Apart from the best steak dinner I’ve ever had (thanks Chicago Cut!), we also got a chance to meet with some of our most valuable clients and learn about (and contribute to) the ever-changing face of the event marketing industry.

While we could go on and on, I thought we’d sum up what we learned with a quick Top 5!

Top 5 takeaways from Event Marketing Summit 2012:

1. Word of mouth is still where it’s at. Social media / Web 2.0 has made it commonplace to listen to your peers and trust in traditional advertising is declining.

2. If you have a fan base, cater to them, and make them feel special. They’ll do as much or more to drive #1 than anything else you do.

3. If an event isn’t taking advantage of the social networks of its attendees, it’s missing out on easy opportunity to generate word-of-mouth buzz.

4. Maintaining momentum after an event is essential. With the same dollars, engage fewer for longer and get better results. Keep the word-of-mouth momentum going.

5. Always agree on brand strategy beforehand. Don’t generate buzz without an idea of where you want to position your brand or you’ll waste your effort.

To find out more about how our event credentials can help generate word-of-mouth, integrate with social media, and become valuable keepsakes for extended marketing campaigns. call or click today!

Additionally, if you attended Event Marketing Summit 2012 or have thoughts you’d like to share, comment below!

~ Cecil
Marketing Coordinator

Access Pass & Design
Our credentials. Your confidence.

The first was RFID Journal Live! in Orlando, FL.

An annual gathering of RFID technology companies, RFID Journal Live! brings together chip and hardware manufacturers, system designers, and companies looking to learn about and use the most advanced RFID and NFC technology for all sorts of applications.

Examples ranged greatly in scope: inventory tracking, event marketing, access control, cashless systems, mobile app integration, and more.

Companies came from all over the world to make connections and showcase their wares. Major sponsors included Motorola, NXP, Revere Security, Zebra Technologies, and more.

The former gamer / fantasy fan kid in me was especially excited about to the use of RFID chips affixed to video game character figurines, specifically in the popular game Skylanders by Activision.

The RFID-enabled game pieces must be set on a custom RFID reader to be accessed in the game. The RFID chip in the figurine stores the points and awards amassed in-game and can be played on friends’ game consoles as well. Gamers collect the figurines (they look cool) and must keep them to play that character – genius!

The Skylanders game throws open the doors for all sorts of collaborations between collectibles (and membership items) and digital applications. Access Pass & Design has already done a number of such jobs with various major brands and is excited about the possibilities that these new development create for our industry.

The second event was Coachella.

A music festival of immense proportions, Coachella 2012 brought together top-tier musicians (Black Keys, Radiohead, Snoop Dog and Dr. Dre) and electronic acts (Avicii, Calvin Harris, David Guetta) for two separate weekends (6 days total) of non-stop music in Indio, CA.

RFID-enabled wristbands allowed attendees access to different areas of the fairgrounds, depending on the wristband designation. Access in and out of the event was quick (there were no tickets to check) – attendees merely scanned their wristbands at readers set up at each entrance and exit. A light would flash green if access was granted.

The wristbands had to be pre-registered online and attendees were given the option to connect them to their personal social media profiles. Entrance to brand-sponsored tents and VIP areas posted automatic uploads to Facebook profiles across the country (think “I just arrived at the Heineken Dome!”).

The event was a success, and helped affirm to Access Pass & Design the growing use of RFID in the live-event industry. Our top-quality RFID enabled laminates and wristbands are the best in the industry and we work with brand agencies and event organizers to find new and unique uses for RFID enabled passes.

Contact us today and make your events more meaningful, memorable, and safe!

~ Cecil
Marketing Coordinator

Access Pass & Design
Our credentials. Your confidence.

The 2012 Event Marketing Summit starts in just over a week.

The Sheraton Towers in Chicago is hosting the summit this year, which takes place from April 30 to May 2, and which will bring together event planners, vendors, and experiential marketers from all over the world.

The Event Marketing Summit, an annual gathering put on by the great folks at Event Marketer Magazine (Red7 Media), focuses on the newest and most effective ways of “using live experiences to convert customers and drive sales.” In short – experiential marketing at its best.

Danny, Cecil, and Stephen will be attending and are looking forward to learning from the sharpest minds in the industry, reconnecting with our current partners, and forging new relationships.Access Pass & Design has been a proud partner of EMS since 2006 by providing the highly recognizable conference badges.

Event credentials have become a hot-ticket item for fans and consumers at experiential events, while sponsors appreciate the higher visibility that credentials offer over a wristband. High-quality passes make effective sponsorship items and become keepsakes. With effective calls to action an event credential can also be a vehicle to prolong brand engagement after the event.

Additionally, our partnerships with RFID and photo retrieval companies allow for amplification with real time engagement, by wirelessly tapping into social media networks like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

We’re really excited to get out to the Windy City. Chicago is a great town and has been a gracious host for previous Event Marketing Summits and other conferences we’ve attended.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us to set up a meeting while you’re in Chicago. We’ll even buy you a drink; we’ll be tweeting/posting a codeword next week so stay tuned. We look forward to collaborating and sharing our insights increase your social media currency and maximize your ROI.

Access Pass & Design
Our credentials. Your confidence.

PS – will you be attending Event Marketing Summit 2012? Have you attended before? Leave us a comment and let us know about your experience.

Oh, and thanks Jack – making us look good again!

This year the National Sports Forum was hosted in Oklahoma City, home of the OKC Thunder, Oklahoma City Red Hawks, and the United States training center for Olympic Rowing.

It also marked the 8th year that Danny Heinsohn of Access Pass & Design has attended.

The forum is a showcase of trends in the sports marketing and event industry. Attendees trade insights into best practices in ticket sales, digital marketing, fan engagement, addressing economic hurdles, and marketing strategies.

“I always walk away with great ideas and insights that set the tone and refine my approach for the entire year,” said Danny.

Advancements in technology make it easier to track marketing spend. Sponsors have become more concerned with ROI and much of the 2012 National Sports Forum focused on new ways to measure and optimize return. More than branding logos on scoreboards, handing out branded squeegee balls or foam fingers, sponsorship dollars are compared against the generated return from fan or brand engagement.

In another sign of the times, the top three tiers for sports marketing dollars are now digital, social, and mobile media. Engagement takes place via micro sites, QR codes, Facebook, and Twitter, and in multiple physical locations: game day fan experiences, tailgater, and digital downloads.

While the forum keeps its finger on the pulse of the industry, it’s also a great chance to build and maintain the relationships that keep the industry running.

“What I enjoy most about the National Sports Forum, is the people. Being an 8-year alum has allowed me to enjoy relationships that go beyond selling passes.”

The president of the National Sports Forum, Ron Seaver, summarized by saying, “[The Forum] has become a fraternity, where old friends come to catch up.” And like many conferences, some of the best networking opportunities happen at the bar. Danny assured us that Tap Werks did not disappoint!

The National Sports Forum continues to be a great event for Access Pass & Design and we’ll be sure to see you there next year!

Access Pass & Design
Our Credentials. Your confidence.

For insights on leveraging print collateral for digital and social engagement, or insights into the National Sports Forum experience from the perspective of a seasoned veteran, please feel free to e-mail, danny@accesspasses.com.

Set at the JW Marriott and LA Convention Center, these two conferences brought together the top executives, vendors, and agents in the national and international music industry.

Access Pass & Design manufactured the conference laminates for Pollstar Live! 2012. Bill and Cecil we were there daily to provide on-site accreditation solutions, while Carl and Lee manned our booth at the Event Live Expo. We received a lot of interest in our backstage passes and tour itineraries, as well as our new product offerings like custom drum heads, backdrops, and passes integrated with RFID.

Daily panel sessions focused on innovations in event technology, the future of live events, and more. Michael Lewis, the author of Moneyball (the book that inspired the 2011 film) gave the keynote address.

Photo courtesy Pollstar Live! 2012, Jason Squires and Barry Brecheisen

While our days were full of education, our nights were entertaining! Evenings were spiced with Lakers games, a concert by The Jayhawks, the ever-popular late-night hospitality at the lobby lounge, and the Pollstar Awards show, hosted by comedian Chris Hardwick.

By the time it was all done, we were ready to get back home – though none so ready as our well-meaning, but rookie marketing coordinator, Cecil, who scheduled our return flight for 8am the day after the conference! The early lobby call didn’t stop us from the necessary final-night frivolity, but we won’t let him forget it either!

In all it was great to see LA again, and all our friends, partners, and associates who make this industry such a great place to work. See you next year for Pollstar Live! 2013 and Event Live Expo 2013!

Signing off.

Access Pass & Design
Our credentials. Your confidence

P.S. Did you attend Pollstar Live! 2012 or Event Live Expo 2012? Let us know your thoughts on how it went.

We played golf, saw old friends, and made new ones – all while raising funds for Unite The United and MusiCares.

MusiCares “provides a safety net of critical assistance for music people in times of need, covering a wide range of financial, medical and personal emergencies, as well as focusing on human service issues that directly impact the health and welfare of the music community.”

Unite the United is a “non-profit organization that encourages fans, artists and industry leaders from the music, touring and action sports worlds to work toward positive change, by supporting local charities and participating in community volunteerism events across the United States.”

With over 128 golf-crazy participants, a fantastic silent auction, and donation chances aplenty, Duffing for Dollars raised $50,000 for Musicares!

“When everyone pulls together for a great cause equaled with a lot of fun like they did at 2012′s Duffing for Dollars amazing things can happen, like $50,000 raised for MusiCares which is PRICELESS!” stated Kevin Lyman.

Sterling Ball and his team from Ernie Ball won the tournament with a score of 16 under par. Despite our best efforts (coming close to winning Access Pass & Design was proud to take home the trophy for worst team, though we affectionately refer to it (and the others we’ve won in the past) as the trophy for “Most Honest Team.”

Scores aside, we had a blast, but it was over all too quickly. The next day Team APD packed their bags, shipped their clubs, and procured an Acura hatchback and a willing driver to take them up to Los Angeles, Pollstar Live! 2012, and Event Live 2012.

Stay tuned for the final chapter!

Access Pass & Design
Our credentials. Your confidence.

Tour Link 2012 took place at the Talking Stick Resort in Scottsdale, AZ. Bringing together the biggest names in the concert touring industry, Tour Link is an annual conference that combines insightful, pertinent panel sessions with entertaining events like a golf scramble, a Jet BBQ, and the yearly awards show.

Access Pass & Design was a proud Title Co-Sponsor this year and we were honored to provide the conference itineraries and badges.

The panel sessions addressed a number of issues, from changing employee compensation regulations to the recent stage collapses we’ve experienced this year and how they can be prevented moving forward. We heard stories from long-time road warriors like Ben Dorsey (who worked with Johnny Cash) and Charlie Hernandez (founder of JustABunchofRoadies.org).

The talent was there as well: Alice Cooper played in the golf tournament and Chester Bennington (lead singer of Linkin Park) spoke about his relief work around the world.

We all fantasized about traveling in style at the Transportation (Jet) BBQ – a dinner and mingle session held within a hangar at the Scottsdale Air Center where we had the privilege to tour Gulfstream jets! On the final night the awards show honored many within the industry, including greats like Kevin Lyman, founder of the Warped Tour, and Mark “Springo” Spring – production manager for Sir Paul McCartney.

In all it was a great event and we’re looking forward to 2013!

Stay tuned for Part 2!

Access Pass & Design
Our credentials. Your confidence.

Did you make it to Tour Link 2012? Share your thoughts below!

14 olympians were honored and “7 of the regions finest in competitive sport” were inducted into the International Sports Hall of Fame. Included on the list were Tamara McKinney who “competed for the U.S. for 14 years on the World Cup circuit and in three Olympic Games”, the late Alex Cushing, the founder of Squaw Valley Ski Corporation and instrumental in bringing the Winter Games to Squaw Valley in 1960, and the late Shane McConkey, a competitive ski race and world-famous extreme skier who contributed greatly to current ski design and construction.

The gala was emceed by none other than Olympic Gold Medalist Jonny Moseley, who won at Nagano in 1998 and went on to earn silver in the X-Games in 1999.

The gala was organized by the Reno-Tahoe Winter Games Coalition, a group of motivated business owners, political leaders, and public figures who are dedicated to bringing the 2022 Winter Olympics to the Reno Tahoe area.

Access Pass & Design is proud to be a corporate sponsor of the Reno Tahoe Winter Games Coalition and is looking forward to exciting opportunities for the Reno Tahoe!

Did you attend the gala? Let us know your thoughts!

Access Pass & Design
Our credentials. Your confidence.

Remember when Kyle and Cecil ran the Tough Mudder: NORCAL 2011? They wore RFID embedded credentials that interacted with Facebook and Twitter, signaling when they started the race, got shocked, and reached the finish line. The RFID chips were interacting with a FISH system installed throughout the race course.

FISH believes in creating systems that lead to “better experiences, better data.” When attendees share their experiences, the event becomes more personal and leads to a longer-lasting impression.

And the same FISH technology that allows attendees to interact online allows event organizers to “collect real-time actionable data… leveraged to strengthen brand relationships, drive return on investment, and understand the impact of experiential marketing.”

We couldn’t be more excited to work with FISH and expand the impact of your events.

Please give us a call if you’re interested in how to make this technology work for you.