Month: August 2021

Categories
Events

Singapore Food Festival 2021

If there’s one thing the Covid-19 Pandemic cannot stifle, it’s Singapore’s inherent penchant for food.  

This year, the Singapore Food Festival 2021 (SFF 2021) aims to feed into this love with a virtual smorgasbord of educational, masterclasses and a virtual tour.  First conceptualised in 1994, the Singapore Food Festival is going online for its second year in a row, and aims to push boundaries by allowing Singaporeans to share in all kinds of culinary experiences from home.

The virtual tour, for example, is an interactive “choose your adventure” style experience hosted by Nikki Muller.  Viewers can select the trajectory of their experience in either Little India or Tiong Bahru and learn about iconic local dishes like chwee kueh or experimental new meals like vegetarian nasi lemak.  The tour provides viewers with an in-depth look at how the food scene in Singapore boasts a huge variety of traditional and novel options even in the same neighbourhood.

Those who are interested in cooking as well as eating can head over to the “masterclass” tab and learn how to make dishes like devilled prawn curry from chef Rishi Naleendra or the unusual buah keluak babka loaf from patissier Maxine Ngooi.  

The SFF 2021 has also partnered with Klook to bring us Secret Suppers where participants can sample secret menus in restaurants around Singapore on special dine-in dates along with other culinary experiences!

Continue to indulge your gastronomic desires amid the pandemic and head over to https://singaporefoodfestival.sg/ to enjoy the Singapore Food Festival 2021 from 27 Aug – 12 Sept 2021.

Photo credit: Singapore Food Festival  

Categories
New This Fortnight News

New This Fortnight: 16/8/21

Samuel Pereira/Unsplash

Photo: Samuel Pereira/Unsplash

This month, despite the dampening effects of Covid, we continue to see innovation and new initiatives in the event industry.

In optimistic Covid news, Rail Technology Magazine affirms the reduced environmental impact of virtual events: where a live 1,000-person conference produces 145,000 kg of CO2, the equivalent of driving 364,414 miles, the same conference held online would reduce C02 emissions by over 95%, to just 682kg.  Full story here.

Photo: PR Week

Creative agency Ogilvy came up with a viral idea to celebrate the 10-year-anniversary of Swedish furniture retailer Ikea’s loyalty programme.  They’ve bottled the scent of Ikea so that US members of the programme can win a “Store in a Box” hamper containing a limited edition candle that will make their house smell, no, not like new furniture, but like Swedish meatballs!  Read more here.

Photo: TTRWeekly

On the other side of the globe, Centara Hotels & Resorts, Thailand’s leading hotel operator,  has launched an introductory events package for Centara Mirage Resort Mui Ne – an entertainment resort and MICE destination in South Central Vietnam.  The resort’s facilities allow companies to host corporate events and team building activities on its well-appointed grounds including a ballroom that can fit 720 attendees and an outdoor space with a 220 guest capacity.  Find out more.

Photo: Noriko Hayashi/Bloomberg

And finally, event technology breathed some new life into the 2021 Olympic Games with a huge 55-meter wide display floating in Sagami Bay to provide a real-time video feed of Olympic sailing races.  The opening ceremony also boasted a now popular gimmick: a light show performed by 1,824 LED-equipped Intel drones.  Read more here.

Categories
News

How virtual author events proved to be both a boon and a brain teaser for a New York bookstore

While book sales spiked during Covid lockdowns in the state of New York, not every independent bookstore reported similar sales figures. Positive sales figures could be attributed to an increase in readership during a time when most were stuck at home but with most purchases of books going online, readers tended to choose the easiest and cheapest option – dare we say it – Amazon. 

Like many independent booksellers, New York’s Strand Bookstore turned to virtual meet-the-author events to keep its customers engaged, reported Business Insider in August. Despite the benefits of the format, Sabir Sultan, Events Director of the bookstore told Insider, “At the end of the day, virtual events are great but they lack the excitement of an in-person event.”

As the state reopens Mr Sultan has resumed planning in-house events with attendees required to provide proof of vaccination, but is also quick to point out that they remain flexible and are ready to pivot to virtual events should the need arise.

Such news suggests that in-house events are crucial to an independent bookseller’s sales strategy and the value of an in-store event cannot be underestimated because it allows customers to purchase a signed copy of a book and meet the author and fellow fans.

It seems the true challenge is how they can leverage on the reach a virtual event provides while creating a truly intimate experience that results in the same kinship we feel in a physical space, as well as, of course, purchases.

Adapted from: https://www.businessinsider.com/strand-bookstore-new-york-recapture-excitement-author-events-covid-pandemic-2021-8


Photo credit: Hatice Yardım on Unsplash

Categories
Event Service Professional

Space Objekt

“Each installation comes with its own set of challenges. 

When working with light, we usually create a scaled mock up to ensure everything is working the way I envision. We are always building prototypes, but this is not always a guarantee that our research will work for the actual installation. Usually we go with past experiences and instincts on what we feel will work. 

I like clean lines and repetition of form: they create a sense of unity throughout the work. I enjoy working with materials like mirrors and light as they’re both great mediums that have the ability to disrupt our perception of our environment. I love being able to expand space through form and finishes.

I’m really drawn to the audiences’ reactions and what I find the most rewarding about this is seeing how they perceive and feel the space!  

The pandemic affected our work in the sense that we were not able to work with our typical production processes. On the flip side, however, the pandemic has taught me how to work remotely which we have done successfully and will continue with some exciting  projects we have upcoming in Dubai, Los Angeles and Romania.

We are beyond excited to have the opportunity to have two permanent installations at the Aquarium at the Boardwalk in Branson, Missouri.  We were commissioned to create two mirrored art installations that give the sense of infinite ocean life.

One of my most memorable experiences was being able to talk about my personal journey and ideas at a TedX about the importance of shareable art through social media. I want to see art thrive. When art thrives, art grows. When art grows, it inspires, making it relevant to today.”

–

Tina Fung

Space Objekt

Services provided: Installation artist, Set Designer, Spatial designer

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Paradigm-Shift_Adidas
Mahkota_Photo-by-Irving-Neil-Kwok
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3rd photo by: Irving Neil Kwok

Categories
Events

National Day 2021

Happy National Day to all those in Singapore!  This year, if you would like to catch some of the festivities, you can enjoy a ceremonial parade that will stream on the official NDPeeps Facebook and Youtube accounts from 9am to 9:45am.

If you’re lucky, you may even catch the two Chinook helicopters carrying the Singapore flag as they fly across the island following the ceremony.  

In the evening, enjoy National Day activities at the Singapore Discovery Centre in Joo Koon or a National Day concert commencing at Gardens by the Bay at 8pm!  You can also watch the show on Channel 5 or meWatch.

Looking for some stunning evening sights?  You can enjoy a light-up of seven historic buildings for the rest of this month from 7:30pm to midnight.  Buildings include the National Museum of Singapore, National Design Centre and The Cathay.  

And of course, on 21st August, we’ll all be treated to the National Day Parade 2021.

Most of all, stay safe and enjoy the public holiday and better days to come!

Categories
News

Tips for the Virtual Stage

There have been many differing opinions on virtual events but one thing everyone seems to agree on is that the digital stage will remain commonplace.

Here are some pointers:

Provide a range of topics

Variety is the spice of life. With a mix of topics and storytelling formats you are more likely to keep the attendee who’s sitting on his couch from dozing off. Event planners should ask themselves: am I going to use a more visuals-centric presentation, a discussion-based approach or a mix of both?

Keeping things concise.

The very devices that make virtual events possible work against us when event sessions seem endless. Your audience is mobile, unlike the captive kind in a ballroom. Keep sessions to about 30 mins and limit the entire event to 2hrs.

The moderator aka the host.

Emcees are great at keeping audiences engaged and making the event feel more cohesive. Sometimes event organizers may pick someone from within the organization. Ultimately, the individual should be well-spoken and well versed on the topics of the event. It would not hurt if the camera loves the person too.

Plan for transitions

Don’t keep your audience guessing. Guide them through the segments of your event through visuals or use the skills of your host to keep them engaged while you prepare for the next session.

Graphics and visuals

Drop the text heavy PowerPoint slides. Use a good combination of visual storytelling, graphics and the entertainment value of a good host.

Online interaction

While it is impossible to replace physical presence and interaction using online quizzes, polls and Live Q&A can help you and your audience get to know each other. Ensure you have someone filtering questions and try to keep your click-based interactions simple.

The closing segment

You have kept their attention; don’t just cut them loose at the end. Provide a quick recap of the event to reinforce your message. Also consider sending a thank you message to your participants as this can help continue conversations.

Adapted from: https://www.forbes.com/sites/adriandearnell/2021/07/29/virtual-events-the-ultimate-checklist/?sh=604e15c2619c

Photo credit: Chris Montgomery on Unsplash

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