B-to-C Events

When virtual events first came on the scene nearly a decade ago, their main purpose was to mimic physical events. But in the last couple of years that has changed. Virtual platforms have begun to evolve as their very own medium and not just as a substitute or supplement to a physical event. The newest iteration of the virtual event is the perpetual environment, also referred to also as an “always on,” “evergreen” or “365” environment.

It’s been 40 years since the first Hard Rock Café opened its doors, and to celebrate its birthday the iconic restaurant chain threw a global party called 40 Days that Rock and hit the road with dozens of rock and roll treasures on the Hard Rock 40th Anniversary Memorabilia Tour. The 40 Days that Rock event was a celebration of the past and future of the chain at its 163 locations all over the world and included a global battle of the bands competition in search of the next big rock band.

Last year, Yolo County-based Toasted Head winery traded in a booth at food and wine events to sample its chardonnays, cabs and merlots at beer and music festivals in three cities. This year it has expanded the tour to eight markets.

Comcast SportsNet Bay Area has launched “The Search for the World Championship Baby,” the lucky child who will be born closest to August 1 at 7:54 p.m., exactly nine months after the San Francisco Giants baseball team beat the Texas Rangers to win the 2010 World Series, its first pennant win in 52 years. The campaign capitalizes on the fact that while some Giants fans acknowledged the championship with toasts and high-fives, others celebrated, um, more privately.

This summer Courvoisier kicked off a series of lounge events targeting women in seven cities to promote its new Courvoisier Rosé liqueur. From June 30 to Oct. 9, the brand is taking over a section of select bars in Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and New York for 12 weeks, and turning them into exclusive lounges with pillows and candles in the product’s signature rose hue. There is also a step and repeat red-carpet photo activation that uses a free-standing kiosk consumers can use to take a photo in and post on Facebook on-site.