ICYMI: Unlocking the Power of Engagement

Gen City Labs Live: Memorable & Meaningful Creative Strategies for Events Livestream Highlights

Welcome to a fresh perspective on elevating your event experiences!

In our recent Gen City Labs Live session, we delved into innovative strategies for boosting attendee engagement—a crucial factor for effective events.

We were joined by Jon Selig and Jenna Ovadia, as well as the regular GCL crew, Mike Schaiman, MK Granados and Eric Arvai. Catch up on the essence of that discussion: read on for practical tips and insightful strategies from leading industry experts.

The Importance of Engagement

Engagement isn't just about attracting attendees; it's about captivating them, making every moment count. As Mike Schaiman explained, "It’s hard to attract attention...and earning their time needs to happen within about five to ten second window." This urgency underscores the need for impactful strategies that resonate immediately with event-goers.

Five Creative Ways to Boost Event Engagement

1. Humor as a Tool: Humor can transform the typical event experience, making it more relatable and enjoyable. Jon Selig, a proponent of integrating comedy into event strategies, shared, "It’s about what elicits emotional reactions in people." He started comedy writing for revenue teams about seven years ago, and his approach helps brands connect more deeply with their audience through laughter and light-hearted moments.
2. Strategic Swag: Moving beyond conventional giveaways, Jenna Ovadia emphasizes the importance of meaningful, memorable swag. This approach ensures that gifting and take home items serves as a lasting reminder of the brand's value and creativity.
3. Digital Integration: Digital tools can be an agile tool for both enhancing interaction and data collection. By strategically leveraging technology to advance a brand's story, you can not only capture leads but also keep attendees engaged throughout their time at your exhibit.
4. Personalized Experiences: Personalization is a powerful approach to standing out in a sea of brands. Tailoring experiences ensures that each attendee feels uniquely valued, significantly enhancing their engagement and satisfaction.
5. Sustainable Considerations: Innovative practices that minimize environmental impact not only appeal to eco-conscious attendees but also illustrates a brand as a responsible solution. Ideas like zero-waste booths or conscientious takeaways can transform how your brand is perceived long-term.

Digital Engagement: The Gen City Labs Edge

At Gen City Labs, we believe that the future of event experiences hinges on creating interactive engagement. Our approach isn't just about using digital tools; it's about creating an ecosystem where digital engagement transforms the audience experience, making every interaction memorable and impactful.

Enhanced Digital Engagement at Gen City Labs

Digital engagement solutions can look different for every brand based on their audience and objectives, but here are some approaches Gen City Labs clients have taken to bring their space to life:

For Oracle Open World, players were brought inside a computer system and dodged obstacles along their path as they gathered Oracle’s AI power-ups in order to achieve Autonomy.

Interactive Minigames:

Our use of custom-developed minigames can fundamentally entertain but also educates attendees about a new product, service or membership in an unexpected way. We craft games that are designed to complement brand messaging, scale for re-use at multiple exhibits, and spark playful competition and return visits. For instance, a minigame for a B2B SaaS platform might involve a penalty shoot-out at client pain points, or a choose-your-own-adventure game that leads to a service tier that's perfect for the player's needs.

For Infosys, the Gen City Labs team, in partnership with Sparks, created an interactive three-part story to help visualize the detection & repair of the complex workings of 747 landing gear. Hundreds of VIPs were able to envision the power of Infosys’ consulting services while getting a glimpse of the future.

Leveraging Emerging Technologies:

Innovation is at the heart of what we do, and by incorporating the latest technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML), augmented reality (AR), and virtual reality (VR), we create immersive experiences that transport attendees beyond the conventional event space. This could mean using AR to enhance physical products or employing VR to transport attendees to a virtual venue, amplifying the sensory experience and deepening their emotional connection to the brand.

For an activation with Atlassian, the GCL crew created a mysterious experience: the content on the screens could only be viewed through polarized lenses, challenging event attendees to change their perspective.

Triggering Curiosity with Novel Experiences:

Curiosity drives engagement, and we craft experiences that pique curiosity and invite exploration. This involves using unexpected elements like hidden messages, holographic displays, robotics or interactive floor triggers. Such novel technologies serve as photo moment or surprise, extending the event’s reach and impact.

Last shameless plug: Our expertise in blending creative storytelling with cutting-edge technology results in truly transformative event experiences that resonate on a personal level with attendees, ensuring they leave with a lasting impression of the brand’s innovation and thought leadership.

Thank you to everyone who tuned into our discussion exploring the craft of building engaging event experiences. It requires creativity, strategic thinking, and a keen understanding of the audience's needs, and by adopting these innovative strategies, brands can ensure their events are not just seen but felt, remembered, and cherished.

Don't miss out on implementing these insights into your next event!

Playback the full livestream here:

Join Us For Our Next Live Sessions

On May 1st we're hosting Rita Meno Price of MC² Experience, discussing the growing trend in theatrical storytelling and experiences within events. Inspired by the biggest brands at CES this year, we're taking note of the most immersive spectacles that strategically position attendees as an audience and craft the journey accordingly. RSVP link to follow- comment and we'll be sure you're invited.

On May 15th we'll be joined by Joe Rivers of Czarnowski Collective, where we'll explore even more about impactful brand storytelling leveraging emotion.

Set a reminder on LinkedIn or Youtube:

About Gen City Labs:

We’re a creative studio, crafting interactive experiences that captivate audiences and drive engagement. We collaborate with brands and agencies to bring their visions to life across both live and virtual channels. Our team of experts leverage the latest technologies to create showstopping storytelling within interactive pop-ups, activations, flagship retail, tradeshow booths, innovation centers and more. GCL is the trusted partner of choice for Fortune 500 brands and global agencies.

If you’re interested in learning more, get in touch at info@gencitylabs.io.

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