blog

Who will use Halls for Hire?

Thu, 09 Jun 2011 00:56:16 +0100

Halls for Hire, the website has now been open for venues in Victoria for a week. And I often ask, what sort of venues are going to get really excited about using a site like this... churches, scout groups, council run halls, community centres.... there are so many great venues out there that don't have a voice. Very soon we will open up the website to NSW, and then QLD and the rest of Australia before pressing activate on our search functionality and opening up the website for uses to search. As we wait, I just had to share an amazing email I got yesterday, by a very excited Josh Morshead from the Port Phillip Community group who sent through these comments;

"Firstly, congratulations on getting this fantastic business venture started!! I’m the manager of 11 community facilities located in public housing that are available to be used by the wider community, and I’m always looking for new ways to try and get the word out. I’ve found there’s just no central way of getting the word out there that these great communal spaces are here and that yes, they’ve very much available for use! Within a community development program that runs on next to no funding, I’m always looking for ways to bring extra revenue to put back into the program, and this just sounds ideal."

Thank you Josh, and I look forward to seeing those listings up on halls for hire and more importantly the venues getting used by the wider community!

Have you got a hall for hire?

Mon, 30 May 2011 13:21:32 +0100

With so many community halls and small venues standing empty and so many people ALWAYS looking for a space for their birthday parties, business meeting, adult classes, play groups and so many other functions - the two now have a place to come together.

www.hallsforhire.com.au is an easy website to use; for organisations to list their venues and people to find them.

If your not very tech savvy, check out these easy tutorials to learn how to list your venue and start bringing in more people into your hall!

The Biggest Event of the Century!

Thu, 28 Apr 2011 03:03:18 +0100

Regardless of what you think of the spectacle, the endless telemovies or the host of reporters coming to us "live from London", there is no denying that the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton is a likely to be the biggest event of the year, if not the century! And big events, bring big opportunities and big lessons to learn for us little people :)

Check out this James Thomson's - 10 marketing lessons from the Royal Wedding for an interesting read on how to market your own events.

Click Here for the Smart Company Blog

Venue Finding - Halls for Hire

Fri, 15 Apr 2011 01:33:55 +0100

Things don’t really start taking shape until you book and confirm the venue for your event. Although this is the obvious starting point, it is not always the easiest of decisions to make, especially here in Australia where we are spoiled for choice with some amazing venues. We have venues that inspire themes, intimacy, romance, productivity and many blank canvases to do with what we choose! We have venue spaces that cater specifically for small intimate gatherings of 10 to 60 people right up to the thousands. Below are some of the key things to think about while you are searching out the venue for your next event.

For more information about what you should think about when looking for the right venue for you, check out this 8 point guide about questions to ask and things to think about - click here to read now

At Event-ism we are always thinking about ways to make finding the perfect venue easier - we are currently developing some really exciting projects to help promote and find community venues - if you have a community hall or unique venue and would like to be added to our database, please click here and get in touch with us! More information will be coming out soon as we explore these exciting ventures!

2010, A Year In Review

Fri, 07 Jan 2011 02:49:14 +0100

2010 was such a big year, I thought why not have a look back at some of the amazing events we're had the privilege to be a part of. For us, running these events is such an honor, so much fun was had, a few tears were shed, lots of laughs for all and some amazing moments many will never forget.....

The one year anniversary of the devastating Black Saturday Bush Fires. This picture was taken on the Kinglake oval, a message of thanks to the whole of Australia. An emotional, but really special day.

The itSMF Australia, National LeadIT Conference - three jam-packed days of insightful training sessions, a fantastic Expo and some supper fun social events including the inspirational breakfast, fun games night and of course, the Gala Dinner pictured above.

How could we forget all the excitement of giving away a whopping $50,000 to one lucky young fisherman! Plus we got to promoted the Lake Eildon & Goulburn River area bringing in over 2000 tourists for this fun event.

Our first international conference took us to Cambodia for this inspiring Early Warning Conference.

So many other great events made 2010 an amazing year, full of people coming together to learn, teach, laugh and cry. Here is hoping that 2011 brings us all much love, laughter, success and learnings.
HAPPY 2011!

Becoming an Event Manager

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 13:16:14 +0100

I often have people ask me how I got into Event Management. For me, I studied theatre and media and worked for many years for Melbourne Workers Theatre in the office/production side of the Melbourne Fringe Theatre scene. This background in theatre was a great base for me and allowed me to move into events without too many problems (although when I first started I wasn't convinced the two industries where similar, I now see my boss and teacher was right - they are exactly the same, although in events you have to let your audience think you have less control over them!)

After working in the events industry for many years, I have heard many different stories of how people got into this industry, all very different. For anyone who comes to me asking how to do it, I always say go out and volunteer! Ever big event I work on (and many small) rely on volunteers for so many jobs. All you have to do is put your hand up.

If study is more for you, why not look into this 4 day Executive Certificate in Event Management

Run by The Australian Centre for Event Management (ACEM) based at the University of Technology in Sydney (UTS), They will be coming to Melbourne (and other major cities) sharing their Event Management stylings with the rest of us

The course is designed for

Event Managers or Coordinators of corporate, business or special events
Governments employees or agencies involved in events
Event consultants

and there are no pre-requisites for enrolling in the course. Click here for the course brochure

Eco Events

Tue, 18 May 2010 05:29:37 +0100

I have had so many people talking to me recently about ways to make their next event eco-friendly. I have an awards night coming up which is aiming to be the most Green Event staged in Australia - we are looking at every way we can reduce their footprint, from the material used in making the awards themselves, an eco friendly venue, sustainable food produce served, excessive travel, EVERYTHING!

I have conference coming up which is all geared around Eco - looking at the Gala Dinner, how do we use eco as a theme? I think we've settled on the element - think Captain Planet!

Now, I have been reading about Eco Weddings! Have a look at this impressive list of things to think about to reduce the effect your event has on the environment

http://www.gmagazine.com.au/features/1976/my-big-fat-green-wedding

Events Check List

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 02:04:41 +0100

To run an event you need to be organized and think ahead to see any problems that may happen in. A great way to get organized is to keep check of everything with lists. I have lists for just about everything especially at the early stages of planning and in those final weeks. It is of the utmost importance that nothing is over looked. For a great starting point, have a look at the link below for a comprehensive checklist that you can use or alter to suit your need.

http://www.sua.umn.edu/groups/forms/event_planning.pdf

Entertainment..... what do you need?

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 23:03:53 +0100

Adding entertainment to your event can really make it special and something that people will remember and talk about for a long time.

Moments to consider adding entertainment include:

Welcome Entertainment

- How nice for guests to be greeted when they enter your function. Perhaps the venue is a little hard to find, how about a man on stilts! Or maybe some fire breathers will make the entrance feel a little bit more grand. Want even more attention? Roving drummers can make a venue come alive by adding colour, movement and music all at once! Welcoming guests with entertainment can be used in any type of event, conferences and promotional events it works a treat and the list of options are limited only by your imagination!

Wandering Entertainment

- Some of the best entertainment comes out of those little moments that only a handful of people experience at one time. Wandering through a crowd, how special it is to have entertainers talking to and interacting with guests, acting as pure entertainment, guiding guests to where you want them or promoting an element of the event. This interaction is creative, its different and it makes a night really special. It can add to you theme, add humor or elegance or be a walking talking promotion of your product!

Floor Show

- If you want to pull out all the stops why not arrange a floorshow to entertain your guests. A floorshow can be that added extra or it can work within the theme of the whole event. A comedian, magician or musical act can have a wow factor, or working in the theme perhaps a circus theme might have some aerial acrobatics or an Opera singer for a theater theme. The choices are endless! You can even get guests involved by having dancers perform an amazing routine and then pull people out of the crowd and onto the dance floor!

Music - Of course one of the most important element of entertainment at any event is the music. Wandering minstrels can cause a stir at the start of the night, elegant jazz or stings can set the mood and famous faces really pack a punch! When it comes to dancing the night away, it is limited only to your budget. DJ’s can really get things going, duos and trios can do covers and then there are the rock bands! Cover bands can range from 4 or 5 players right through to show bands of 10 or 11 with full costume changes and choreographed dancers. If you want something really spectacular you can even get your guests dancing to the sounds of a traditional Big Band or even a full orchestra!

There are a number of different styles of entertainment to choose from and deciding what is best is often like walking through a minefield. Make sure that the entertainers you select are professional and can deliver what they promise! It is best to see performers in action or have them suggested by an expert. If your dealing direct with artists, it is important to talk through exactly what you expect.

If you need some guidance on what entertainment is available and reliable options contact Event-ism and we will set up a consultation to advice you on some of the best choices available!

Brides-to-Be, be warned!

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 05:35:55 +0100

Fake Expos the Latest Scam to Target Bridges-to-Be

As reported by Brigid Sweeney | AOL News | BOSTON

"You can, apparently, be jilted long before you walk down the aisle.

Some 5,000 Boston brides-and-grooms-to-be learned this the hard way on Monday, when local police and the FBI announced the bridal convention they had registered for -- billed as New England's biggest and most extravagant -- was a sham.

Boston police said the would-be attendees bought tickets for $10 to $15 each, while another 100 to 200 wedding-industry vendors were conned out of $350 to $4,000 for floor space at The Boston 411 Home & Bridal Show 2010, which was to be held this weekend. Officials at the Hynes Convention Center were only alerted when vendors began calling to inquire when they could set up their booths.

The perpetrators, who advertised for months via an eventbrite.com Web site, Facebook, and Twitter, lured betrothed shoppers with promises of goody bags and raffle prizes, and said portions of the event's proceeds would go to Haiti earthquake victims.

Though more elaborate than most, the scam was by no means an uncommon occurrence for an industry where starry eyes are accompanied by open wallets, and most vendors require significant financial deposits months before the big day....

... Some dress shops, for example, will cut out the labels from gowns, making it impossible for brides to comparison shop -- or even discern whether it's a designer or an imposter. Photographers will hold pictures hostage until the newlyweds pay an extra $500, or send a less-experienced colleague to shoot the big event; venues will tack on surcharges like cake-cutting fees that run into the hundreds of dollars. Limo companies advertise with images of luxury Escalade and Hummer vehicles, but then send an old beater instead.

Most of these cons are completely avoidable so long as the couple has a crystal-clear contract stipulating every last detail, from the name of the photographer to the specific make of limo and pick-up time. Verbal promises, obviously, invite trouble"