TaylorMade Best Practices

September 6, 2016
in TaylorMade Best Practices

Imagine you’re in the middle of registering attendees at your company’s conference. Your phone rings and you look down to see it’s the caterer, who should have been at the conference an hour ago.  As you go to pick up the call, you notice your phone is at 8% battery life. In a panic you scurry to find an outlet, only to realize the exhibit hall doesn’t have one nearby—and you can’t leave the registration table. These scenarios can—and do—happen, but they don’t have to. With the right survival kit, you...

August 2, 2016
in Above and Beyond, TaylorMade Best Practices

The guests have left and the doors are closed, and after months of planning, your event is over. You may think it’s time to move on to the next project, but we’re not done just yet. Now is the perfect time for Taylor Made Experience’s (TME) After Action Meeting and Report: our comprehensive event report and debrief meeting that follows a week or two after an event. We do this for every event and believe it is a huge part of our clients’ success. Here’s what our clients can look forward to...

July 12, 2016
in TaylorMade Best Practices

From galas to trade shows, audio visual (AV) setup is a crucial part of every event. But, if you’re not careful, AV can also be the place where even the most mindful event consultant can lose control of the price tag. Follow these tips for a seamless audio visual setup that will help you stay in budget and in control of the show: Always compare The key to staying within your budget is to find the best offer. This may mean reaching out to multiple vendors for quotes. While many venues offer in-house...

June 21, 2016
in Events, TaylorMade Best Practices

One of the most valuable assets in an event manager’s repertoire is comprehensive knowledge of venues.  We know all the best places and spaces to host a spectacular event -- whether it's a non-profit fundraiser or a corporate expo. So, if you're looking for one of the best venues in the greater Washington DC area for your next event, we've got you covered. The TaylorMade Experience (TME) team recently toured some of DC's most notable and sophisticated event spaces and we're eager to share what we learned. Below are our thoughts,...

June 8, 2016
in Events, TaylorMade Best Practices

Chances are you’ve experienced some kind of event gamification in the past. You might have seen it through an event scavenger hunt, or maybe it made a more subtle appearance through a Leaderboard of the “Top Social Media Posters” on an event’s social wall. We’ve already shared our two cents on how gamification can be a tool to increase event attendance, but the trend is also useful in other ways. Through gamification, you can make your event more interactive, inclusive, and instructive for your guests—and more informative for you. 1. Get...

May 3, 2016
in Events, TaylorMade Best Practices

In the realm of event consulting, the word “attrition” holds a ton of weight. The standard definition of the word is “the action of gradually reducing the strength of something through sustained pressure.” For event consultants, it it’s the percentage of registrants that we can expect will not attend an event. Unfortunately, no-shows are nearly guaranteed, but there are steps you can take to decrease your expected attrition. Follow our tips to ensure that your RSVP’d guests actually attend your event. Consistent Communication Early RSVP’s are some of the easiest to lose. A...

March 31, 2016
in Events, TaylorMade Best Practices

Annual conferences are a great way to facilitate networking and cultivate learning among industry professionals, but events like these can get stale over time. The biggest mistake a conference host can make is to use the same event formula each year—no one wants to attend a conference when there is nothing new to learn or hear. Keep your conference attendees engaged, and your agenda fresh by incorporating the following tips. Refresh your content Conferences come in all shapes and sizes, but the most important aspect of creating a fresh event is to refresh...

March 3, 2016
in Events, TaylorMade Best Practices

With so many moving pieces, an event is a breeding ground for miscommunications—and these types of errors can be costly to businesses. According to this Holmes Report, companies experience an estimated $37 billion in losses as a result of employee misunderstanding. That’s a whole lot of money that could easily be saved with better communication. Overall, effective communication can prevent common problems in every aspect of business—especially with the event planning process. If you want to make sure your message is getting across—and that your events are running according to plan—try...

February 25, 2016
in TaylorMade Best Practices, Tips for Nonprofit Fundraising

An event auction is a fantastic way to raise funds. Sponsors and vendors can donate must-have prizes, attendees will feel good about donating to the cause while trying to take home some new treasures, and your event will raise funds in the process—everyone wins! But while auctions are a go-to event fundraising activity, they can easily get out of control. Over the years, we’ve learned exactly what works and what doesn’t—here are just a few of the do’s and don’ts we’ve learned firsthand: DO have a live auction with a solid plan...

February 4, 2016
in TaylorMade Best Practices

As a kid, receiving a goodie bag was the highlight of any birthday party or event. Now that we’re adults, the same is true for swag bags at a conference, gala or similar event. People of all ages love to get useful items as a parting gift from a memorable event—and these giveaway items will help your guests remember you, your company, and the event for years to come! In fact, I still have an amazing engraved silver pen that was in one of my swag bags once upon a time—and...