Event planners looking for a theme around which to build a novel attraction would do well to take a look at a Hawaii surf theme.
But before you jump in, consider the factors behind this seemingly obvious recommendation, as many event planners have been left with the theme that sounds the best, but a small turnout or, possibly worse, a large crowd turning up. Find yourself bored and Wondering what to do next.
There are a number of elements that, when incorporated into an event, help make it a success from the point of publicity to that very late hour when the last few guests are finally told they really have to go. These elements are the same whether it’s casino night, clam pie, or a barnyard party. These are the elements that will often make or break your event.
To a large extent, these elements are the same when planning exhibits when your success depends on getting people to stop at your exhibit among the dozens of others vying for their attention. After all, we all know the feeling of running a booth where the only people in it are the leftovers from the adjacent booth, right?
Give them a theme!
An event without a strong theme is just a function. Not all bad, but hardly the thing that creates memories. The path to excitement begins when people are curious or excited about your event, and engaging topics will play a big role in establishing that level of interest. So where do you start?
Give them something exotic!
Folks in Boise, Idaho might not get too excited about a Midwestern BBQ Night, but those of us here in the islands who have never ridden in a wagon full of hay would delight in corn on the cob and pulled pork from the spit in between throwing horseshoes and splinters of cow dung.
At the same time, give our Midwestern friends the chance to participate in a big-wave surfing contest while their leis-clad friends with mai-tais in hand cheer them on, and you’ll get the first element of a successful event: a sampler. of the exotic!
Exotic is really anything that is attractively different from what we are used to. Our ability to offer something to our guests that places them in another time or place during the few hours they are with us will determine the excitement and appeal of the event for them.
Give them a challenge!
Horseshoes, cook-your-own, surf contests, craps, poker, blackjack, and dance classes all offer one thing in common: the opportunity for your guests to engage in a challenge…not so much with each other but with the activity. . This is a key element for instant camaraderie that allows your guests to talk about a common and exciting topic.
Selecting the activities is key and the best ones are those that are as much fun to watch as they are to do! Consider walking into a large convention hall and hearing people shout and laugh instead of the hum of muffled conversations that reflect their high class cocktails and you have the difference between an activity and an event!
Give them an environment they will talk about!
Imagine walking into your event site and finding hay all over the floor…or sand…or discarded peanut shells. The environment you create is what allows you to take your guests to a place they will find enchanting, simply because it is so different from the environment they left when they entered the room. Items like coconut trees, haystacks, and royal spits are worth their weight in gold when paired with food, activities, and entertainment that tie in with the theme.
Settings that provide photo opportunities… the seven foot tiki, Paul Bunyan’s stool or a blackjack dealer’s uniform and table are all elements that encourage your guests to pose for photos within your event. This is your best advertisement for future event planning contracts and will delight your guests at the same time.
Give them food and drink in style!
While everyone knows how to serve Mai-Tais and pineapple smoothies at a Hawaiian-themed event, you can also get by with a fairly ordinary meal with a dose of creativity. Hot dogs with Hawaiian sides, tropical-flavored snow cones, and some coconut-crusted fried shrimp aren’t Hawaiian food at all, but they’ll still draw raves from your guests!
Here again, the rule is simple. You can call it disruptive positioning, a strategy where you present your guests with something close enough to the familiar that they like it but different enough to push them out of that same familiarity zone.
Give them something to take home!
Events are more memorable when you offer a take-home item…especially when your guests are unlikely to already have one! How many do you know with their own tiki keychain, shark tooth necklace, or Tahitian pareu? The more different your event is, the easier it will be to find something unique as a gift.
For those events with good photo opportunities due to the scenery or attractions, photos are as good a giveaway as anything. And exhibitors will also appreciate the opportunity to exchange interesting giveaways for leads!
Write them down!
After the event, take advantage of any additional publicity it may generate, such as internal press releases or photos you can share with the company or online venues available to you. There’s little chance that any of the media will take notice of your event, but sponsors will probably be happy to post anything you can share about the event: winners, candid photos, messages from guests, etc. After all, the success of the event you planned is also their success!
Is anyone surfing?
So now, maybe you’re ready to jump in the water with a Hawaiian surf themed event. For those of us who live in Hawaii, hosting an exciting Hawaii-themed event is like trying to sell a saltwater fish. However, when adding a single device like the video surfing simulatoryou’ve got something that will appeal to anyone, from the avid surfer to the little old lady from Pasadena and her brother in Kalamazoo.
Tea video surfing simulator is a proprietary device that allows the “pilot” to manipulate a real surfboard to control his on-screen counterpart. By truly mimicking the actions and wave riding maneuvers of real surfing, the video surfing simulator offers the closest thing to surfing out of the water. Combined with a large projection screen, the video surfing simulator it becomes a traffic-stopping attraction that no one can miss, let alone pass.
By offering guests the opportunity to participate in a surfing contest, the video surfing simulator meets the exotic, challenging, and setting aspects that will contribute to a great event. Combine that with photo opportunities and pre-event publicity, and most event planners will have an easy time developing the rest of the elements that will make the event engaging, entertaining, and talked about.
So wherever your event is, consider a Hawaiian surf theme. If it’s a big attraction on the islands, think of the impact it would have somewhere in the heart of the country!
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