Event Decor: How to Create a Memorable Floor

Yes, your event’s flooring is important. Whether you’re installing high-tech pads, decorative carpets or subtle comfort areas, your marketing event’s bottommost layer will need to be spruced up. Event-goers may look up, but they’re bound to check out the floor when navigating traffic. If you want to harness today’s latest, greatest marketing techniques, you’ll need to reinvigorate your space from the ground up. Here’s how.

Use Bricks for Branding

Don’t worry: You won’t seem too old-fashioned. Even if you’re promoting technology, all-brick displays promote class, timelessness and security. Check out your local provider’s offerings, and find a space for sponsor information, logos and branding images. This is an exceptional option for outside events, too, as you needn’t worry about these branding images being washed away. Check out gardening bricks, too, as garden bricks are excellent opportunities for complex images.

Install a Glass Floor Over a Pool

There’s a reason today’s nightclubs and bars are turning to glass pool covers. When lighting is prioritized, the effect can be stunning. You needn’t make the pool accessible, either. Simply add lighting, install a design or two, and cap it off. Make the area a dance floor, and install your brand’s innovative demos off to the side—near the wet bar. If you really want to shine on event-goers, install a neon sign, flowers or displays beneath the glass.

Install a Plexiglass Cover

If you don’t have a pool, you can still get the glass-bound effect with plexiglass. Designers like Preston Bailey offer unique, all-glass dance floors. Capable of hosting an event “focal point,” these floors can harness high-tech lights, art and even flowers. Your guests will love it, and they’re hype up your future events, too.

Create Digital Demo Booth Floors

If you have the money, try installing high-tech picture floors. Fully digital, these floors can present images and movies. They even have slideshow capabilities. They’re constructed with dense materials, so you won’t need to worry about event-goers shattering any television screens. Flash your brand’s image, write notes and—if you’re feeling creative—create a touch-sensitive space for your event’s premium guests.

Paint 3D Art

Floor-bound 3D art is becoming incredibly popular. So much so, in fact, businesses are hiring 3D landscape artists to create immersive, intuitive and funny event floors. While 3D art only pulls off its effects from certain angles, it still offers incredible photo opportunities. If you rep the 3D art, you’ll present your company’s creative side. Why not let the guests have a little fun?

In most cases, the areas your event-goers traverse will be your event’s most memorable aspects. Don’t skimp on the flooring. Align it with your event’s walls, ceiling and décor. You’d be surprised how well a high-tech floor can tie things together.

Jackson Health Foundation Hosts its 25th Birthday Celebration at Soho Studios Miami

We at Soho Studios in Miami are proud to announce the upcoming Jackson Health Foundation's Golden Angels 25^th Birthday Bash on January 21, 2017! It celebrates 25 years of the Foundation's giving, which supports a variety of health-related causes within the Jackson Health System. This event starts at 7 P.M. and is being presented by the Golden Angels, a group dedicated to fundraising for the Jackson Health Foundation. This event is also known as the Golden Angels Gala. The gala is a fundraiser as well as a festive party, dinner, and evening of entertainment. Suggested ticket prices start at $1,000, which gives the donor a Benefactor Seat. Individual tickets go up to $60,000, which gives a seat at the Golden Angel Pledge/Gala Tables. Tables for 10 are also available for larger donations. The Jackson Health Foundation also has a web page for those who wish to give smaller gifts toward specific Birthday Bash goals without attending the gala.

For those who attend, there is an exciting array of activities that will go on. Dancing is on the agenda, along with dinner and choice of drinks. Every year's event has a different theme to surprise attendees, and you can count on excellent entertainment and multiple bars. One of the highlights is always the recognition of the Foundation's largest donors, who will appear in their finest fashions. This makes this event one of the biggest in the area's social scene.

Every year, there is a different form of memorable entertainment offered. There have been variety shows, carnival acts, and other exciting performances. This year's theme is Miracles Made Daily, but the Foundation is keeping mum about the specifics of the accompanying performances and sets that will be present. You'll just have to attend and see what they've set up for you!

About the Jackson Health Foundation

The Jackson Health Foundation, or JHF, works to raise funds to cover shortfalls in the Jackson Health System's budget left after taxpayer funding and grants have been exhausted. This allows the System to continue to provide its top-notch medical care along with the extras that make patients more comfortable here than they otherwise would be.

About Soho Studios

Our venue is one of the finest in Miami for galas, expos, and other experiential events. We can provide up to 70,000 square feet for your extravaganza, but we can also configure the venue for far smaller events. This makes Soho Studios one of the most versatile choices for your engagement.

To purchase a ticket or to make a donation to the event click here. 

Back to the Future: JetBlue Goes Retro

JetBlue, founded in 1998, hasn't turned 20 yet, but that doesn't mean they can't go retro. Jamie Perry, JetBlue's Vice-President of marketing asserts that the airline is the coolest in the world. But it missed out on being the coolest in the golden age of air travel: the 1960s. But the company was not going to let a timeline cramp their style. And while they don't offer time travel, their recent multi-pronged marketing campaign melded the airline's cool image, which in the past has always been rooted in the idea that they offer new and innovative services in the airline industry, and rooted that innovative spirit firmly in the illustrious history of air travel. The airline built a custom "RetroJet" to be put into service for the new winter direct route between the airline's hub, New York JFK's Terminal 5 and Palm Springs. The California desert town, with its distinctive mid-twentieth century architecture and old Hollywood glamour history was the perfect destination with which to create a celebration of the golden age of air travel. The marketing team put a great deal of energy into getting every detail perfect for the RetroJet, titled "What's Old Is Blue Again." From the typography to the color scheme every aspect was perfectly planned to bring back the best of what the 60's offered.

To kick off the inaugural flight of the RetroJet and the JFK-Palm Springs direct route, JetBlue held multiple events, beginning with a two-day pop-up shop this past November in SoHo. While not near an airport, the SoHo location was perfect for JetBlue which has been working to position itself as "New York's Hometown Airline ®." Fittingly called, The Time Travel Agency, created an experience for the over 600 visitors which reset every hour. The shop offered giveaways, including giving visitors the opportunity to purchase tickets at 1960s prices. To spread the word about the event, three current JetBlue crew members, wearing distinctive 1960s hairstyles and makeup handed out fliers.

Meanwhile, in Terminal 5, when the RetroJet took off on its first flight on November 11, JetBlue hosted a fashion show at the gate. Models displayed clothing by popular Palm Springs designer, Trina Turk, as well as current JetBlue crew wearing specially designed retro uniforms that were based on TWA's. Currently located in that defunct airline's main location, by tying its own image to the storied airline, JetBlue was sealing the connection with the 1960s era of stylish air travel.

The event was taken cross country when customers aboard the inaugural flight were treated to an amenity kit filled with goodies such as postcards and playing cards that perfectly matched the retro style. Upon landing in Palm Springs, the crew, dressed in the retro uniforms and passengers were greeted by model Fabio and a reception.

York JFK's Terminal 5 and Palm Springs. The California desert town, with its distinctive mid-twentieth century architecture and old Hollywood glamour history was the perfect destination with which to create a celebration of the golden age of air travel. The marketing team put a great deal of energy into getting every detail perfect for the RetroJet, titled "What's Old Is Blue Again." From the typography to the color scheme every aspect was perfectly planned to bring back the best of what the 60's offered.

To kick off the inaugural flight of the RetroJet and the JFK-Palm Springs direct route, JetBlue held multiple events, beginning with a two-day pop-up shop this past November in SoHo. While not near an airport, the SoHo location was perfect for JetBlue which has been working to position itself as "New York's Hometown Airline ®." Fittingly called, The Time Travel Agency, created an experience for the over 600 visitors which reset every hour. The shop offered giveaways, including giving visitors the opportunity to purchase tickets at 1960s prices. To spread the word about the event, three current JetBlue crew members, wearing distinctive 1960s hairstyles and makeup handed out fliers.

Meanwhile, in Terminal 5, when the RetroJet took off on its first flight on November 11, JetBlue hosted a fashion show at the gate. Models displayed clothing by popular Palm Springs designer, Trina Turk, as well as current JetBlue crew wearing specially designed retro uniforms that were based on TWA's. Currently located in that defunct airline's main location, by tying its own image to the storied airline, JetBlue was sealing the connection with the 1960s era of stylish air travel.

The event was taken cross country when customers aboard the inaugural flight were treated to an amenity kit filled with goodies such as postcards and playing cards that perfectly matched the retro style. Upon landing in Palm Springs, the crew, dressed in the retro uniforms and passengers were greeted by model Fabio and a reception.

How to Host the Ultimate Virtual Reality Event

Many brands are helped by the creation of a feeling of excitement and physical activity. The hard part is getting people to feel like they're part of this action. Most people aren't athletes and have a hard time imagining themselves doing strenuous physical activity, especially when that activity involves something unique like riding a zip line or playing football like a pro. One of the easiest ways to jump this hurdle is to provide the audience with a virtual reality experience. Thanks to the development of VR goggles, there's no need for expensive 360-degree surround screens to get the job done. Virtual reality also allows for user participation, so it's far more immersive than any regular movie.

Combining Virtual Reality with the Rest of Your Event

Even with virtual reality, you need more elements to keep people excited all through your event. Keeping some traditional elements, such as display booths and presentations, will help get people in the mindset to consider your company's products and services. It will also allow you to build up the excitement for the virtual reality portion.

One thing you'll need to consider is how to handle the scheduling for your VR show. Each set of goggles is an investment, so you might not want to buy 200-300 pairs. Instead, it's usually best to have the audience come through in smaller batches so you can use far fewer goggles. Staggering arrival times will keep your attendees from having boring waiting times.

What Types of Content Work Well with Virtual Reality?

Action content is one of the most popular types for conversion to virtual reality. One great example is SAP's Quarterback Challenge, which puts participants on an NFL field in the quarterback position. Eye position, combined with a handheld controller, determine where the ball goes and how hard it is thrown. Sports fans love this sort of experience.

Another excellent example is IBM's cycling-based demonstration, which promotes its Watson Analytics system. Cyclers are subjected to a variety of wind and road conditions, all without leaving their seats.

Virtual reality is also great for explaining details about products, services, and processes. One company uses it to transport viewers to an active construction site, where they get to see exactly how to install its products. Another, a brewery, gives an in-depth look at their processes.

This technology is sure to become a standard part of events in years to come, but don't wait for that to happen. Get started with it now to position your company as a creative leader.

Of course, a comfortable venue is essential to any corporate or entertainment event. Contact us here at Soho Studios for the perfect venue for your extravaganza.

Happy New Year!

From all of us here at Soho Studios we want to wish you a wonderful and prosperous new year.  Happy 2017!

How to Use the Pantone Color of 2017 for Your Next Event

Every event deserves a personal touch, and Pantone’s 2017 color—Greenery—hits the mark when lively, refreshing tones are needed. The fresh, zesty color isn’t new to the marketing world, but Pantone’s dedication to lushness, refreshing beginnings and the wide, open outdoors is unique. Take a deep breath, organize your event and implement Pantone’s Greenery color into your setup. Check out these great options.

Option One: Grassy Centerpieces

To take full advantage of Pantone’s Greenery, you should, first, implement grassy centerpieces. Greenery thrives due to its natural allure and incredible flexibility. That said, your event won’t be complete unless Greenery is featured in its primal state. Grassy centerpieces are natural complements to unfinished wood surfaces. So, if you’re trying to promote an atmosphere of health, energy and rustic stylization, Greenery grass centerpieces are your best bet.

Option Two: Backlit Bar Foliage

Next, find a way to incorporate Greenery into your refreshment area. Whether you’re hosting a wet bar or a café, Greenery is incredibly flexible to your ambitions. Add a light, and frame your Greenery display for your guests. The idea, here, is to reinvigorate your event-goers. To do so, you’ll need to prioritize green backlighting, natural hues and—of course—a little foliage.

Option Three: Green Carpets and Tabletops

The Oscars nodded to their organization’s green initiatives via Global Green this year, and you should, too. By featuring earth-toned carpets and tabletops, you can create a centerfold dedicated to your initiative’s environmentally conservative side. More importantly: You’ll refresh event-goers as they disperse between booths, speeches and planning seminars. At the end of the day, you should want your patrons to socialize around any Greenery installations.

Option Four: Green Balloons and Ceiling Decorations

No, you don’t need an organic canopy to get the point across. You should, however, put your Greenery attribution somewhere high. Balloons, streamers and other green artistic creations are best served high and hanging. Toss in some silver, too, and blend in a little gold. Balloons and streamers might lack natural vines, but your interior landscape needn’t be completely natural. Besides, hanging plant-matter gets messy.

Option Five: Green and White Furnishings

Another Greenery-tie-in idea, green and white furnishings are exemplary additions to typically hard-cut lounge areas. Like the ceiling decorations, your furnishings should incorporate Greenery while maintaining a professional, clean vibe. Consider lighter shades, and work with pillows, drapes and small carpets.

While primarily promoting clean energy, restorative projects and environmental conservation, Greenery is an excellent indicator of ambition. Use the color wisely, and blend it into your event’s landscape with care. Your patrons will love the tilt—and your event, of course, will benefit from the natural twist on regularly conservative ideologies.

How the Gingerbread House Turned to the Future

Taste of Home is well-known for its presentation of lifelike displays. In the past two years, it’s delivered one-of-a-kind, life-size gingerbread houses. Every holiday, its annual display is paired with a nearby tree lighting ceremony—redefining holiday cheer with wholesome experiences.

Sharing an Iconic Brand

Both Taste of Home and Folgers are iconic brands—each with equally iconic histories. Responsible for bringing families together, displaying wholesome experiences and interacting with consumers, Taste of Home is returning with its fan-favorite Gingerbread Boulevard.

Gingerbread Boulevard brings a fully interactive hotspot to brand-lovers. The brands welcomes park visitors via its Visual Shazam facial recognition technology. As event-goers travel, they experience a 360-degree view of each gingerbread home. Each interior is interactive, letting visitors click around hotspots and take selfie photographs. Taste of home packs a wealth of holiday traditions into a single hotspot, so no stone is left unturned.

The Future of Holiday Experiential Marketing

Every Gingerbread Boulevard home celebrates the many cultures Taste of Home reaches. Last year, displays included Ski Chalet, Surf Shack, Houseboat and Farmstead. Every display additionally features life-size candy decorations, giving event-goers something physical to touch alongside the event’s augmented hotspots.

While Folgers and Taste of Home products are consumed year-round, the holiday season is an excellent time for cross-brand features. Twix, Snickers, M&Ms and Dove, too, are present, and each can be added to family favorite recipes available throughout the experience.

Taste of Home, today, is a leading producer of cooking, food and entertainment information. It’s responsible for helping home cooks engage media, enjoy comfort and meet with other enthusiasts within the digital community. For this reason, its experiential marketing event is highly unique.

The Media Crossover

Gingerbread Boulevard makes an impressive impact in the Taste of Home magazine, too. Paired with the taste of Home Cooking School, many of the brand’s displays comprehensively support cooking enthusiasts every year.

By blending expertise and energy, Taste of Home’s 24 million fans assist the brand directly. Inspiration is always preserved, and Gingerbread Boulevard, every year, succeeds in presenting the Folgers way.

Event Marketing Trends: What to Watch for in 2017

Event marketing has come a long way. In 2016, marketers innovate constantly to offer unique, engaging displays. In recent years, a few trends have risen to the top—and decision makers are utilizing the world’s newest technology to create unprecedented initiatives. Check out these winning event marketing trends guaranteed to make a splash in 2017, and set your sights on creativity.

One: Event Sponsorship

In the past, event hosts and sponsors united with logos, branding partnerships and insight seminars. Now, intensive sponsorship opportunities highlight the relationship. Today’s experiential marketing platforms are expanding to event marketing initiatives, and both brands and hosts are joining hands to elevate sponsors. They’re boosting ROI while furthering symbolic partnerships. Unlike the symbolic partnerships of the past, however, these partnerships are highlighted, grown and promoted via intensive funding campaigns.

Two: Event Streaming

Live events are here, and they’re only getting better. Already, platforms like Facebook Live, Periscope and Meerkat are emerging to create next-level events. Hosting quality content at break-neck speeds, these platforms are advancing the world of seamless event presentations.

While live steaming is still being improved upon, it shows a lot of promise. Initiatives like Thursday Night Football, created by Twitter, reached 243,000 streamers. Audiences are being primed for real-time event broadcasts, and event marketing is next in line for the batter’s box.

Three: Augmented Reality Mobile Apps

You’ve probably heard about the much-touted augmented reality initiatives. AR, too, is still being worked on—but it’s gained a lot of ground in recent years. Brands are expected to experiment with augmented reality quite a bit in 2017, utilizing mobile platforms as jumping off points. If Pokémon Go is any evidence of AR’s capabilities, event marketers had better hustle to catch up. Already, brands are utilizing the iPhone’s visual overlay services to create scavenger hunts, product promotions and in-store sales events.

Four: Data Analytics

Big data is already a major marketing tool. In 2017, experts believe it’ll emerge in the event marketing world. Mobile event apps aren’t new, but in-event data gathering is still fresh. With mobile beacon technology, mobile polling, real-time surveys and social media mobile analysis available, decision makers have incredible resource power. State-of-the-art cloud computing services, too, are making headway in the event marketing world, giving event marketers total reign over gathered data to further entire marketing campaigns.

Advanced marketing automation is likely to boost many of 2017’s event marketing initiatives. Technology is growing at a rapid pace, and it’ll expand upon business opportunities as the Internet of Things grows. Big data, of course, is a leading factor. In any event, real-time services will probably frame leading event marketing initiatives. After all, who doesn’t like seamlessness?

Come Be a Kid Again with MCM and Soho Studios

At Soho Studios, we believe everyone gets the chance to be a kid. It’s time to enrich the lives of others, fostering a love for everything cultural while promoting community involvement. By meeting children across the multicultural community, Soho Studios and the Miami Children’s Museum offer extensive meet-ups with programs, exhibits and art displays.

The Community Connection

The Miami Children’s Museum is all about community. Here at Soho Studio’s, we’re all about networking. Florida residents can kick back, enjoy the festivities and engage community efforts at every level. At every turn, an exhibit waits to be found. The Miami Children’s Museum’s “Be a Kid Again” Gala presents the area’s leading cultural displays. While networking is a major event feature, entertainment, culinary delights and education, of course, are promoted.

Every child in the community is welcome, as are parents, to engage in the Museum’s teaching goals. The community connection is far-reaching, connecting event-goers with a variety of exhibits. Co-chaired by Christy and David Martin, alongside Daniela Swaebe and Michael Comras, the Be a Kid Again Gala excels in connecting Soho Studios with its wonderful surrounding community.

Fundraising at the Family Level

Soho Studios believes every fundraising opportunity thrives upon family involvement. To meet the community’s needs, Soho has connected with museum professionals. Programs, interactive exhibits and art-related learning materials are only the beginning.

Powerful fundraising excels when children of all ages are allowed to imagine, learn, play and create together. In the past, Soho Studios has assisted with similar community involvement initiatives. No great idea is created alone, and we believe fun begins with helping others. Miami Children’s Museum is one of the area’s premier institutions, serving entire families by inspiring them about their surrounding community’s needs. By prompting involvement via literacy programs, art workshops and childhood education, Miami Children’s Museum succeeds in raising awareness.

A Wonderful Outreach Location

Soho Studios is located in Wynwood, Miami’s Art District. Over the years, it’s evolved to encompass the city’s expression. Soho Studios is Miami’s epicenter of expression, creativity and opportunity. Every campaign, fundraising event and initiative is treated with sincerity. Soho Studios believes in Miami Children’s Museum, and we’re proud to create a platform of continuity for future efforts.

Visit our studios, and check out our extensive art, culture and education showcase. At Soho Studios, events are constantly changing. The community always comes first, as do its needs. With over 70,000 square feet available, we’re ready to host extravagant, yet intuitive, community support events. Come on over, and be a kid again at one of this year’s biggest gala’s. We’ll be waiting, and we’ll be ready to show you the enthusiasm of our community’s bright, intelligent minds.

Community: Adobe's Stunningly Effective MAX 2016 Pavilion

Pavilion-based events are all about bringing attendees into the experience, and Adobe MAX's Community Pavilion did not disappoint. It used a variety of unique and offbeat methods to get people fully immersed and keep their attention throughout the event. There's no doubt that this area was noticed – not just for its many electronics-based exhibits, but for the scattering of pool float-style seats on the floor in one area. Here, patrons got to relax in inflatable geese, flamingoes, and turtles to play with Adobe software on tablets or just take a load off their feet. In the background, a big LEGO-style bench provided more elevated seating in a more solid form.

Elsewhere, the exhibits took on a more traditional look for a software/electronics event, but they didn't skimp on providing activities. A project area with big screens was dedicated to Adobe's Make It software and gave visitors a chance to check it out in person. Other hands-on exhibits included one that let users make custom t-shirts, an examination of the emotions involved in creativity, and an area that included real Airstream trailers indoors along with recharging stations for patrons' devices.

Overall, the Adobe MAX event did two very important things for the company. It let the firm showcase its overall look and feel, which is one of creativity that can be taken in any direction a customer chooses. Next, it allowed users to see all of its offerings in a way that got them to actually try them out. This is very important for companies whose products are better off experienced than merely explained.

Your company doesn't have to be Adobe to put on a great, fully-immersive show. All you need is an exciting theme and some exhibits for people to interact with.

You also need a venue large enough to hold your expected audience. Our venue, Soho Studios in Miami, can provide up to 70,000 feet of space that can be adapted for any event. We can even repaint it to match your specs or transform it for more extensive extravaganzas. Just give us a call. We'll be glad to work with you.