|
| |
"A ship is safe in harbor, but that’s not what ships are for."
—William Shedd (1820 – 1894), Presbyterian theologian |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
How Tech is Changing In-person Events Forever |
|
|
As events return to in-person, many of the most egregiously anachronistic components are getting a makeover. At VEG, we’ll look at how tech is revitalizing in-person events. |
|
|
|
|
|
This week it’s Rove iQ (formerly smartLink) and Klik (now owned by Bizzabo). Rove iQ is smart wayfinding software that can be used in event spaces to let you navigate
more easily. Booth A264? How are you supposed to find it when more than ever booths are laid out in crazy quilt patterns, or they’ve cleverly covered the ugly booth number taped to their floor? Rovei Q guides attendees but also tracks who’s going where and then reports back
to event managers.The software operates on indoor and outdoor interactive displays but also on mobile phones and computers. (No download necessary; it’s browser based.)
Trade show lanyards haven’t changed, well basically since the first trade show, which arguably took place in 3000 BC. Klik, a Monteral-based company acquired by Bizzabo, developed a product that transformed the lowly lanyard into a networking device that can do everything from provide a seamless self=service check-in experience to allow the exchange of business cards at the tap of of
tag. It’s a game changer for business-card fumblers. |
|
|
|
The Room Where it Happened |
|
|
What does life after Zoom look like? We had a good glimpse of the future by introducing Room3D and its creator, Cervat Yerli, to our NY press friends at a lovely event last weekend. Room3D uses animated video cut-outs superimposed on some stunning backgrounds so that you feel as if you’re having a real conversation. Journalist Steve Greenberg aptly called it “Zoom
without the windows.” |
|
|
|
Avi Greengart from Techsponential joins a Room3D video demo. Photo Credit: Robin Raskin |
|
|
|
|
|
Photo credit: Jim Louderback. |
| |
The World According to Jim Louderback |
|
|
Here’s a guy that loves events so much that he just has to overshare. His simple guides make sure that you won’t screw up your event, starting with the basics from knowing your demographic, to best microphones for stage, to understanding seating arrangements. In this week’s episode Jim dissects the types of seating arrangements to choose from and why
knowing a round table from a mullet arrangement can save your ass. Watch this episode on seating arrangements and what works when. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Virtual Tickets are Starting to Generate Real Dollars |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Case in point: The Code Conference, produced by VOX media, is the Who’s Who of tech soirees, hosted (for the last year) by Kara Swisher. In-person tickets typically cost between $7,000 and $9,500. And they are only available by invitation, with only 20% of the executives who apply to attend getting accepted.
This year, through a sponsorship with Zoom, virtual live tickets were also offered for $150. They sold out. (Though no one is reporting how many tickets were sold.) Zoom ticket holders could watch in real time and also on-demand after the event, a great way to widen the tent and decrease the elitism. But the big secret? Even if you didn’t fork over the $150 you can
see most of the conference on YouTube, just minus the networking. Sshh… don’t say you heard it here. |
|
|
|
|
Kara Swisher in conversation with Jen Psaki at the Code Conference. |
|
|
|
Roblox Plays Tough on the Playground |
|
|
|
|
Everyone watching the metaverse space knows that Roblox, the huge creator-infused metaverse-like world of block-like characters, would like to forget they ever created the product with children in mind. New advertisers like iHeartRadio, State Farm, and Intel, as well as
NARS Cosmetics, Gucci, and Vans, are just some of the recent more adult-oriented sponsorships Roblox has landed. At last week’s developer conference, the now self acclaimed teen/tween gaming platform rolled out new features, including an age gate for more PG-13 content, new interactive advertising, and an update on the move towards more realistic avatars and experiences.
That’s where things get juicy. With a younger audience in mind, WowWee is set to launch My Avastars , which are cute physical dolls (yes, they do look very Robloxy) for $30 each, along with an online fashion game
created by a Roblox gaming partner. The physical doll was originally supposed to provide the entree to Roblox to play the game. Then, Roblox and Jazwares (the master toy
licensee for Robolox) filed a copyright infringement suit against My Avastars alleging that the dolls looked like Roblox’s IP. WoWee claims they tried to resolve the dispute but wound up leaving Roblox and creating their own online fashion game. The
product is set to launch in October.
We find it sad that Roblox, originally developed as a metaverse for kids, with one of its basic tenets being an all inclusive creator economy, is now litigating with one of its creators. Sad too that Roblox’s orchestrated shift away from serving younger kids may partly explain why Roblox moved to litigate. When you’re trying to age your brand up to an older demographic, the last thing you need
is cutesy dolls. My Avastars, by the way, is nominated by the Toy Association for this year’s Doll of the Year. Who’d have thunk that one of the early IP lawsuits in the burgeoning metaverse would be in the kiddie space? |
|
|
|
|
My Avastars. Image Credit: MyAvastars.com |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Talk About Events with Engagez |
September 22, 2022 | 11am |
|
Join us this Thursday for The Digital Engagement Summit. Robin will be participating with their other panelists to paint a picture of what the new digital engagement looks like. The event will be 100% live online: Thursday, September 22, 2022, 11am-4pm EDT. Robin will be speaking on a panel with Michael Doyle and Margaret Launzel Pennes about how to monetize your virtual events. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
IP In A Brave New World |
October 20, 2022 | 3pm |
|
Our next VEG meeting brings the wit and wisdom of two of the greatest humans (well, maybe avatars) in the licensing business. They create a ruckus and business wherever they go and they’ll show you how to think about your IP. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
IMEX Las Vegas |
October 11-13 | Mandalay Bay |
|
|
Get in touch to meet with our partners MAP Digital and rooom at IMEX. We’ll be in Booth C4858. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Optical Frightfest
I hate to call out examples of what not to do. And I’m sure this will be a fine session. But remember, less is always more when it comes to the appearance of your event marketing. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Roll Over Beethoven
Is AI going to make us all dumb, spectaculary uncreative, or both? I just played with my toy of the week: Beatoven. You upload your movie. Make a few choices and you’ve got a royalty free soundtrack. Free to try. Advanced features like
storing your creations will cost you.
Did the Earth Move Under Your Feet?
September 15th will become known as Merge Day. It’s the day when Ethereum, which is the second largest smart contract blockchain (BitCoin is the largest), changed how
it worked. It moved from Proof of Work — a laborious energy-intensive process that allows coin miners to bid on the right to create a block on the chain — to Proof of Stake, a more equitable but less profitable way of building wealth for miners. As best as we can tell, the miners are pissed because of the potential income loss and investors are nervous because the merge may change how Ethereum is classified (digital asset or a security). As a result, the market for high-end graphic processor cards has collapsed, and global electricity usage may decline by 0.2%. Don’t get your pants in a bunch yet, but take a wait and see attitude. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sign up for our newsletter |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|