Extending the Event and Marketing Experience
Posted by Kimberly LaBounty on Thu, May 26, 2011 @ 09:21 AM
Don't laugh, but I was at the NKOTBSB concert last night - for my 5-year-old! Yes, thanks to the power of YouTube, he is in love with the song, "Larger than Life." Who would ever tie the Backstreet Boys with bullet trains, but there happens to be a video with that song playing in the background. As a result, "Larger than Life" is not just a '90s throwback, but the theme song for his passion.
As a cool mom, I thought it would be great for him to see the song live, so when I saw tickets become available, I jumped at the chance - and learned a few more things about how technology is trancending our lives, expectations, the event experience. Elementry maybe, but a good reminder for event management, event marketing and social media.
- Remember - the web is a resource for anything you love. You will find channels, videos, communities who share that same love. Thanks to YouTube, we have seen bullet trains in languages and countries outside our own - no flight needed.
- Adding to the event experience doesn't have to cost much. The video wasn't done by movie production experts but still sent a message that resonates. Even at the concert, the opening act simply had three 3'x8' video panels as her backdrop - and boy did they provide impact, with little set-up!
- Then there's the reminder of how important that "wow" factor will always be - lights, choreography, sparkle, and sounds. (and in this case, good-looking men). It could have been a concert of just singing - but what a difference, what an experience and what a memory. So it is with meeting management - it could be just another educational session, but adding special touches can make the difference.
- Speaking of experience - my special moment was seeing my son's face when BSB played that "bullet train song," dancing on his chair. But my other son's experience had to be captured on video - I think he spent as much time videotaping the concert and taking photos as he did actually seeing it without a lens. Why? To take it to school today to show his friends. (he's too young for facebook - or I'm sure it would have been posted). That is why as association managers, marketers and meeting planners we need to be sure we openly offer attendees the opportunity to share their experiences - and encourage it - because they will.
So think about it - we went from a love of trains, to a YouTube video with "Larger than Life," which then prompted us to purchase the song so we can listen any time. Now it is the theme song for a passion, and led us to purchase concert tickets, resulting in my writing this blog post and my sons telling two schoolroom classes all about it - and the video and photos will last decades.