Category Archives: Red Carpet Events

Here's a fashion show checklist to make the most of New York Fashion Week.

A Fashion Show Event Checklist including Step and Repeat Backdrop

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New York Fashion Week occurs every year in February. The top designers from around the world converge in New York City, mounting shows showcasing the latest in trends, materials and styles that they predict will dominate the year to come.

Even if you can’t make it to to the NYC catwalks, you can still celebrate the world of fashion and design by mounting your own local fashion show, tying into the event in New York.  Or you can have your event at a completely different time of the year.  Whether you want to throw a charity fundraiser as a way to raise awareness for a cause you feel passionate about or simply are looking to showcase your own designs on a smaller scale, here is your fashion show checklist to make sure you’re fully leveraging Fashion Week exposure:

Settle on a Theme
First and foremost, you need to know what kind of fashion show you’ll be planning. This can take on a few dimensions: Is this show going to be about raising money for a charity or cause? Is this a commercial show, aimed at getting local retailers to stock up on new fashions? Is this an event aimed at showcase designs from a certain group, like a school or seniors? By identifying the show theme early on, you’ll have a better understanding of who your designers and attendees will be, making it easier to plan.

Order Custom Branded Materials
Once the date is set, it’s time to start gathering your signage and other decorations. No fashion show would be complete without a red carpet and a branded, custom step and repeat backdrop for photos. A backdrop branded with the name of the show or sponsor helps the organization to be promoted in the press every time a photo is snapped. By ordering ahead of time, you can ensure that the materials look the way they are supposed to well ahead of the show, as well as give yourself time to experiment with layout.

Pick a Date and Choose Your Venue
Ideally, you want to give yourself six to eight months of planning time to ensure that you are able to make the most of your event. Booking a venue that far in advance can help secure a decent rental deal and give you more than enough time to lock down your designers.

On the checklist: make sure your fashion show catwalk is carpeted to limit scuffing and slips.Make sure your walkway is carpeted to limit scuffing and slips.

Once you’ve picked your date, it’s time to consider your venue. While multi-function event rooms can be a great place to hold a fashion show, consider alternative venues like local VFW halls, school facilities, churches and social clubs or even an outside venue if you live in a warmer climate – though with this last suggestion, be sure to have a backup plan in case of bad weather. Consider too whether the event will be held during the day or at night. A daytime show lends itself to a more family-friendly, all-ages environment while a nighttime show can evoke a feeling of chic glamour and a bustling nightlife.

Carpet, Carpet, Carpet!
Speaking of red carpet: As Wine, Women and Shoes points out, often the shoes worn by models are rented or on loan from the designers. As such, they want them back in as good condition as possible. Carpeting the area where models and other guests will be walking not only adds a touch of Hollywood glamour, but also protects high-priced and one-of-a-kind shoes from being scuffed or damaged.

Start PR and Marketing
One of the most important aspects of throwing a fashion show is marketing. Even if your show is simply a local affair, if you don’t tell anyone it’s happening, how will they know when to show up?

Particularly if you are hosting your event in conjunction with a national fashion week – like the one happening in New York – make sure to get the word out. Create an event on social media and advertise with local media outlets. Even if you don’t have an extensive advertising budget, reaching out to a local news station or paper can prove relatively simple and very fruitful, particularly if you have your promotional materials in order. Make sure to have a clear, concise listing of your designers, the location and date of the fashion show so that if any media contacts request it, you can provide it with ease.

A custom backdrop from Sign Art Etc. can bring your fashion show to the next level. In addition to our variety of high-quality signage and backdrops, we offer high-quality customer service and great prices. Get in touch today to learn more!

Auctions can be an excellent social event for fundraisers.

Making your silent auction the talk of the town

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Whether as a part of fundraising efforts or to make commercial profits, a silent – or even open – auction is a great way to get people engaged. Unlike the cold, remote auctions online, a silent auction gives your audience the opportunity to get together, socialize and, most importantly, lay eyes on the products they will be bidding on.

To make sure that your next auction is a hit, follow these helpful tips:

Pick your basket items carefully
For fundraising auctions, picking item baskets is a mix of art and science. You want to encourage bids far higher than what you paid for the items and get people excited to buy something that they could most likely find in stores. To really maximize interest, group your baskets into themes and decorate to accentuate.

A few fun theme suggestions, inspired by Winspire, include:

  • A traveler’s delight bag, including a high-quality leather suitcase, briefcase, state-of-the-art headphones and travel pillow into a carry-on roller with wheels. Add in a gift card for flights or hotel stays to make it extra luxurious.
  • A grill master starter kit, with a cooler or charcoal grill filled with a picnic set, barbecue rubs, marinades and grill accessories like meal thermometers, rotisseries, tongs and an apron. Gift cards to local or national supermarkets can top this off.
  • Mixology 101, including a cocktail shaker, two ounce measuring cup, mixers, bitters and recipe booklet. If you are allowed by local regulation and your organization, including the alcohol itself in the form of aged spirits and high-end liquors can be very enticing.
  • Suave and chic grooming products, split by by gender (or bundled together to cover all the bases). Include high-end grooming essentials like a shaving kit, shaving cream, an anti-fogging shower mirror and personal care products.
  • Home and garden essentials, including a birdhouse, bird feeder, trowels, gardening sheers, a variety of different succulents seeds, gloves and a gift card to a home improvement store or gardening center. Package it all in a ceramic planter with a small (sealed) bag of soil.
  • A mystery basket. A sealed, opaque bag can be fun and often gets the most bids – everyone loves a good mystery, after all. You can include virtually anything in the bag, though it still pays to have the contents be exciting and of value so that your winning bidder doesn’t feel cheated. Why not try and embrace the idea of mystery and include some of your favorite detective novels, suspenseful thriller movies, Halloween masks and the board game Clue or Guess Who?
Silent or not, everyone loves an auction!Silent or not, everyone loves an auction!

Play games! 
In addition to bidding on the items themselves, an auction can be a great opportunity to have a little fun while you raise money. One game that is a surefire winner is called “Heads or Tails.”

“An auction can be a great opportunity to have a little fun.”

To play, start by put together an extra luxurious and broad-appeal gift basket – or alternatively, a mystery basket – and have attendees buy a raffle ticket to enter to win the basket. This can be a very effective fundraising technique as, according to Greater Giving, at least 25 percent of your attendees are likely to purchase a ticket, even if the cost exceeds $25.

During the auction, invite those guests who purchased “Heads or Tails” raffle tickets to stand up. After that, each participant chooses either heads or tails (a small, double-sided sign can do the trick for this).

From there, have the auctioneer flip a coin and announce which side it came up. Those who chose the correct side may continue to stand while those who chose wrong sit back down. This continues, slowly whittling down participants until there is a winner who then gets the prize.

Make your auction a ‘can’t miss’ event
The key to the success of an auction is to make it something attendees wont want to miss, for fear of having missed out on a social event. Winspire surveys show that the majority of winning bidders attend four or more fundraising events each year, underscoring the importance of setting your event above the rest.

A quick and simple way to distinguish your auction is a fun theme. Black tie gala, masquerade, Hawaiian luau: Any theme, with the right choice of decor and promotion, can attract your preferred clientele. And while the auction is in session, encourage attendees to take pictures and share them on social media.

Sign Art Etc has plenty of experience providing custom party planning banners and backdrops for any occasion. Give us a call today to learn more.

Turn your backyard into a luxury movie theater!

Hosting the ultimate outdoor movie viewing party

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Everyone loves a night at the movies – but between the high cost of tickets, inflated concession prices and the variety of “premium” movie theater experiences available, it can be an expensive proposition. A family of four could easily expect to spend close to $200 before the night is over at a conventional movie theater, which is far from pocket change for most people. If you have younger children or a large group of family and friend who would like to attend with you, seeing movies in the theater may not be an ideal situation.

This is where hosting your own backyard screening party can help. You can make the movie night a low-cost social affair for all ages without having to leave the comfort of your own home. To ensure that your party is a hit, consider the following ideas:

Invest in a quality projector and screen
To host a backyard movie screening, you really only need two things: a projector and a screen. While full-sized projector screens are available commercially – including custom backdrops offered by Sign Art Etc – a heavy duty white sheet canvas painter’s drop cloth can be a great cost-effective solution. Opt for something sturdy that won’t blow in the breeze, and the more opaque the better. String it up tightly in between two trees or place temporary stabilizing poles in the yard.

Projectors come in a variety of different price ranges and configurations and are often available for cheap on sites like eBay and Craigslist. When shopping for a projector, don’t forget the sound component of the screening. Many projectors may have built in speakers, but these may not be loud enough. If you know anyone who is a DJ or musician, see if they can lend or rent you a portable PA system to fill out the sound.

Invest in a high quality projector.Invest in a high quality projector.

One of the best solutions is to find a projector that can connect to a laptop, making it easier to screen films – even YouTube videos – directly from your computer. Whatever you opt for, be sure you have the right connections and do a test run BEFORE you throw the party.

“Pick movie that may appeal to people of all ages.”

Pick your movie (carefully)
Since these events are more social than your traditional night at the movies, give some thought to a movie that may have a broader appeal to people of all ages. Something with excessive violence, profanity or sexuality may make for an uncomfortable time – particularly if you can hear or see what’s going on on-screen outside of your yard! Instead, why not go with a classic favorite with a PG or PG-13 rating (which may still include some off-color language or themes, but in a more limited capacity)? Babble recommends movies like Babe, Annie, The Goonies, The Princess Bride, Napoleon Dynamite or anything produced by Dreamworks or Pixar.

Tell the neighbors… or better yet, invite them!
Backyard parties of all kinds can be tricky since you don’t want to disturb sensitive neighbors, particularly after sundown. Make sure you obtain any relevant permits from county (including exclusion from noise ordinances) and tell your neighbors about the party well ahead of time. Even better, offer them an invitation!

Drizzle on the chocolate for a sweet sensation! Drizzle on the chocolate for a sweet sensation!

“Snacks are one of the essential aspects of movie watching.”

Don’t forget snacks! 
Snacks are essential aspects of movie watching, but are often give an insanely high markup in theaters. Luckily, at home you can prepare the same caliber of refreshments – if not better – than in the theater for a fraction of the price. Obviously, the staples of popcorn and soda are a good place to start, but why not spice it up a bit? Add a shake of sugar and salt to your popcorn to make a sweet, savory kettle corn treat – or drizzle some chocolate or caramel over it for something more decadent. Finger foods like chips and dip, cut vegetables or baby carrots are great for people looking for something more health conscious. Alternatively, you can make the party a hybrid barbecue and screening, with grilled hamburgers, hot dogs and other tasty treats available before it gets dark out.

Make it an event
Up the glitz and glamor of your party by giving it a classy red carpet theme! Send out “formal” invitations, encourage your guests to dress up like their favorite Hollywood celebs, even give out handmade “awards” to make it more fun than just sitting and watching a film. Add in a custom step and repeat backdrop for pictures and your screening will be the hit of the season!

Make your next fundraiser one to remember!

Make your fundraising gala a hit – with guests and revenue

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Planning a fundraising gala is a balancing act. You want to make your event seem lavish and fun, but the overriding goal is to generate revenue for your cause. To ensure that your event is a hit with guests while earning the highest net funds, follow these simple tips:

Don't limit donations to just cash, accept check or credit if you can!Don’t limit donations to just cash, accept check or credit if you can!

Feed your audience early and often
Your gala guests are more likely to have fun and reach more readily into their pocketbooks if they’re fed. Often, event planners will put the bulk of speeches and entertainment up front to capture the most eyes and ears, but you’re more likely to keep your guests longer if they aren’t hungry. Keeping small plate dishes around or a self-serve entree bar can be an easy way to allow guests to eat at their own pace.

Make your donation ask early and make it simple to give
Constantly bringing up throughout the night that you are accepting donations can get a little tacky and turn your guests off. Asking at the end of the night may be similarly ineffective since guests are tired or have already left. Instead, start the evening with a clear declaration of what you are raising money for, and direct your guests to a simple location that will be staffed all night with people ready to accept their donation. Offer to accept cash, check or credit with the ability to give receipts for guests looking to claim the donation on their tax returns.

Come up with an appealing theme 
Attracting the optimal crowd is about making your event seem like a “can’t miss” destination. Try giving your gala a red carpet theme to make your guests feel like big-shots – complete with a backdrop for faux paparazzi glamour shots.

To design and order a custom backdrop that will bring in sponsorship revenue and give your event that red carpet atmosphere, visit Sign Art Etc.

Make your startup launch party a hit with ideas like a customized backdrop for photo taking.

Throw the perfect startup launch party in 3 simple steps

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Having a launch party for your startup is a great way to announce to the world that you’ve arrived in style and panache. Unfortunately, in those crucial few months of existence, money and resources can be tight and time to plan is limited. With that in mind, here are a few simple and inexpensive ideas to make sure your launch party is a hit:

Define your objective
Before you even announce the party and send out invites, talk openly about what the objective of this event will be. Is it simply a way for staff to blow off steam after a difficult and stressful beta run? Are you hoping to raise brand profile via media exposure? Are you looking to attach and gather new sales leads? By working to identify what you hope to get out of it, you can narrow down the decor, what kind of venue you will need and who will be invited.

“The goal of this party is to celebrate your newly-minted company.”

Right-size your venue
The office break room isn’t going to cut it when the goal is to make your launch an event. Look for a venue nearby that will easily accommodate all your guests, but not be too big so as to seem under-attended. Also, plan for areas that will be devoted to food and beverage stations, games and other entertainment.

Hire help
I know it may be tempting to keep everything in house to save money, but remember that the goal of this party is to celebrate your newly-minted company. It’s hard to point to your achievements if you’re stuck handing out hor d’oeuvres and mixing drinks. In the end, hiring a party planner is a worthwhile expense and may even save you money by limited the possibility of over-ordering food and beverages.

Looking to make your launch more exciting? Get a backdrop from Sign Art Etc! You can choose from one of our many pre-designed templates, or for something a little different our design team will help you create the perfect custom design just for you. Visit us today to learn more about what we have to offer.