Here at 2R Creative, we know that lines happen. The event is hours away, the crowd is buzzing with excitement, and guests are starting to get antsy as they wait for the celebration to begin. How exactly do you handle the inevitable jitters and make a great first impression all at the same time? The writers at BizBash dove into this question, interviewing event professionals from all across the country to hear their tips and tricks for keeping guests entertained.
We were thankful to be asked to give our input and we had the opportunity to share some of the very best out-of-the-box pre-party entertainment ideas with them!
It was an honor to be featured on BizBash, alongside so many other great event professionals, and we are excited to share a snippet of it with you. Keep reading to see an excerpt of the feature, and find the whole article linked at the end.
“While there may not be a better way to deal with such a high-profile crowd, event planners around the country have, in fact, found ways to keep guests comfortable and entertained in the inevitable lines that come with large events, trade shows, and festivals. In addition to using pre-registration and mobile check-in to speed things up, planners are offering interactive entertainment, fun beverage options, and other tricks to keep guests happy. Here are their go-to moves,” begins author Claire Hoffman.
“Raul Rodriguez of Miami-based event agency 2R Creative suggests having a bartender who can mix signature cocktails for guests in line,” she continues.
“No pre-mixed drinks here,” he says. ”With cute garnishes and tasty drinks, your guests can occupy their time with unique sips. This and an Instagrammable moment—like a unique and over-the-top backdrop—may add a bit of a wait, but two 10- to 15-minute wait times are much more bearable than one 30-minute wait time.”
Rodriguez does not, however, recommend serving much food to guests in line. “Serving food before the actual event is somewhat odd—it draws attention to the lines and wait times, and your guests aren’t ready to eat as soon as they’ve arrived.”
To finish off, Hoffman quotes, “Look to the theme parks for examples of ways to make the line feel like part of the event, suggests Rodriguez. ‘[Theme parks] have mastered the art of keeping you entertained and distracted. With entertainment and decor tying in the overall event design, guests’ eyes, ears, and minds are occupied with wonder and awe.’”
Thank you to BizBash for inviting us to join you! To see the full feature and read up on so many great ideas, click HERE.