Sonia Andresson-Nolasco

Hybrid events may be a new concept but they are already getting an upgrade as marketers mix the timeliness of one-off microsites with the stickiness of social media to form a one-stop branded engagement “platform” that’s always on, always evolving and never out of touch.

Whether you’ve been faced with taking your event portfolio in-house out of necessity or just wondered if you could do it yourself, the decision to cut ties with your agency and go it alone is never an easy one. To help shed light on the upsides and downsides, EM enlisted the help of a panel with expertise on both sides of the fence. Think you can do it yourself? Two brand marketers and two event agencies weigh in.

CONTROL & COSTS

If only standing in line for a brand experience were as entertaining as a Disney theme park where long serpentine lines are filled with animatronic surprises, strategic changes in scenery and the occasional visit by Snow White and her Seven Dwarfs. Fairytale characters aside, it can be.

Event marketers have a real challenge on their hands when it comes to building eco-friendly pop-ups. Creating these immersive, temporary experiences is inherently wasteful because it often demands the same investment in building materials as a trade-show exhibit or one-time event, but without the long-term reuse plan.
But as event marketers get savvier about being green, they also get more creative. Check out some innovative and impactful ideas that can give a short-term pop-up build a sustainable vision for the future.

To demystify its often sci-fi-like job descriptions, the United States Air Force is bringing to life its “It’s Not Science Fiction” campaign inside a 6,400 square-foot Command Center Alpha augmented reality tour. Potential recruits are immersed in a cutting-edge 3D setting inside a 53-foot trailer divided into three experiences, which include video, audio and downloadable information on all aspects of the U.S. Air Force.