Simply Partylicious

Come to the 1920's Mafia Murder Mystery Party this 17 February 2012!

2012-01-17T17:12:00.001+08:00

Wishing you a Simply Partylicious new year!

2012-01-03T23:01:00.000+08:00

Wedding Trends 2012

2012-01-03T22:26:00.000+08:00

2012 is the year of Romance. From the dress to the decor, think - dreamy, sentimental, love. Umm..yes, isn't that what weddings are all about? Well, we had bright colours and more quirkiness last year so this year, we're thinking more of a vintage sort of wedding. We're not saying "Stay Away from anything colourful!" (We absolutely love all things bright and shiny!) We're saying that the colours this year are more subdued.

The Chinese community has already booked auspicious dates considering the fact it is the Year of the Dragon. Good for wedding and for babies- so if you've not started planning or booking your venue, fret not, we at Best Events can help you out!

Invitation Cards

Storyboard wedding invitations are invitations which comes in a variety of layouts, like magazines, flyers, books, giving the details of the celebration in a cute and quirky way, interspersed with the love story of the couple. These have been popular in the US for about a year, but hadn’t really been seen in Malaysia. About time, don't you think?

Color Schemes

This year, feature shades from the same color family rather than just choosing two distinct hues.

For an au courant colour, reach for Pantone’s shade of the year, Tangerine Tango, which has burst onto the scene with bold reddish-orange flair. Try adding splashes of vibrant pinks and blues to the mix, or temper the hue with pretty pastels.

Fashion

Colour is moving in and finding staying power. More brides are choosing soft blush- or rose-colored gowns, or pairing white dresses with colorful shoes and bedazzled sashes.

If you loved Kate Middleton’s wedding dress, here’s some good news: Royal-wedding-inspired gowns with lace sleeves are all over salons.

If you want your dress to have a free-flowing, romantic quality, go for a shirred chiffon skirt.

While lace sleeves have been making an appearance in bridal boutiques, strapless gowns still remain the overwhelming choice for brides, and until now most have opted for simple jewellery. Missed opportunity we think. So we think a hot wedding trend 2012 will be to go big and bold and choose a statement necklace. Aside from being ultra-stylish, it is practical too - balancing out the skirt of the dress. A princess/a-line or fishtail that is heavily detailed will draw the eye. A strong, large statement necklace will bring the focus back to the face.

First-Dance Songs

The latest first-dance songs are neither Top 40 tunes nor old classics. Couples seem to be putting a lot more thought into finding that one song that really speaks to them, as opposed to going with the old standbys. Modern, quirky tracks like “Home” by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros have made appearances on the dance floor. So have Daniel Lee Kendall’s “Lost in the Moment”—which gained traction from a recent television commercial—and the Avett Brothers’ “January Wedding.”

Food

Have a guest list full of foodies who love creative flavors? Try a variation on the standard cupcake. Anticipate savory—not sweet—mini cupcakes becoming a popular cocktail-hour staple. Look for combinations like lobster and Manchego cheese with fresh chive crème icing!

Dessert Tables - Gone are the days of only having a wedding cake and maybe a groom's cake. Today, couples are offering up their favorite desserts at their receptions. From pies to cupcakes to cookies, it's a buffet of beautifully displayed flavors and options for guests.

Food on the Move vans are also a favourite among young couples having their wedding outdoors. Serving ice cream in cups to easy-to-bite take-aways.

Wedding Cake

For wedding cakes, try a mix of something old and something new. Go traditional on the cake’s design—think vintage piping and ornate textures—and nontraditional on the inside. Play with seasonal flavors: Fresh strawberry cake on a hot summer day has a nostalgic, Grandma’s-shortcake quality, while pumpkin cake with salted caramel frosting sets the perfect mood for fall.

We mentioned we liked all things bright and shiny earlier, check out this cake for something different!

Decor

Over the last couple of years we’ve seen budgets tighten, couples become more savvy about their spend, embrace DIY elements for their day and move in a more eco-friendly direction. Therefore it is no surprise that herbs have started to have a bit of a moment in wedding planning – a cheap and easy decorative idea – herbs like rosemary, thyme, mint and sage make lovely table decor, smell sweet and can even double as favours. We think herbs will definitely be one of the hot wedding trends of 2012.

Designs of a Decade

2012-01-02T19:56:00.002+08:00

Decor trends come and go and sometimes make a comeback. From glowing bars to small plates to plexiglass everything, the rental industry has seen a lot of looks over the past ten years. But these items aren’t simply decorative: they have influenced how people interact at events, too. Rental execs weigh in on the major trends, both passing and permanent.

Tabletop Trend of the Decade

“The days of matching five-piece place settings have gone. Now it is acceptable to mix patterns and shapes throughout the course of dinner. Traditional mixed with contemporary pieces is also an emerging trend, along with an introduction of color to dining plates.”

Mary Crothers, Chair-Man Mills, Toronto

Chairs of the Decade

“The Louis Ghost chair by Philippe Starck is a timeless icon. Introduced by Kartell in 2002, this modern reinterpretation of a classical shape continues to bring a fresh look to events in 2011 and beyond.”

Bobby Taylor, Taylor Creative Inc., New York

“Chiavari chairs remain an event mainstay. Play with patterned or coloured chair sashes to add colour to simple overall decor.

Sofa of the Decade

“White leather never gets old, never goes out of demand. It works for every style and theme with some pillows, lighting, and accents as long as it has simple, clean lines.”

Lindsay Cosimi, AFR Event Furnishings, Orlando

Design Trend of the Decade

“Far and away, the largest trend in design for events over the past ten years has been the lounge. While 10 years ago, sitting next to the same person for a four-hour event seemed to work, now people want to work the crowd and talk to everyone, which is why the lounge is so appealing.”

Christine Merser, Classic Party Rentals, New York

Plate of the Decade

“Although round white china is still an industry staple, most high-end events now use square white plates for the cocktail hour and hors d’oeuvres. A six-inch square plate is perfect for the small plates trend that has swept through the catering industry.”

Nancy Brockway, Hall’s Rentals, Chicago

Lighting of the Decade

“We have seen the advent of lighted furnishings including tables, pedestals, columns, and bars. The soft glow created by LED lighted furnishings is now an integral part of most events that take place in the evening.”

Kevin Dana, Cort Event Furnishings, San Francisco

Customization

“Customization is one of the biggest trends. Our most popular rental items in our inventory are the ones we create in our fabrication studio, working with materials including salvaged wood, acrylics, and metals. We find that clients want totally custom rentals, not pieces you can import from China that everyone else has.”

Michael Nedeau, PBD Events, Boston

-BizBash

Thistle Hotel Port Dickson Annual Dinner Package

2011-11-18T15:14:00.007+08:00

Bienvenue chez The Chateau!

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Surrounded by a beautiful landscape, tall trees, cool air, classy French setting. This could be YOUR wedding venue cum spa destination.

Located on Berjaya Hills in the state of Pahang, Malaysia, The Chateau rises majestically amidst a lush tropical rainforest and is inspired by the 18th century medieval ‘Haut Koenigsbourg’ castle in Alsace, France.
Offering a complete organic experience, this breathtaking and picturesque destination spa and resort offers impeccable service coupled with unsurpassed hospitality standards. Boasting 200 elegant rooms and suites, each one is tastefully appointed and environmentally friendly with organic bed and bath linens as well as room amenities.

The Chateau caters to a discerning clientele in search of a destination spa which provides the ultimate in health and well-being enrichment.

The award-winning L’assiette fine dining French restaurant prides itself in providing its guests with a mouth-watering degustation menu which will excite any gourmet’s palate. Selecting the freshest produce from around the world as well as those grown in its very own organic farms, The Chateau’s team of chefs creates organic as well as non-organic gastronomical cuisine with a mind to well-being.

To start planning your wedding here, please call 012-295 8025 or email to info@bestevents-asia.com.

Year End Party Packages

2011-11-17T21:30:00.002+08:00

With daily duties and never ending workloads, you might not have gotten around to planning your year-end party yet. Best Events has a way out for you (provided you book early!). With four themed packages to choose from, you can now breathe easily.

Packages are catered for groups of 80 pax and include:

BBQ Dinner

Themed Decor

Themed Entertainment

Sound System

Photographer with Photo CD

Packages start from RM20,000 (for KL and PJ areas only)

Themes:

The Chocolate Factory

Welcome to the magical world of ‘The Chocolate Factory’. This is your golden opportunity to embark on a mysterious and fantastical adventure.

As you enter through the black iron gates, Willy Wonka will invite you into his factory of fun and frivolity where ‘nothing will be what it is, because everything will be what it isn’t’.

Winter Wonderland

Beautiful sights and sounds await your guests at a ‘Winter Wonderland’ themed party. In the venue, snow is glistening; seasonal music will have everyone listening, and festive fun is on the agenda for the night!

Adventures in Wonderland

Enter a fairytale world full of colourful characters, fascinating props and dazzling backdrops, while enjoying the timeless fun and games of your own Mad Hatter’s Tea Party!

Heroes and Villains

Step into the scenes of a ‘Heroes and Villains’ event and you will find yourself amidst an uncanny battle between ‘good’ and ‘evil’. The question is – which side does your Alter Ego lean towards? Are you a ‘goodie two-shoes’ or a ‘baddie’ too big for your boots?

For more information, call 012-295 8025 or e-mail to info@bestevents-asia.com.

Photo Credit: La Flaire

I Don't Need a Wedding Planner- 5 Myths Debunked

2011-11-16T02:26:00.002+08:00

MYTH #1 "IF I HIRE A WEDDING PLANNER I LOSE CONTROL OVER MY OWN WEDDING"

FACT #1 = A good wedding planner will never step in and completely take over.

We know that brides want to be in control and enjoy the planning process.

This remains the case if you hire a wedding planner. Lets put it this way, when you buy your first home, you get a real estate agent to help facilitate the process. They don't choose the house for you! The same applies here. It's your wedding day and every decision is yours to make.

A wedding planner acts as an agent and works on your behalf. They will facilitate the process, take care of technical aspects and offer advice. But it is still and will always be YOUR DAY!!

MYTH #2 = "I DONT NEED A WEDDING PLANNER MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY ARE GOING TO HELP ME!"

FACT #2 = Yes, of course, they will! That’s what family and friends are for, right? However, regardless of how many parties they have planned on their own, nothing compares to planning a wedding and the amount of work that goes into it. You want the day to be perfect as it is the most important day of your life. A professional planner is usually a specialist with years of experience. Friends and family have opinions and plenty of ideas but not necessarily the “KNOW HOW” and skills needed to make sure things fall into place, nor do they have the contacts of the best reliable suppliers in the wedding industry.

As seen on a website "“Friends don’t let friends set up. Or teardown. Leave that to the professionals so you can celebrate with your loved ones. After all isn’t that what weddings are really about?"

MYTH #3 = "I DON’T NEED A WEDDING PLANNER, THE VENUE I CHOSE HAS A WEDDING COORDINATOR INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGE"

FACT #3 = Yes, most venues have their own event/wedding coordinator, who work for the venue but not for the couple.

A wedding coordinator from a venue is generally one whose duties are for the day of the wedding. His or her duties include making sure that the banquet staff have set up the furniture, food and beverages as planned and that the stage is ready. Having a wedding planner means that the wedding is planned properly from start to finish and works only for the bride/bridal couple.

Most event/wedding coordinators that work for these venues are professionals and have extensive experience in this industry and will coordinate all that concerns the venue.

They won't be able involved in the whole wedding process and will usually have a fixed list of vendors appointed by the hotel with only the interest of the hotel in mind. They won't be organizing all the wedding suppliers on the day and ensuring that the vendors stick to the plan.

MYTH #4 = “I DON’T NEED A WEDDING PLANNER, THERE ISN’T THAT MUCH WORK TO DO.”

FACT #4 = PLANNING A WEDDING IS NOT A GAME AND WILL PROBABLY BE THE BIGGEST JOB YOU WILL EVER UNDERTAKE IN YOUR LIFE. Most couples think that once everyone has been hired and all the elements have been booked and paid for, the wedding is done. If only it were that easy.

Your wedding planner may look composed when around you or your family but believe me, she's got a million worst-case scenarios running through her head and lots of fire-fighting to do while making sure that the couple get ready in time for rehearsals, makeup and hair, photo sessions and the actual Walk In. Her job and reputation are on the line if anything goes wrong. She's paid to make sure everything runs smoothly to make sure YOU enjoy your day without worry. A professional wedding planner works in the background overseeing the whole event (not unlike a Puppet Master!) while her crew are "her hands" taking part in the action.

MYTH #5 =” Wedding Planners Have a Wealth of Information That They Just Give Out Freely To All and Sundry”

FACT #5 = “Wedding Planners do have an abundance of contacts, tips, knowledge and information therefore we get paid for our expertise as we are professionals in our field. When you call a lawyer, you are willing to pay for his advice and knowledge. He, too, has worked long and hard to be a professional in his field.

A professional planner spends years establishing contacts with the best suppliers in the industry, forming relationships with them and creating a network that is trusted. This is all done so that the planner can save their client “The Bride and Groom” not only time and money, but always ensuring the best service is delivered, paying attention to reliablilty and quality to suit the clients needs and budget.

The client is buying the planners expertise, knowledge and time, not just their phone book.

- Tanya Gageiro, Memories 4 U and adapted by Best Events

Event Report: A Bohemian Birthday Party

2011-10-14T14:18:00.000+08:00

Siblings Kumar who turned 16, and Visha who turned 21, celebrated their birthdays together last month. With the rented house decorated with whimsical bohemian elements, guests were entertained by various forms of dance, tattoo bars, tarot card reading, and walkabout magician.

More Photos at www.facebook.com/BestEventsAsia

Event Report: A Winter Wonderland Wedding

2011-10-14T14:12:00.000+08:00

900 guests of YBhg Dato AK Nathan and YBhg Datin Puspa, parents of Narish, the groom, were invited to this wedding hosted by YBhg Dato Mahadzir Lokman. While waiting for the King and Queen of the day to get ready, guests mingled outside while listening to a jazz quartet and posing beside "Narish and Shaline".

Doors opened an hour later, and guests were entertained non-stop by an orchestra, violinists, Magic Quick Costume change, Sand Art performance, Comedy Court and even a Broadway dance show and capped off with a bootie shaking time led by DJ Alex.

More Photos at www.facebook.com/BestEventsAsia

Games to Play at your Kid's Halloween Party

2011-10-14T14:02:00.000+08:00

No party is complete without entertainment. With Halloween around the corner, here are some games to keep your guests entertained, courtesy of Martha Stewart and games from the web.

Pin The Pumpkin Face

Any child who has played Pin the Tail on the Donkey will pick up this game quickly. Cut out eyes, noses, and mouths from black construction paper. Stick a reusable adhesive, such as Blu Tack, on the back of each cutout, and give a set of cutouts to each player. Place a large pumpkin on a low table or a bench. With blindfolded players starting four feet away (little kids may stand closer), instruct them to walk toward the pumpkin and create a jack-o'-lantern face (without peeking). After each turn, take a picture of the player with the finished pumpkin.

Bat Pinata

Party guests will shriek with delight as they beat this pinata to reveal a shower of sweets.
This bat pinata, created using the technique of papier-mache, is creepy enough to be the center of your party decorations. Just be careful after dark; he might swoop down and give you a fright.

Tip: When using black tissue paper, wear gloves and cover your work surface because the dye may run and stain

Step 1
Paste Layers of Tissue Paper on Balloon

Begin by resting a large balloon on an empty jar (this will prevent the damp tissue from discoloring or sticking to the work surface). Dab diluted craft glue (2 parts glue to 1 part water) on a small section of the balloon, and cover with two full layers of newspaper. For each strip of paper, apply glue and overlap each one slightly before brushing on more glue. After the second layer, tie a long piece of string around center (this will hang your pinata), then continue with 2 more layers of newspaper, followed by black tissue, from the balloon's crown to its knot. Repeat for small balloon (this will become the bat's head), but don't include the string.

Note: This picture is meant to illustrate the technique, but you will be using newspaper and black tissue paper, rather than orange tissue paper, for this project.

Step 2
Hang to Dry

Using clothespins, hang the tissue-covered large and small balloons from the clothesline by their knots; let dry completely (several hours or overnight).

Step 3
Cut Hole for Candy

Cut a hole in top of body (the large balloon) with utility knife, and save the piece to use for ears. Pop the balloon by making a slit with scissors next to the knot; remove. Cover cut edge with tissue and fill the body with wrapped candy.

Step 4
Assemble the Bat

Pop and remove the balloon from smaller piece. Place small sphere (the head) onto large one (the body). Drape several layers of black tissue paper over the head toward the body and around the neck, brushing with diluted glue until neck is secure. Let dry. Draw a bat's face onto white card stock. Cut out features; attach with undiluted glue. Cut ears from reserved piece; glue in place.

Step 5
Make the Wings

Sketch large wing shapes on black poster board, and cut them out. Secure wings to the sides of the bat's body with black duct tape. Paste black tissue paper over the joints to cover the tape. Next, use tape to attach a length of string to the end of each wing. (This will allow you to suspend the wings as if in flight.) Cover the tape with tissue paper. To hang the bat, suspend from body string. Then, tack the two wing strings to the ceiling to make the bat look as if it is flying.

Nosey

Halloween games of disguise survive in many old sources, and they don't necessarily involve elaborate costumes. In "Nosey," the party guests are divided into two groups and sent into adjoining rooms. A curtain or heavy sheet with a small slit in it is hung in the doorway. One of the players sticks his or her nose through the slit, making sure nothing else shows. Then the game leader chants, "The witches have stolen somebody's nose. Who does it belong to, do you suppose?" and everyone on the opposing team attempts to guess the owner of the nose. If correct, the guessing team scores a point and the opposing team must present another nose for their regard. If the guess is wrong, then the guessing team must now start offering up noses -- which, it should be noted, can be very hard to recognize without any accompanying features!

Pucker Up

Pucker up....this game requires skill, speed and raw straw-sucking power.

What You Need
Straws
Construction paper
Bowl

Instructions
Before the party, ask your kids to help you cut ten Halloween shapes, such as ghosts, bats and pumpkins from construction paper. Each shape should be about the size of a silver dollar. Place the shapes in a pile beside a small bowl.

Using the straw as a vacuum, each contestant tries to pick up a shape and place it in the bowl to create the Witch's Stew. Time the players to see who can get all ten in the bowl the fastest.

Tips:
Cut out several sets of shapes and let the players race head to head.

Mr Bones Relay Race

What You Need
Skeleton Template
Printer Paper
Craft Foam & Glue, optional
2 Bowls
Poster Board & Double-Sided Tape, optional

Instructions
Before the party, create the parts for complete skeletons (you'll need 1 for each team) by printing them out.
Cut out all the parts. You can glue them onto craft foam or just use the paper parts.

At game time, divide players into teams of 2 or more and place each team's parts in bowls across the room.

At "Go," team members take turns retrieving 1 part from the bowl to build their skeleton. Players can assemble their skeletons on a flat surface or use double-sided tape to stick them to poster board mounted on a wall. The first team to correctly complete its skeleton wins.

Variations:
For an added challenge, put all of the parts together in a single bowl.

Catering Trends 2011

2011-10-14T03:06:00.000+08:00

Instead of sitting down and passively consuming whatever is placed on the table, or grabbing a few passed hors d’oeuvres from whichever trays pass by, more and more often event guests are actively participating in their meals.

Catering chefs are emerging from the kitchen—or wherever they’ve been tucked away to prep the food—to let guests observe the cooking. Or they’re opening up the work space and inviting attendees to join in choosing ingredients and flavor enhancements.

Two of the buzzwords are customization and interactivity, and the point is to integrate the catering into the experience, to give food-crazy guests a chance to try something new. Make-your-own stations now go beyond salads and sundaes to all kinds of drinks, desserts, and entrées.

While often these changes mean putting a more prominent spotlight on the food, the movement away from long, seated dinners or static buffet stations can also allow attendees to focus on the point of the gathering. They can get up and mingle with each other instead of being stuck at a table for two hours. Or they can try out a new product, chat with a business contact, or listen to a presentation while the food comes to them, in waves of small plates passed in courses, or wheeled to them on carts.

With this increased interaction comes more menu choices and innovative presentation styles. Here’s a look at the newest interactive and hands-on approaches from caterers and venues looking to get guests involved with their food.

Create a devil-your-own-egg bar with hard-boiled eggs set on ceramic cartons and mini pails filled with toppings like paprika, caper powder, and chives.

Add a twist to your regular ice kacang to allow guests to customize their ice desserts with flavors including cran-raspberry and mango.

Instead of the usual chocolate fountain, individual fondue cups are filled with warm chocolate sauces, with items like marshmallows, kiwi slices, and strawberries to dip.

A new backpack contraption called the “Rocketman” that straps to the back of a staffer, can serve beverages among mingling guests.

Create a taco station, where guests can decorate homemade tortillas with an array of toppings served in custom-made resin pedestal pieces inspired by handcrafted Mexican pottery.

“Salad-tinis” made by “chef-tenders,” who mix ingredients with oversize drink shakers and serve them in martini glasses.

Create a Bloody Mary bar with ingredients including pickled vegetables, scallions, beef jerky, and rosemary stirrers, plus spicy elements like banana peppers and jalapeños.

A chandelier is lowered to become a 24-foot round dessert buffet.

-Biz Bash

3 Dramatic New Themes for Year End Parties

2011-10-14T02:25:00.000+08:00

Looking for a new twist for an end-of-the-year corporate gathering? Here are three new concepts to inspire you...

Theme One: Noel Noir

By Andrew Stevens and Kim Swift, We Came in Peace

“The concept is a dark twist on the classic holiday fête, using elements of mystery, drama, and Old Hollywood glamour. A speakeasy meets an underground masquerade in a cinematic pleasure palace, and the mood is set with a minimal palette of black and white. Finding a perfect venue is key; architectural details and grand spaces with an oversize fireplace are ideal. Then pools of smoky light are interspersed with gobos casting slatted-blind texture on the walls and floors. A lush tableau of exotic hors d’oeuvres spans the space, illuminated by tiers of candelabras. Reinterpretations of classic seasonal themes are woven into the space, such as a forest of suspended Christmas tree chandeliers, composed of blackened branches and adorned with ornaments. Entertainment is a smorgasbord of vices, including gambling, hand-rolled cigars, on-site tattooing, and private shows by shadow dancers. The soundtrack for the evening is provided by a live jazz band that performs holiday classics.”

Rendering: Courtesy of We Came in Peace

Cafe Cafe offers continental European charm and a top class French/Italian menu in a dim, candle-lit nook of Jalan Maharajalela, Kuala Lumpur. This place offers quality French dishes without unnecessary fanfare.

Nothing sets the mood better than an authentic live orchestra and crooning front singer.

Theme Two: The Snowball Lounge

By Jaime Geffen & Brian Worley, Your Bash!

“The concept starts with a customized invite to the lounge. Upon entry, snow machines will have people making snowmen as an interactive activity. Inside, white fur-lined linens and fur-capped Chiavari chairs are set against antler candlesticks, votive holders, and fireplaces. Oversize silver frames with wood paneling, alternating with white sheer drapes and a variety of contemporary furniture, provide the groundwork for winter-inspired accessories like large lacquer deer and fur-and-antler-inspired pillows. The menu is cozy and festive, with items such as mixed berry and gingerbread trifles, roasted chestnut truffles, and specialty cocktails.”

Theme Three: The Holiday Aquatic

By Britt Whitfield, Revel Global Events

“This distinctly visceral experience for holiday revelers challenges their ideas of a classic holiday party. The theme is nautical and fantastical and elegant without losing the warmth and nostalgia of the season. It surprises the guest’s palate and eye—traditional elements are alluded to, but made both contemporary and graceful. Suspended from the ceiling, an oversize octopus mobile with gold sequins will wrap her tentacles around the room to serve as a visual anchor for the space. Subtle hints of red and green are woven throughout this whimsical underwater world to retain the whisper of the season. People leave our aquatic Eden swimming with ideas about how they can update their own holiday traditions.”

Rendering: Courtesy of the Revel Group

Bubbles further intensify the underwater fantasy world.

Trade Show Catastrophes- How Ready is Your Team?

2011-10-14T00:40:00.000+08:00

Calamities happen at trade shows. It’s not a question of if — it’s a question of when and how bad. But when it comes to exhibiting emergencies, you can’t just have a Plan B in mind, you have to have a Plan C, D, and E as well. And if a natural disaster occurs ruining all your backups, well, you need a plan for that, too.
A few years ago, I held the position of West Coast marketing analyst for EquiFirst, a Charlotte, NC-based mortgage lender.

We had just built a beautiful new booth and were launching it at one of our biggest shows. I arrived on site for booth inspection an hour before the show opened, and was not happy with what I found. One of the trade show coordinators told me the can lights that were supposed to run along the top of the booth were broken
and there was no way to get replacements in time. Without those lights, our entire booth looked more like a dark, dank basement than a trade show exhibit, so you can imagine my reaction: I saw red. First of all,
I couldn’t understand why I hadn’t been noti fied of this problem the moment the broken lights were discovered. Second, I just couldn’t accept the idea that there was “no way out” of this snafu.

The truth is, there’s always something you can do to at least try and remedy your situation. So I got on the phone with our exhibit house, told them about the problem, and asked if they had a partner in the show’s host city of Minneapolis. Working with the local exhibit house, we found enough of the lights we needed
to replace the broken ones. Our booth manager drove a rental car to pick up the new fixtures, and the problem was solved.

The last light went up just moments before our senior executives came to see the new booth — in all its illuminated glory. Crisis averted, right? Maybe. But the frustration generated by the situation and the trade show coordinator’s apathetic attitude toward finding a solution spurred me to figure out a way to avoid such a mess in the future. So I resolved to develop a number of back-up plans for some of the most common trade show mishaps. But I would need the help of my team in order to pull off my contingency plans, particularly at shows I don’t personally attend. And while some of us may be born with the be-ready-for-anything gene, not everyone is able to think on their feet when their booth is literally crashing down around them. So, what do you do? You train them.

With that goal in mind, I created in-of fice mini training sessions that I schedule every three to six months. The halfday training sessions are a combination of interactive problem solving, teamwork, role-playing, and brainstorming. I work up three different disaster scenarios, aka“ fire drills,” and ask my trade show team to
figure out feasible solutions for each one. The individuals you invite to participate will depend on your situation, but my teams have included marketing managers and assistants, graphic designers, trade show coordinators, booth staffers, sales reps, and any other internal stakeholders I can wrestle up and convince to attend.

But no matter who’s participating, this is not your typical booth-staff meeting. We do not sit around a conference table for three or four hours and simply discuss the scenarios. After all, when things go wrong
on the show floor, you rarely have time to rally the troops and host a four-hour meeting to decide how you’ll proceed. So to set the drills apart from the daily norm and infuse a sense of authentic urgency,
I e-mail the scenarios to the team members at their desks, and enforce a strict deadline — they have 30 minutes to find a workable solution.

During the first two drills in the three part training session, the members of my team can work together to find solutions to the show-related snafus. The final drill is completed individually.

The following step-by-step method will help you host your own trade show fire drills and train your staff to handle worst-case scenarios, while also arming your team — and yourself — with a laundry
list of contingency plans. And best of all, these simple little training sessions are fun, low-pressure, and no-cost
exercises that just might save the day at your next show.

1. Map Out a Plan

Put an initial plan together, including some ideas for the scenarios you’d like to address, what you want to accomplish with the project, and who will be involved. Then schedule a meeting with your boss to pitch the idea. It helps to have your boss involved with the project as his or her participation indicates that the training sessions are an important part of your program — a message that will likely increase the attendance and participation of internal stakeholders who may not directly report to you.

If you have trouble getting your boss on board, you may want to explain the importance of having contingency plans when exhibiting. For example, you can discuss how, absent a plan B, your exhibit might suffer due to lost graphics or damaged exhibit components. Or, speak the language of dollars and cents, and describe how
a trade show tragedy can bite you in the budget if you’re not prepared with a backup plan. Once your boss sees the kinds of very real problems you may encounter at a trade show — and understands the potential impact to your effectiveness and/or overall expenses — he or she may be more supportive of your plan.

2. Develop the Drills

Take a look at your trade show program to determine what types of re drills to present to your team. I create three drills for each training session, including one drill involving a small 10-by-10 or 10-by-20-foot booth, another for a larger 40-by-40-foot booth, and one for an off-site event calamity. Your scenarios will depend on your individual program. For example, if you exhibit in a 10-by-10-foot booth for the vast majority of your shows, you should probably focus more on small-booth challenges.

Consider including scenarios you’ve personally faced at shows, such as ruined graphics, missing collateral, or delayed shipping, as those issues are likely to hit home with your team. Having said that, don’t be afraid to brainstorm some unusual or natural-disaster scenarios as they will stretch participants to think outside
of the box and learn to deal with problems that range from logistical hiccups to major tragedies.

Once you know what types of scenarios you’d like to include in your training sessions, you’ll need to write them up into detailed accounts that provide participants with as much information as possible. (The three drills found here should help.)

3. Get Ready to Rumble

With your scenarios in hand, it’s time to get your training session onto your team’s calendar. When you send out the meeting invite, give them an idea of what to expect, why the exercise is important, and how it will
benefit them. And assuming you were successful in step No. 1, a note from your boss lending his or her support to the project isn’t a bad idea either. While you can certainly schedule your training sessions to consume more or less time, mine typically run 3 hours in length, with 30 minutes of time for each
of the three scenarios, and a 90-minute review session where we come together as a group and discuss the pros and cons of the solutions they came up with. This format allows the team enough time to brainstorm workable solutions, and only takes up about half of the workday.

Just like in a real emergency, your team members will be able to call on their traditional sources — including your exhibit house, freight contact, internal employees, or a business service center like Staples or
FedEx Of fice — to help nd a workable solution. So once you have a date and time scheduled for your training session, you’ll need to contact each of the sources prior to the drill and let them know they might get
a call. Briefly explain the exercise to them, and ask that they treat the situations just as they would in a real emergency.

4. Ready, Set, Disaster

On the morning of the fire drills, the team receives three help cards, similar to the three “lifelines” on the TV game show,“Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” The first card is redeemable for an answer to a single question they ask me. They can use the second card to call on the executive who oversees our department for assistance. The last card earns them a 15-minute extension, as long as they request it before the 30-minute drill is up.

I e-mail the first scenario to the team, start the 30-minute timer, and they’re off. I stay out of the picture, usually in a conference room, preparing for the evaluation at the end of the drills. However, I am not above adding twists to make things more challenging. During some of the drills, I make phone calls from the conference room and pretend to be an irate sales manager — or ditzy exhibit-services desk clerk — to throw a wrench into their plans, forcing them to modify their solution and come up with a plan C.

Five minutes before each drill ends, I e-mail the team a warning, reminding them that time is almost up. And
when the 30 minutes is done, I use a small siren I have to signal the end of the drill. As soon as the signal sounds, they must e-mail me the solution immediately. When I receive the group’s e-mail, I send them
the next scenario, and they’re off again.

After the second drill is nished and the solution sent to me, each member of the team returns to his or her desk and receives the final — solo — scenario.

5. Regroup, Recap, and Results

After the staff members complete the three scenarios and send me their solutions, we all meet in the conference room for a 90-minute review session. This is always the most rewarding part of the drill exercise.
I start with the first drill, asking the team members to review the solution they presented and then discuss what works well about it and what they think they can improve. At this stage, I help them develop the best possible solution so if they are ever faced with a similar situation they know exactly what to do. Then we do the
same for the second drill.

For the third, individual drill, we rank the solutions presented by each team member. The premise is that no solution is bad, but as a group we want to choose or create the best, most cost-effective answer. Typically,
the team will cherry pick elements of several different solutions to form a single plan of attack that addresses the problem in the most effective, ef ficient manner.

6. Wrap It Up

After our review session is complete, we compile all of the “best practice” solutions, someone volunteers to put them into an e-mail, and we send them out for everyone to file away for future reference. Over time, team members compile their own fire-drill handbooks, which have proven to be useful tools that have saved the day when team members encounter real-life exhibit hiccups.

For example, when a member of my staff was in the of fice overseeing a remote show in Arizona, he received

call that all the collateral literature had been quarantined by the police. He didn’t know the reason for the quarantine, but was told the literature would not be released until long after the show opened and attendees started filing into the exhibit. Drawing on a past fire drill, he got on the phone with the on-site contractor and e-mailed electronic files of the literature. The contractor took the files to the show’s business center and
had copies made. Problem solved.

The fire drills have even made an impact beyond my own team. A former employee, Jason Reid, called not too long ago to tell me about his own trade show emergency. Reid, who participated in the fire drills when he worked for me at Equi-First, said that periodic rereading of his fire-drill handbook paid off for him at a recent
show. When his company’s booth was missing in action a scant two hours before the show opened, Reid told me he didn’t panic because he had just reviewed an almost identical scenario in the handbook.

By putting the solution from the fire drill to work, the crisis was averted and his booth was ready by the time the show opened.

Always Be Prepared

While I knew I was teaching my employees an invaluable skill that would serve them well in their careers, hearing how Reid put those lessons to good use further validated my faith in the fire drills. I firmly believe that they not only train my team to face whatever happens on the trade show floor, they actually help prevent potential problems from ever erupting. My team members have a better understanding of what can go wrong at the trade shows we attend, and as a result are more diligent about pre-show and at-show preparation.

Hopefully by following the steps above and adapting my methods to suit your program’s speci fic needs, you can host your own fire drills. There is no guarantee that the solutions you come up with in the comfort
of your own of office will solve all the problems you and your team may encounter on the trade show floor, but it’s always best to be prepared. That way, when the next trade show calamity rears its ugly head, you and your team members will have already survived a baptism by fire drill, and have plan B, C, D, and E ready to go.

- Kristen Bostedo-Conway for EXHIBITOR Magazine. Copyright Exhibitor Magazine.

MTV's My Super Sweet World Class Comes to Malaysia

2011-08-05T01:07:00.003+08:00

Maverick TV is making this year’s hit series of MTV’s My Super Sweet… and once again, it’s going GLOBAL and this time they're coming to MALAYSIA!

My Super Sweet will follow one young person’s outrageous journey towards their birthday bash as they plot, plan and prepare for the party of a lifetime.

This year, the show will be bigger, better and more glamorous than ever. They’re looking for sassy, edgy party-hosts who are planning celebrations all around the world. They’ve even upped the age limit and that means they want to get their hands on the key to your 21st, spray lashings of champers all over your 18th and sprinkle sweetness on your 16th.

Out-of-this-world parties are not just for American or UK teenagers anymore. From secret agent parties in England to a Viking-themed party in Norway, and with entrances ranging from helicopters to flying carpets, these are some of the biggest, most extravagant events anyone has ever seen. From London to Europe, South Africa to Dubai and everywhere in between… if you’re having the party to end all parties this year, or you know someone else who is, then we want to know about it…!

Think you've got what it takes to appear on My Super Sweet World Class? Here's your chance! Hire Best Events as your party planner before 15 August 2011 (Mon) and your contacts will be sent directly to the MTV team.

The details:

Only ONE 16th- 25th birthday bash in Aug and Sept 2011 will be featured on the show. Please note that both Best Events and MTV won't be sponsoring your party. The party will be picked by MTV to be featured on the series.

Email your party details to info@bestevents-asia.com for us to start planning your party. Please include your full name, age, contact number, e-mail address, preferred party theme and we'll work out the rest.

Get ready to party hard!Take your cue below!

Video - My Super Sweet World Class 109 Clip 1 - My Super Sweet World Class - This youn...

15 Years of Great Wedding Ideas We Like

2011-08-04T17:08:00.002+08:00

Nobody, whether they're 6 or 60, can ignore a table of eye-catching confections in bright pinks, peaches, and golds. The assortment of sweets includes pillow mints, Milkies, sugarbonen, jelly beans, malted-milk balls, taffy sticks, macaroons, and more. We adorned simple apothecary jars and the tablecloth with gold thread lace. The sign is propped up with Dresden-foil flowers. Provide glassine bags so your guests can take home a sampling.

Each guest's place is outlined in chalk on a roll of black paper ( tape secures the corners to the tablecloth); single-flower arrangements rest in milk bottles, latte bowls, and ceramic tumblers; votive candles illuminate paper bags trimmed down with scalloping shears.

The old standby wedding favor got a brand-new bag thanks to more than just wishful thinking. Bypassing the classic gauzy tulle pouches masquerading as tiny blue robins' eggs in delicate faux nests, shown here.

Guests will cheer you on when you zip away after the ceremony in a car covered with pom-pom garlands. These decorations are easy to make with tissue paper and twine, and they stay on the car with suction cups, which won't damage the auto's exterior.

Bride Laura Normandin fashioned her breathtakingly beautiful butterfly bouquet from silk and feather creatures secured on thin wires so that they float and flutter realistically.

No one expects you to be Martha Stewart -- really; we know you have a life outside of planning for your wedding. But taking on a project (no matter how simple or involved) is a sweet sentiment that will resonate with your guests. Ultimately, the care you put into the things you create is a reflection of the love you have for your family and friends, as well as the life you're creating with your new husband. Here is another Martha Stewart inspiration- centerpieces created from collected tins.

The key to working color's magic is knowing when -- and how -- to use it. For maximum impact, take one color and run with it for a monochromatic effect. It's a chic, pared-down way to express your style. Either showcase many different shades of the same color, drench your decor with a singular hue, or mix in bright white for a modern look. Here, vessels wrapped in silk dupioni and overflowing with tulips, carnations, and roses are scattered across a crepe-paper runner; a flurry of paper lanterns float overhead.

Here's a surefire tearjerker and chortle-inducer -- a gallery of childhood snapshots. Let the world see the braces, the bathtub moments, the eighties fashion. (Of course, no one will blame you for sandwiching in recent, more attractive pics.) A thin layer of foam board is attached to a folding screen with spray-adhesive, and mint green cloth is affixed the same way inside the border. We crisscrossed white satin ribbons across the board (gluing them along the border), placed map tacks at intersections, and tucked photos behind them. Guests searching for their table numbers will surely walk away from this display with smiles on their faces.

Source: Martha Stewart

Event Ideas We Love!

2011-08-04T13:07:00.002+08:00

Waiters didn’t have to remember what they were serving (and guests didn’t have to ask) when now-defunct Match Catering printed T-shirts with food descriptions for a 2004 BizBash event.

XA, the Experiential Agency, used long grosgrain ribbons to simply and effectively divide a large space at a 2006 Tag Heuer event.

To create a modern, all-white look for a 2006 dinner at Manhattan’s Pier 60, Empire Force Events hid the venue’s colorful, patterned carpet with a layer of large, white confetti.

Digital photo booth projections, like this one from Mark van S. at the Whitney Museum of American Art’s 2006 benefit, have become an event staple for mixing interactive entertainment and decor.

At the opening party for the Felissimo Design House in New York in 2001, guests never had to wait for a waiter to come by with food. They could pick hors d’oeuvres right from the wall of an installation by French artist Dorothee Selz.

At a 2006 Swarovski shoe launch in New York, designer Todd Shearer put shoes on mannequins as well as live models whose sudden movements surprised guests.

For the opening of the Hearst Tower in 2006, Van Wyck & Van Wyck brought in aerialists to perform 100 feet above the crowd, a dramatic twist on the traditional ribbon cutting.

The Dia Art Foundation’s gala in 2006 had glowing circular tables.

The American Heart Association’s 2006 Rhapsody in Red event had a dramatic event entryway designed by Matthew David Events: a model wore a silk organza dress with a 30-foot-long skirt that draped over the New York Public Library’s entrance.

At the 2006 opening of Parasuco’s flagship store, six dancers surprised guests by emerging from within a 14-foot-tall skirt for a live performance.

For a 2006 Motorola event, KSE Productions suspended a metal platform from the ceiling as an unconventional lectern and used stretch-fabric video screens as a backdrop.

For a private dinner in 2006, JMVisuals created an unexpected overhead lighting trick: rows of frosted votives suspended from the ceiling on square Lucite tiles.

To celebrate the renovation of Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall in 2007, Roy Braeger designed a vertical stage that tied into the event’s construction-themed decor and gave guests an unobstructed view of the musicians.

At the 2008 Robin Hood Foundation gala, XO laptops on each dinner table displayed menus, statistics about the organization’s work, and images of flowers, and then were donated to city schoolchildren after the event.

The cocktail napkins for the 2002 opening of Prada’s store in SoHo in New York were useful in two ways, with an itinerary and maps showing the locations for the night’s multiple parties.

In what Target called a “vertical fashion show,” acrobats danced, posed, and catapulted down runways on the side of 620 Fifth Avenue, one of the buildings that flanks the ice rink at Rockefeller Center, in 2005.

The Leading Edge

2011-08-04T12:45:00.000+08:00

In the business of lead management, it’s all about capturing, qualifying, distributing, and following up. It’s about refining the process and reconciling the data in a way that helps sales reps close sales and exhibit managers benchmark their activity and demonstrate the validity of their programs. Thankfully for exhibit and event professionals, there are myriad options available today with features that make basic badge scanners the rotary telephones of our industry. But with so many options on the market, it can be overwhelming trying to decide which system is right for you. Should I collect leads on my smart phone? Will the system sync with our customer-relationship management (CRM) system? And do I really need all those sophisticated metrics?

Budgets for lead management are finally starting to climb from 1 percent of an exhibitor’s trade show budget to an average of 7 to 9 percent, according to John Hasbrouck, president of NewLeads Inc., a Ventura, CA-based provider of lead-management solutions. That’s a good sign, considering collecting and qualifying sales leads is the primary goal of most exhibit-marketing programs. The uptick might also be an indication that exhibitors are placing a higher value on attendee data than in the past, when a business card in a bowl sufficed as a sales lead.

Today, due to an increasing demand for metrics that justify the cost of exhibiting and data that goes deeper than an attendee’s name, title, and e-mail address, the gap between sales and marketing is narrowing. That narrowing is thanks, at least in part, to advances in lead-retrieval and management options and their ability to integrate with CRM software.

To help you navigate the available options, we’ve compiled an overview of eight new features that can be found in today’s lead-management systems. Once you’ve identified the features you want, you’ll be able to quickly focus in on the kind of system that will provide more streamlined (and more successful) lead management.

Smart Phones

Enhanced mobility is a huge advancement available in many lead-retrieval and management solutions on the market. Using a smart phone as your lead-management device allows you to collect data and navigate the attendee through the booth and your brand experience at the same time, without being tethered to a badge scanner or stationary kiosk during the qualification process, says Siobhan Connellan, senior manager of exhibitor operations at Experient Inc. The company recently introduced an app called Swap, which works on the iPod Touch as well as any data-aware smart phone.

It works like this: The application is free, but exhibitors pay for the activation key that can be used on up to four smart phones. A snapshot of the registration database is then downloaded to the phone so you don’t have to be constantly connected to Wi-Fi to access it. Instead of scanning, you punch a code printed on their badge into the app on your phone. From there, you can verify their contact info, take notes, and record their answers to qualifying questions.

The data is then uploaded to the remote servers of the app’s DecisionPoint portal, which allows you to view your results in real time, including lead count, lead source (i.e., the staffer who captured each lead, as well as each staffer’s lead total), and other data parsed out via an online dashboard in multiple formats. And of course, the whole thing is mobile.

“It used to be that you had to scan attendees’ badges or business cards, but now you can be on the shuttle bus or at a hotel bar and still capture their information,” Connellan says. “It’s a 24/7 operation.”

Near Field Communication

Another driver pushing smart phones to the top of exhibitors’ lead-retrieval wish lists is Near Field Communication. NFC is a “contact-less” information
exchange that’s powered by a card with a chip and a tiny antenna. For the purposes of lead gathering, an attendee’s identifying information can be recorded on a chip, and that data can then be transmitted to exhibitors when they place the chip near an NFC-enabled object, such as a lead-registration reader, product-specific signage, or anything with a sensor. NFC could replace badge scanners altogether. Instead of asking attendees to scan their badge in order to capture their contact info, attendees could volunteer that info by, for example, holding their chip-bearing badges near a display advertising additional follow-up information.

Many cell phones already have NFC capabilities, allowing users to exchange contact details by waving their phones in front of one another. “Soon, most lead management will be phone to phone,” predicts Ivan Lazarev, president of ITN International, a Bethesda, MD-based provider of mobile data-management and information solutions for the trade show industry. So without having to scan a badge — or even have a conversation — an attendee could register for a prize drawing, submit contact info for follow-up, or request additional product information by simply placing his or her NFC-enabled phone near a sensor inside your booth.

iPads and Tablet PCs

Similar to smart phones, iPads and tablet PCs are becoming de rigueur for in-booth and post-show activities, merging lead management with the overall attendee experience. From gathering real-time intelligence and delivering targeted content to building detailed profiles that sync with CRM systems, the possibilities are limitless. The bottom line is that mobility is now one of the most desirable components of lead-management systems, making myriad other features possible.

“An iPad combines lead retrieval and sales tools,” says Roger Lewis, head of marketing for Alliance Tech Inc., an Austin, TX-based event metrics and analytics company that recently launched an iPad solution. Using that solution, you can conduct a basic lead-qualification survey and based on the attendee’s responses, present relevant, customized demos — and simultaneously forward the lead on to the most qualified salesperson. Alliance Tech’s system also updates the registration data as attendees register on site and makes it easy to change survey questions across all devices in preparation for the next trade show.

“Our experience indicates that using iPad-driven technology extends the time attendees spend at the booth and creates opportunities for custom solutions,” says Hasbrouck of NewLeads. The company offers products that run on iPads, including the iPad Lead System, which won a Buyers Choice Award at EXHIBITOR2011. “These devices allow booth staffers to move around and have a wider range of interaction about topics specific to the attendees’ interests.”

Instant Alerts and Analysis

Thanks to the instantaneous-analysis capabilities embedded in some of today’s lead systems, you don’t have to wait until you get home to analyze leads and follow up with hot prospects. When a booth staffer scans an attendee’s badge, many systems can automatically send an e-mail alert to the salesperson assigned to that attendee’s territory, text message senior staffers that a VIP has entered the booth, and even send a “thank you” e-mail to the attendee, with links to additional product information.

“The goal is to create a direct connection between a hot lead on the show floor and the sales force,” says Dean Hills, digital strategist for PRMconnect Inc., a Chicago-based company that specializes in lead capture, e-literature, and measurement. Among other instant-analysis features, the company’s solutions offer “Automatic Sales Rep Mapping,” allowing leads collected in the booth to be categorized based on geographic criteria, and then instantly forwarded to the appropriate reps, regardless of whether those reps are attending the show. By instantly getting the lead from the staffer to the appropriate salesperson, the mapping feature can help exhibitors shorten the sales cycle by striking while the iron’s hot, rather than waiting for the leads to be sent back to the home office, analyzed, input into a CRM database, and distributed to sales reps.

Similar instantaneous-analysis features that can be embedded into the lead-qualifying process can help staffers customize each attendee’s experience in the booth, including selecting appropriate demos and collateral literature. “How well your lead-management solution uses branching logic is likely the biggest differentiator here,” says Charlie Bowden, president of In4Med Corp. of King of Prussia, PA, which specializes in integrating lead management with interactive experiences. It’s called “branching” because as you work through the qualifying questions, each answer determines the next question. This helps you to zero in on the info that interests each attendee and show him or her the right demo or offer the right product.

Because most of the data is processed in real time, your marketing team back at the office or salespeople in the field can follow up and establish contact with the prospect. In the meantime, day-by-day analysis of the activity in your booth gives you hard data to report to your boss and show the potential return on investment from your exhibit-marketing efforts.

E-Literature Fulfillment

Up until 2011, Terex Corp., a manufacturer of telescopic cranes and other equipment, was shipping a dozen boxes of literature to each World of Concrete show that, for the most part, ended up in hotel wastebaskets. So the company sought a lead system that would solve at least two problems: allow for more streamlined retrieval and qualification, and enable staffers to automatically send requested literature electronically.

At the 2011 World of Concrete show in Las Vegas, Terex placed four stationary touchscreen kiosks around its exhibit and supplemented them with five iPads. Each device was loaded with PRMconnect’s lead-management software dubbed Leadature. When booth staff collected and qualified each lead, the system prompted them to ask attendees which, if any, e-literature documents they would like sent to their e-mail account. “At that show alone, we saved over $15,000 in printing and drayage costs previously associated with getting our literature produced and to the show,” says Jennifer Van Dyke, marketing — tradeshows and events, for Southaven, MS-based Terex.

Furthermore, there is little to no chance of human error or staffer laziness resulting in attendees expecting additional information that salespeople ultimately neglect to send.

Just as Terex opted to deliver all of its collateral digitally, many exhibitors are finding that electronic document fulfillment not only saves money and resources; it is also part of creating a custom experience, as attendees get to select only the information that’s of interest to them, and the system instantly e-mails them exactly what they need. Furthermore, some lead-management systems allow salespeople to keep tabs on which e-literature documents each of their leads has read, how many times they’ve read them, and more, helping to customize follow-up calls and direct future conversations toward topics in which each individual has demonstrated interest. Tracking which documents get the highest response also allows exhibit managers to build more effective libraries and even tweak their exhibit programs to more prominently feature topics/ products that appear to appeal most.

Sometimes, the sheer volume of e-literature that an exhibitor can have on hand — without having to print and ship an entire ark full of different brochures for every product it sells — can spark unexpected buying as attendees explore the breadth and depth of the selection. At the Terex booth, for instance, attendees were able to browse various electronic brochures and price lists. “We had several cases where attendees would start browsing through our digital catalogues and then buy equipment they saw electronically but that wasn’t even at the show,” Van Dyke says.

The system also is a helpful tool for booth staffers who may not be intimately familiar with every product, but still need to engage with prospects and be able to answer questions. “It’s a way to craft interaction that creates value, with all materials you need at your fingertips,” Hills says, noting that as exhibitors become more familiar with the technology, they often move from a simple library to integrating a gaming system and creating a complex qualifying matrix for a more granular sales-force delivery. “It’s not a lead-capture system. It’s a full-fledged engagement station,” he says.

Interactive Engagement

Speaking of engagement stations, more and more exhibitors are incorporating games, quizzes, videos, and more into their lead-retrieval devices, all feeding intelligence into their CRM systems while keeping the attendees glued to the screen, soaking in the brand. That’s the basic idea behind interactive engagement, powered by tablet PCs, Microsoft Surface tables, HP slates, etc. As the technology gets more sophisticated and effective, it becomes a two-way street where both exhibitors and attendees learn more about each other. And it’s all based on lead-capture systems, well, lead-capture systems on steroids.

Rich engaging experiences keep attendees in the booth longer, according to Bowden of In4Med, which partners with agencies that deliver interactive content. “Now we can match messaging with each attendee segment,” he says. From microsites populated with video to gesture-triggered interactives, to quizzes and games, the possibilities are only limited by exhibitors’ imagination.

MG Design Associates Inc., a Pleasant Prairie, WI-based exhibit company, utilized an interactive-engagement approach to create a Mansion of Mystery experience inside its booth at EXHIBITOR2011. The lead-management system provided a foundation for a customized “journey” that felt more like a game than a qualifying conversation, but both gathered and showed actionable data through the process. Upon entering the booth, attendees scanned their badges and answered a series of questions that identified their “hot buttons” and paired them with one of five personas (the colonel, professor, actress, socialite or heiress) based on the challenges they faced in their trade show programs. As they moved from station to station, each of which showcased MG Design capabilities and technologies, they received targeted information tailored to their specific persona.

For example, if they identified with an actress, that meant that they were particularly concerned about the aesthetic and design of their exhibit and most of the presentations they saw focused on design capabilities and projects from MG Design’s portfolio that looked as stunning as a movie star. At the end of the day, MG Design had a database not just with names of prospects, but with topics that concerned each individual attendee, allowing salespeople to customize their follow-up to address those particular issues.

Compliance Features

Many exhibitors, particularly in the pharmaceutical and life-sciences industries, face the challenge of staying compliant with federal and state regulations. The Sunshine Act and state regulatory compliance mandates that companies report any transfers of value to health-care professionals. Some lead-capture systems can help you keep track of that. “We can identify health-care professionals by their national provider number and control premium distribution to one customer,” says Bowden of In4Med. Such lead systems can also generate reports that list exchanges in total or state by state.

The Food and Drug Administration has specific guidelines about showing promotional information to U.S. and international health-care professionals. Attendee segmentation and transaction tracking through a lead-management system can help mitigate some of those issues. To help you stay compliant, attendees can be segmented by geographic region and shown only content that’s approved for them. “We can show international visitors general company information instead of product-specific content,” Bowden says. “Exhibitors could also use the system to automatically show country-specific information to international visitors, such as showing a German physician the German-approved materials in German.”

Measurement and Analytics

From quick snapshots to layering and cross-referencing data for a comprehensive picture that spans several trade shows, new lead-management systems offer a plethora of metrics and measurements that ultimately deliver what most marketers consider the Holy Grail — analytics they can use to prove and enhance their program’s value.

“Most exhibitors want the reporting rolled into dashboards,” says Hills of PRMconnect, referring to visual representations of key indicators through pie charts and graphs of the number of leads, pieces of literature sent out, top-performing booth staffers, etc. They are looking to answer questions such as “How many unique new leads did we get?” and “What demo was the most effective?” Yet some are looking to take full advantage of the technology and also track the attendee’s journey around the exhibit, the amount of time attendees spent at each station, the pieces of literature requested, and even the amount of time it took a visitor to open his or her follow-up e-mail.

Integration with the exhibitor’s CRM system or some other type of agreed-upon reporting is crucial to making the most out of this technology. Many exhibitors choose to select their own lead-management providers instead of going with the systems offered by show management because they want uniform reporting across their entire trade show program. With many systems, the data is collected in real time and is accessible remotely from the company’s headquarters or by sales reps in the field, and it’s presented in a uniform format that they are used to viewing, rather than a show- or provider-specific format with which they may not be familiar.

Is it possible to have too much information? Hasbrouck of NewLeads says that information overload is an issue with a lot of clients as they look for actionable data they don’t have to decipher. “What it comes down to is simplicity and strategic gathering of information,” he says. “You’ve got to determine what strategic elements and info you need to gather to make the data relevant to the salespeople and to connect the dots for them.”

No matter which lead-capture and management system you decide to use in your company’s exhibits, experts agree that the booth staff needs to be comfortable using it and that the company has to have a strategic plan and resources in place for getting the return on the investment. As Lazarev of ITN puts it, “It’s not just the capturing. It’s what you do with the data that makes the difference.”

Source: Anna Huddleston with illustrations by Colin Hayes for exhibitoronline.com

Party Theme of the Month: Casino Party

2011-06-21T21:50:00.000+08:00

We get a thrill when handling money (even if it isn't real) and we usually hand out fake money during our Murder Mystery parties for guests to blackmail and bribe. For a Casino themed party, why not include poker chips or fake paper money with your invitation card for guests to have a taste of the party?

Or you could even create a giant cardboard cube to look like dice with the party details printed on it.

Decorations

Event: Cash Money Grammy Party

Photo: Jerod Harris/WireImage.com

Entertainment

Besides the card games that can be carried out at the foyer before guests enter the dining area, you can have a Wheel of Fortune for guests to win prizes, a walkabout magician, impersonators eg Elvis Presley, lounge singers and as stage entertainmet - cabaret dancers.

Party Favors

Why, Chocolate money, of course!

Event Report: Superheroes and Villains Party

2011-06-21T21:25:00.004+08:00

How many times in your lifetime can you play superhero or supervillain when you've entered adulthood? Unless, you've been bitten by a spider or some sort of curse has befallen you, it's highly unlikely, but with a Superhero and Super Villains party, you can pretend to be one and not look ridiculous while unleashing your creative powers to make one big AWESOME Super powered party!

Go crazy with decor and add Marvel or DC comics elements all over the place. The guests themselves dressed in their costumes add to the excitement and colour to the whole event so it's pretty important that your invite card is exciting enough that your guests can't resist but make or rent costumes to fit in with everyone else.

Entertainment is pretty easy with this theme. Play around super powers- lots of running, jumping and plenty of action to add to the adrenaline rush.

Tea at Tod's- The Finest Italian Experience

2011-06-21T20:18:00.004+08:00

Ever-chic presence in the world of luxury, Tod's not only stands for core Italian artisanship, but mostly for the capacity to distinguish itself as a classic trend setter. Tod's represents an understated effortless attire and a lifestyle.

Starting off with a trademark luxury moccasin in the 1970s, Mr Diego Della Valle expanded his vision to bags.

From its headquarters in the central Italian region of the Marche to its worldwide boutiques, Tod's is present from New York to Tokyo, Milan to Los Angeles, London to Malaysia, and continues to expand its stores around the world.

Now, Tod's KLCC is offering you a chance to discover their latest collection at their boutique with the company of your closest shopping buddies.

All you have to do is host a Tod's party and invite 6- 14 of your friends to join you at the boutique. You and your friends will be served refreshments while being personally attended to by the Tod's staff. And that's not all! You stand a chance of receiving a Tod's voucher when a minimum of RM10,000 is spent!

Now is the part where you have to do a bit of work: Name your favourite Tod's product and tell us in 20 words why you would love to host this Tea at Tod's Party. Send your entry to simplypartylicious@gmail.com with your name, contact number and e-mail address, how many people you plan on inviting and preferred date and time ( between 11am-8pm, duration of 2 hours). Easy peasy!

Al-Amar to Spice up your Life

2011-06-21T10:32:00.014+08:00

Who can miss the attractive red interior glassed up restaurant outside Farenheit 88? Yes, Al-Amar express proves to be a popular haunt especially for those who love casually dining on Lebanese cuisine after work and on weekends.

Al-Amar Express holds an enviable position being poised on the sidewalk of Jalan Bukit Bintang in the new Fahrenheit 88 shopping mall which officially opened in November 2010.

The restaurant is a modern, hip and contemporary space with cozy furniture custom-designed especially for the restaurant. The textures and colours of the restaurant come in soft soothing shades of creams and beige with wooden floors and touches of Al-Amar’s signature stamp of red. Suspended from the high ceiling are numerous black wire chandeliers that give off a soft ambient glow. The exterior side of the restaurant has been modeled using a large expanse of glass walls so customers can enjoy watching the busy crowds of KL stroll by.

The menu consists of a combination of Lebanese wraps, healthy sandwiches, chawarmas, salads and Manakeesh (Lebanese pizzas). Al-Amar Express is also open for breakfast and serves a wide array of Lebanese pastries offering diners an alternative to the usual western or continental options. Prices start from RM 8 - RM 25 per dish.
We got the opportunity to try their mouth-watering cuisine at their Fine Dining restaurant at Pavilion a couple of weeks ago when Ralph Zeidan, Al-Amar's Sales and Marketing Director and Alex Hassan, Catering and Event Director, gave us a call to introduce their services.

Al-Amar prides itself by providing some of the best Lebanese offerings available in town and has almost 50% of its ingredients imported directly from Lebanon. Several of the grains, spices, and condiments including chickpeas and the reputable seven spices have to be flown in directly from Lebanon enabling them to deliver the true authentic taste of Lebanese Cuisine. Particular care has also been given in choosing local ingredients to ensure the best standard and freshness levels are met with the stringent requirements of Lebanese Cuisine.

Behind the delicious food and outstanding service stands a team of very talented individuals forming the heart and soul of its operations. The kitchens are led by four highly experienced Lebanese chefs, they are Chef Pierre Chahda, Chef Michel Karam, Chef Qoutyba Fakih and Chef Yehia Mohd El Arab putting their years of knowledge at work to bring the best taste of Lebanon to Kuala Lumpur.

As for Al-Amar’s restaurant operations, these are handled by a team of multilingual and competent individuals benefiting from years of experience in the F&B and hospitality industries. Inevitably the result is top notch service employed to enhance your dining experience.

Throughout the years, Al-Amar has made an impact on the local culinary scene and has proven its ability to delight customers by providing great food, ambient interiors coupled with excellent service.

With all the good stories we read and heard about them (they were awarded “BEST MIDDLE EASTERN RESTAURANT” by Time Out KL Food Awards 2010 and awards of excellence for the MALAYSIAN GOURMET FESTIVAL 2009 and 2010), we couldn't wait to try their dishes.

As we sat down, Hassan and Zeidan enlightened us with the services provided by Al-Amar. Not only do they manage restaurants, they also do catering for parties, small and big. Their extensive kitchen ensures that they have enough hands to handle both restaurant orders and catering orders separately.

Hassan ordered the dishes while Zeidan filled us in a little about their backgrounds. Hassan was working in China for a few years before working in the Malaysian hospitality industry, namely the Grand Millenium hotel, before being personally requested to be involved with the starting up of Al-Amar. Zeidan meanwhile was working in Paris before being asked to be part of the group as well. (I had my chance to practice my smattering of French!)
From left: Alex Hassan and Ralph Zeidan

Their jovial personalities made it a very comfortable lunch and we were famished by the time the first servings arrived.

We started off with the customary Cold Mezze consisting of Hommos (Mashed chickpeas mixed with sesame seed paste and a dash of lemon juice, topped with olive oil), Labneh Bel Toum (Lebanese cream cheese made of strained yogurt, enchanced with garlic, topped with olive oil) and Samkeh Harra (Roasted grouper fish served on a bed of spicy tomato sauce). A must try is also their Tabbouleh, a traditional salad dish made of fresh parsley, tomatoes, onions and bulgur wheat and topped with lemon, olive oil and spices. It helps to work up the appetite tremendously.

I was a little skeptical about having the grouper fish without rice (My stomach is pretty Malaysian) but the texture and the taste on its own instantly washed my hesitance away and I eagerly waited for the next course.

The Hot Mezze consisted of a mixed platter of gooey (and yummy) Cheese Rolls (how did they know I'm a fan of cheese?), Kebbeh Kras (Fried ground beef and bulgur wheat shell stuffed with minced meat, chopped onions and pine nuts), Spinach Fatayer (Fried dough stuffed with baby spinach, onions and a zest of lemon), Beef Sambousik (Fried dough stuffed with minced beef meat and spices).

I simply loved the Beef Sambousik as it melts in the mouth in just one bite. (Their beef is imported from Australia).

Next, the Makanek (Lamb sausages marinated with special Lebanese seasoning)arrived and it was my colleague's turn to be a little skeptical as she's never eaten lamb in her life. Hassan and Zeidan assured her that this would be turning point in her life and she took a brave first bite and was instantly converted into a lamb-eater! "There's no "lamb-y" taste!" she squeals in delight.

To make sure we went off with heavy stomachs, Hassan ordered the Mixed Shawarmas Platter,
a beef and chicken Shawarmas platter served with, tarator sauce, garlic sauce, French fries and condiments plus Grilled Chicken to go with Kabbseh Rice (Fragrant basmati rice cooked with tomato and spices).

To end the lunch with a sweet note, we had Layali Laubnan (A popular layered pudding consisting of semolina, kashta and bananas all topped with fine nuts)and Spiced Fruit Salad (Fruit salad soaked in a spiced passion sauce and topped with strawberry ice cream)

Al-Amar Express is having Let's Meet Up For Lunch promotion. This promotion is offering four differences set Menu which included Manakeesh Combo, Lebanese Sandwiches Combo, Baguette Sandwiches Combo, and Half Roasted Chicken Combo. Click for more info http://bit.ly/kSacns

Al Amar Lebanese Cuisine Sdn Bhd
Lot 6.10, Level-6, Pavilion Kuala Lumpur,
168 Jalan Bukit Bintang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur.
+6 03-2166 1011

Who says White Flowers are Boring?

2011-06-20T19:07:00.008+08:00

White flowers always add a touch of elegance to decor, we say, and here are some parties with white floral arrangements.
SAG Awards:
Event:Friends of the High Line Spring Benefit & High Line Section 2 Opening Preview

Theme Party of the Month: Fast and Furious Party

2011-05-15T23:49:00.005+08:00

Start your engines for a Race Car party!
Race Car Invitations
To make your own invitations, use a photo of a race car from the internet and add wording like this:
Ladies and Gentlemen, Start Your Engines!
Race on over for Kyle’s 6th Birthday Party
Location: [your last name] Speedway at [address]
Join the Race Team by Calling: [your phone or email]

Here’s a list of decorating ideas. Choose the ones that will work for your family:
0 Attach two checkered racing flags to your mailbox or criss-crossed on your front door.
0 Set out all of your child’s Hot Wheels toys for the guests to play with as they arrived.
0 Make a large sign out of white paper saying "Welcome Race Fans" to hang on your door.
0 Use Hot Wheels cars and a toy racetrack as a table centerpiece.
0 Use chalk to draw a "Track" on the driveway and/or sidewalk leading up to your door.
0 Hang lots of checkered racing flags or a racing pennant streamer.
0 Hang posters of famous race car drivers.
0 Place bunches of balloons around the party area. For each group of 5-7 balloons, use one mylar car balloon with the cheaper latex black and white checkered flag balloons.
0 Hang a car pinata as a decoration, and it becomes an activity later during the party.
0 Make driver’s licenses for each child before the party on your computer. Buy lanyards at an office supply store so the children can wear them around their necks during the party. Hand them out as the children arrive, or set up a check-in station to kick-off the party activities.
0 Orange cones, if you can borrow some.
0 Background music like CARS-the movie soundtrack, or make your own with songs like On the Road Again, Little GTO, Born to Be Wild, etc.

Race Car Party Food
0 Make a sign that says “Pit Stop” for the food table.
0 Serve food like hot dogs, chips, and baked beans in new, clean oil pans, drip pans, large funnels. 0 Small chocolate donuts can be called tires.
0 Serve cupcakes with little checkered flags on them.
0 Make quick and easy "wheels" from any round cookie, by adding an M&M or junior mint in the center as the hubcap.
0 Good choices include a new Hot Wheels car, racing stickers, little race flags, and candy, of course!

Event Report: Cleo 50 Eligible Bachelor's Party 2011

2011-05-15T21:53:00.006+08:00

In its 15th year in Malaysia, this annual event originated in Australia and is now held in five countries. Winners achieve celebrity status while past participants have gone on to be actors, models and successful businessmen.

The Most Eligible Bachelor roll call is studded with names of note: Amir Milsson (2010), Henry Golding (2009), Brian Lau (2008), Christian Neal Capes (2007), Awal Ashaari (2005), Mohd Jehan Miskin (2003) and Tony Eusoff (2003), Nazrudin Rahman (2000), now better known as Naz, Hiresh Haridass (2001), now better known as Reshmonu.

This year the Malaysian bash shifted to The Mist Club, Bangsar, and what made it extra special (besides the presence of the 50 hot bachelors) was that it had a Roaring 20's theme. Best Events transformed the club into a speakeasy with a ticketing booth, feather table centrepieces, gold streamers, hanging pearls, posters from that era and even lamp posts at the VIP entrance.

Ushers were dressed as Flapper girls complete with feather headpieces and pearl necklaces.

CLEO had many activities lined up starting with a comedy show for the VIP guests on the ground floor. At 8pm, the ground floor was open to the readers while the VIP guests were ushered upstairs where there was a screening of "The Great Gatsby" in a specially created Theatre. A Burlesque dance performance got the party started followed by the much awaited bachelor performances, games and the announcement of this year's winner- Josiah Mizukami!

Having a 1920's party soon? Props are available for rental to make your party complete!

Hostess Gift Ideas

2011-05-15T21:20:00.012+08:00

A hostess usually puts her heart and soul into making her party enjoyable for all her guests. Here are some gift ideas to show her your appreciation:

Sweet Relief

Present your hostess with a set of luxurious toiletries to help soothe the anxiety and excitement that comes with planning a gathering. Here, a simple box lined with a cloth contains small indulgences such as scented bar soaps, bath salts, bath gel, lotion, candles, and tea bags.

A Good Morning

A healthy breakfast is often the last thing on your hostess's mind when she's planning a night of entertainment. Line a basket with vintage tea towels and fill it with everything they need to start the day off right -- coffee, tea, milk, sugar, orange juice, scones, butter, and marmalade. All they have to do is find the kettle and French press to recover from the festivities.

Jam Gift Package

This small, thoughtful gift is a good way to thank a hostess. Wrap two loaves of your favorite crusty bread (we like French baguettes) in a linen dish towel, and top with a jar of homemade jam. Tie them together with a colorful ribbon to match the towel, securing a wooden spreader in the knot of the bow.

Tea Sachets and Gift Box

Put a pretty, personalized spin on a gift of assorted teas. Make sachets to fill with a mix of favorite loose teas (or create custom blends from dried herbs and edible flowers, such as mint and hibiscus). Add tags, and place in a gift box.

Put a pretty, personalized spin on a gift of assorted teas. Make sachets to fill with a mix of favorite loose teas (or create custom blends from dried herbs and edible flowers, such as mint and hibiscus). Add tags, and place in a gift box.

Tools and Materials

Loose tea
Cheesecloth, cut into
8-inch squares
Cotton string
Scissors
Craft punches in different shapes
Card stock, plain or patterned
Hole punch or screw punch
Gift box
Craft glue

Make the Tea Bags

1. Choose loose teas, and create desired blends. Place 2 tablespoons toward top edge of a cheesecloth square.

2. Roll up cheesecloth. Gather ends of bundle to create a pouch, and tie closed with cotton string. Repeat to create more tea bags.

3. Make a tag for each flavor using craft punches and card stock. Punch a hole in the center of each tag. Thread tea-bag strings through each tag, and knot.

Make the Gift Box

1. Cut 2 rectangles from card stock to fit inside top and bottom of gift box. Snip corners to create flaps. Glue bottom rectangle inside box.

2. Use craft punches and card stock to cut out more tags. Glue tags to top card-stock rectangle, and label. Glue to inside lid of box.

Lucky Plant Gift
Wish someone an auspicious new year with a jade plant, an easy-care succulent that's said to bring prosperity.

To wrap the pot, place it on a square sheet of decorative paper. Bring up two opposite corners, and secure to the pot with double-sided tape.
Fold the other two flaps as shown; tape. Tie gold cord around the pot

Machine-Embroidered Felt Coasters

You only need tiny bits of fabric and some colorful thread to make these machine-embroidered coasters, which make lovely hostess gifts.

-Martha Stewart

Hostess Do's and Definitely Don'ts

2011-05-15T21:03:00.002+08:00

You have the menu, the strategy, the guest list -- the biggest variable left is your stress level, and stress has a funny way of making us morph into those beings (or other B-words) we don't want to be. Relax. Or you could just find yourself behaving like...

The Invisible Hostess

Having failed to start on time, or having decided to make complex, last-minute dishes, you're in the kitchen, alone, all night. Very bad. As is jumping up to start cleaning while your guests are still at the table eating dessert.

The Miserable Faultfinder

Do not tell everyone whats wrong with the food before they even pick up their spoons. "So no one thinks the soup's too salty?" Really, what can they say?

The Rueful Dreamer

You saw a great recipe for Thai-style noodles but couldn't get the lemongrass. You thought about tiramisu, but went with a trifle. Don't tell people what they could have been eating. Most guests will love spaghetti and meatballs, if you don't start raving about some lobster ravioli you saw on TV.

The Insufferable Uberchef

Speaking of lobster ravioli, if the dishes served are very exotic and the wines very fine, let the guests notice it themselves. No bombarding them with gourmet commentary.

The Bickersons

It's a challenge to have people over when you and your husband/boyfriend are in the midst of a squabble, but it happens. No matter what, avoid carping at each other and rehashing any long-running arguments.

-Martha Stewart

Event Looks Inspired by Residential Decor

2011-05-15T20:32:00.003+08:00

Events are often viewed as a fanciful escape from everyday life, but many designers are suddenly taking inspiration from the home. Whether it’s an event held in a private residence or residence-turned-event space, or the use of overstuffed armchairs, area rugs, and other homey touches, residential-inspired decor is on the rise.

Much like the trend of upscale comfort food on catering menus, the effect is informal but luxurious. And some event marketers say it’s a subtle yet effective way to communicate a brand’s message. “The attendee experience at an event usually needs to have a long-term impact. By incorporating a brand or message into a lifestyle or experience, there is more potential for longevity or retention. When done elegantly and artfully, the guest leaves the event with an overall impression, while not feeling like it was forced or brand-heavy.

-BizBash

Animal Baby Shower

2011-04-15T20:13:00.005+08:00

When parents-to-be don't know or don't want to know the baby's gender, it's adviseable to go with a baby shower theme that is neutral. We recently threw a Baby Safari Animal Baby Shower. Games can be centred around the theme along with the type of food served.

Lighting Trends for 2011

2011-04-13T00:49:00.016+08:00

We know that good lighting can transform a plain room into an extravagant looking one. Thanks to new advances in technology and the changing face of event marketing, lighting is being used to create interactive branded experiences, arty installations, and splashy, large displays, as well as to set the right tone. Here are the seven trends and developments that will influence events in the coming year, plus a slew of design ideas.

1. Architectural Mapping

One of the biggest—and most influential—trends in lighting is architectural mapping, three- dimensional projections designed to transform a building’s facade.

“In simple terms, we take architectural plans of a building—or if they don’t exist, we create them. Using these plans, we recreate the building as a 3-D model using computer software,” explains Evan Grant of Seeper. “This provides our canvas, on which we compose the visual and audio performance. Finally, using super-bright projectors and our own custom software, we project the model onto the building, aligning it to the architectural details.” While the goal of Seeper’s design at the Vimeo fest was simply to look cool, these light shows can also be heavily branded, as seen in a Ralph Lauren promo in November. A team including U.K.-based United Video Artists and Drive Productions, Scharff Weisberg, and experiential agency MKG cast images of polo players, models, and products onto buildings on New York’s Madison Avenue. “The thing that’s most compelling to me about video projection is what can be conceived of as a projection surface. As our software gets better, we have a higher degree of control in terms of shaping the image to fit different surfaces,” says Ryan Scammell of Glow Design Group. Grant predicts that as the technology evolves and projectors get brighter and smaller, the mapping will merge with augmented reality. “In the future, architecture will be responsive to its environment and the people within it. We are working on interactive and generative projection mapping that allows the user to become part of and take control of the building and the performance,” he says.

2. Wireless Lights

Battery-powered lights are growing more popular due to their ease of use. “This type of fixture allows planners to have beautiful lighting in remote or hard-to-reach areas, such as table centerpieces, lounge areas, and trees, without the need for an external power source or running cable. This also means less hardware, and potentially faster setups,” says James Schipper of Los Angeles-based Kinetic Lighting. “Another important component of this is wireless control. Most planners probably want to control which color or sequence of colors the fixtures output; by doing it wirelessly, it’s less cable and hardware to run to each light fixture. We’re getting asked for this a lot, but it’s difficult to supply. I think that will change as the demand continues.” While the cost is still high, many lighting designers predict that wireless LEDs will become cheaper and more accessible as demand increases.

3. Interactivity

Over the past few years, interactive lighting projections have been a popular way to incorporate branding and engage guests, and designers are continuing to dream up—and manufacture—new innovations. “Imagine an event space featuring wall, floor, and furniture projections—a fully immersive environment where every move  triggers something else,” says Ira Levy of New York’s Levy Lighting. “The complete environment can change throughout the night.”

4. More LEDs

LEDs have been around for a decade or so, and we’ll be seeing even more of them. In fact, for some events, they’ll be the only kind of lighting. “The advantages of all-LED lighting are a huge reduction in power requirements, infrastructure, and cable and installation labor requirements,” says Chris Newkirk of Toronto-based Screamlab. “There is no [significant] heat, and there is full programmability in terms of color,” he says. “I use a combination of static—nonmoving—LED modules and moving head LED fixtures, as well as various other elements depending on the project. The fixtures are more expensive to rent, but with the savings elsewhere it pretty much balances out—if you have the right supplier.”

5. Video

When it comes to branded content, many lighting  designers are opting for video. “Video can be used to support a theme in a way similar to how we’ve used gobos in the past. The advantage is superior images that can be animated and change during the course of the event,” says David Kelly of Frost in Chicago. “The advantage of all of these systems is that they are modular and can be assembled in endless ways. Units can even be suspended overhead to create an amazing effect.” LED systems can also integrate video into an event. “They can be used as a light box or a large source of colored light that can also take in video content, which allows for constantly changing color and patterns. They are also not necessarily square or rectangular tiles; now, they come in linear, curved, circular shapes and more,” says Michael S. Eddy of Eddy Marketing and Consulting. “There are a lot of creative applications with LED video products. They are being used widely on television projects like award shows, game shows, and news programs; they are widely used in concert touring; and they are getting wide use for corporate events, parties, and trade shows.”

6. Bold Color

“With the economy perking up, I’m finding that people are requesting more colorful environments using closely connected but differing palettes to establish a vibe or create more of a branded feeling,” says Bentley Meeker of New York’s Bentley Meeker Lighting and Staging.

7. 3-D

This technology has made its mark on the movie industry—will events be next? Michael S. Eddy thinks it’s still a fad, but it can create impressive visuals. “When good 3-D content is made, like a three-dimensional logo spinning at a product launch, the effect really works well,” he says. “There  are now LED video products that can create 3-D effects that will work with 3-D glasses—both the traditional two-color, like red and blue, and some that use a polarizing effect, which is more what the technology is moving toward. The polarizer version is far superior to the two-color system, which I find headache-inducing.” —Lisa Cericola

New Teambuilding Ideas

2011-04-12T20:35:00.013+08:00

It’s hard to motivate a group with the same old games. Here are six new alternatives to tried-and-true exercises for summer associates and corporate picnics.

1. The New Outdoor Activity: Companies get their employees to stage their own flash mob. The group creates a performance concept, then is provided a training video with choreography so they can practice in advance. On the day of the event, professional dance instructors and choreographers rehearse the group before capturing the performance on video.

2. The New Philanthropic Experience: Instead of assembling teddy bears or bicycles, Northern California-based Corporate Games offers a landscaping project where groups plant the backyards of chosen houses. Teams interview the residents, create a plan, and then shop for plants and other supplies. In the end, each team gives a presentation about its design.

3. The New Cooking Class: Try a cake designing competition. Teams decide on a theme, and then sculpt and decorate sheet cakes. Before digging into their creations, they must create commercials to present the cake to the rest of the group.

4. The New Art Project: Groups of as many as 200 can try their hand at ice sculpting. Instructors lead groups in designing, building, and lighting an original sculpture. The project takes around two hours.

5. The New Scavenger Hunt: Try an iPod Touch hunt. Teams use the devices to collect clues and solve timed challenges through the use of video, the Internet, music, photos, and podcasts. The game can be tailored around a company’s information, and lasts about three hours.

6. The New Relay Race: Get your group moving and tap into the TV dance competition craze with a dance-off such as “So You Think Your Team Can Dance?” . In a hotel ballroom, conference room, or any open space, groups will learn steps from professional choreographers, and then perform routines for prizes.

Pretty Party Favors

2011-04-12T19:34:00.010+08:00

Birthdays, Hen Nights, Baby Showers, Corporate Events, Weddings..they all have something in common. They need party favors to complete it! We've compiled a few of our favourites this month:

Chocolate Bars As a new mom welcoming and celebrating your new born, isn't it wonderful! if you are looking for an extra-sweet favour to give your baby shower guests and value for money at the same time with the right choice! Guests will love the Candbury chocolate bar and the personalised wrapper that express your words of thanks to your guests.

Hugs and Kisses Soap Beautifully inspired in both design and meaning, the "Hugs & Kisses" Scented Soaps is a wedding favour extraordinaire. Inside the black-and-white, Victorian-inspired gift box are two delightfully fragrant, 1 1/2" white soaps—one "X" and one "O"—nestled in white raffia. The gift box measures 3 ¼" x 2 ¼" x 1 1/2" and is tastefully tied with a black, grosgrain ribbon and bow and a matching tag that says "Hugs & Kisses from Mr.& Mrs."

With This Key Ring Brilliant and sophisticated with plenty of glittering facets, this beautiful crystal "diamond" is a perfectly oversized version of the real thing, with enough expertly designed details to set heads shaking! The ring includes several key chain hoops, perfect for keeping all your keys organized. May we suggest these make excellent bridesmaids favors and gifts for bridal shower guests? Each ring arrives in a charming showcase gift box with organza bow with matching "For You" tag.

Butterfly Bookmark The beautiful design and attached white silk tassel make this butterfly bookmark the perfect favour for a variety of events! Celebrate a wedding, birthday, graduation or garden party with these take-home favors for your guests. Each silver metal butterfly measures 2" by 2 1/4", with an attached 3 1/2" tassel. The bookmark is highlighted in a pastel gift box, and topped off with a white ribbon and flower-shaped "For You" tag.

Snowflake Bookmark Gleaming, metal snowflake bookmark is highlighted by intricate openwork detail * Exquisite, ice-blue tassel captures the essence of winter * Bookmark measures 2 ½”in diameter * Showcase gift box measures approximately 3”x 3”and includes ice-blue box sprinkled with white snowflakes, matching “For You" tag.

Butterfly Candle Holder Dual functionality, placecard and candle holder. Ideal for garden or butterfly inspired event. Each elegant butterfly placecard holder is wrapped with silverplated wire that extends to the top with ivory frosted glass candle holder. Tealight excluded.Measures 3" L. Individually gift boxed. Tea Cup Candle Holder These unique little porcelain teacups are ideal for wedding favours. The porcelain 'china pattern' teacup sits atop an attached saucer and the teacup is the perfect size to hold a single tealight. The brilliant silver pattern is an elegant accent on the gleaming white porcelain. The tealight is included and each "teacup and tealight" is packaged

Going Gaga over Delucca

2011-04-12T18:17:00.010+08:00

We received an invite for Delucca's 2nd Anniversary celebration recently and being there some time back we decided to drop by to see what was new. Friendly waiters greeted us at the entrance and asked if we had reservations and so we said we were there for a dinner party. (Doubt began to creep into my mind when we saw no sign of a party inside. Had I gotten the date wrong?) To our surprise, we were ushered in to privately dine with Delucca's Director, Mr Firas Sowiedan. The invite did mention celebrating WITH Mr Sowiedan but we didn't expect to have his full attention in a one-to-one (well one-to-two) dining session! It was indeed a very pleasant surprise.

We talked about everything from how Delucca got its name (Delucca was born out of the heart and passion of its owners who fell in love with the Tuscan city of Lucca,and they wanted a name easily remembered hence the name Delucca was created)to his love for Japan and its people. (He was planning to go there just before the devastating earthquake and had to cancel his trip) The ambiance at Delucca gives a sense of belonging. One is wrapped in color, soothing mood and is gastronomically satisfied with modern Italian food unique to Delucca!

Delucca, located off Jalan Nagasari, is surrounded by the buzz of city workers and shopping tourists which continues to add to the pulse of our restaurant where all friends and visitors always take a little piece of Delucca back home. About 45 minutes went by before we decided we were ready to eat. Looking at the menu we were spoilt for choice. Everything looked good! I decided to have my favourite (and predictable!) Spaghetti Bolognaise and had no regrets. It was really superbly flavoured with its generous offering of meat gravy.

As the night grew later, and our stomachs getting heavier, we prepared to call for the bill when Mr Sowiedan insisted that the meal was on the house. Well! What a great marketing strategy to get to know his clients personally. We sure will remember him when it comes to good food and service!

What's to look forward to at Delucca you ask? Chef Arnold brings a whole new food ideology to Delucca. His creations are unique and showcase the freshest of local produce blended perfectly to make their menu something truly special.

Their daily buffet lunch provides the busy executive with a flavorful array of Mediterranean salads, freshly baked breads & daily specials, which at a set price, is the place to be for your next business lunch.

From lunch Delucca transitions into the perfect place for exclusive dining experiences where the focus is on relaxation while you wind down after a busy day over Delucca creations all of which are infused with superb flavors and elegant balance. Their island bar is surrounded by the most versatile space in Kuala Lumpur. With 3,600 square feet, space for 100-seated guests and 200-standing, Delucca is the venue of choice for your next event. Having already hosted several major charity events, star-studded birthday parties that saw the restaurant completely transformed into a wonderland of delight, wine tasting dinners, product launches and album releases as well as live performances from international and local artists, such as Anita Sarawak, the Five n Dime band, David Gomes & Junji Delfino and Poova Plachciak, Delucca will rise to the occasion every time.

Your time at Delucca is not only a pleasurable experience but also a convenient one. With five levels of basement parking at the Somerset Office Tower, an auto pay system and a single charge of RM3 for entry after 6pm, getting in and out of Delucca is a breeze.

DELUCCA

Ground Floor, Tower C (office tower), One Residency 1 Jalan Mesui, off Jalan Nagasari [Park Royal Service Suites] 50250, Kuala Lumpur

Tel. 03 2144 6545

Email: info@delucca.com.my

Delucca’s opening hours: Sunday to Friday: 11.30am – midnight Saturday: 3.30pm – midnight

Wedding Decor

2011-04-01T23:26:00.002+08:00

We enjoy the reactions of guests as they walk into a ballroom that's totally transformed. As much as we would like to be adventurous when it comes to weddings, we know that the couple has their families to answer to if the decor is too outrageous. Planning a wedding? Talk to us! What will help us most is giving us your budget and we'll work our hardest to work within it. We promise! Here are some theme colours that are not over the top.

March Party Theme: Alice in Wonderland

2011-03-15T01:08:00.005+08:00

As mad as the March Hare! Summer is upon you, lush greens and vibrant colours are all around from different shrubbery and plants.

Guests make their way through a grand stone trellis entrance. This leads them to the Wonderland party theme. You are in the queens well groomed garden so watch what you say and do, else you may lose your head! You are surrounded by potted trees with twinkle lights and statues beautifully lit from below.

The queens white picket fence which keeps intruders out stands proud cordoning off access to her prize green grass.

Things suddenly seem a lot bigger and you appear to have shrunk as a giant Jenga, and connect 4 are sitting waiting to be played. A ‘wonderland’ style game of croquet is also available to amuse passers by and a giant piece of cake lies waiting to be eaten.

Intelligent lighting with heart gobos sweep around the room wowing guests as they sit down to eat dinner.

This really is a curious place!

Going over the Moon with Macaroons

2011-03-14T23:58:00.004+08:00

Yes, it's true! Macaroons are here to take over cute cupcakes as the latest gifting trend and dessert centrepiece, and about time too! I had my first bite of macaroons when my ex-boss brought some back from Laduree, Paris. I personally prefer less sweet desserts but the colours were just so attractive!

What is this "Macaroon" you say? Well, according to Wikipedia, it's a type of light, baked confection, described as either small cakes or meringue-like cookies depending on their consistency. The original macaroon was a "small sweet cake consisting largely of ground almonds" similar to Italian or Moroccan amaretti.

The English word macaroon and French macaron come from the Italian maccarone or maccherone. This word is itself derived from ammaccare, meaning crush or beat used here in reference to the almond paste which is the principal ingredient.

Most recipes call for egg whites (usually whipped to stiff peaks), with ground or powdered nuts, generally almonds. Alternatively, coconuts can be used. Almost all call for sugar. Macaroons are commonly baked on edible rice paper placed on a baking tray.

Where can you have a taste of macaroons in Malaysia? Here are some places or bakers you can try:

Bite Me!

Babycakes Sweet Shoppe, G City Club Hotel

Cafe Cinno

Levain

Nathalies Gourmet Studio, Plaza Dutamas

Strudels

WWF Malaysia- Earth Hour 2011

2011-03-14T22:01:00.005+08:00

Ahh..you scoff at the idea of saving energy for one miserable hour. What can one hour do to save the earth? Well, it's really not about saving as much energy for that one hour but really, it's a reminder that we all can do better at saving our own planet because there's no one else responsible for it but us...

So if you'd like to be a volunteer for one day, and try to make a difference in any small way that you can, here's how:

Earth Hour 2010 was the largest voluntary action for the environment in history with lights going out across 128 countries and over 4,500 cities worldwide. This year, WWF-Malaysia is inviting volunteers* to stand together with the world in a global celebration of the one thing that unites us all – the planet.

Date: 26th March 2011 (Saturday)
Time: 10.00am- 10.00pm (Earth Hour takes place from 8.30pm-9.30pm)
Venue: Sunway Pyramid

Session A: 10.00am -12.30noon
Session B: 12.00noon- 2.30pm
Session C: 2.00pm-4.30pm
Session D: 4.00pm- 6.30pm
Session E: 6.00pm-8.30pm

Notes:

*Volunteers aged 18 and above only
You are welcome to join both the volunteer session & Dancing in the Dark
A short and simple briefing will be given upon registration at the gathering point at the WWF-Malaysia booth located in Oasis Boulevard (outdoors next to T.G.I Friday, Italiannies and Republic), Ground Floor before each session

Objectives:
To get the public excited to support nature conservation
To generate “Live Green” pledges towards more sustainable lifestyles (please see livegreen.wwf.org.my)
To bring together nature lovers to celebrate our living planet

What do I do as an outreach volunteer?
You will be chatting with people to get them excited about supporting Earth Hour and pledging to “Live Green”. A briefing and outreach materials will be provided; but in the mean time, please check out the FAQ on livegreen.wwf.org.my.

Note: Volunteers will be given an Earth Hour button badge and glow-in-the-dark arm bands on the day.

Further FAQ for Volunteers

Can I choose a session that I am comfortable with?
You are free to choose which session to be on duty, but there is a cap of 40 pax per session on a first come first served basis.

Will I be alone if my buddies can’t join me?
Don’t worry, volunteers will be divided into groups of three to five people.

I am from a club/organisation, can I mobilise my members?
Yes, please, the more the merrier. In your registration e-mail, let us know the name of your club/organisation and the number of members who would like to volunteer and their preferred sessions.

What is the dress code?
• Casual, with sleeved tops and shorts/skirts/dresses/jeans that are at least knee length
• Earth Hour T-shirts are available for sale from WWF-Malaysia
• If you’d like to participate in the “Dance in the Dark”, please wear white clothes (watch www.facebook.com/wwfmy for updates on this exciting dance!)

Planning a Green Wedding

2011-03-14T20:31:00.006+08:00

What is a "green" wedding? Well, some take the word "Green" literally and have their decorators use as many green elements as possible. But for the environmentalists, it's about saving as much energy and resources as possible.

How do you this?

■Minimize the amount of driving your guests will need to do.
Cpt for a venue which has access to public transport if need be or at least central enough for them to drive to.

It would be wise to consider these factors below, which are not only green choices, but economical and logical choices too!

•Could you have your special event at a place that would minimise travel impacts, and one that would keep the ceremony and reception close to each other?
•What about providing eco-friendly transportation between them? Or encouraging your guests to carpool, which would send a message as well as allow them to mingle with each other in fun fashion!
•Or you could pick a unique or local spot that you support or is special to you? That way this could also benefit your community or favourite places.

■Donate leftover food rather than throwing it out.
Some hotels have a regulation about not permitting leftovers to be consumed but you can request for a form to free them from any consequences eg side effects

■Don't register for things you don't need: give your guests the option of giving donations in your name instead.

INVITATION CARDS

Your wedding announcement or invitation can set the tone for your environmentally friendly wedding. There are many options today for 100% recycled, partially recycled or completely tree free papers from wedding invitation suppliers. If you are interested in making your own invitations, the choices are unlimitied. Consider all these places for paper on your wedding day:

•engagement announcements
•save the date cards
•shower invitations
•shower thank you notes
•wedding invitaitons
•ceremony programs
•place cards
•menu cards
•wedding announcements
•thank you notes

Many brides today are communicating electronically to cut down on paper and waste. You may be interested in creating your own unique personal wedding website at Wedding Window. No need to know HTML!! There are lots of styles to choose from and it is fully cusomizable and reasonably priced. There is a seven day trial, so you can check it out and see if it if for you. It is a great idea to have one place to put all your information. And at the end of your wedding, they have an option to get an archived copy of the site on CD.

Things to be considered would be:

•Recycled, handmade, or plantable papers processed chlorine-free and printed with vegetable- or soy-based inks tree-free paper made out of hemp, banana stalks, bamboo, kenaf, or organic cotton.

•What about postcards, which would take away the need for envelopes? Online invitations or blogs are also popular, and minimise the trouble of sending all those cards out! (We know some invitations don’t reach the intended guests these days anyway, with the days of e-mail and SMS!)

•But however you choose to do your invitation, the important thing is to communicate your green intentions to your guests. This does not have to big, preachy & showy message, of course, little friendly & subtle notes here & there that are not too intrusive would be perfect to spread a little green education!

•But before you do all that, remember to watch the numbers for your wedding! The single biggest factor in the environmental impact of your wedding will be its size, so have the strength to draw the line at the guest list you’ll have to agonise over!

FLOWERS

Your wedding flowers can be a place where you can make conscientious decisions which can have big eco consequences. Many flowers sold are imported from developing countries where pesticide use is very high and labor conditions and wages are low.

Choosing a florist where organically grown, in-season, local flowers are used can be a much better earth friendly choice. This will remove the need for long-distance transportation.

Other options:

Buy fresh at your local farmer's market.

Grow your own or force bulbs.

Use dried or silk flowers as an eco friendly alternative.

Reuse your flowers that day by transforming ceremony flowers into table decorations at the reception-similarly, ceremony decorations can be used to dress up the dance floor. After the party, donate them to a local hospital or senior citizen center or send them home with your guests.

TABLE CENTREPIECES

A great addition to the eco-friendly favors on the tables is to pull the "green" theme into your centerpieces. Table decor can take the form of pots of plants that can be later planted by your guests. If you are looking for a vessel for the center of your table to hold sea shells or colorful rocks, consider vases made from recycled glass or a bamboo bowl, due to renewable tendencies.

WEDDING FAVORS

Creating a wedding that isn't wasteful or polluting is appealing to more couples nowadays. A number of earth-friendly products and services is growing, giving the bride and groom a range of options. It is often as simple as buying local. For instance, supporting a local artisan is much more earth friendly than having cheap trinkets shipped half way around the world.

One of the more obvious eco-friendly wedding favor ideas for couples is to give something organic. There are many options if you want to give small trees, seeds, bulbs or plants.

Some local Malaysian companies offer milk and dark chocolate bars which make an elegant earth friendly wedding favor. Each bar wrapping can be customized.

The symbolism and beauty of gifting a tree is certain to thrill your guests. The KL Convention Centre has a programme that makes it easy for eco-friendly brides (or corporate clients even) to plant trees in their name.

Some local companies offer trees that can be delivered in an easy recyclable plastic tube with your choice of customized label. Your recipients can plant their trees right away, store them in a refrigerator, or grow them indoors for months.

The Green World Project provides live evergreen tree seedling favors. Their motto: By giving trees or seeds to your guests, everlasting memories will take root and grow along with your marriage. The tree can be presented in a stylish tube with directions on how to reuse the tube as a birdfeeder. Very clever!

There are also programmes that allow you to make donations to your favorite charity in honor of your guests.

When thinking of wedding favors, try to think like a guest. Would you want to receive this gift? Can I use it again and again or will it remain in the cupboard with all my other wedding favors?

For my own wedding, our favors were customized chocolates with a "Love is..." comic print on it .
MOST OF ALL

•Have fun planning your gorgeous green wedding
•Remember, little quaint messages of eco awareness can work wonders – you don’t have to nag and turn off your guests.
•You don’t have to green everything, do what you can and take heart that all little things do end up making a difference.
•Enjoy and savour your day. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime event that will be extra special for the efforts that you have made!

Other resources which could be helpful :

Portovert magazine – an online resource dedicated to green weddings.

Ethical Weddings – a one-stop searchable database of all things local, fair-trade, organic, recycled, and wedding related.

Great Green Weddings – offering helpful advice for the eco-couple, including a couple of books on the subject.

HowStuffWorks has a bevy of helpful tips, including how to plan a wedding and making Wedding Bells

And if you’re looking for books on green weddings, there are Eco-Chic Weddings by Emily Elizabeth Anderson, Green Weddings by Carol Reed-Jones, and Organic Weddings, by Michelle Kozin

How Green is your Event?

2011-03-14T19:52:00.009+08:00

There are many misconceptions when it comes to trying to make an event as green as possible. Some clients insist they want a green event but also insist on using fancy invitation cards and not just once! They have the "Save the Date" card, the actual invite and the Thank You card.
We have nothing against card printing but why not cut down and just print one card and have the rest in soft copy?

For us party planners, we can't resist using fresh flowers whenever possible as it changes the whole ambience of the party but other than refraining from using fresh flowers or at least opting for locally grown flowers rather than imported ones, what can we do?

ACCOMMODATION
When practical, use small hotels and local clubs. If the facility has environmental conservation programs, point out the details to guests.

REGISTRATION
Use less paper and offer online registration.

ENERGY
Lighting and energy efficient measures should be incorporated wherever feasible. Conference centers that maximize energy efficiency should communicate the details to their guests.

CULTURE
Feature local culture and entertainment.

FOOD
Serve locally grown products and organic food when possible. Point out such items on a menu. Food can be served in a buffet style in which participants can choose what they do and do not wish to eat. Additionally, many conference centers and restaurants support community food drives. Eco kitchens also find ways to compost.

PAPER
Far too much paper is wasted at events. There are so many leaflets that people just take and throw in the nearest bin. Why not save your info on a CD instead? Also these can be distributed to people who are genuinely interested only.

RECYCLING
Recycle and explain the process to conference participants.

INFORMATION
Like food, information is best served self-service. Otherwise, brochures end up in the garbage. If you have to distribute brochures or leaflets, print them on recycled paper.

TOURS
Schedule heritage walks direct from the conference venue. Local tours promote where the conference takes place and gives visitors a feeling for the neighborhood and a locals a chance to interact with conference participants.

WATER
Serve water from pitchers. If using plastic, make sure there is a collection point for recycling and a means to refill the bottles.

GIFTS

Besides the eco-pens, pencils, notebooks, bags and files, you can also gift Desktop accessories, eco electronics and gadgets, sweets, energy bars, clothing, water bottles and food containers, skipping ropes, luggage tags and among other useful gadgets.

RED FLAGS
What are the red flags of an eco- or people-unfriendly event?

Water is served in individual plastic bottles.

Recycling is not evident. Paper is just thrown into rubbish bins with other items like food and plastic. Try to have the three Recycling points for Glass, Plastic and Paper.

Locals are treated poorly or even excluded from the meetings.

The event is announced online, but there is no follow-up. Presentations, videos and summaries are not shared.

Name badge holders are not reused.

Meals are served via paper or plastic disposable containers.

Sadly, such events are common but start taking a small step now and you will make a difference.

More resources:

http://www.greeneventsource.com/productshowcase.php

Learn more on green businesses:

http://greenmanplanet.blogspot.com/2008/09/who-is-matthias-gelber.html

A personal friend of ours, Mr Gelber's passion for green is so contageous that we can't resist mentioning his work here.

Event Report: Monopoly Party

2011-02-14T12:58:00.003+08:00

When our client proposed we do a Monopoly Party themed party for her 6 year old son, we got excited! So many ideas flew through my head and we settled for having various stations where the kids had to earn their money or be sent to jail if they were declared bankrupt.

It was apparent that Monopoly was nothing really new to some of them as they approached us demanding to buy properties and scampered off happily with the idea of collecting rent from their friends.

Event Report: Asian Night

2011-02-14T12:49:00.003+08:00

Menard Geosystems chose an Asian Themed night for their annual dinner last month. Guests walked in with traditional costumes and were entertained by Shanghai dancers, a Lion Dance Performance and Mask Changing performance.

Our emcee got them involved playing various games and everyone went home with a fabulous lucky draw prizes.

Winter Wonderland & Monopoly Themed Parties

2011-02-14T12:17:00.007+08:00

Winter Wonderland

Make your way under the frosty pillar entrance tunnel and if you peer underneath the icicles hanging down over the exit to this tunnel you will catch a glimpse of a snowy forest ahead of you.
Duck under the icicles and out into the forest ahead. A small path is visible through the trees, so follow this through, following the small pools of light shining from traditional street lamps, which lead the way through to the venue of the evening’s party.

The effect is completed with intelligent lighting flashing around the room.

Monopoly Party

This is a great theme for Monopoly lovers and those who just enjoy collecting money and buying property. We have a junior version which is ideal for those aged 5 to 10 and a senior version for 18 year old and above. We cater to both private and corporate functions.

Guests will have to earn their money through various activities and take part in property auctions.

Monopoly tokens will be placed around the room adding to the atmosphere.

Party Planning- The Lowdown

2011-02-14T01:48:00.009+08:00

Establish the Basics

Organization is key to make hosting a breeze. There are six questions to answer to get started: What is the date? How many guests will be there? Where is the location? What type of party will it be? What is your budget? Is there going to be music or entertainment?

The Date

Sending invitations is not necessary for informal parties. A simple telephone call several weeks in advance is sufficient. For formal affairs, invitations can be sent out three to four weeks in advance, or even earlier for very important events. If you are sending invitations, be sure to include an R.S.V.P. And don't hesitate to call people for responses -- not knowing how to calculate quantities for an event is a sure cause of nervousness. It's safe to say that 20-30% of the total number of guests invited won't turn up so you can gauge how much food to order or prepare.

The Guest List

It could be a group of people you like; it may be professionals you need to entertain. Be strict about the size that fits your space and try to find an idiosyncratic mix of people who would make an interesting ensemble.

Location

Evaluate your space like a critic -- don't excuse a small oven or single bathroom -- and don't exceed the space and equipment you have. If guests will be standing, the average-size room can generally accommodate 30 people, a three-room expansive about 60. For any form of buffet, you must provide seating. Consider renting a place or equipment if your home isn't equipped to handle the party you want. Think outside the box -- a restaurant or art gallery could provide an interesting edge to your party.

Cocktails or Dinner?

Why you are throwing the party -- a birthday, for fun --will help set the date and size. Add to that your location, budget, and equipment to determine the type. Cocktail parties are the least expensive and most versatile. For a sit-down meal, you must have (or rent) dishes, flatware, glassware, linens, seating, and serving pieces. A buffet is almost as versatile as a cocktail party, and the size and price can be tailored to your budget.

Your Budget

Consider liquor, food, rentals, service, music or entertainment, and flowers or decorations to establish your initial budget. Think drinks first, as alcohol can be a major expense. Don't feel as though you need to be as well stocked as a restaurant; consider serving a signature drink. Be inventive with your food choices to limit costs -- instead of fillet of beef, have a Mexican fiesta.

Music and Entertainment

Music can make or break a party but doesn't have to be complicated at all. Match your selection to your budget and style. For simpler affairs, it is generally there for background support. Hook your iPod up to speakers and create a specific playlist. For more theatrical parties, consider live music. Student musicians are a good source for quality and affordable entertainment. If it is for dancing, choices range from a rented jukebox to a hired disk jockey through neighborhood rock groups or an expensive and established swing band.

Putting It All Together

Once you have answers to these questions, the framework for your party is in place --the time, place, and style have been established. Now use this information to figure out the details. The type of party will dictate what you need for equipment, the season can inspire the menu, and the budget will factor into the type of entertainment you choose and if you use a caterer. Outside of that, be creative and tailor a party you would want to attend.

Easy Party Food

2011-02-14T01:30:00.006+08:00

There are numerous ideas for simple party foods. Whether you are planning a birthday party, housewarming or an intimate get-together, offering a simple menu can be both time-saving and stress free for the host or hostess. Who wants to be in the kitchen all day long when you could be out mingling with your guests? Keep the food simple to make the day easy for all involved.

First, consider what style foods you would like to serve. There are tons of finger foods that can be prepared in advance and set out when the guests arrive. By offering finger foods you don't have to worry about a sit-down style dinner. Some simple finger food ideas include:

•Chips and salsa
•Vegetable crudités and dip
•Cheese and crackers
•Fresh fruit
•Bruschetta
•Chicken wings

Another option to consider is having a dessert only menu. Serve a variety of desserts such as cookies, an assortment of cakes and brownies. You could also offer a healthy option such as fresh fruit for those not wanting to indulge!

If you are going with a party theme, then have your simple foods fit into the theme. For example, for a luau you could serve simple food items such as grilled pineapple, vegetable kabobs and satay.

For a child's birthday party, serve simple foods that kids will like and you won't have to spend much time creating. Items like pizza, cupcakes and a variety of snacks are always a big hit with children.

A cocktail party is a great way to have your guests mingle and get to know each other better. By serving simple foods that are portable, guests will be able to eat while socializing. A full-menu is never expected at a cocktail party. Instead offer simple hors d'oeuvres and appetizers including:

•Fresh fruit
•Peeled shrimp
•Antipasti platter
•Assorted cheeses and crackers
•Tarts

Other Options

If cooking is not on your agenda, then you could always visit your local market and pick up a few pre-made items. Sandwich rings, deli trays and pre-made salads are all great options. Add some snacks such as chips and pretzels and you are ready to go.If you live close to a warehouse club, there are a variety of frozen items to choose from that only need to be heated and are ready to serve.

Don't Forget The Drinks!

Complete your simple party foods menu by offering a variety of drink choices. Instead of standing around mixing up individual cocktails, whip up a pitcher of margaritas or make fresh lemonade. Keeping the drinks simple will also save you time and energy. There are also easy punch recipes that can be made in advance and served either with or without alcohol. You could also serve several different wines and have your guests pick their favorites. Always offer both red and white wines.

Keep it simple and not only will your guests enjoy themselves but you will as well.

Some recipes for you to try:

The key to making recipes for party finger foods is to have items that do not drip, fall apart or require any utensils whatsoever. Remember to provide serving spoons, toothpicks and napkins for your guests.

Tortilla Rollups

Tortilla rollups are a good finger food for a variety of parties. You can customize them to fit almost any palate by swapping out the seasonings, vegetables, cheeses and meats. The recipe for a taco rollup is listed below; use the ingredients in parentheses for a pizza version.

Ingredients

•5 to 10 10-inch flour tortillas
•8 oz. cream cheese
•8 oz. sour cream
•1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese)
•1/2 package of taco seasoning (2 tsp. Italian seasoning)
•1 can diced tomatoes and green chilies, drained (1 cup diced pepperoni)

Directions

Mix together the cream cheese, sour cream and seasoning. Fold in the cheese and diced tomatoes/chilies. Spread over flour tortillas. Roll up tortillas and place in refrigerator. After chilling for a few hours, slice them into 1-inch pieces.

Kebabs

Kebabs are the perfect party finger food. Virtually anything that isn't liquid-based can be put on a kabob. Kebabs are great luau party finger foods, but they can work for any occasion. Skewer fruits, like watermelon, cantaloupe and strawberries, in the summer. Put lamb, green peppers, tomatoes and onions on a kebob and marinate in a bottled Greek dressing before grilling for a Mediterranean twist. Grapes, strawberries and cheese cubes are perfect kebabs for a wine tasting party.

The best thing about kebabs is that you can make your own recipes even if there isn't a recipe available for something that fits your theme. You could bake kebabs with hot dog slices and French fries in the oven for a child's party or put tofu with raw vegetables on a kebab for a vegetarian twist.

Lamb shish kebabs are easy to make and are very tender. This recipe for lamb shish kebab is easy, requires few ingredients, and is perfect for dipping.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

•1 lb. lamb fillet
•2 medium onions
•salt and pepper to taste
•olive oil

Preparation:

Cut lamb fillet into 1 inch cubes. Generously sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Cut onions into eighths. Sprinkle with salt and pepper as well.

Lightly oil skewers with cooking oil. Thread lamb and onions alternately onto skewers. Sprinkle kebabs with olive oil.

Spray grill with cooking oil to prevent sticking. Place lamb kebabs on grill. Cook for about 5 minutes each side, or until lamb is lightly browned.

Serve lamb kebabs with fresh vegetables, hummus, baba ghannouj. French fries are commonly served with grilled lamb.

Pecan Mini-Tarts

Skip the typical cookies and bars and put a unique twist on dessert by making pecan mini-tarts. These tasty treats are similar to the pie, but without the mess.

Ingredients

•1 cup finely chopped pecans
•1 cup brown sugar
•2/3 cup melted butter or margarine
•1/2 cup flour
•2 beaten eggs

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line mini-muffin pan with paper. Combine dry ingredients in a bowl and set aside. Mix butter and eggs. Add to dry ingredients and stir until just mixed (there may be small lumps). Bake for approximately 20 minutes (oven times may vary), until a toothpick in the center mini-muffin comes out clean. Place on wire racks to cool.

Easy Centrepieces

2011-02-14T00:41:00.008+08:00

To create this illuminating centerpiece, place a glass vase inside another that is slightly larger (secure them with floral adhesive), and then pour tinted water in between them. Pillar candles are best for this project; not only are they pretty, but their weight will further anchor the interior vase. For added light play, make a series of these centerpieces in different shades of the same hue (a few extra drops of food coloring will yield the desired contrast).

This series of leaves runs the length of a table set for dinner, proving that a centerpiece need not be restricted to what the name implies: a single piece placed in the center of the table. Cuttings from houseplants, leaves from the florist, and trimmings from backyard ferns and shrubs -- each in a little bottle -- form a dramatic table decoration.

Flowers and candlelight are nothing new, but together they create tabletop decorations fit for relaxed summer entertaining. Place votive candles in tall glass vessels, and attach a flower (dahlias are shown here) outside each, trimming the stem to fit and tying with raffia that matches the flower. Set each display in a saucer of water to keep the flowers fresh.

-Martha Stewart

New Interactive Window

2011-02-07T18:42:00.004+08:00

It's always excites us when we see new forms of inventions especially when it comes to capturing a customer's attention.

This post came from Jack: The Experience Brand.
The power of the window display and an opportunity to have a brand interact with potential customers.

Interactive Display Window from Marcus Wallander on Vimeo.

Chinese New Year Hampers

2011-01-16T01:15:00.007+08:00

Two weeks more till Chinese New Year!Chinese New Year is the longest and most important festivity in the Chinese Lunar Calendar. The origin of Chinese New Year is itself centuries old and gains significance because of several myths and traditions. Ancient Chinese New Year is a reflection on how the people behaved and what they believed in the most.

Chinese New Year is celebrated in countries and territories with significant Chinese populations, such as Mainland China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Macau, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore,Taiwan, Vietnam, and also in Chinatowns elsewhere. Chinese New Year is considered a major holiday for the Chinese and has had influence on the new year celebrations of its geographic neighbors, as well as cultures with whom the Chinese have had extensive interaction. These include Koreans (Seollal), Tibetans and Bhutanese (Losar), Mongolians (Tsagaan Sar), Vietnamese (Tết), and the Japanese before 1873 (Oshogatsu).

In countries such as Australia, Canada and the United States, although Chinese New Year is not an official holiday, many ethnic Chinese hold large celebrations and Australia Post, Canada Post, and the US Postal Service issue New Year's themed stamps.

Within China, regional customs and traditions concerning the celebration of the Chinese new year vary widely. People will pour out their money to buy presents, decoration, material, food, and clothing. It is also the tradition that every family thoroughly cleans the house to sweep away any ill-fortune in hopes to make way for good incoming luck. Windows and doors will be decorated with red colour paper-cuts and couplets with popular themes of "happiness", "wealth", and "longevity". On the Eve of Chinese New Year, supper is a feast with families. Food will include such items as pigs, ducks, chicken and sweet delicacies. The family will end the night with firecrackers. Early the next morning, children will greet their parents by wishing them a healthy and happy new year, and receive money in red paper envelopes. The Chinese New Year tradition is a great way to reconcile; forgetting all grudges, and sincerely wish peace and happiness for everyone.

Haven't managed to get your hamper for your clients or family members yet? Fret not, here are some for you to choose from.

Contact:
Deliziosi Amore Sdn Bhd (855874D)
Unit No 503, Block A, 5th Floor, Damansara Intan, No 1, Jalan SS20/27, 47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor DE, Malaysia
Tel: +603 7963 0891 Fax: +603 7729 7891

Hollywood & Pirate Party Themes

2011-01-16T00:55:00.004+08:00

Best Events specialises in making your party extraordinary. We can completely transform a room using theme props, lighting and state of the art technology. Using a specialised crew we can create a party theme to suit any idea, whether it be a Monopoly party theme, 1920's party theme or a Pirate themed event to name a few. You may of course have your own ideas and opt for something completely new.

At Best Events we like to make everything as easy and convenient as possible for you, so we can supply the complete party theme package. Alongside your theming, we can include a sound system that plays music relevant to the themed event, live acts, intelligent lighting, meet and greet staff in costume and everything you need to compliment the theme and of course photography and videography to capture special moments.

Party Themes Tailored For You

Whatever your budget, we can tailor a party theme to suit and always aim to be one better than the competition.

Our magazine will start featuring some of the party themes available to give you a headstart in choosing the right theme for your event be it for a corporate or private affair, or wedding.

This month we will write about the popular Hollywood theme & adventurous Pirate theme.

HOLLYWOOD THEME

The minute your guests arrive at the glitzy Hollywood party they will feel like they have become stars for the night!

They will enter the party over a plush red carpet with chrome posts and red silk rails.

The entrance to the function suite will be adorned with authentic looking props relating to the early film industry including directors chairs, 3D MGM camera on a stand, 2D vintage cars and Hollywood star cut-outs. Topiary trees with twinkling lights will add to the feel of a night amongst the stars!

As soon as guests have entered the function suite, they will be inspired by the opulent ambience. Intelligent lighting will be programmed by computer to sweep Hollywood gobos around the room creating a spectacular effect.

Tables will be dressed with black table slips, elegant floral arrangement and candles. The black and white dance floor with stone effect pillars and overhead trellis will transform the dancing area into what feels like a set from a Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers classic film.

PIRATE PARTY

Celebrate Ye Ol' Talk Like a Scurvy Pirate Day!

Guests step over the bamboo walkthrough party theme entrance observed by Blackbeards crew onto a moonlit beach. You can hear the sea lapping away in the background together with sword fighting.

All around are articles from Blackbeards ship carried ashore to aid in the celebrations which will go on into the early hours.

The sea view is spectacular. palm trees surrounded by fireflies enclose the area, and a treasure chest displaying Blackbeards wealth is on show, celebrating the latest success in capturing unsuspecting cargo ships.

Cupcake Wrappers

2011-01-16T00:27:00.004+08:00

Love making cupcakes but wish you had more choice when it comes to it being nicely wrapped? Look no further with Dress My Cupcake in the picture.

Dress My Cupcake was started in 2009 by a team of individuals who have more than 15 years of experience in two vastly different contexts: The Third World and the Special Events World. From designing and building schools and waste management projects in Asia and Latin America, to designing and selling special event products in the United States, the team has gained vast - and vastly different - experiences. The two worlds collided, as they tend to do, and Dress My Cupcake was born. Their team quickly grew into a worldwide family of designers, business people and folks who love to serve. Their mission? To provide the best cupcake supplies in the world, while contributing to a better world.

Dress My Cupcake combines passion for sweet fashion (their beautiful, designer cupcake wrappers), and sweet compassion (their chance to serve our beautiful world). While they have fast become the world’s largest cupcake wrapper company, they do not do big things: They simply do small things with big love. For every pack of wrappers sold, they contribute to a charity, discovered by you, their supporters. They sponsor inspirational activities worldwide, from health to education, climate change to economic empowerment.

For more info, please visit https://www.dressmycupcake.com/give.html

2010's Best and Worst Event Trends

2011-01-16T00:12:00.005+08:00

Favorite Trends of 2010

1.Sustainable corporate gifts. Dual-purpose items with meaning: jump drives, recyclable event/grocery bags, eco-friendly personal items.

2.Using an iPad to replace all the paper for event managers and producers, including while checking in guests. No more bulky binders!

3.Advanced contemporary color combinations. As clients and the general public become savvy about color through advertising and merchandising, more are willing to explore new color combinations, like ochre and steel gray or nude and black.

4.The increased use of dining options other than a 72-inch round and banquet chairs. We have seen people use a captain’s table, create booth seating with sofas and ottomans, and opt for a square table or even a triangle. Many people are using club chairs for table ends and choosing linenless options for tables.”

5.Food and dessert trucks that can be used post-event.

6.Creating custom marketing programs that communicate the brand using advanced formats to distribute information. For example, utilizing new technology applications involving touch, gesture and spatial perception, projection, or holography. Marketing is becoming more multi-faceted through interactive methods; installations that do not simply illustrate but involve the consumer."

Worst Trends of 2010

1.Cupcakes. Unless it is a children’s event, they’ve worn out their welcome. There are so many other creative dessert options.

2.Designers and sales people trying too hard to make and sell a ‘green’ event. Some spend so much time and effort—along with countless emails and paperwork that also use natural resources—spent to make an event ‘look green.’ Compare the imprint of those resources to the imprint of the original event concept. Sometimes, thinking smart and efficient can make the planning process more green than the event.

3.No more white Plexiglas bars! Every event starts to look the same, and there are ways to custom-design these bars to create a much more interesting effect. Create an interesting wallpaper effect out of decals, insert a beautiful natural wood element, or mirror the front side to add more interest.

4.Companies going out of their way for a celebrity endorsement at all costs, especially when getting them to attend results in a missing event concept or inferior aesthetics.

5.Cheap acrylic furniture and anything inflatable.

-BizBash

Top Tips for Planning Successful Events in 2011

2011-01-15T23:52:00.004+08:00

Major events are an important part of tourism. Whether it be events conferences or conventions, sporting events or religious rallies, major events impact almost every area of a tourism industry. Major events mean hotel occupancy, shopping at local retail establishments, food being purchased for and at the event, and an increase in restaurant and entertainment revenue. Major events also offer the local community a non-haphazard approach to tourism planning.

While the leisure tourism market is open to economic ups and downs due to anything from a change in weather conditions to an act of violence, major events produce a much more stable population. In the world of major events, most financial outlays have been made well in advance, and as such, the event is less subject to market fluctuations. On the other hand, there is stiff competition between locales for the major event business, and in some cases, such as in some forms of sport championship games, it is the winning team that determines who will be the host community.

Events cover a wide range of fields, from fundraising dinners to political rallies, from sports events to school reunions, from professional and academic conferences to family reunions or religious experiences, all are events and all add to a community’s economic health. To help you get the best meetings and special events for your community, consider some of the following.

If you are attempting to attract a new special event, study every aspect of the event prior to bidding for it. Often communities competing for special events simply do not do their homework. Before speaking with an event specialist, make sure that you know the basics: what are this event’s demographics? What are its special needs? What do they not want? How do their dates match yours? For example, if you are going after a religious convention or special event, you may want to consider what drinks to serve and what you need to avoid.

To get the best competitive advantage, consider your strengths and weaknesses. Doing a good assessment of what your community has to offer an event is essential. Ask questions such as: How do you stack up against others in your price range? Are your employees multilingual? What do potential customers think about what you have to offer and about what others are offering?

Make sure that you know the answers to what in English are called the basic “w” questions – Who, Why, When, and What. These are the essential questions that produce not only successful events but create positive word-of-mouth advertising. Make sure that you can answer fully: Who is holding the event and for whom is it targeted? Why are they holding this event? When will the event take place? Where do they want to hold the event, and are your facilities adequate? What expectations do the event planners have, and can you meet these expectations?

Develop sophisticated checklists. Make sure your checklist goes beyond the basics. Include such items as: what VIP requirements will the special event need? Do the event planners need you to make appointments with the fire marshal or other city officials? What happens if the airport closes down? Do you need to coordinate with an ambulance service? What problems might attendees have when they are outside of the event venue? What special political, medical, religious, or social sensitivities might the event goers have?

Know to which threats the event may be subjected. For example, are you in a heavy traffic zone, is this conference liable to have political infighting that might impact your locale, does this conference act as a terrorism magnet, or will the conference become a disturbance to local businesses and citizens? For example, political events often require streets to be closed off, traffic patterns to be moved, and other inconveniences to local residents. While these are not a threat to the convention attendee they may become “threats” to the sanity of the local population and to other businesses.

Decide what is the best use of your time. Events are really controlled moments in time in which memories are made. As such, how you manage your time will impact the success or failure of an event. When working with an event manager, spend some time to learn who is in charge of each of the events aspects.

Learn what the event’s time necessities are and prepare a timeline for your role in the event. Often it is the small things that win over a client or make an event special. Having a timeline means that there is less chance of a mistake or an oversight. Timelines should indicate not only when something is to be started but also by when it is to be completed.

Offer the best technological support possible. In today’s world that is both fast paced and multi-tasking, technology is king. Hotels that charge for internet are doing themselves and their community a disservice. Let your event managers know what technology you have. Do not over-promise, many event managers and business people are unforgiving when it comes to not delivering on a promised piece of technology.

Nothing wins back people as well as a smile and a willingness to make it right. No matter how well you plan an event, something will go wrong. Most people understand that mishaps will occur, what is not acceptable is refusing to recognize these mistakes and make them right. Saying merely, “I’m sorry,” is nothing more than a polite way to shun responsibility. Do not make excuses – make it right and make it right with a cheerful smile. The bottom line is that major events are a form of tourism and the essence of tourism is customer service. The community that forgets this basic rule is gambling with its tourism industry and reputation

By Dr. Peter E. Tarlow

Event Report: AGFund Award Ceremony Dinner

2010-12-09T00:18:00.005+08:00

We were requested to quote for this project in August 2010 and after 2 months of anticipation, we were called to meet with the client from AGFund to pitch our ideas and fine tune our ideas. They wanted the tiniest details discussed and they did this with all the event planners they met here during their first short 2-day visit to Kuala Lumpur. All we knew then was that most hotels were fully booked and we only one venue left that fit the bill- the KL Convention Centre

When they left for Riyadh, we were then asked to give several more ideas before they would make their decision two weeks later. Needless to say, our suppliers were on their wits end trying to get a confirmation before starting on the project.

Finally, we received the much awaited green light and before we knew it we had only two weeks left to complete staging, negotiations with the venue and other vendors. We worked with designers to come up with new stage and backdrop designs and we only got the go ahead 3 days before the 3-day event when the AGFund arrived from Riyadh!

Needless to say, all other projects took a temporary back seat while we dived headfirst into this one. We spent many anxious filled nights at the Secretariat room at The Traders Hotel going over programmes, artwork, event crew schedules, logistics making sure nothing was left out. After all, HRH Prince Talal Bin Abdul Aziz, the President of AGFund and our own PM, YAB Dato' Sri Najib Bin Abdul Razak were going to grace the event!

At last, the first day of the event started off with the Briefing and Press Conference and the journalists found out that HRH Prince Talal was unwell and had sent his son, HRH Prince Turky Bin Talal instead. Ah, but a Prince is still a Prince!

The Briefing and Press Conference covered the AGFund concept specifically targetted for the knowledge of our local NGOs who turned up in droves.

The second day was more for the 12th Prize Committee and more foreign journalists who were specially flown in to cover the event. This is when the 2010 project winners are announced.

And the third day, the grandest of them all, was the AGFund Award Ceremony dinner where the three 2009 prize winners were given awards. The AGFUND Prize is given annually in a city selected as per specific criteria approved by the Prize Committee which includes high-profile personalities representing the various regions of the world. So far, the Prize award ceremony was held in Geneva, Paris, New Delhi, Tunis, Cape Town, Warsaw, Buenos Aires and Istanbul. Kuala Lumpur will be the ninth station within 11 years ever since the Prize has been launched on 1999. The "Prize Station" is selected as per specific criteria approved by the Prize Committee.

The Prize of the Arab Gulf Program for United Nations Development Organizations is an extension of AGFUND approach in concentrating developmental performance and supporting the cornerstones of development in order to realize the target of sustainability and investment in man.

We are happy to report that despite undergoing a challenging two weeks, the event went on without any untoward incident and was even praised as the best award ceremony AGFund has ever had!

Event planners speak about Corporate Event Trends

2010-12-09T00:01:00.003+08:00

What are the major trends in the world of corporate events?

Deborah Elias, CSEP, CMP
What corporate events are growing in importance--marketing events? Branding? Employee appreciation? Sales training? Client appreciation? Which do you see fading back?

"Events are that are aimed at marketing/branding to new clients, whether by product launches or trade shows, seem to be the primary focus of corporations." – Deborah Elias, CSEP, CMP, Elias Events, Houston

"In 2008-09, corporate marketing and employee appreciation events were fading, but recently there has been a resurgence. Branding is very important, and brand loyalty is a large focus of clients." --Jocelyn Flanagan, CSEP, E=MC2 Event Management, Calgary, Alberta

"Employee appreciation events have been on the decline for years. That said, events focusing on training and rewarding salespeople are still important to the corporations." – Janet Elkins, EventWorks, Los Angeles

"I don't see as much fading. In fact, we were so faded, particularly in employee appreciation, that all areas you note are making a comeback--including that one!" –- Joann Roth-Oseary, Someone's in the Kitchen, Tarzana, Calif.

How have your responses to Request for Proposal (RFPs) changed in the last 12 months? Do you stress some elements more now? Is it just a question of price nowadays?

"Last year it was all about price and pretty much getting everything they got in 2008 but with 2009 prices. This year seems to be more about the quality but with more realistic budget expectations." -- Elias

Jocelyn Flanagan, CSEP
"Firstly, the amount of RFPs has increased in the past year, with procurement departments having more control over decision-making. Event elements such as safety standards and environmentally friendly event initiatives influence the outcome of the RFP; however, fiscal responsibility and cost controls are usually at the forefront." -- Flanagan

"There is definitely a focus on ROI--and has been for several years. We often encourage clients [to provide] a retainer so there is a win-win for both the corporation and us as a vendor. We are guaranteed business, and the corporation receives discounted pricing." -- Elkins

"Price remains a primary driver with RFPs although we do see a lot of upgrades, so we are taking the minimalist approach primarily and showing room for upgrades and choices. It seems to be working." --Roth-Oseary

Do you see the market for corporate events looking better in 2011?

"Looking better--thank God. I think people are becoming more optimistic about the shift in focus to the economy--where it should have always been, frankly, for the past two years." --Elias

"Yes, corporations are adjusting to the new mindset of controlled optimism and realize that they need to continue to move forward—'Business as usual.'"—Flanagan

Joann Roth-Oseary
"We definitely see an increase in business in 2011--and even a return for some 'themed' events." --Elkins

"I see it looking better. There is just so long they can lay down and play dead before the market thinks they are dead. I see the noses poking out of the foxholes, getting ready to shoot." --Roth-Oseary

What are the trends to watch?

"In our city, philanthropy is a major component in designing events. Whether it is a corporate employee Christmas party with guests donating gifts to a children's charity or a social event with the host encouraging donations to their chosen charity, the idea of giving is the a common thread through our events."-- Flanagan

Event Trends 2011

2010-12-08T23:53:00.004+08:00

Increasingly tech-savvy and eco-conscious clients will drive continued change in meetings and events management in the year ahead. Technological advances are expected to be at the core of several trends in the meeting industry in 2011.

Customizable mobile apps

One trend is the use of mobile devices and customized applications to promote audience engagement, interactivity and networking. Mobile apps are now being developed for individual events and programs, allowing organizers to communicate with attendees before and during the meeting, especially regarding time-sensitive subjects like changes of itinerary, maps and other announcements.

There are several devices and services currently on the market that help to increase the technological and interactive aspects of a meeting. These include audience response and networking apps such as VisionTree, Spotme and others. VisionTree utilizes proprietary software on either existing client phones or rentable equipment and is useful for tracking audience responses, while Spotme uses proprietary software and equipment for messaging, customized agendas and audience response.

Expect customized lead generation and comprehensive registration tracking and reporting to become more prevalent through the use of barcode scanning and RFID.

Hybrid meetings
In today's cost-conscious business environment, PMUSA forecasts that new technologies will also drive continued growth in hybrid meetings. By incorporating hybrid components into their meetings, clients are saving money, achieving higher attendance rates and promoting sustainability. Incorporating technology, such as live broadcasts and video streaming, allows clients to conduct and attend meetings from a remote location. PMUSA believes that the cost savings is a major factor in this trend, along with the importance of a meeting's environmental responsibility."

Comprehensive "green" meetings
Meeting clients have increasingly been requesting "green" events, but it's the comprehensive nature of these requests that PMUSA sees as the most important trend for the coming year. Increasingly, clients are expecting every aspect of a meeting to include an environmental component, from biodiesel vehicles and biodegradable materials to the use of locally sourced food and reusable plants for centerpieces in lieu of cut flowers."
Among other green-friendly options, PMUSA has managed several events where attendees are encouraged to pre-print their name badges in order to reduce on-site waste, and where water refill stations replace bottled water.

Social media interaction
As companies become more aware of the power of social media tools, PMUSA expects clients to request more use of social networking websites like Twitter and LinkedIn to communicate with attendees before and during meetings. Requests for interactive meetings have increased exponentially, and PMUSA expects this trend to continue well into 2011.
Examples of this trend include the increasing popularity of computer kiosks that provide meeting-goers the opportunity to tweet during events and Twitter boards that stream live updates for all attendees to see.

It is also forecasted that 2011 will bring greater use of technology to connect clients and meeting managers during the planning stages of events. Expect extensive use of Skype to provide immediate assistance and allow for "face to face" client interaction no matter where the meeting manager might be.

Corporate social responsibility
The company continues to see an increase in customers requiring Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) components in their meetings, looking to have an impact on the local communities in which they meet. Another popular trend is incorporating CSR into a team-building event at the meeting location, from building bikes and stocking children's backpacks to assembling oyster mats to help with oyster reef restoration.
Aditionally, "Donation Stations" are also becoming more popular in trade shows, allowing attendees and exhibitors to donate their leftover trade show bags and giveaway items for donation to local organizations.

Luxury meetings recover
While 2009 and 2010 have clearly seen less focus on high-end resorts, Best Events management team is beginning to see a change that bodes well for five-star and five-star properties.

Over the last half of 2010, we began receiving increasing client requests for high-end properties, something we expect to continue if the economy continues trending upward in 2011.

December Promo: Wedding Photography

2010-12-08T23:15:00.006+08:00

Melvin Gilbert, a Destination Engagement & Wedding Photographer based in Los Angeles - USA will be in Kuala Lumpur on 26 January 2011 and from 12-14 February 2011 so if you haven't booked your potraiture photographer, this is the time to do so!

You can check out his portfolio at:

http://www.melvingilbert.com/

http://bit.ly/bCBPqr

http://www.bit.ly/melvingilbertphotography

We're offering an exclusive offer for you this month:

Couple/Engagement Session (Engagement Casual Portrait)
MYR1500.00nett

-Up to 2-4 hours Photo-shoot session
-Unlimited Locations
-Unlimited Outfits (Makeup & Outfits provided by clients)
-Two photographers
-Photo Editing
-Picture proofs posted online
-Video montage online (youtube.com, vimeo.com & blip.tv see sample : http://bit.ly/jade_rob, http://bit.ly/ag6UEg & http://bit.ly/cRw5wx)
-High-resolution photos on DVD
-Medium-resolution photos on DVD as well (for facebook or online websites)

For more info, do drop Melvin a line or two at info@melvingilbert.com .

Remember to mention the Promo code:POSE121BESTEVENTS

Have you met our lovely wedding planner yet? Talk over your plans with by dropping her a line at bestevents88@gmail.com. We've hot new packages for 2011, you don't wanna miss it!

Wedding Trends 2011

2010-12-07T19:55:00.023+08:00

Yes, the new year's coming and despite us being busy preparing for the year end parties, we have not forgotten that some of you are already planning your wedding in 2011!

So here are Mandi de Lude's predictions for the new year:

The Dress

Everyone’s favorite part of a wedding is seeing what the bride wore as she walked down the aisle. 2010 paved the way for more and more ruffles, as we saw elegantly structured, layered, avant-garde tiers.

In 2011, you can expect feminine romance to continue, but in softer, more subtle ways. Expect more floral appliqué, sequins, and beading on thinly streamed trumpet and mermaid gowns.

Expect fuller-length gowns to have demure chiffon layers, with the flower appliqué and sequins.

The Invitations

In 2011, expect more contemporary and personalized wedding invitations-Mod, Nature, Vegas!-nothing is off limits. Expect the couple’s personality to really shine through.

OUT: Boring white

STILL IN: Damask (try paisley for a new-but-old twist)

IN: Go green with soy ink, recycled paper, and online save-the-dates!

The Cake

Like invitations, expect cakes to be brightly colored, lots of fondant, and lots of flowers! Goodbye traditional white butter cream. Also look for more creative wedding toppers.

The Colors

Expect lots of reds and yellows. Gray is the hottest new “color” and a nice alternative to brown. Try gray and blush or gray and yellow.

OUT: Brown and pink ,Most Pastels

STILL IN: Black and white (And always will be.) Add a nice pop of unexpected color to a B &W wedding like teal or yellow (no more red with this color combo, please!). Light green with any color, also not going anywhere.

IN: red, yellow, teal.

The Decor

Wedding centerpieces will continue to be more contemporary than traditional bouquet centerpieces. Anticipate fish and floating flowers and candles and branches. Think outside the box to make your wedding centerpiece one-of-a-kind.

Also look for other pops of color in hanging lanterns, table covers, and clothing accents (sashes, flowers pins, shoes, etc.)

SUMMARY: This is not your mother’s wedding. Out with everything white; in with bright, unexpected pops of color, modern cakes, invitations, and centerpieces. Be creative and have fun!

These are just speculations from a 2011 Bride and Maid of Honor, who has done her fair share of wedding research and planning. Of course, the most important thing is to stay true to yourself and your tastes. If you like a nice, old fashioned sort of wedding, don’t create a brightly colored circus wedding theme because those colors are in! Go with white if you want –it's YOUR wedding day!

Dining Open House Sponsors

2010-10-28T20:50:00.004+08:00

As there are prizes for Best Chef and Best reviewer every month, we would like to seek sponsorship from hotels (Best Chef of the Month to have a culinary lesson with the hotel chef)and restaurants (Best Reviewer of the month gets to dine at your restaurant)

What's in it for sponsors? Why, an editorial piece on your venue under our Fabulous Finds section of course!

Sponsors should have the "Halal" certificate or at least be pork-free.

Dining Open House Menus

2010-10-28T20:46:00.003+08:00

MENUS

Calling all Diners for an Open House Dining experience

2010-10-28T20:22:00.004+08:00

You've seen all those TV programmes featuring guests going to eat at strangers homes and wonder what it's like. Well, wonder no more! We're now introducing this sort of "match-making" service for you adventurous gourmet food junkies out there! (you get to eat in comfort as there won't be any cameras sneaking up on you!)

Here's how:

You pick the menu or menus you like, pay your money to us, and we'll give you the details to head to a host’s house to enjoy a fantastic meal, with a bunch of new friends.

Simply browse the menus on the Open House Dining Menus post (which we hope we'll be getting soon from budding chefs!), pick the one you want, making sure the date suits you too. When you’ve decided which menu gives you hunger pangs, send us an email with your contact details on our website's contact page (www.bestevents-asia.com). We will contact you, you send us the ticket fee, and we'll give you the details!

Wine is not included, and as diners you are requested to ‘bring a bottle’ as with most dinner parties (for those who don't consume alcohol, bring along sparkling grape juice if you like)

You will enjoy a three course meal supplied by the chef, cooked with loving care and attention (we hope!). We believe RM40 is a pretty good rate for that.

Please also state in your mail if you have allergies, or if you have specific dietary requirements. We can’t promise that everyone’s needs are covered as this is a public event, but we’ll do our utmost to try and encourage the options to be as varied and inclusive as possible.

Calling all chefs for a new Open House Dining Experience

2010-10-28T20:13:00.005+08:00

Alright! So you see yourself as a budding chef and would like to prove it! Here's how:

You should present a three course menu – how you choose to do this is down to your creativity, and you may choose to spend more or less than the sum paid to you by the organisers.

The dinner parties will be for groups of four or six (or any higher multiple of two but not including yourself or your partner), so please state how many you are able to cater for. As a chef you are not required to provide wine and diners are asked to bring that themselves if they like.

Here's your chance to show off your culinary skills (and be ready for criticism!) while making new friends!

WHAT TO DO:

You should start by registering with on our website's contact page (www.bestevents-asia.com), and we will contact you to let you know what to do next. Once registered we will publish your menu and street location, but not your name. Please give yourself a pseudonym – whatever you like but no smut please!

Diners will select their chosen Open House Dining experience by menu, to help make sure you meet new people, not just your pals!

We are keen to ensure allergy awareness and safety for all hosts and guests, so please when submitting your registration, let us know if you have pets, whether you are likely to use nuts etc. We are particularly interested in hosts who wish to offer nut-free, wheat-free, kosher, halal, vegan or vegetarian menus… There are plenty of guests who will appreciate that. Also please state if you can offer disabled access to your home.

There is a one-off RM25 registration for all chefs and you will receive a contribution of RM25 per guest for the dinner.

Once we receive your registration form we’ll be in touch to wrestle your registration fee out of you and publish your dinner dates and menus. You may throw as many parties as you like, and you may vary the menus or create a different one each time. You mad fool.

All guests are subject to Terms & Conditions

Please include these details in the contact form message box:

Your name
Your email
Your special secret chef's name
Your phone number
Do you have pets
Do you have disabled access
Will you offer a specialist menu ie kosher, halal, vegan, nut free
Your 3 course menu (with short description)
What dates can you offer
How many guests will you have

Simple eh? Well, good luck then!

11 tips to get your Year End Party right

2010-10-18T10:42:00.003+08:00

Are you getting ready to throw a party and beginning to feel the pressure? If you are, you’re not alone, as many people turn into a ball of nerves pre-event. Organising a party takes planning, planning and more planning! There are many important factors to consider and it’s important you get it right

Don’t worry though; with a little bit of thought and a lot of preparation you’ll be able to ‘WOW!’ your guests. We’ve put together a few great tips and guidelines to get you through the party planning process with your sanity and a smile! And this one goes to eleven…

Step 1 – Decide what kind of party it’s going to be

Be realistic about what is achievable with the time and resources you have. Does it need to be informal or formal? Large or small? Inside or outside? A reception or a seated dinner? What do you need to achieve from the event?

Step 2 – Determine your budget

The budget needs to be specific so you know what you can and can’t achieve. For some there might be revenue opportunities (ticket sales, sponsorship and donations, etc.) but one thing’s for sure – for all of us there will be expenses from catering to entertainment and staffing to printing costs, to name but a few. If you keep good records and plan ahead you will be halfway there – don’t be caught out though, expect the unexpected!

Step 3 – Guest list

Think about who you need to invite, not just who you want to invite! If you’re organising a corporate party make sure you include all the necessary people from all the relevant departments. It could be devastating for the individual missed off the list, so save yourself the embarrassment and double, triple check in advance!

Step 4 – Location, location, location

Selecting a suitable site is more than just finding out what rooms the venue has available. Think carefully about where you want the party to be. Where will the guests be travelling from? Is the venue easily accessible and is there any nearby public transport or parking facilities, it all makes a difference to your guests.

Step 5 – It’s all about the venue

Hotel, restaurant or boat? Is there enough space for your guests and are there any noise restrictions? After all, we all like a good party and if you’re having a good time nobody likes to be told to ‘pipe down!’ Do you need disabled access, do you require a stage, dance floor or special equipment and if so is there enough room? And finally will you need any overnight accommodation?

Step 6 – Catering

Food and drink at your event is crucial. Think carefully about what style of food you want to serve; will it be buffet, bowl food, sit down, food stalls or canapés? What beverages will be available too – if you’re having a reception will you be having cocktails and canapés or some fizz, wine and soft drinks? How do you want things served, and who do you want to serve them? Who clears up afterwards?!

Step 7 – Pick a theme

I know themes aren’t everyone’s cup of tea but for most they can be really good fun! A year end party doesn’t have be just a colour themed party – we’ve done all sorts over the years from Winter Wonderland to a recent 1920’s Prohibition themed Murder Mystery, the Seven Deadly Sins to an outrageous Electric Eighties party. Entertainment, performers, table centres and full room décor really compliment a theme as well and really bring a party to life.

Step 8 – Entertainment

I can’t stress enough how important ‘good’ entertainment is. Research your performers, ask for testimonials and make sure they are reliable. A lot of entertainers and bands have footage or MP3 files online these days which help. Also think carefully about what type of entertainment you want; would you like something interactive like a game show or murder mystery or would you prefer a cabaret or solo artists such as stilt walkers

Step 9 – Itinerary

Make sure you have one, without one you are destined for failure. I have been a party planner for years and believe me when I tell you that there is no way you can retain all that information in your head at a live event. You need a detailed itinerary and all the necessary contacts numbers at your finger tips.

Step 10 – Inspired Invitations

The invitation is your guests first impression of what the party will be like and should include the correct information – your guests will need to know what the dress code is, the date, what time the party starts and finishes, if there is any food and drink available, the address, who to RSVP to and if you are having a cash bar later pop it on the invite as not everyone will think about bringing a pocket full of cash! You can also use chosen party theme to inspire your creation.

Step 11 – If in doubt, call us!

Make no mistake, organising parties and events takes MASSES of time! So why not call in the experts? Best Events doesn’t do this just for fun; we do it because we’re extremely good at it! From free venue finding service, entertainment, venue dressing and theming, bar hire, catering and staffing solutions – you can take advantage of all or part of these services http://www.bestevents-asia.com/

Host a Pampering Party

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Your friends come to your house and are led to your private lounge where they are served welcome drinks and desserts. The Image Consultant will impart her knowledge on how to pick up cuts and styles of clothes that would suit you not just at work, but even at home.

The bra expert then arrives and teaches you how to find the right bra to result in instant cleavage. Your friends get excited over the line of sexy lingerie which is then revealed. But that's not all, they then each get a manicure and hand massage while exchanging gossip.

Ahh..but a party is not complete without photos and a goody bag. The photographer takes group potraiture shots and the party wraps up with a lush goody bag consisting of a night robe and a voucher to enjoy a spa treatment at a later date.

Sounds like a party you would like to have? Good news! Best Events is now offering this Pampering Party package perfect for Hen Nights or Birthdays. Call us to ask for more information.

Creepy Recipes

2010-10-05T18:34:00.007+08:00

A Halloween party isn't complete without creepy bites!

SWEET BONES (by Martha Stewart)

These meringues can be baked three days ahead. Store them in an airtight container at room temperature. Make meringue bones using one continuous motion: Begin by piping a horizontal S shape at top. Continue piping meringue downward in a straight line to form the middle of the bone. Finish by making another horizontal S shape at the bottom. Repeat until all of the meringue is used up.

Ingredients

Makes about 18

6 large egg whites
1 1/2 cups sugar

Directions

1.Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Put egg whites and sugar in the heatproof bowl of an electric mixer. Set bowl over a pan of simmering water; whisk constantly until sugar is dissolved and mixture feels warm to the touch, about 5 minutes.

2.Return bowl to mixer, and fit mixer with the whisk attachment.Beat on high speed until very stiff peaks form, about 8 minutes.

3.Transfer meringue to a pastry bag fitted with a 1/2-inch plain round tip, such as a Wilton #1A. Pipe bone shapes, each 5 to 6 inches long, onto two baking sheets lined with parchment paper (as shown below). Bake until crisp throughout, about 1 hour. Let cool completely on a wire rack.

GRAVEYARD CAKE (by Martha Stewart)

A pumpkin spice cake with bleeding chocolate glaze -- is the pumpkin pie of a spectral Halloween menu. Espresso shortbread headstones mark each slice. This spiced pumpkin cake can be made one day ahead and refrigerated, without the glaze. Several hours before serving, make the glaze and finish the cake.

Ingredients

Makes one 9-by-13-inch cake

8 ounces (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened, plus more for pan
4 cups cake flour, plus more for dusting
4 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
2 1/2 cups packed light-brown sugar
4 large eggs
1 cup buttermilk
1 1/2 cups canned solid-pack pumpkin
Bleeding Chocolate Glaze
Espresso Shortbread Headstones
1 tablespoon ground ginger

Directions

1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Generously butter a 9-by-13-inch cake pan. Line with parchment paper; butter lining. Dust with flour; tap out excess. Set pan aside.

2.Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves in a large bowl; set aside. Put butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; beat on medium-high speed until pale and f luffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Reduce speed to low; alternate between adding flour mixture and buttermilk, beginning and ending with f lour. Add pumpkin, and beat until completely combined.

3.Pour batter into the prepared pan. Bake until golden and a cake tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Let cool in pan on a wire rack 15 minutes. Unmold; peel off parchment. Let cool completely on rack, top side up.

4.Set cake and rack on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Pour warm chocolate glaze over cake. Using a small offset spatula, gently smooth glaze over top of cake, letting it drip down sides. Let stand at room temperature, or refrigerate until set. Arrange 6 headstones on top; serve with the remaining.

WITCH FINGER COOKIES (by Jeanne Benedict)

Halloween party finger food, literally. Form zesty cookie dough into creepy witch fingers and use a blanched almond for the fingernail (recipe below).Makes about 48 cookies

Ingredients

•1 Cup butter, softened
•1 Cup(s) powdered sugar
•1 egg, lightly beaten
•2 Tsp lemon juice
•2 2/3 Cup(s) all-purpose flour
•1 Tsp baking soda
•1 Pinch of salt
•1 Cup whole, blanched almonds

Directions

•Add butter and powdered sugar into a mixing bowl and beat until smooth. Beat in egg and lemon juice. Sift together flour, baking soda and salt and stir into mixture until combined. Cover and chill for 1 hour.

•Preheat oven to 325F. Spray baking sheets with light coat of nonstick cooking spray.

•Form fingers from 1 tablespoon of dough, by rolling dough with clean hands. Use a knife to score lines for the fingers knuckle. Press an almond firmly into the dough for a fingernail.

•Place cookies on prepared baking sheet and cook for 20 minutes until golden brown. Cool for five minutes and place cookies on a rack to cool completely. Arrange on a spooky platter and serve.

MUMMY DOGS

Ingredients:

1 (11 oz) can refrigerated breadstick dough
2 slices cheddar cheese, quartered (optional)
8 hot dogs
black mustard seeds

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

2. If desired, place one cheddar cheese slice on your hot dog. Then wrap each dog to look like a mummy, leaving a open area for the eyes.

3. Cut two tiny slits in the exposed hot dog and insert two black mustard seeds for eyes. If you'd like to give your mummies entire faces, you can cut a little slit for a mouth, which will gape open a bit during cooking.

4. Place mummy dogs on an ungreased baking sheet and bake around 15 minutes, until golden.

5. Serve with plenty of ketchup and mustard and listen to the kids rave about having such Halloween recipes fun.

Halloween Decor Ideas

2010-10-05T16:33:00.009+08:00

Decorating the home for Halloween can be great fun for both adults and kids. Here are our fave picks from Martha Stewart:

PAPER MICE

These creepy, crawly paper mice are not so nice. Stick these unsavory critters on stair risers, baseboards, or any spot where they might give unsuspecting passersby a little jump.

CREEPY SILHOUETTES

As day turns to night, call on candles to cast an eerie glow throughout your home. When fierce silhouettes are propped above them, spectacular shadows dance across the walls.

CLOTHES PEG BATS

Spine-chilling as it sounds, a colony of bats hanging from the highest reaches of your house serve as the perfect welcome for guests -- if you're throwing a Halloween party. You can also clip these clothespin bats onto tree branches or bushes outdoors to greet trick-or-treaters.

BATTY LAMPSHADES

Your visitors will shudder when they spot a bat-lined lampshade as part of your decor. Some of the paper cutouts are suspended from threads, while others are stuck inside the shade.

BALLOON HEADS

Draw simple features onto inflated balloons with permanent marker; choose an assortment of geometric shapes that are easy to create freehand.

CATTY SILHOUETTES

Use double-sided tape to place these cats where guests might least expect to find them -- whether they're ready to jump out of two framed prints or hiding in the window

PRESERVED SPECIMENS

Clear cookie jars can filled with food colouring to achieve the look of formaldehyde. Fill the jars up with lotus plants or even fake limbs and insects. Do note that some fake limbs are filled with cotton so do pick something durable and cheap.

Making your own scary head centrepiece

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We know you can make lanterns from pumpkins but what local fruits can you use to make scary table centrepieces?

Here, we've used two easy-to-get local Malaysian fruits the Papaya and the Watermelon.

Event Report: Pamper Party

2010-10-05T13:08:00.012+08:00

Best Events worked with Ravissante Beauty Shop, Pharmanex, Bu Ra Girls, Joe Low of Photics Production and Cerise Rouge Collection to throw a Pamper Party exclusively for ladies last Saturday and we have to say the ladies walked home happy and why not? With tickets priced at just RM150 each, they were not only treated to manicures, hand massages and desserts but they also received free personalized health and beauty consultations. Oh and not forgetting getting fabulous goody bags which included a free Spa or Facial Treatment voucher worth RM180++, gift vouchers from the organizers and a yummy cupcake!

The party started at 11am and guests were then individually given consultations on how to find the right bra for instant cleavage, how to zap unwanted fat with a free slimming treatment, and how to reduce face wrinkles with a galvanic spa treatment trial.

For the adventurous in the bedroom, Cerise Rouge Collection displayed their premier lingerie collection for purchase at affordable prices. Their collection can be viewed at http://www.ceriserougecollection.blogspot.com

Nothing completes a pampering session more than having a free portraiture taken either alone or with friends to remember the event by. Even camera-shy guests poised and posed for Joe Low of Photics Production with his gentle and patient guidance.

Want a private Pampering Party for you and your friends? You know how to reach us!

Halloweeeen Murder Mystery Party

2010-10-05T12:21:00.006+08:00

Our favourite party season is here! Halloween, when guests come dressed in all sorts of fancy costumes and taking on different personalities.

For those who like a little murder mystery solving, we have a Halloween Murder Mystery Game which might be to your liking. 20 guests (including the host) take on roles and attend a Costume Ball (your party venue) to discuss a recent "murder" which took place.

The Annual Costume Ball is the social event of the year. The Royalty of the Mage Guild, Were Clans, Vampyr Houses and Fae Court will be in attendance. As always when the Immortal Court gathers you can expect political intrigue, barbed innuendos, backstabbing and betrayal. Not much different than any other day among royalty.

We dare you hire to us for this party but hurry! We only do ONE party a night from October 25-31, 2010 and some nights are already booked! We're dying to entertain!

Pamper Party on Oct 2, 2010

2010-09-08T09:55:00.004+08:00

Women just love hanging out together to chat over desserts and wouldn't mind splurging on some pampering once in awhile especially if a special occasion calls for it.

Our pamper parties fundamentally consist of a basic manicure, spa treatment, makeup and image consultation, desserts and of course a take home goody bag for a minimum of 5 guests (including the host) and are typically held at a spa where privacy is assured.

Think this is a party you would like to have? This is your chance to enjoy this experience at only RM150 per person instead of the usual basic package of RM720 per person. We're having a little "try out" party for you to have a taste of what a pamper party is like. Care to join in the fun?

A spa, beauty, health and wellness day out with your
girlfriends and new friends complete with shopping,
inspiration and dessert.

Saturday, 2 October 2010
11.00am- 5.00pm at Ravissante Beauty Shop
(Kindly book your appointment in advance)

Ticket Price: RM150 per person
Promotion Price: Buy 5 tickets for only RM700!

PARTY INCLUDES:

Treatments and Services worth more than RM1,500!

Complimentary Ravissante Spa or Facial Treatment worth RM180++
Pamper your hands with a Ravissante Basic Manicure and Hand Massage
Find Your Right Bra Size with Bu Ra Girls Bra Fitting Consultation
Analyze your body with a Free Body Fat Analysis
Zap unsightly fat with a Free Slimming Trial worth RM348
Erase unwanted wrinkles with a Facial Spa trial at only RM30
Complimentary Portraiture Session by Joe Low of Photics Production
Be dazzled by Finding Snowflakes handcrafted jewellery

Tickets are sold at Ravissante Beauty Shop till 26 Sept 2010, so quick grab your friends and join in the fun!

Ravissante Beauty Shop
A-1-9 Pelangi Square Business Center, PJU 6 Persiaran Surian, Pelangi Damansara, 47800 Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

Contact: +603 7728 2577 or 012 379 2389
Email: spa@ravissante.com.my or
bestevents88@gmail.com

A clearer image of the invite and a map is available on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/BestEventsAsia