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Sponsorship…Free Money, Right?

January 25, 2012 in Event Essentials

Let’s look at the following scenario: You’ve been tasked with producing an event for your company/organization. The people responsible for putting you on the spot have very high expectations. Problem is, there’s very little budget. What’s a planner to do? How about getting sponsors to help supplement your paltry budget? I’m sure you’re been to other events that have had sponsors, so obviously you can do it too. Now, where to begin?

The first question you have to ask yourself is, “What is a sponsor?” This is someone you want to give you a product, service, or cash. The best way to think of a sponsor is to think of them as your “Event Partner”. Using this thought process you’ll better find the right match for your event. Keep in mind that the sponsor wants something from you in return. This brings us to question number two.

The second question to ask yourself is, “What do I have to offer?” Sponsors don’t sponsor based solely on your pretty face and sparkling wit (Well, most of the time). They will want something in return. This is referred to R.O.S., or Return On Sponsorship. This could be in the form of advertising, event signage, or stage time. You have to make sure what you’re offering is in line with what you expect from your sponsors. For example, don’t ask for $5000 cash and offer a logo in the program as the return. That’s just not good business.

We spend time this week talking with Betsy Wiersma, CSEP from Wiersma Experience Marketing and Mary N. Litzsinger, CSEP of VP Events, Inc. about event sponsorship and tips for making smart connections with potential event partners.

Remember to listen to Event Essentials every Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. (repeats at 4:00 p,m., 9:00 p.m., and 2:00 a.m.) on www.michiganbusinessnetwork.com, where we discuss Events and how they relate to your business.

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Presenting…Presenting!

January 18, 2012 in Event Essentials, Technical

Present – pre·sent [v. pri-zent; n. prez-uhnt] to show or exhibit; to bring forth or render for or before another or others; offer for consideration; to set forth in words; frame or articulate; stand in front of a bunch of people and show pretty pictures on projection screens utilizing either PowerPoint or Keynote.

Okay, all the previous definitions were directly lifted from the Dictionary.com website, with the exception of the last. That was my own doing. Pretty much sums it up, right? Wrong! The whole idea, concept, field, profession, etc., of presenting is both deep and complex. There is a psychology to proper professional presenting (lots of p’s there) and to ignore some time honored and carefully crafted techniques can land you in the middle of a snooze fest, or worse, out of a job.

How often do you think about who will be in attendance before you begin your presentation preparation? You do prepare in advance, right? How about the time of day? What about lunch? Microphones? PowerPoint slides? Lighting? These are just a few considerations to take into account while preparing for that time on stage.

There is so much information to consider, it’s often best to get some help while creating your presentation. For example, do you know what color works best for the background of a PowerPoint slide? What about the color of the font? How big should your letters be on the screen? Should I write out my script on the slides for the audience to see? Next, think about your audience and how you want to deliver information to them. Will you be having roundtable discussions? Who will keep the audience focused and moving forward in a positive direction? How do you keep them focused on you and not the sunshiny day right outside the window?

We spend time this week speaking with Aaron Wolowiec, founder and president of Event Garde LLC about presenting, how to present, and some tips and tricks to help make your presentation the best darn presentation it can be. Oh, and one more thing, we discuss one of the greatest presenters in the history of presenting, Steve Jobs, and why he was so successful. Hello, Apple Computer? Anyone? Pixar? Ringing a bell yet? You can listen to the interview with Aaron here-

http://www.michiganbusinessnetwork.com/radio/2012/01/17/Event_Essentials_S2_Aaron_Wolowiec
http://www.michiganbusinessnetwork.com/radio/2012/01/17/Event_Essentials_S3_Aaron_Wolowiec
http://www.michiganbusinessnetwork.com/radio/2012/01/17/Event_Essentials_S4_Aaron_Wolowiec
http://www.michiganbusinessnetwork.com/radio/2012/01/17/Event_Essentials_S5_Aaron_Wolowiec

Remember to listen to Event Essentials every Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. (repeats at 4:00 p,m., 9:00 p.m., and 2:00 a.m.) on www.michiganbusinessnetwork.com, where we discuss Events and how they relate to your business.

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In-Ear Monitors

January 10, 2012 in Technical

Technisch Creative is proud to announce a new relationship with Westone – The In-Ear Experts®. Technisch Creative is an authorized retailer with access to the full line of Westone Products, including custom fit and universal fit products, as well as personal listening and hearing protection. Westone are the pioneers of in-ear musician monitoring and have been in business since 1959. Hundreds of professional working musicians and athletes use and trust Westone with their custom music experience.

Over the coming weeks we’ll be featuring different Westone products and introduce you to new possibilities in music enjoyment. Call Jim at 517-908-0013 to discuss Westone and how to change your perception of music.

©2012 Technisch Creative

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Why Certify?

January 10, 2012 in Category 2

How many times have you thought to yourself, “If only I had some fancy letters after my name, then people would surely take me seriously.”? You see them every day in all walks of life. The M.D. you saw for your annual checkup. The CPA who does your taxes. The CFP that handles your financial planning and retirement. What’s the common thread with the alpahbet soup after those names? Those folks have gone through some form of education and received formal recognition and certification from a governing body that oversees these sorts of things.

By going through the process of certification, you’re showing the world that yes, you are a professional, and have worked really hard to get there. Imagine going to a doctor that said he was an M.D., but there wasn’t someone certifying they were competent and knew their elbow from their…well, you know what we mean. The results could be disastrous, possibly deadly. But, luckily for us, the states have regulatory bodies that ensure a doctor really did go to medical school and is able to show proof.

At this point you’re again saying to yourself, “That’s great and all, but I don’t work in the medical or financial fields. I plan events for XYZ Corporation.” (XYZ Corporation is the name of a fake company we’re using as an example for descriptive purposes only. If you own or are an attorney (JD) for XYZ Corporation, we offer our sincerest apologies and would like to assure you this is in no way representative of your real company.) Anyway, the point is that there’s good news for you  too event planner from <Insert Company Name Here>. There are several certifications from different organizations/governing bodies that are specifically related to the events industry. What better way to find out more information on this subject than to interview two people directly involved with the educational portion of the process. We spoke with Cheryl Ronk, CAE, CMP, President and Chief Executive of Michigan Society of Association Executives and Jodie Cady, CMP, Events Manager for Michigan Association of REALTORS®. Find out what they had to say about the benefits of getting those fancy letters after your name and the value you can bring to your organization’s next event.

http://www.michiganbusinessnetwork.com/radio/2012/01/10/Event_Essentials_S2_Cheryl_Ronk
http://www.michiganbusinessnetwork.com/radio/2012/01/10/Event_Essentials_S3_Cheryl_Ronk
http://www.michiganbusinessnetwork.com/radio/2012/01/10/Event_Essentials_S4_Jodie_Cady
http://www.michiganbusinessnetwork.com/radio/2012/01/10/Event_Essentials_S5_Jodie_Cady

Oh, and if you’re spending as much time talking to yourself as the previous examples, you should definitely check out the educational opportunities mentioned in the show. You could use a bit more time in the presence of other humans.

Listen to Event Essentials every Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. (repeats at 4:00 p,m., 9:00 p.m., and 2:00 a.m.) on www.michiganbusinessnetwork.com, where we discuss Events and how they relate to your business.

©2012 Technisch Creative

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The New Year and The Resolutions We Make (and promise to keep this year, we swear)

January 3, 2012 in Category 1

Happy New Year

Each new year brings the promise of a fresh start and a renewed sense of purpose. We look back at the previous year and try to figure out what went right and where we might find some room for improvement. Then it’s time for some reflection and introspection (often accompanied by holiday deserts and a nice glass of wine or eggnog). What we glean from our food and alcohol comas are often the resolutions we are going to make for the upcoming year.

The most common resolution is, of course, lose weight and get in shape. This is also the most commonly broken resolution. For those who make a trip to the gym a regular routine, the first two weeks of the new year tend to be the hardest. There’s always a wait for your favorite treadmill, the weight machines are overrun with folks wondering how they actually work, and there’s never enough parking. Patience is your virtue here, as the majority will lose interest and suddenly find other things that are vastly more important in their daily lives.
From losing weight, we get into other healthier habits, such as quitting smoking, eating healthier foods and dieting, drinking less, and being less stressed. Valiant and noble goals, we applaud and encourage your quest for a longer life.
Finally, there’s the lifestyle changes that just make us better people. Some like to learn a new skill or language, spend more time with the family, volunteer, or travel to new places. All worthy goals and all making us more interested in life and more interesting in general.
One of the best ways to approach resolutions (goals, promises, vows, whatever) is to share and discuss what you would like to change and the approach you intend to follow. You’d be surprised how many like-minded people there are that can encourage and help you on your path to success. We decided to ask a few peers what their top three Event Resolutions were for the new year and what steps they would take to achieve their goals. Here’s a sample of what they had to say…

Pamela Patsavas (Freeman) – stay on top of industry publications and learn new and exciting apps for her iPad. http://www.michiganbusinessnetwork.com/radio/2012/01/03/Event_Essentials_S3_Pamela_Patsavas
Ken Ash (Walt Disney World) – Get your Production team involved earlier in the process and avoid golf balls in your yard. http://www.michiganbusinessnetwork.com/radio/2012/01/03/Event_Essentials_S4_Ken_Ash_
Shawnna Estrella (Show Ready Events) – Take care of her health while on the road and utilize social networking more for non-profit clients. http://www.michiganbusinessnetwork.com/radio/2012/01/03/Event_Essentials_S2_Shawnna_Estrella
Jolene Jang (The Meeting Maximizer) – Watch two TED talks a day to spark creativity and create an app for Meeting Planners. http://www.michiganbusinessnetwork.com/radio/2012/01/03/Event_Essentials_S5_Jolene_Jang

Listen to Event Essentials every Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. (repeats at 4:00 p,m., 9:00 p.m., and 2:00 a.m.) on www.michiganbusinessnetwork.com, where we discuss Events and how they relate to your business.

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