A roundup of our creative team’s favourite inspiring, crazy and super fresh finds this month. Enjoy!
Today’s Fresh Finds selection is brought to you by our NZ agency’s Business Director, Corinna Homer, and she’s chosen to give us a round-up of her favourite recent events. So, without further ado…
I’m passionate about events being a key and exciting way to connect and bring people together for a shared experience. After a period of some degree of normality, NZ is in lockdown once AGAIN, and I find myself (as I’m sure others do) lamenting the loss of live events, whilst appreciating how the industry has embraced the virtual world and is coming up with new innovative ways of engaging with audiences.
So, I thought I’d share three of my favourite recent events to keep us all inspired.
1. GOOD OLD FACE-TO-FACE FUN AT THE ENDING HIV BIG GAY OUT.
I love this event. Yes, it is one that we do, but it’s the pinnacle of the LGBTQIA+ calendar, it’s family-friendly, welcoming, inclusive and just really positive. All members of the rainbow community, and their allies, come together to celebrate each other and just have fun!
Brands go all-out in support with sites offering everything from make-up to awesome activities and memorable entertainment.
We had 15,000 guests at the last festival and it was a day filled with so much love, support and warmth. The Ending HIV Big Gay Out is the epitome of how face-to-face events allow people to really connect, and how brands can be an authentic part of a meaningful experience.
2. GERONIMOFEST, THE GLASTONBURY OF FAMILY-FRIENDLY FESTIVALS.
The UK’s biggest family festival was back with a bang again this year after last year’s cancellation. Imagine Glastonbury but for kids, that’s Geronimo Fest, and it boasted everything a “festy” family would love from glamping and camping and the world’s biggest bouncy castle, to monster trucks, great music and everything in between!
It’s so great to see the comeback of large-scale, super fun events like this. It makes life feel almost normal again. Tickets are already on sale for next year and I can’t say I’m not thinking about making the trip…
3. BURNING MAN LIVES ON VIRTUALLY
Burning Man is a bucket-list event many around the world dream of ticking. But the fact that it takes place under the scorching Nevada Desert sun can make that dream a little difficult to turn into a reality. Until it went virtual.
The Virtual Burn is a digital incarnation of the festival. Six independent virtual event creators in the Burning Man community built a constellation of experiences that gave anyone around the world with an internet connection the chance to experience the culture and community that makes this event so iconic.
It could be ‘attended’ via Oculus and AltSpace VR platforms, or on a Mac or PC through the website. Accessibility – the silver lining of live events going virtual.
THE NEW FRONTIER
Whilst we’re living in challenging times, it is inspiring to see how the events industry are evolving , embracing creative tech and continuing to do great work that creates real connections in this digital world – no matter how it is delivered.
It will be interesting to see the new frontier of events beyond lockdowns and restrictions. And as a connected experiences agency, we couldn’t be more amped to be a part of this exciting new hybrid world.
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