Tis the Season: Top Winter Treats for Your Event

Let's just take a second to be honest here.

While the Holidays are first and foremost about family and tradition and being thankful for all that you have, no Holiday soiree is complete without some adorably-tasty Holiday treats.

While some families or events have their traditional meals/treats/etc.etc. that they make every single year, others are on the hunt for new, fun, and delicious ideas. Well, do not fret. We have you covered.

We took it upon ourselves to scour the Internet for the most precious and delectable Holiday treats we could find. We tried to limit the treasures we located to things that looked like they were actually make-able and not something that you would have to custom order from your local bakery. It was a tough and tedious job to find all of these goodies, but someone had to sacrifice...and we were that someone.


1. Strawberry Santas (recipe)

Photo: Coupon Cousins.

2.  Reindeer Noses

Photo: Pinterest Most Wanted

3. Snowman Cookies (recipe)

Photo: My Pretty Purse

4. Strawberry Tree (recipe)

Photo: Taste

One last note: this will be our last blog post of 2012. We look forward to continuing the blog with Event tips, our personal event recaps, local vendors, randomisity, and introducing a fabulous new intern in 2013. Thank you for reading and have a wonderful holiday season!

Questions to Ask Before Signing a Venue Contract

We love managing the venue rentals for our clients -- We also realize how important it is to thoroughly check off some important questions when looking to book a venue for your wedding or event. As the rental managers, we are asked a lot of questions, so we would like to provide you with a list of what we consider to be some of the most important questions to ask before booking your venue.

1. What do I have to work with decor-wise?
Take note of what is already hanging on the walls, what the carpets look like, wall color, etc. Observe your surroundings as you do your venue walk-through. Ask the venue rental manager what can be removed Vs. what has to stay. Make sure that your wedding colors won't contrast with anything that cannot be removed!

2. What is near-by my venue?
This can either work in your favor or against you. Make sure to check out community calendars before booking your event so you can be sure that there will not be anything that conflicts with parking or that there will not be disruptive noise. Also, check to see where the nearest hotel is in proximity to your venue. If your wedding or event is at a fantastic venue, but the nearest hotel is 45 minutes away, you may want to reconsider.

3. What is included in the rental fee? Tables and chairs? Linens?
Make sure you know exactly what you're getting for the fee you're paying. Some venues may include tables and chairs, while others tack on extra rental costs for them. Likewise with linens- if your venue does not offer linens with the rental fee, make sure you know the exact type and how many you'll need so that you can order them yourself.

4. Does my venue come with a coordinator?
Some venues provide a day-of event coordinator for you. Others do not. Make sure you check to see if your venue provides this added bonus...and also see exactly what duties the day-of coordinator takes care of while on site!

5. What hours do I have access to the venue?
Some venues may not allow you to start setting up until a few hours before your event...and also require you to tear down in the few hours after your event. Making sure to find out when you are able to get into your venue as well as when your event needs to end/you need to clean up is a key factor in securing the right venue!

6. Does your venue allow you to bring your own food and beverages or do you have to work with what is available on-site?
Some venues require you to use their own caterer and bar service, which can add up in the long run. Before you book your venue, ask what their policy is on food and alcohol. Some venues let you work with the caterer of your choice/ bring in your own alcohol.

7. Having your event during "off-season" or on a week night?
Ask the Venue Rental manager if there is a reduced rate if you are holding your event in the off season or on a week night. Most venues will want to book as many events as possible, so their rates may be flexible in times when they are not as busy.

8. Check the reviews.
Do your homework and check outside sites for venue reviews. Venues are likely to only post their most stunning reviews on their personal website, so make sure to check outside sources for reviews so you can be sure to get the full scoop.


There are plenty of other questions that you can ask your potential venue, but these will definitely help you to get a great start. Happy venue-hunting!

Just When You Thought You Knew All About Facebook

If you're like me, you've attended countless Social Media presentations that teach you the ins and outs of Facebook and utilizing it to promote your company and event.

While I'm sure at this point you could probably give a "Facebook-How-To" presentation in your sleep, we recently stumbled upon a few articles that provide some interesting insight into when you should be utilizing Facebook to do said promotions and so-called "Facebook Blasts."

Just when you thought you knew everything there is to know...here are a few tips we wanted to "share" that you may "like" (Facebook jokes...they never get old).

1. In general, Wednesday is the worst day to post: interactions on Wednesdays are 7.4% lower than average.

2. Off-hours are the best time to post. Posts between 8pm and 7am received a 14% higher interaction than those published between 8am and 7pm.

3. Less is more when it comes to posts. Posting one to two times a day instead of going with the overkill route of five to...fifteen shows a 19% higher interaction rate.

4. A self-imposed 80 character wall for Facebook posts receives a 23% higher interaction than longer posts (but 75% of posts are beyond that limit currently!)

5. Use recognizable URLs (IE www.shopping.com/Raincoats instead of www.shopping.com/723582345/html/rain.coats.8213.post=213549fYl...we have no idea what that link means either. Nor do I think it actually leads you anywhere, so don't waste your time attempting to click it.)

6. Have your fans caption a picture or to "fill in the blank" -- both of those give you 4x more interaction.

7. You can schedule your posts! To schedule a post, switch to your page's admin view and look for a clock under the status window. Click that clock, and add the year, month, date and time you want your post to publish. Once you do this, a window will pop up to confirm that you have scheduled the post. Who knew!?

8. Highlight important posts -- highlighting fan posts is a great way to show that you care about your client's and site visitor's opinions. You can do this by clicking the "X" on the right corner of a post and selecting "highlighted on page."

9. Keep track of your "likes" so that you can return the favor. By making sure to "like" another company's page when they "like" yours, you show that you appreciate their acknowledgement of your Facebook page.


Sources:
Ragin
Mashable

We hope that these tips and tricks are helpful and that you haven't already heard them multiple times. I found them interesting and fresh, so I hope you do as well! Good luck Facebooking!

Local Vendor Spotlight: 2Bays DJs

Behind every jam-packed dance floor is a great DJ. We are fortunate to have a variety of fabulous DJs in the Northern Michigan region (and many that are willing to travel to Northern Michigan from other parts of Michigan...especially because they look forward to the opportunity to take a Traverse City vacation).

However, there is one DJ company that immediately comes to mind when referring vendors to our clients and brides. That company is the always phenomenal 2Bays DJs. 

Photo via Photography by Scarlett

We contacted 2Bays DJs owner, Scott Perry, and threw some questions his way so that we could provide you with a (drum roll please...) Local Vendor Spotlight! Scott provided us with what we consider to be the best possible answers we could have received, so please enjoy this blog post and see exactly why we love to work with 2Bays DJs.

Events North: What is your favorite part of a wedding and/or reception?

Scott Perry: It'd be easy to say the dancing portion of the evening.  That's everyone's favorite part, right?  Truth be told, one of my favorite parts of your "big day" is the very start of the reception.  Friends and family are starting to trickle in, and they all have a giant grin on their face.  As a DJ, we make friends instantly as they roll in, everyone is excited to be there and excited to have 2Bays DJs there.  The best feeling at a wedding is the understanding that every guest is there to have a great time, and we're there to facilitate that.

EN: What makes 2Bays DJs unique?

SP: What makes us unique?  One of our DJs is a cyborg,  one of our DJs has a T-Rex arm, one of our DJs dresses up as Madonna on Wednesdays, one of our DJs sounds just like Arnold Schwarzenegger, one of our DJs can solve a rubiks cube from across the room, and only one of the previous statements is blatantly false.

(side note: we in the Events North office have come to the conclusion that the blantently false statement is that one of their DJs can solve a rubiks cube from across the room. That's just ridiculous.)

EN: What is one of the funniest moments you've experienced during a wedding?

SP: DJing around 100 weddings a year, it's terribly difficult to nail one down. But the choreographed groomsmen line dance to "Man, I feel Like a Woman" from this summer is right at the top.

EN: What led you to start a DJ company in Traverse City?

SP: I started DJing weddings at the tender age of 20 (for another company).  I was pursuing a degree at Michigan State and answered an ad in the student newspaper.  By the time I was 22, partying with strangers was my favorite thing to do in the world, and a lot of college grads were struggling to find suitable jobs.  My friends fell into two categories: those who found a job and hated it, and those who were stuck in a cycle of interviews.  In the fall of 2008, I promised myself I would never depend on anyone else for work.  Here we are 4 years later, and I can't imagine it any other way.

EN: What is the best way to get in touch with you?

SP: If you're planning an event, visit us online at 2BaysDJs.com.  From there, you can check our availability online, get a customized quote for your event, and we'll have our cyborg DJ contact you to get your event locked into our calendar.

As you can see, 2Bays DJs are a blast to work with and we are lucky to have the opportunity to do so at so many events. Make sure you reach out to Scott Perry to book 2Bays at your next event!

What We're Thankful For

While we are thankful everyday for how lucky we are to have the things we have, live in such a gorgeous city and be healthy and happy, with Thanksgiving right around the corner (or a few days away...how did that happen?!), we thought a blog post about a few things we are thankful for would be an excellent idea.

Things I am thankful for, by Allison Beers:

1. My healthy, lovely children. (side note by Meaghan: Seriously, these children are adorable. I'm not even a huge fan of children and I love these nuggets. Plus, Anna calls me "Meggie"... I cannot even handle how precious she is.)

Thank you to Photography by Scarlett for taking this photo of Anna and Jake aka the most precious gems in the world.

2. My wonderful husband, who doubles as the Events North CFO.

3. The fact that I'm lucky enough to be blessed with a normal, sane and great immediate family.

4. That I love what I do and enjoy going to work every single day. 

5. That I get the opportunity to work with such amazing clients and make a difference in my community through the work I do with my non-profit clients.

What I'm thankful for, by Meaghan Jameson:

1. My amazing parents who, even across the country, support me and believe in me every single day.

My amazing family

2. The friends and relationships that I've made this past year that have helped to allow me to call Traverse City my home. Also, all of my friends back in Florida who stay in touch with me -- even if they only get to see me once of twice a year.

3. That 13 miniature tootsie roll pops only have 130 calories.

4. That I live somewhere that has seasons, allows me to look outside my office window and see the bay, where I can safely walk to work and where I have a variety of amazing restaurant options. 

5. That I get to work in a job where I am excited to go to the office every day and that allows me to constantly learn new things and work with different clients. Every day is different and it is fantastic.

And as a special bonus, Allison's daughter let us know what she is thankful for as well.

What I'm thankful for, by Anna Beers, age 4:

Anna's most recent school picture. Yes, she really is only four years old.

1. I am thankful for my great family!
2. I am thankful for my city

(although those are the two things Anna said she was thankful for, we're pretty sure that she is also thankful for Taylor Swift, Hello Kitty and her pink sparkly TOMS shoes.)

So, those are just a few of the things that we are thankful for. I hope that this Thanksgiving brings you nothing but excellent memories and full stomachs!

Online Tools and Widgets that Make Your Company's Life Easier

Like it or not, technology is taking over. We at the Events North office have decided to hop on the ever-changing technology train...and we couldn't be happier about it. We've found so many resources and new gadgets that help make us more efficient and effective business and social media-wise, so we thought we would share some of our current favorites.

Whether you're a privately owned small business, a large non-profit, or even a thriving large corporation, these tools can not only help to improve your virtual image, but also make sure that you are up to date on all that online tools have to offer.

1. Prezi: Let's face it; powerpoint, as useful as it can be, is starting to become outdated. That is what makes Prezi so great. It's an updated powerpoint that presents your ideas, information, or product in an engaging and exciting way. According to the website, Prezi is a virtual whiteboard that transforms presentations from monologues into conversations: enabling people to see, understand, and remember ideas. Prezi is not only user friendly, but engages your audience the entire presentation. 

2. Twoppy: Question 1: Do you have a smartphone? Question 2: Would you like to have access to all of the details of the event you're attending on your smartphone instead of throughout multiple documents? Answers to both are most likely yes, which is why Twoppy is something you need to check out. Twoppy allows you to create a mobile app for your event page, making navigation and detailed information simple for you and your attendees to access. As found on the Twoppy webpage, You can use Twoppy for festivals, exhibitions, conferences, amusement parks, zoos and sporting events. Even as a city guide, travel guide or theater guide it will be great for your visitors. The cherry on top? Twoppy's event packages start at a price of free and allow you to upgrade as needed.

3. Hootsuite: Hootsuite is social media management at its finest. You can sign up for a free account and upgrade when you decide that you need a more detailed look into the analytics of the sites you're managing. Hootsuite is an excellent tool for managing all of your pages at once (because let's just be honest, having Facebook, your blog and Twitter in one place is a huge timesaver), as well as providing you with the ability to schedule posts and check on the latest social media trends. Unlike the latest version of whatever iPhone game is popular, Hootsuite is an app you will not regret purchasing.

4. Fast Company Magazine: If you are searching for a source where you can find the latest and greatest technology, search no further. Fast Company Magazine is an excellent source for all things "up and coming." The website features everything from stories of creative people (sometimes being able to see what other people are thinking is the jump start you need to brainstorm your own ideas) to the technological gems that have recently been released. We swear by the information this magazine provides and think you should give it a look as well.

5. MyNorth Tickets: We try to "keep it local" as much as we possibly can, which is why MyNorth Tickets is so exciting! Formally known as TREAT Tickets, MyNorth Tickets has made the online ticketing process even more user friendly than before. MyNorth Tickets is the perfect tool to use for your event, whether it be a VIP dinner or a full-scale festival. They even offer paper tickets for you to provide to those guests who don't feel comfortable or who may not have the resources to print their tickets at home. We definitely plan on using MyNorth Ticketing for some of our future events.

6. BizBash: We've said it before and we will say it again: we.love.BizBash. BizBash is one of our absolute favorite sites for Event Planning news, ideas and resources. BizBash is always on their A-game when it comes to reporting on the newest Event Planning Trends. Plus, they give updates on venues from all over the nation, allowing a look into what different regions of the country are doing. We may get a little too excited when we receive a BizBash magazine in the mail, but when you're looking for a top source in up to date Event Planning information, it's one of the best sources out there.


So, click on the links above and do a little exploring of the websites for yourself. Hopefully you find some of the information useful and interesting. While there will probably be new widgets and gadgets in a few month's time, the sources and tools listed above are a great start to improving your and your company's technological skills.

It's the little things: the importance of Thank You Notes

"Thank you."

Saying thank you seems simple enough, right? Two words. Eight letters. Not too difficult, really.

However, you'd be surprised how often writing a thank you note is overlooked...which is a shame, because it is so important. 

A hand-written thank you note goes a long way. Think about it- how great does it make you feel when you invite someone to a lunch date or give them a ride to work and then receive a heartfelt thank you afterwards? It feels fantastic- and you're much more likely to remember them as a thoughtful and respectful individual. 

That's why we cannot emphasize enough how important it is to have a stack of blank note cards on hand so that you can whip up a thank you note when necessary. Customized thank you notes are even better (and reasonably priced if you purchase them in bulk!); they really help to keep your company's name fresh in the mind of the recipient.

When should you write up a thank you note? Some perfect opportunities include:

- After an initial meeting. Thanking someone for taking the time out of their day to meet with you is a necessity.

- After inviting you as a plus one to an event. 

- Following up after a networking event and thanking them for chatting with you. While networking is a foot in the door, the follow-up thank you note is an invite back for after dinner drinks. 

- If they have volunteered for your event. Whether they worked the registration table or acted as a speaker, they still need to be thanked accordingly for willingly offering you a chunk of their free time.

- If they take the time to read your resume or have just interviewed you. Want the job? Hope you wrote a thank you note.

- If they recently delivered cupcakes or a delicious Gobbler from Mary's Kitchen Port to your office (Hey, a girl can dream!).

One more thing to note is the extreme importance of hand writing your thank you note. Make it personal! Mention why you're thanking them and why it meant enough to you for you to write a note. Let them know you're looking forward to seeing them again. Nothing says "I'm just doing this because I feel like I need to" like a typed note or one that reads: 

To whom it may concern,

Thank you for interviewing me. Have a nice week.

Sincerely,

(Insert your name here)

...no.no.no.

Essentially, make sure to thank people. You know how it makes you feel when you receive a thank you (and if you're like me, you even save all of your thank you notes in a box), so why not make someone else's day...and make sure that you stay fresh in their mind.

It really is the little things that matter most.

Thank you,

Meaghan