at SOHO Studios are hosting the event!  It will offer tasty treats, exquisite beverages and an afterparty. The event is also being hosted by Emmy nominated weekend anchor Marybel Rodriguez and Froggy from Elvis Duran and the Morning Show. For now, we and Citi are keeping its Taste of the Nation plans to ourself; however, fans can see from Citi's April offerings that the company is sure to provide a night out Miami Style that you simply won't want to miss!

Check out South Florida's Taste of the Nation on Facebook and our Facebook page  for more photos and details of the event.  

Unique Cocktail Branding Ideas For Your Next Happy Hour

Looking for some unique and share worthy marketing ideas for your bar, restaurant, or catering business? Want to go beyond the tired old branded coasters and cocktail napkins? Hospitality business owners are coming up with some creative and memorable ways to spice up their cocktails with these exciting branding ideas. Say It N-Icely

Nearly every cocktail has one thing in common, they all come with ice. Rather than let this blank canvas melt away unnoticed, your brand can be stamped into each cube. Press a brass stamp into the ice and your logo or message is instantly created without the need for molded ice trays. The branded ice looks best on large disks or cubes that float on top of the drink.

Make It A-Peeling

Ordering your drink with a twist just got a little more interesting with heated branding stamps. Logos and messages can be burned into orange, lemon, or lime peels and placed in the cocktail or on a garnish pick. The burned image will also give off a little extra scent of citrus, adding to the sensory sensation.

Burn It into Memory

One upscale cocktail lounge is taking coaster branding to a whole new level. Using thinly sliced rounds of pine, the bar burns their name into the coaster as part of a theatrical drink making process. The smoke from the freshly embossed pine is then used to smoke the inside of an overturned glass and filled with a signature cocktail. The coaster becomes a unique souvenir that will likely not get tossed away like so many inferior paper coasters.

Give a Token of Appreciation

Retro drink tokens are making a comeback in a big way. Once popular in casinos and corner bars, drink tokens can be turned in for one free drink. However, the most unique and creative tokens are often seen as collectibles and never exchanged for a drink. Tokens are usually made out of metal, plastic, or wooden disks. They are perfect for handing out at events or given to special guests by your bartenders and servers.

Add an Old Fashioned Twist

Of course, sometimes the old way of doing things is still the best way. Every drink needs a swizzle stick or garnish pick, so take advantage of this branding opportunity by creating custom designed drink stirrers. Incorporate your logo or brand message into uniquely shaped plastic stir sticks for social media shareworthy opportunities. You can also create custom designed garnish picks for branded cocktails and appetizers.

These are just a few interesting ways you can market your brand during any cocktail hour, party, or event here at Soho Studios. By giving each drink that extra wow factor, people will remember your message long after the ice melts.

Sources:

nytimes.com/2016/05/18/dining/bars-advertising-cocktails

cocktailbrandalism.com

brandingirons.com

royercorp.com/products/beverage-stirrers/

drinktokens.com

Miami Museum Month Puts the Wow in a Diverse Cultural Scene

Miami Museum Month is one of the favorite cultural events of the year because it has something for everyone from priceless art objects to whimsical works of fun. Amazing exhibitions and one-on-one opportunities with artists in spectacular settings are just part of the charm of this event sponsored by the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau. The 2016 May event shined a spotlight on our diverse neighborhoods and the eclectic shopping and dining.

At the heart of the annual Miami Museum Month are two deals:

• Buy One Get One Free: During the month visitors can get “Buy One Get One Free” admission to select museums.
• Join One Museum See Them All: A great deal for locals; sign up for membership with one museum and receive free admission to other participating museums.

Each year Miami Museum Month gets bigger and the 2016 highlights included are:

• Pérez Art Museum Miami:  If you can only visit one museum in Miami then this is your best bet with its world-class collections and picturesque placement on Biscayne Bay.
• MDC Museum of Art + Design: The MDC MOA+D is housed in the 1925-built historic Freedom Tower on Biscayne Blvd. and features emerging contemporary artists as well as a can’t-miss fun Pop-Up Shop.
• Vizcaya Museum & Gardens: The only way to describe this stunning estate is wow! Enjoy art and furnishings inside the Main House and the 10 acres of gardens at this National Historic Landmark.
• The Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum: This Smithsonian affiliate is located on FIU’s main campus and includes permanent and rotating exhibits as well as a sculpture park.
• The Wolfsonian-FIU: No visit to the Art Deco District is complete without a stop at the Wolfsonian. For the most unconventional gifts in town, check out The Dynamo Museum Shop & Café.
• Bakehouse Art Complex: If you like your art up-close-and-personal then go to this complex located in the historic art deco bakery building and in the midst of the vibrant Wynwood Arts District.

Other museums that took part in the 2016 Miami Museum Month:

• Ancient Spanish Monastery
• Miami Children’s Museum
• Haitian Heritage Museum
• Homestead Historic Town Hall Museum
• Black Archives History Lyric Theater
• Wings Over Miami Air Museum
• Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU
• Art Deco Museum
• Little Haiti Cultural Complex
• Black Police Precinct and Courthouse Museum
• Bass Museum of Art
• Deering Estate
• Miami Auto Museum
• Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach
• Gold Coast Railroad Museum
• Museum of Contemporary Art, North Miami
• Artcenter/South Florida
• HistoryMiami Museum
• Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami
• Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami

The deals of Miami Museum Month may end in a few more days, but the cool cultural happenings go on year-round.

White Hot HEAT week 2016

Although the Miami Heat lost to the Toronto Raptors in game 7 on May 15, 2016, they started off the season with a bang!  The White Hot HEAT 2016 week began on Sunday April 10th, with a host of activities for all HEAT fans to enhance and enjoy more of their HEAT playoff experience. White Hot; the 2016 HEAT Playoffs presented by Miccosukee & Gaming, urges all HEAT fans to embrace their roles throughout the post-season by dressing in white. This is to support HEAT in all the daily activities, especially in its playoff games.  Many companies got into the spirit and participated in the weeks events as well. The weeks’ schedule was packed with activities for all ages!

April 10th- Fan Appreciation Night

At 6.00 pm

The week kicked off with a fan appreciation night at the AmericanAirlines Arena as the HEAT took on Orlando Magic in the final home game of the regular season. HEAT fans got the chance to win player-autographed memorabilia and HEAT giveaways among more.

April 11th- White Hot HEAT Playoffs car Decal event presented by Metro Signs Inc

6.00am -10.00am

If you stopped by the AmericanAirlines Arena during this time, fans got a free White Hot Heat window decal fitted on their rear windshield. Burnie, Heat dancers and the Xtreme Team will also present to take photographs.

April 12th- White Hot Heat road rally presented by Bacardi

6.30 pm

The first in a pair of seamless White Hot Heat road rallies got a chance to be at the Tarpon Bend in Ft. Lauderdale.  While there fans joined the Xtreme team, Miami HEAT dancers, In-Area host Uptown Dale, Michael Baiamonte, In-Arena Announcer and other HEAT fans and watch FOX Sports’ Sunday telecast of the HEAT playing the Detroit Pistons.

April 13th- XFINITY East Plaza White Hot Heat road rally presented by Bacardi

7.00 pm

Fans enjoyed the HEAT experience outdoors as White Hot Heat road rally took to the XFINITY East Plaza located on the AmericanAirlines Arena, and overlooking the beautiful Miami skyline. The festivities which included; delicious Bacardi drink specials, HEAT giveaways, and chances to win some HEAT playoff tickets.

April 14th-HEAT After Dark

7.00pm-11.00pm

The HEAT fans over 18 years got the chance to engage in the excitement of playing a pickup basketball game on the Miami HEAT hardwood, at the AmericanAirlines Arena. The event was hosted by the In-Arena Host as well as Uptown Dale, and fans enjoyed music, hoops and a special lighting along with entertainment from HEAT dancers, the Xtreme Team and Burnie. HEAT fans received a free HEAT t-shirt while supplies lasted.

April 15th- White Hot Heat Bar Crawl presented by Miller Lite

6.00pm-8.00pm

All the Miami Heat dancers, Burnie, Uptown Dale, and the Xtreme Team hit the streets on FOX Sports Sun HEAT Fan Express for a White Hot Heat bar crawl in the Wynwood area. Fans received giveaways and other fan kits from HEAT.

If you missed it check out @MiamiHeat on twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat to see all the highlights of the week.

Four Ways the Smartwatch Will Impact your Next Event

As the technology industry continues to evolve, the events industry must continue to keep up with the demand as well.  One of the products to hit the market, and become popular, in the past few years is the smartwatch. Since Apple,Inc., released its version, the popularity of this connected wearable technology has continued to grow more popular every year.  With so many spectacular events occurring on a daily basis,  each event experience must be better than the last.  It's a given that organizers know these little gadgets will be at their next event.  But what type of effect will they have?  Here are a four ways that the smartwatch can and will affect your next event.   Sharing In An Instant

One of the best parts of the smartwatch movement is how connected everyone is to social media. Not only do they log on constantly to check updates on various events and “likes”, but people are more willing to share what they are up to in an instant. This ability to tell the world exactly what are you doing at all times is even easier with a smartwatch on your wrist. Attendees can update their Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook accounts in real time.  They can also send photos and stream live on apps like Periscope.  This can help create a buzz about your event and generate a greater interest in the company.

Scheduling Made Easier

With all the apps geared towards scheduling, an event marketer is able to get their entire team on board quicker to make their event run smoother. If things need to be changed, all your attendees can be notified as quickly as possible with the connect-ability of the smartwatch. It’s much better than trying to run around and track everyone down when you can just send out a group message to get all your people on the same page.  

An Integrative System

Not only does the smartwatch work well on its own, but the variety of integrated systems you can connect with at events and trade shows are amazing. Think about scanning codes with the flick of your wrist, and being able to check-in an attendee in less than 5 seconds, thus cutting down lines and wait times.  Need to make an important announcement?  Attendees can get up-to-the- minute information sent to their wrists while you are attending the event.

The Ease of Video Marketing

It’s a snap now for event planners to incorporate videos into their events and presentations. If everyone has a smartwatch or even a smartphone to access these video presentations, it allows more information to be shared through all the attendees with ease.  Sell more sponsor ads and get your attendees involved.  If something is missed at the event, you can easily look it up on your integrated smartwatch later on.

These are only four ways that smartwatches will make an impact.  With technology and innovation changing everyday, there are plenty more reasons to come.  What are some of the ways you think it will make an impact next?

2016 Blue Collar Matzo Chase

Soho Studios likes to recognize the excitement Miami has to offer, even outside of our venue. Last month, Chef Danny Serfer invited the entire Miami community, no matter their religious background, to join him on a scavenger hunt to find hidden matzo balls. The 2016 Blue Collar Matzo Chase consisted of the chef placing cardboard matzo balls around town for everyone to find in celebration of the story behind the Jewish holiday Passover. Those who found the faux soup dumplings won cash prizes. Traditionally, in Jewish households, matzo balls are hidden, and the children win a few bucks for finding them. Serfer’s extreme version allowed participants to walk away with prizes such as a Heroes of the Torah commemorative glass, a T-shirt or a $50-gift card to Danny’s Blue Collar Restaurant.

Passover began Friday, April 22, 2016 with Jewish families all over the world gathering for festivities, referred to as Seder by the community. Families substituted bread for matzo, which is symbolic of the Israelites and what they ate as they left Egypt. A traditional Seder consists of the retelling of the story of Exodus, but hiding three centers of matzos under a special plate makes the holiday interesting to children. In Danny’s version, participants were to locate 2-by-2-foot large matzos, but it’s still based on tradition. To make the hunt fair, Danny was the only one to know where they were hidden. Danny primarily stuck with his restaurant’s neighborhood, MiMo, and a little bit north and south of that area.

The contest started on the morning of Monday, April 25, 2016. The entire contest was conducted through Twitter. It began with a tweet from Blue Collar with a photo and a riddle regarding the location of the three matzo balls. Participants waited for the tweet and followed the instructions. Anyone who found a matzo ball had to reply to @BlueCollarMiami via Twitter. On the cardboard cuisine, participants found a hashtag to tweet along with a photo of themselves with the matzo ball.

What a great way to involve and bring some excitement into the community!

Southwest Airlines, Millennials and Music

Wouldn't it be great if companies could tap into the ideas of student entrepreneurs, and bring to the forefront brilliant ideas that the Millennials have in business? And then take those ideas and bring them into fruition? It sounds like a far-fetched idea, but that's exactly what Southwest Airlines did in their Recess 2016 Spring Tour.

Mix Music and Business to Attract New Entrepreneurs

Mid April (April 5 through April 18) Southwest Airlines reached out to 18 universities and colleges to find current student entrepreneurs. Southwest Airlines gave the students the opportunity to meet with the biggest investors and venture capitalists in the country to pitch their startup ideas. These entrepreneurs were then entered into a bracket style competition to compete for a cash prize of $250,000.

After each stop on the tour, the students were invited to an after party concert which featured artists such as Tory Lanez, GoldLink, and Lil Dicky. The concerts and party atmosphere of the competition's after party attracted students to consider the message that Southwest Airlines had to offer: “Your ideas are important and we want to know what you think is important to your generation.”

A Win-Win Situation for All Involved

In Southwest Airlines' Recess 2016 Spring Tour, everyone who participated was a winner. It encouraged Millennials who are naturally more attracted to innovation to team up with investors and venture capitalists, thus networking the two groups. It helped Southwest Airlines develop loyalty among the Millennials that are the most brand loyal generation to come along. Southwest Airlines fostered further loyalty with offering round-trip airline tickets as giveaways.

By introducing new companies and new brands to college students, it is likely to foster brand loyalty in those students throughout their lives. This is vitally important when considering that college students are often the business leaders of tomorrow. By introducing the college students to investors and venture capitalists, it gives the students a deeper understanding how business works and what's required to take their brilliant idea all the way to a product or service. At the very least, it gives the college students inroads into investors and venture capitalists.

Creating Loyalty through Innovation

Because the Millennials embrace technology and innovation more than previous generations, it's important for companies to position themselves as innovators. Millennials look for new technology when considering their brand loyalty. Consumers often form their brand preferences while they are young, which is why it is imperative to reach the Millennials now. Through Recess 2016 Spring Tour, Southwest Airlines has created an appealing way to reach Millennials in an unique venue.

Friskies Teams up with Grumpy Cat at the 2016 South by Southwest Festival

On March 12 and March 13, 2016, at the South by Southwest interactive (SXSWi) festival, Friskies well known mascot, Grumpy Cat, graced the crowd with an appearance to promote its most recent wet cat food product, Cat Concoctions. This new product has unusual flavor combos for the curious cat, like cod in cheesy bacon flavored sauce and chicken in creamy crabby sauce. The Inspiration Behind Cat Concoctions

“For the launch of Friskies’ Cat Concoctions, we really thought it was important for people to understand the product proposition—the fact that this line of cat food was inspired by cats,” said the brand manager at Friskies, Jessica Nichols. “And since people aren’t actually eating the product, having this tangible, physical event really helps bring that concept to life. Live experiences allow us to connect with media and consumers in a fun and unique way that really resonates.”

Friskies at South by Southwest

This year marked the fourth year that Friskies and Grumpy Cat teamed up at SXSWi to form a fun experience for consumers. Feline fans were able to enjoy food, music and fun photo opportunities. Music sensations Ryan Cabrera and Blake Lewis combined talents and stopped by to sing a soft, endearing rendition of "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" that almost turned Grumpy Cat's frown upside down. Check out the You Tube video for the sweet harmonies of a Platinum selling recording artist and a runner-up from season six of American Idol. Very calming indeed!

Some Frisky Photo Ops

A fan favorite of the event was the official Friskies' spokes cat herself being on hand for a meet and greet. Quirky, fun props were available for fans to pose with alongside Grumpy Cat. Some of the silly items included a hat in the shape of a clamshell and crab claws you can slip on. There were also signs with phrases such as, "Strike a frown." For even more photo fun, a selfie station was available. At the station, participants were able to do a mash-up so that their faces were combined with Grumpy Cat's world famous scowl.

Ultimately about 1,600 festival goers attended the Friskies event. Those who could not attend were able to follow all the fun on Friskies' Instagram and Snapchat accounts or to join the online activity with #CatConcoctions. Social channels also featured Nala and Waffles, Grumpy Cat's fellow friends.

Funkshion Returns to Miami

One of Miami's favorite organizations, the Funkshion Fashion Show, returned to host their Fall/Winter fashion this March, and for the first time they chose right here in the Wynwood Arts District as their home base. Funkshion is Miami's Fashion Week, held three times throughout the year. Taking great pride in their Miami home, Funkshion believes in serving as a connecting force between the Latin American and US fashion markets. One thing many love about Funkshion, is how well they showcase both established and emerging names in fashion. And as their name suggests, in representing the fashion world in Miami, they set themselves apart from other fashion weeks around the world by always being sure to bring the funk. Music and art are integrated into the events, including live DJs at many of the shows to get the audience dancing in their seats.

The Winter/Fall show ran from March 16-19, 2016 with a packed schedule. Highlights included opening night's discussion, "DESIGNED IN MIAMI," with internationally celebrated designers based in Miami discussing what it takes to find success in the fashion world in Miami and beyond.  Friday's fashion event, "EVERYBODY WANTS SOME!!" inspired by the Richard Linklater film in theaters now was also a great highlight. Stars of the film made an appearance, including Blake Jenner, Ryan Guzman and Tyler Hochelin. As with every fashion week that Funkshion hosts, one of the most beloved events is the Emerging Designer Series in which incredibly talented new designers who are just coming on to the scene are able to present their work in a high-profile show at no cost. March's show was no exception, with plenty of designers you'll surely be hearing from in the future.

Funkshion Events always welcomes the public to attend.  All of the events are free, one would just need to RSVP beforehand. As the Funkshion Fashion gears up for its next event this July, this is something to keep in mind. In true Miami style, they'll be celebrating swimwear in the event which runs from July 13-17, 2016. If you're a swimwear designer over the age of 21 then consider entering the Emerging Designer Series. One designer will be winning a trip to New York Fashion Week.

Funkshion Fashion Week is a great way to celebrate so much of what makes Miami great.  It brings established artists together with the newest talent and connects diverse cultures. The area is still buzzing from this event, and cannot wait to see what the next show has in store.

Jeep Reaches its Audience in an Inspiring Way

Do you have a story about your Jeep? Would you share it with the world? Jeep fans are some of the greatest when it comes to adventure and telling a good story. So, on the 75th anniversary of the Jeep, Jeep wants you to share your story with the world using the hashtag #MyJeepStory and post it on their website. Jeep's Latest Campaign

Jeep's latest campaign, My Jeep Story, is sure to go viral. Jeep has a solid group of die-hard aficionados who have raised their Jeep ownership into a cult-like status. These people use their Jeeps for all sorts of adventures. They prove the legendary toughness of the Jeep by taking it places where most car owners would never consider. It is these dire hard fans Jeep wants to hear from through social media and across the Internet. Jeep started out the campaign with stories from and about celebrity Jeep owners on their microsite. Furthermore, they encourage Jeep owners to tell their stories on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Jeep even gives instructions for how to tell the world your Jeep story.

Big Names about Jeeps

Jeep has enlisted the singer, Ciara, to talk about Jeeps. Her father would tell her stories about driving a Jeep during Desert Storm. The Jeep made an impression with Ciara as she grew up to drive a Jeep product as well. Her love of Jeeps comes out in this YouTube video where she tells her own Jeep story. Jeep also includes some stories regarding historical features and their Jeeps. On the microsite are Jeep stories about Marilyn Monroe, Mark A. Smith, and George Speaker and encouragement for you to share your own story and be a part of Jeep history.

Getting People to Talk about their Jeeps

This campaign is part of a year long campaign to herald Jeep's 75th anniversary. Jeep will feature 75 of the stories by the end of the campaign (for the 75th year anniversary), and all stories will be immortalized both in social media and on the microsite. Lest you think that the brand will only cover the historical and serious side of the Jeep, Jeep's story sessions cover favorite canines, summer fun, and military appreciation as well.

Jeep launched the 75th year campaign with two spots during the 50th Super Bowl. Furthermore, they are donating $1.4 million to the USO, which is also celebrating its 75th year anniversary.