Everything You Need to Know About An Incentive Program

It’s a known fact that a working condition ensures that an organization is work-friendly. It also has a lot to do with an increase in the level of performance and productivity.

Unfortunately, a lot of organizations do not recognize their employees for their years of service. Also, many employees do not get compensated for a job well done. These kinds of organizations tend to have two problems. One is that they have trouble with employee retention. Their employees are likely to opt for an organization with better working conditions. Secondly, the employees lack enthusiasm, and that has adverse effects on the level of productivity.   

Here, we take a look at everything you need to know about incentives for employees. This read Promise to cover:

• • Types of incentive plan and incentive plans examples
  • How you can develop incentive programs
  • And the benefits of incentive plans for employees

But before we get any further, what are work incentive programs?

What are Incentive Programs?

Incentive programs are schemes designed to promote or encourage a said behavior by a group of people (employees or customers) for a certain period. It is also described as utilizing rewards and recognition to inspire a specific behavior by a group of people.

In a nutshell, incentive programs are used to motivate and retain employees/customers.

The scheme does not utilize cash rewards like commissions and compensations that are in the form of cash. And the reason for this is that cash rewards do not have social and emotional values. On the other hand, non-cash rewards are considered an effective motivator of long-term behavioral change.

Types of Incentive Programs

Now that you have a clear understanding of incentive programs. It is paramount to look at some popular incentive programs. Our focus will be on non-cash incentive rewards.

• • Incentive Travels: Incentive travels are travel perks used to motivate employees. Employees are invited to travel events like the MICE industry, exhibitions, conferences, or meetings. The incentive often comes with a company’s objective. Often the experiential reward is an award to top performers that surpass goals and objectives set by a company.

• • Debit Card and Gift Card Rewards: The advent of e-deliveries has brought about an increase in the use of debit and gift card rewards. Additionally, these incentive options are without any hassle whatsoever. Debit and gift card rewards are efficient and motivate more than cash rewards as they are considered a bonus and not compensation.

• • Recognition: The non-cash incentive is yet another effective motivator. It has strong emotional and social values. The truth is we all want to be acknowledged. People recognized by team members and employers tend to be more motivated than the ones hardly recognized. And when employees are motivated, there is an increase in the level of their performance.

• • Points-based Merchandise Rewards: Point-based merchandise rewards are one of the most popular incentives. It allows participants to garner and redeem points for rewards. You can employ the incentive program with employees and customers. One of the perks of this incentive is that it gives people the chance to choose their rewards.

The point-based merchandise rewards can be awarded under the following conditions:

• • Recurrence in customers purchase
  • Excellent performance of an employee
  • Increased in the sales level
  • Sales of newly launched products

How You Can Develop Incentive Programs

Here are some incentive ideas, tips and tricks to develop incentive programs:

• • Define your goals and objectives: What are the goals and objectives you need to accomplish in your organization? Is it an increase in the level of sales? Is it customer/employee retention? When you identify your goals and objectives, it serves as metrics used to determine rewards and accomplishment.
  • Identify your audience: Now that you have defined goals and objectives. Use it to determine those qualified to participate in the incentive programs.
  • Brainstorm ideas with the representative of the participant audience.
  • Come up with a budget and program structures.
  • Decide on a reward that is consistent with the brand and value of your organization.

Hire SmartWorks for Incentive Travels Programs

It’s no doubt incentive travels strengthens your team building. It also drives your employees to achieve the objectives and goals of your company.

With that said, there are a couple of creative ideas you can infuse into your company’s travel events. You can organize luxury travels, sport travels, cultural tours, adventure travel, to mention a few. Hiring a professional agency like SmartWorks will make this experiential reward a memorable one for your employees.

When you hire us, we provide a complete spectrum of events that covers:

• • Staff for all kinds of events(hostess, models, security, and basic hands)
  • Venue selection
  • Off-site private gala dinner venue, restaurant selection, and management
  • Activity creation & management – leisure, cultural, teambuilding
  • Catering management
  • Transfers & Logistics management
  • Incentives
  • Latest AV solutions
  • Special decoration, design, and entertainment for all venues
  • VIP guests & motivational speakers
  • Exhibition design & Production
  • Housing & Registration

Planning Skills

Event planning is one of the fancy job titles in the world. However, people don’t talk enough about the hard part. The truth is planning an event is stress-laden, time-consuming, and pretty hard. especially when there are other things (Job, education, and family) that require commitments.

But there are skills you need to have before you can plan a successful event. These skills are also known as event planning skills. Event planning skills ensure that the entire process of event planning is a bit hassle-free. Are you thinking of becoming a corporate event planner, a corporate event consultant? Or perhaps you like to start your own corporate event management. The following event planning skills imply to you.

Organization

Different events come with their challenges. Event organizers must rise to the occasion when things get chaotic. They are in charge of every aspect of an event, from logistics to catering to booking a venue.

A lot of work goes into planning an event. They keep their team updated on vital information relating to an event and plan events based on the budget and timeline that a client stated. They handle bookings, hiring and pay attention to every detail.

Creativity

Anyone can book a venue location, hire caterers, and come up with a party theme. But it takes a creative person to transform spaces and ideas into something spectacular. Creativity is the ability to impress your guests with the infusion of unique innovations into every event you plan.

Creative event organizers get inspiration and ideas from different channels like social media, blogs, magazines, and many more. The skill can be l if you intend to put in the work.

Communication

In event management, customer retention is not just about the delivery of stellar service. How personable you are is also a factor to consider.

A savvy event organizer must communicate effectively with donors, attendees, brand sponsors, and agency staffers. You must be able to convey messages and tasks appealingly. During communication, a great event organizer has to be confident, polite, clear, and composed even when you are having a rough day. An event organizer needs to have good communication skills.

When clients communicate their needs, you must be able to listen with rapt attention without interrupting them. If you need clarity on anything, ask politely. Good communication is essential with your team. When instructions and tasks are with clarity, it saves time and ensures that you have a smooth event at the end of the day.

Adaptability

It’s no secret that sometimes when we do everything in or to make things right. Things don’t always go as planned. Factors like weather and traffic can have adverse effects on event planning. This is one of the reasons even an organizer has to be adaptable.

Adaptability is the ability to come up with a quick solution and trump difficulties arising when organizing an event. Event organizers with this skill do not tremble in front of clients when things get rough. They remain calm, polite, and composed. They don’t play blame games. When a situation arises, they are thinking of the best way to take charge.

Understanding The Basic Aspects of Event Planning

There are many sides to event planning. There is entertainment, catering, security, transportation, and decoration.

However, it is unrealistic to expect event organizers to have vast knowledge in all these areas of event planning. But they are required to understand the rudiment of event planning. That way, when clients state their demands, event organizers will be able to differentiate realistic ideas from ideas that are not.

Tech Savvy

Gone are the days when the understanding of tech was not a thing in the event industry. Today, a lot of softwares is available to make event planning easier. There is software like webinar tools for virtual meetings, social media for networking, and tools for event scheduling. Therefore, an event organizer must understand tech.

Budgeting and Bargaining

Event organizers are required to negotiate a contract with a client. They must be able to get the deal when booking with a band or a venue. Event organizers with this skill are confident and prepared for anything when bargaining and handling expenses.

Paying Attention to Details

It’s no news that a perfectly-executed event is a composite of bits and bits of small details. Details an event organizer has schemed, thought over, and executed for a client’s wonderful experience. Paying attention to details obvious entails venue, security, decors, security, logistics, to mention a few. Also, pay attention to small details like pillows and napkin rings.

Dedicated to Client’s Service

All the aforementioned skills of an event organizer are incomplete without dedication to a client’s service. A savvy event organizer must know how to make things happen, even when faced with numerous difficulties.

Furthermore, He/She must know how to put the client’s mind to rest with phrases like “we got you”, “let me see what I can do”, “not a problem”, and many more. These phrases will answer almost any questions clients throw at you. It will alleviate their worries and anxieties.

Whether you are planning on starting your own conference planner company, company event planning. Or perhaps you like to become a corporate event consultant. You need to be able to take charge of any situation.

Time Management

The time they say is of the essence. An ideal event planner needs keen on time management in order to meet up with deliveries, deadlines, and schedules. We made reference to taking charge of every situation earlier. And we can never underestimate the importance of time management when you are faced with disappointment by one of your vendors and you still to deliver.

Events planners in notable in corporate event planning companies understand this and are capable of making magic within a short time.

Networking

Networking is an important aspect of being an event organizer. When you think about it, you will realize that the event industry is based on building and nurturing relationships. Apart from that, the industry is people-driven. It requires that you network with AV specialists, DJs, vendors, photographers, catering agencies, and more. Therefore, it is required that you hone your networking skill.

The Importance of Event Planning Skills

Event planning skills are paramount to the success of an event. But genuine learning is acquired through experience. If you are ready to put your mind to it, you can learn these skills with time. With that said, here are the importance of event planning skills.

• Professionalism: Event planning skills help you keep your emotions in check when you encounter difficulties in an event. All these skills project professionalism to prospective clients and sponsors.
• Good communication skills will help you handle difficult people without any hassle.
• Event planning skills help you identify what a client wants.
• Lastly, these skills make you a better person. With adaptability, an event organizer remains calm and collected amid chaos. Not just that, they can think fast and come up with quick solutions.

At SmartWorks, our multicultural teams possess event planning skills. Not just, we keep up with trends in world event management. When you decide on us, you will be getting a complete package that covers logistics, security, catering, to mention a few. At SmartWorks, we believe every event is unique.

Team-building is paramount almost in law firms, business organizations, and even baseball teams. Before a team can thrive, there has to be some level of bonding and getting along. Individuality and disunity make a workplace a living hell. It will also reduce the level of performance.

But some activities improve team bonding in a brick-and-mortar establishment. Some of these virtual team bonding activities involve games, quests, and intellectual competitions.

Today, we have a lot of people working remotely from home. We have teams working remotely from different geographical locations. Remote works can make team bonding pretty hard. In this blog post, we will look at some virtual ideas you can employ for team-building by team bonding events. These ideas include fun games and intellectually stimulating challenges.

Before we get started, why are virtual corporate events important?

• • It strengthens communication among team members. When team members get along, it creates a work-friendly environment.
  • It ensures employee retention. Apart from financial benefits, people like to work in a place where they are happy.
  • It is an ideal avenue to get to know team members better.
  • It ensures that your business organization thrives.
  • It enhances the skill set of your employees.
  • It boosts the level of performance.

How to do virtual team building?

Below are five smarts virtual team-building ideas. Let’s get down to business.

Bucket List

A bucket list is one of the most effective virtual team-building activities. The list includes all the things you wished to do, accomplish, and experience in your lifetime. When you think about it, a bucket list helps in figuring someone out to a certain degree.

You can approach the remote team events idea in many ways. You can draw up a timetable designating each member of your team to share their bucket list weekly. Also, you can decide to include an already accomplished list and determine how long or short the list should be.

Apart from the team-building factor of this idea, it allows your team members to loosen up a bit. The virtual idea will more likely boost the performance of your firm. Why is that? Because when your team members get along pretty well. Things get done pretty fast, and that increases the level of your productivity.

Building a Storyline

The longevity of a story depends on a storyteller’s level of imagination. Some stories are short and precise. Others can be lengthy. Building a storyline is fun and helps in bonding team members.

Here is how it works. Organize a video conference session with your team members. Start a story with a catchy opening and stop the storytelling process halfway with an incomplete sentence. The other person picks it up where you stopped and also ends with an incomplete sentence. The cycle continues with each team member contributing their quota to the storyline.

The goal is to end up with a complete and comprehensive storyline. Sounds exciting. Right?

10 Common Things

Sharing a list of 10 things your team members have in common is yet another virtual team-building idea. Here, you will split your team into smaller groups and give them time to come up with a list of 10 things they have in common. To avoid confusion and diversion, you can keep it professional. For instance, the list can cut across skillsets, industry topics, and business ideas.

You and your team members can exercise the virtual team-building idea online via whiteboards. This idea creates and strengthens bonds among team members.

Team Pursuit

One of the perks of team pursuit is it gives team members the chance to get to know each other. It also enhances the level of communication among colleagues and showcases hidden talents.

The virtual team-building idea entails engaging your team members in various online activities that are mentally and physically challenging. These activities can also be mysterious and test the skill sets of your team members.

Simulated Problems

Problem-solving is one of the sought-after skill sets in the corporate world. This virtual idea will foster a bond among your team members. It will also enhance their problem-solving skills and help them think out of the box.

To get started, all you need to do is come up with challenging scenarios that align with their roles and structure of your organization. For instance, you come up with questions like:

• • How can you turn the situation around if a firm is dealing with bankruptcy?
  • How do you apologize to a client when you know that you are right and the client is dead wrong?
  • How can a firm trump strong competitors?

Tips for Hosting Virtual Team-building Activities

Now that you are familiar with virtual team-building activities. It is advisable to take note of the following tips before hosting virtual team-building activities:

• • Identify what works for your team members. One of the ways you can go about this is to seek their opinions.
  • Reach a consensus on date and time with your team members.
  • Decide on virtual team-building activities that enhance their skillset.

When you hire SmartWorks, our virtual team provides stellar services that cover:

• • Advanced graphics
  • Audience engagement
  • E-learning
  • Augmented reality
  • Live studio production
  • Remote filming

Exciting Corporate Events Ideas

Your corporate events do not have to be boring and cliche. There are ideas you can employ to spice things up.

In this read, we will be looking at some of these corporate event entertainment ideas. These ideas feature entertainment ideas for corporate events like games, contests, bidding, craftworks, and corporate party entertainment.

Office Trivia

Office trivia is one of the best ways to bring your team members together. Like every other trivia event, the corporate event stimulates the brain with different trivia questions. In the fun corporate event, each team is award points. With these points, they can bet on trivia questions in each category. To get started, you need to do the following:

• • Divide your team members into smaller groups.
  • Trivia questions are different categories. Come up with 5 to 6 questions in each of these categories.
  • Give each question in each category point value.
  • Add bonus questions at the end of the game.
  • Ensure there is a winning prize for teams with the highest points.

Mystery Dinner Night

Mystery dinner night is a perfect way to stir up the curiosity and interest of your team members. It allows team members or random groups of people to have splendid night experiences coupled with delicious meals and a quality conversation.

In this event, you send your team members to dinner somewhere. It could be in the outskirts of your city or at the residence of a team member. An executive in a company can host this event.

However, note that none of your guests/attendees should be aware of this event. You do not want to ruin the mystery of the dinner night, do you? So keep mum about the event. The only information your team members need to know before the event is the date and time of dinner.

In the afternoon of the D-day, send emails with the venue and who they will be their company. The heads up will give them time to prepare for the event. Also, you can add any additional information like the dress code or theme of the event in the email.

Corporate Fundraising

Supporting a charity cause is indeed a noble gesture. The corporate entertainment event garnered financial support from commercial companies, sponsors, and stakeholders.

You can either host the event virtually or face-to-face. This event can also double as an auction. Here, attendees bids on items or services donated by sponsors.

With that said, some people like to keep their identity anonymous when making donations and biddings. An audience like this will prefer a silent corporate fundraising event. It is advisable to know which of the two options rocks the boat of your attendees.

Themed Craft Workshop

Hosting corporate events that synchronize with everything a company stands for is an ideal way of engaging staff and clients. A themed craft workshop fits perfectly in this description. Here, the end products of the workshop have to mirror a company’s value, the product, and the services they provide.

Pop-up Street Market

A pop-up street market is a perfect avenue to give back to the community. Events like this support and celebrate local communities by giving small business outlets, artisans, and small-time entrepreneurs a spot to showcase their products and services. One of the perks of the pop-up street market is the event is fit for almost all industries.

Room Escape Games

Room escape games are widely known as activities that improve the bonding of a group or team. Qualities like logic, leadership skills, and teamwork are needed for this corporate event. When played right, the game can be adventurous and exciting.

In this event, people are locked in a single room for at least 60 minutes. Within this period, participants have to find hidden items, figure out clues to the key to open the door, or even solve puzzles, depending on the rules of the game.

An Interactive Masterclass

The fun corporate events allow your team members to pick up a few valuable things. It is advisable to seek their opinions of what they’d like to learn. Is it painting or learning how to photoshop and edit pictures? This event can be held virtually or physically.   

Catch a Phrase

Catch a phrase improves communication skills between team members. Here, your team members are split into groups. These groups thereby nominate a clue-giver to gesture or give verbal clues to phrases and words to their teammates without literal mentions of these words or phrases. The words in this game can feature anything like the expression and name of a place/thing/animal/person.

You can easily play this game with a basket filled with phrase paper.   

Conclusion

We hope you find the list of entertainment ideas for corporate events helpful.

Conference AV

Networking is one of the reasons people attend conferences. Many understand the importance of expanding circles and meeting like-minded people in their respective industries. Other than that, conferences are the ideal avenue to pick up industry trends. With that said, it’s pretty clear that the conferences are goldmines in the corporate world. But our focus here is not on the perks of hosting a conference and attending one. Our focus is on conference AV.

Now, what is conference AV?

A conference is a corporate meeting where we meet with shared interests meet and discuss a particular topic. AV is an acronym for Audio Visual.

In the course of a conference, two things are practically crucial, the audio and the visual. The visual is synonymous with lightning, and everything in that has to do with visuals. On the other hand, audio has to do with everything that has to do with sounds from microphones to speakers and sound systems.    

Are you planning to host a conference soon but you have no idea about av needs? Here is a list of av basics for a conference event.

Recorded or Real-time Video Broadcast

Video broadcast is one of the core av needs and can take various forms. It can be in video conferences, webinar broadcasts (Recorded or real-time), or even live streams. With the visual need, you can record throughout the event, create other resourceful content like podcasts for those that couldn’t make the conference. With a few edits, you post them on your social channels like YouTube and Facebook. You can also utilize it to increase sales conversion and brand awareness by adding it to promotional content.

Camera

A video conference requires a camera. Cameras come in different specifications and sizes. Before you decide on the type of camera, consider the location of the conference event. Big-size sophisticated cameras will not work in a small venue. Also, you can use cameras to record events for later use.

Wireless Microphones

With the help of sound speakers, microphones enhance the voice of a presenter in a conference. Here, we will be looking at the two main types of wireless microphones. They are:

• • Handheld wireless microphones: As the name suggests, handheld wireless microphones are like the good old handheld microphones with cables. The only difference is that this one is wireless.

The wireless microphone is ideal for the audience Question and Answer session after a presentation. Due to the easy movability factor among the audience, handheld microphones are considered facilitators of engaging the audience. Some presenters prefer handheld microphones to other kinds of microphones. Therefore, you should have a handheld microphone around to be on the safer side.   

• • Lavalier wireless microphones: The wireless microphones are also known as clip-on and lapel mics. One of the features of the wireless microphone is that it can be used hand-free. The wireless mic gives a conference presenter the chance to move around and gesture without any hassle.

Lavalier wireless microphones are easy to use. All you need to do to get it working is clip the device on your collar or shirt.

Sound Speakers

Wireless microphones and sound speakers synonymously work together. It is advisable to consider the size of the venue before deciding on any sound speaker. You can also consult technicians to know the ideal speaker for your event.    

High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI)

A lot of laptops come with video output capable of transmitting HDMI. You can do this via a dongle or an adapter. A conference venue should have essential adaptors to connect video systems with the high-definition multimedia interface.

Ensure that your laptops and other audio-visual sources can transmit HDMI. It is also crucial to have spare cables, extenders, video switchers, splitters, and other essentials in emergencies.

Interactive Whiteboards

When it comes to conferences, you cannot undermine the values of whiteboards. It comes with visual perks, which is a plus to your conference event. Some of the functions of interactive Whiteboards include:

• • It can be utilized for interactive video conferencing on platforms like Zoom.
  • It helps annotate docs and web pages.
  • With some interactive whiteboards, you can write directly on the board in different colors.

Hire SmartWorks for Your Audio-Visual Production

When it comes to hosting a conference audio visual events, you need to take note of the following tips:

• • Know your budget and stick to it
  • Leverage professional advice
  • Consider the space before you decide on a AV tools

However, to a non-experienced event planner, conference AV events can be a hard nut to crack. But when you decide on SmarkWorks, we will take your event to a new level of transcendence with our in-house AV production.

Our audio-visual services covers:

• • Creative development and implementation
  • Cutting-edge audio solution
  • Video and large screen display
  • Specialized lighting
  • Hybrid events
  • Stage design and construction   

Networking is one of the reasons people attend conferences. Many understand the importance of expanding circles and meeting like-minded people in their respective industries. Other than that, conferences are the ideal avenue to pick up industry trends. With that said, it’s pretty clear that the conferences are goldmines in the corporate world. But our focus here is not on the perks of hosting a conference and attending one. Our focus is on conference A/V capabilities.

Now, what is conference AV?

A conference is a corporate meeting where we meet with shared interests and discuss a particular topic. AV is an acronym for Audio Visual.

In the course of a conference, two things are practically crucial, the audio and the visual. The visual is synonymous with lightning, and everything in that has to do with visuals. On the other hand, audio has to do with everything that has to do with sounds from microphones to speakers and sound systems.

Are you planning to host a conference soon but you have no idea about your a/v needs? Here is a list of av basics for a conference event.

Recorded or Real-time Video Broadcast

Video broadcast is one of the core av needs and can take various forms. It can be in video conferences, webinar broadcasts (Recorded or real-time), or even live streams. With the visual need, you can record throughout the event, create other resourceful content like podcasts for those that couldn’t make the conference. With a few edits, you post them on your social channels like YouTube and Facebook. You can also utilize it to increase sales conversion and brand awareness by adding it to promotional content.

Camera

A video conference requires a camera. Cameras come in different specifications and sizes. Before you decide on the type of camera, consider the location of the conference event. Big-size sophisticated cameras will not work in a small venue. Also, you can use cameras to record events for later use.

Wireless Microphones

With the help of sound speakers, microphones enhance the voice of a presenter in a conference. Here, we will be looking at the two main types of wireless microphones. They are:

• Handheld wireless microphones: As the name suggests, handheld wireless microphones are like the good old handheld microphones with cables. The only difference is that this one is wireless.

The wireless microphone is ideal for the audience’s Question and Answer session after a presentation. Due to the easy movability factor among the audience, handheld microphones are considered facilitators of engaging the audience. Some presenters prefer handheld microphones to other kinds of microphones. Therefore, you should have a handheld microphone around to be on the safer side.

• Lavalier wireless microphones: The wireless microphones are also known as clip-on and lapel mics. One of the features of the wireless microphone is that it can be used hand-free. The wireless mic gives a conference presenter the chance to move around and gesture without any hassle.

Lavalier wireless microphones are easy to use. All you need to do to get it working is clip the device on your collar or shirt.

Sound Speakers

You will agree with me that an AV production is incomplete without sound. Hence the audio visual in the AV. With that said, wireless microphones and sound speakers synonymously work together. It is advisable to consider the size of the venue before deciding on any sound speaker for the AV production. For instance, events like small room workshops do not require any audio visual production. But you sure do need the service of an audio visual company for conferences that entails panel sessions, keynote speakers, seminars, and Q & A sessions.

Lastly, you can also consult audio visual production companies to know the ideal speaker for your event.

High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI)

A lot of laptops come with video output capable of transmitting HDMI. You can do this via a dongle or an adapter. A conference venue should have essential adaptors to connect video systems with the high-definition multimedia interface.

Ensure that your laptops and other audio-visual sources can transmit HDMI. It is also crucial to have spare cables, extenders, video switchers, splitters, and other essentials in emergencies.

Interactive Whiteboards

When it comes to conferences, you cannot undermine the values of whiteboards. It comes with visual perks, which is a plus to your conference event. Some of the functions of interactive Whiteboards include:

• It can be utilized for interactive video conferencing on platforms like Zoom.
• It helps annotate docs and web pages.
• With some interactive whiteboards, you can write directly on the board in different colors.

Lighting

Audio and visual production in the conference also includes lighting. When you decide on conference venues that respond brilliantly to lighting, then your event will be transformed and the atmosphere will have a next level aura.

There are some locations that allow exterior lighting. With the lighting, it will attract people outside the building and stir their anticipation. A strong color statement can really sell the event theme for your conference.

Why Should You Invest in AV Services?

• Modernizing your event by hiring a savvy audio visual production will lay a soft groundwork for your team members to make the most of their skillset. There will also be efficient communication and audio visual solutions for your conference
• On top of that, it gives your event an aura of professionalism. Truth is that the fact you are good at what you do doesn’t necessarily guarantee that you can host a conference that wows your participants. Sometimes you need expert help and opinions.

Hire SmartWorks for Your Audio-Visual Production

When it comes to hosting a conference audio visual events, you need to take note of the following tips:

• Know your budget and stick to it
• Leverage professional advice
• Consider the space before you decide on a AV tools

However, to a non-experienced event planner, conference AV events can be a hard nut to crack. But when you decide on SmarkWorks, we will take your event to a new level of transcendence with our in-house AV production.

Our audio-visual services covers:

• Creative development and implementation
• Cutting-edge audio solution
• Video and large screen display
• Specialized lighting
• Hybrid events
• Stage design and construction

Putting on a Virtual Fundraising Gala 

We may not be able to get out so much these days, but that thirst for a social occasion is still very much alive. It looks like mixing and mingling at large-scale in-person events won’t be on the agenda anytime soon. But that doesn’t mean that we can’t take it online and throw an exciting and impressive virtual gala instead. 

In this article we will explore some of the elements to consider when planning a virtual fundraising gala. From the lead-up to your event, programming, and how to make it extra special for your clients and guests. 

Planning your gala online 

A good place to start is to outline all of the elements that you might usually include in a live event. Do you usually host a dinner or a drinks reception? Are there speakers, performers, musicians, or a mixture of all of these? Do you invite people to host a table of their own, or are tickets sold individually? Do you generally include an auction or any other interactive elements? 

After listing out these various programming sections you can then decide which you would like to transfer into the online space. There are always creative solutions out there. So if you aren’t sure what’s possible, just ask our team to discuss some ideas. 

Important factors for hosting galas online 

Many considerations will be very similar to those of an in-person event. But there will be extra challenges when it comes to moving an event online. How can we bring the energy of a live event into the online space? How can we make everyone feel like they are part of the event and really imbue it with a sense of occasion? Here are a few areas to consider.

Anticipation 

This is a big factor with any live event. Looking forward to a special occasion and planning for it is part of the fun. People may just be logging on to a laptop in the sitting room, but we can still make an event of it! 

How about sending your guests a beautifully designed invite through the post? People might well be wondering what to wear to a charity gala event. So give them a fun dress code or perhaps a theme to dress their space for. Send them a cocktail menu with ingredients to stock up on, or even a party package of food and drinks to open on the night. 

Pacing and timing 

These are hugely important factors for any event, but even more so when planning a virtual gala fundraiser. In our ultra-connected world, people can be very easily distracted. So you’ll need to keep the program varied and dynamic in order to hold people’s attention. Short and sweet is the name of the game here. Ideally, the whole event should last between 60 and 90 minutes and be broken down into varied sections. 

Choice of host 

This is another key element for virtual galas and has a big impact on their success. You should choose a lively and reasonably tech-savvy host to lead the event and keep it flowing smoothly. This might be someone from your organization or it could be a professional master of ceremonies or host. 

Fundraising nuts and bolts 

You will need to consider exactly what means your virtual fundraising gala will use to raise funds. Should it be by selling tickets to the event only, or will you include some sort of auction or giving process within the event? 

Putting together a promo celebrating your achievements to date can be a great way to engage people and inspire them to donate. Using bespoke dynamic graphics to track the amount you raise in real-time can also be very compelling.

Audience Engagement 

It is important that people feel they are taking part in a virtual gala rather than being a passive viewer. This can be done in any number of ways. Perhaps by incorporating a game or a quiz into the program or even a best-dressed competition.

You could offer your guests a cocktail-making demo and workshop or invite a musician that takes song requests. We have quite a few tricks up our sleeves. So get in touch with the team for some interactive gala program samples and ideas. 

Entertainment

Virtual gala ideas could include many of those that you might offer at an in-person event. Music, comedy, keynote speakers, awards, or auctions can all be brought into the online space with great success. 

The more complicated the program the more challenging it can be to bring it all together smoothly. This is where some technical expertise can be indispensable. Having a team in place to look after audio-visual mixing will leave you free to focus on your part in the event. 

And there’s no need to confine things to the sitting room either. With our digital know-how, we could transport your speakers and performers into entirely different environments. Incorporating advanced graphics, augmented reality and 3D spaces can take your virtual gala to the next level. 

Get in touch with the SmartWorks team to discuss your plans. Together we will create a unique and engaging virtual gala that people will be talking about for weeks to come.  

Virtual Networking Ideas

Networking is one of the ways to thrive and attain excellence in a profession. When you network with prospects and experts/colleagues in your industry, you stand a chance to pick up industry trends and close more deals than ever before.    

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, most networking ideas range from hosting a social event for charity to seminars for prospective clients. But the pandemic has changed our lives in numerous ways. A lot of  countries imposed lockdown, flight restrictions, and social distancing to curb the spread of the virus. All these safety measures make it hard to network.

But what if there are creative networking event ideas that allow you to host events from the comfort of your home?

In a moment, we will look at some of these networking event ideas. Not only are these ideas hassle-free, but they can also be a saving grace for issues such as flight delay, traffic, and emergencies.  Without further ado, let’s get down to it.

Virtual Coffee Chats 

Apart from the benefits to human health, coffee brings the best in people. It brings productivity at work, improves meetings, sets the mood for engaging conversations in work meetings.

Which brings us to: How do virtual coffee chats work? 

Virtual coffee chats is a meeting set up with people you intend to add to your growing network. This is just like showing up for a meeting in a coffee shop. The only difference is  it is via video software like Zoom and Skype. 

Coffee chat can either be in the form of a group discussion or a one-on-one coffee chat. As mentioned earlier, the virtual coffee chat networking idea will help set the mood of your attendees.

Audio-only Discussion

The truth is not everyone would like to have a virtual video meeting with you, and this is why you need to consider their preference before hosting any virtual networking event.

This networking  idea is ideal for attendees that would not favor video meetings. Audio-only Softwares like Clubhouse and QurantineChat allow you to discuss with people while you are driving and strolling. Think of audio-only discussions as a revamped old telephone conversation.

Not only that, you won’t need to go through the stress of setting the stage or  worrying over your lighting position. 

Apart from the stress-free factor of audio-only discussions, it is always cost-effective for people on a tight budget. 

Virtual Fundraising Events

Fundraising for a good cause is indeed a noble gesture. But the COVID-19 safety measures make it hard to host parties in most countries. Hosting virtual fundraising events is a perfect way to do some good and network with people.

Facebook Live and Youtube Watch Party are some of the best channels to host events like this. These channels allow you to broadcast real-time video and engage your guests. In this virtual event, there will be an order of events, presentations, auctions, art exhibitions, raffles, and more. 

Virtual fundraising events require that  your guests are to dress for the occasion from their respective homes. Also, if it’s not too much trouble, you can send wine before the event to spice things up. 

Roundtable Event 

Are you thinking of hosting virtual networking that gives room for intellectual discussion?

Then you should host a roundtable event. A roundtable event is like killing two birds with one stone.

First, your attendees will be able to rub minds together. And  secondly, it’s perfect to network new people.

When you have large numbers of attendees, it is advisable to divide them into groups. For instance, let’s say you have 50 attendees for a roundtable event. You can group them into a group of 5.

Virtual Games

Networking is not limited to coffee talks, meetings, and fundraising parties. A lot of people network via recreational activities such as golf, poker, and non-violent spar fights.

With that said, there are virtual games that allow you and your companion to have a great time and network at the same time. Some of these virtual games are:

• • Houseparty
  • Watson Adventures’ Virtual Hunts
  • Monopoly
  • Virtual soccer games and many more.   

Conclusion- Tips for Hosting Virtual Networking Events

Now that you are familiar with virtual networking ideas, you should start planning weeks before the event. 

Also, first impressions are crucial in every meeting. Therefore, you must create a good impression with your attendees. Here are some tips and tricks for virtual networking events:

1. First, you need to ensure that where you intend to have this event is a serene environment. A virtual coffee chat in a public coffee shop is not a good idea. Choose  a quiet place where you won’t be distracted. 
2. Examine everything you need for your virtual event, from ring lights to your internet connection to mics. 
3. Keep your attendees informed before the virtual networking event. Make sure they are aware of any changes in the event. 

Spring Event Ideas

There are quite a few attributes distinguishing springtime from other seasons. One of them is that the season is associated with the sowing of crops. In spring, all plants begin to grow, and animals/birds start nesting and reproducing. Other than that, the spring season is also ideal for hosting spring theme party events.

Shortly, we will be looking at some of the spring events ideas. Let us get down to it. 

Cactus Spring Events

Cactus plants are a good reminder of the warmth that comes with the spring season. The plant is known for its ability to stand the test of time. Figuratively, when someone sends you a vase of Cactus plant, it indicates that they care a lot about you and consider you to be determined. All these are attributes make hosting a Cactus spring event is perfect ideal. When you host this event, you will be sending a positive vibe to your colleagues, business partners, and prospective clients.

But what are Cactus Spring Work Events like? What are the things that have to be in place in this event?

Here, there is enough room to channel your inner creativity. You can easily decorate items like cookies, cupcakes, cakes, invitation cards, balloons, or even glasses of wine to be Cactus-themed. 

This event can be a do-it-yourself event. But when you think about all the time and commitments invested in organizing this event, you will realize it will more likely take a toll on your day-to-day activities.     

Corporate Scavenger Hunts 

Are you considering an adventurous and fun team-building activity for you and your colleagues? Then you should consider the next spring event ideas on the list.

A corporate scavenger hunt is an adventurous spring event. It is also classified as a DIY event. Participants can either team up or participate in the conquest individually. Here, the team/person with the highest points wins. Below are some of the tips and tricks of organizing a corporate scavenger hunt.

• • First, you need to come with a long list of adventurous tasks. 
  • Now that you have a list of exciting tasks, set a timer for each task on the list. Make it safe but not too easy. 
  • The more the number of participants, the more fun and adventurous a corporate scavenger hunt will be. So try as much as possible to get a large crowd for this event. 
  • Ensure there is a grand prize to be won. 

Rallying

Rallying has been around since the pre-World War 1 era. The event is like Forza Horizon 4 racing video game. The only difference is, this time, the racing is real. 

The spring theme idea is a perfect way to blow off some steam with your colleagues and business partners. You can also make it more than the regular rallying events by organizing a vintage car-themed event. 

Instead of rallying with regular cars, it can be with vintage cars like Jaguar E-type, Chevrolet Corvette, Porsche 911, and other good stuff. The idea of this event is exciting. Right? 

Carnival Themed Events

Carnivals are exciting and can take us back in time. There are many carnival-themed events you can host. Some of these spring party themes are:

• • Mardi Gras in New Orleans 
  • Binche Carnival in Belgium
  • Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife in Spain 
  • Rio de Janeiro in Brazil

Hosting a carnival-themed event is colorful and memorable, but it requires a lot of planning. 

Movies and Books Inspired Themed Event

Finally, you can host an April themed event inspired by a classic movie or book. For instance, April in Paris is a popular springtime song composed by Vernon Duke in 1932. There is also a 1952 spring movie with the name (April in Paris). 

You can also host events inspired by best-selling books like Harry Potter and To Kill a Mockingbird by Haper Lee.    

For this event, your attendees have to dress as their favorite character in a movie or book. The theme should reflect the menus and decor for the springtime event. 

Hiring an Event Management Agency for a Spring Event 

The truth is it’s hard to organize springtime on your own. There is the time factor. There is getting the deco and menu right. Don’t get me started with the outfit for a themed party. 

The point is the nuts and bolts of a spring event can be too much to handle on your own. This is one of the reasons hiring an event management agency can be a pretty smart choice. But do not hire randomly. Do your homework before hiring and ensure that the agency covers the complete spectrum of your event that cuts across venue selection, logistics, transportation, to mention a few. 

When you decide on SmartWorks, every aspect of your event is covered. Not only that, we understand the needs of diverse cultures. We believe every event we manage is unique. 

What is a Hybrid Event?

A hybrid event is a conference, meeting, virtual team building, trade show, or event that combines online or digital experiences with in-person components. Hybrid events have enormous scope regarding digital components. They can incorporate live streaming sessions, facial recognition technology, AI, AR, and VR to create innovative experiences for all attendees.

There is no set formula for hybrid events; they offer event planners a wealth of avenues to harness their creativity.

Hybrid events provide the perfect alternative to event cancellations in a world disrupted by COVID-19. The last twelve months have had an enormous impact on the global events industry, with the pandemic changing the way we work, travel, and communicate.

Hybrid meetings help streamline events by harnessing digital technology to enable and enhance communications. A hybrid event could help your business to engage with global audiences from the comfort of your office, launch a new product, organise virtual team building activities or conduct critical market research.

Hybrid Event Examples

TwitchCon

Twitch is the world’s largest gaming streaming platform, where millions of users share their gaming experiences every day. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that they utilize live streaming power for their annual TwitchCon event. 

TwitchCon brings together gaming fans and live streamers from all over the world in both a virtual and in-person capacity.

Apple Special Events

Apple Special Events are some of the world’s most famous tech events, with delegates attending from all over the world. For this reason, Apple chose a hybrid event format for their special announcements and product launches.

Hybrid event technology helps Apple ensure that announcements, new releases, and demonstrations are accessible to a captive global audience.

MozCon

Another excellent example of an annual hybrid event is MozCon, a B2B digital marketing conference that streams and records all of the sessions taking place at a physical venue.

Due to the enormous variety of disciplines and topics covered at MozCon, it’s vital that the audience access information during and after the event; this allows delegates to absorb essential information at their own pace.

Benefits of Hybrid Events

Hybrid events provide a range of benefits to both event planners and attendees. These include:

Increased Attendance and Reach

Hybrid events help you to capture more attendees and increase your reach. This is typically for two reasons; first, attendees are unsure what benefits there are to attending the event physically, and second, because geographic restrictions make traveling impossible or expensive.

Increased Engagement

Adding virtual elements to your live events can create multiple opportunities for increasing engagement during the event and once it’s finished. Your audience can simply participate from a mobile phone, tablet, or computer.

Technology enables participants to like, share, and comment at the click of a button. For example, you may host a guest speaker and harness technology to allow a live Q&A session at your event. This event could be combined with an intimate Twitter Q&A later in the day, doubling the opportunities to engage with your audience.

Greater Flexibility

Consider the negative implications if a physical event you had spent months planning was canceled due to COVID-19 restrictions. Hybrid events give you the flexibility to refund physical tickets and host the entire event as an online streaming experience.

With the inclusion of hybrid elements as a backup plan, there is no need to cancel your events, which means you wouldn’t have wasted valuable time and resources, and your attendees will not be disappointed.

Online Team Building

Continue to strengthen the bonds and engagement of your employees through virtual team events, which provide multiple online tools for training and motivation.

Hybrid Event Production: Successful Planning Tips

When planning a hybrid event, the following tips should bolster your success:

• Start with an event mission

A clear event mission helps to ensure your attendees remember and talk about the event. Whether you’re creating a virtual trade show or presenting a B2B talk, smart event branding can help you achieve your marketing goals. Consider creating a tagline or motto that your audience can share and search for after your event.

• Invest in content creation

Whether you hire 3D projection mapping experts to turn your event into a visual sensation or work with social media strategists to ensure you reach your audience where they source information, content is crucial.

• Consider audience engagement and interaction.

Hybrid events combine in-person audiences with virtual attendees. Therefore, audience engagement can be pivotal to the event’s success. How will you engage online viewers? What technology can you use to make them feel a part of the event? How will you make your hybrid event memorable for all?

Work with SmartWorks

SmartWorks can help you harness the latest hybrid event trends to create world-class experiences. We’ll work side-by-side with your corporate event planning team, creating seamless events from start to finish. We can also help you with AV production and answer any questions you may have regarding how to plan a conference.  

Start planning your hybrid event today.