https://blog.eventwax.com/

Eventwax Welcomes Marvele Group Pte Ltd as the New Owner

Thu, 24 Sep 2015 13:35:34 -0500

Hi everyone!

We are proud to announce that Eventwax has been acquired by Marvele Group Pte Ltd, a company which specializes in event management and corporate gifts in Asia, Singapore! You can check us out at www.marvele.com

We would also like to thank Kevin Taylor for his amazing skills and foresight in building up this amazing website. We wish him all the best in his future ventures!

Throughout the next few days, we would be doing up the necessary documents and such. Rest assured that nothing would be changed in this interim and do let us know if you have any enquiry regarding eventwax.

We look forward to connecting with our customers and having some exciting times at eventwax. At eventwax, customer always comes first!

Regards,
Jameson Koh

EventWax Lives On

Tue, 01 Sep 2015 21:17:37 -0500

We have great news to report today. We have secured a solid offer to purchase EventWax. The purchaser is an established event planning business who’s management is very knowledgeable about running the very types of events that are hosted on EventWax.

We’ll keep you updated of the status of the transition.

EventWax Auction ends in 1 Day

Tue, 18 Aug 2015 09:28:06 -0500

EventWax is listed for sale on the Flippa auction site and may be purchased tomorrow when the auction ends. Check it out here:

https://flippa.com/5336282-turn-key-8-year-old-site-in-the-very-hot-online-event-registration-space

If this sale is completed successfully, EventWax may remain open for business, based on the new owner’s plans.

We’ll continue to keep you updated and thanks for all the continued messages of support.

EventWax shutting down August 31st, 2015

Fri, 10 Jul 2015 13:03:49 -0500

We’re sorry to inform you that EventWax will be discontinuing all services effective at the end of business on August 31st, 2015. Please use the next 7 weeks to transition your event registration services to another provider. If you need recommendations of other event registration service providers, contact support@eventwax.com.

Thank you for all the support you’ve given us over our nine years and we wish all of you continued success in your future events.

EventWax HowTo: Use the new Add an Event page

Tue, 28 Oct 2014 10:00:40 -0500

You have created an EventWax account. Now, you are ready to create your event.

A link verifying your new account is sent to your email. Once you click on the link, you may immediately create your event.

Here’s how it works:

Event Name: Enter the title of your event in the Event Name field.

Description: Enter the details of your event in the Description window. Here, you can opt to use the place holder text provided, or you can delete the place holder text and provide your own write-up.

Event logo: Here you can upload or drag and drop your event logo.

Time zone: You must select the right time zone for your event from the drop down menu. Next, select the date(s) and start and end time of your event from the corresponding calendars.

Venue: Here you can input the venue and its address. Be specific!

Capacity: Type in how many total spots are available at your event.

Is your event free? If yes, continue on to Tickets. If you are charging money for your tickets, select “No, my event is not free.”

Tickets: Select currency type from drop down menu.

Besides giving your ticket a name and price (if it isn’t free), you can manage the period in which your ticket can be purchased by selecting a beginning sales date and ending sales date. For instance, an early bird ticket will have an end date well before the actual event is held. Define that here.

Also, you can limit the amount of each ticket type sold per booking in the Tickets allowed per sale fields.

In the next field, a Promo code may be created to hide this ticket type from users unless they unlock it with the special code that you define here.

Additional ticket types can be created by clicking on Add new ticket type. Here you can create different tickets for the same event. For example, you can create an early bird ticket at a discounted or premium rate.

Now, save your event as a draft or make it live immediately! Once you select Make it live, you can monitor your ticket sales from the My dashboard page.

EventWax's HowTo: use online event planning

Fri, 12 Sep 2014 15:27:00 -0500

If this is your first time using an event planning website or if you just need a refresher in the process, follow our basic framework to get started planning your next event.

Sign up for a free EventWax account. Getting started is easy and you can create your free account here. The website will guide you through the process.
Next, create your event for free. This is where you give your event a name, date, time, place and description. At this point, you also can specify if your event is free or if you are going to sell tickets for your event.
Spread the word. Once your event has been created, let all your potential attendees know by sending email invitations, make announcements on social media such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter etc…
Manage your registration. Once you begin selling tickets or registering attendees, you can monitor your event sales and activity on EventWax's MyDashboard page. Here you can view Recent Activity on all your events, tally registered attendees, and watch your event reach capacity.
Monitor your attendees. From the Events tab, select your event and click on Attendees. Here, you can view the ticket types sold and print out a list of confirmation codes for event check-in.
Monitor Bookings. From the Bookings tab, you can view how many tickets have been purchased and payment status.
Event Check-In. At the event’s check-in booth, you can compare attendees’ printed or emailed tickets with your printed attendee list, verifying the unique confirmation codes.
Post-Event Follow-Up. After the event, make sure to go to the attendee’s tab and send thank you follow-up emails to attendees, with any additional call-to-actions, such as creating a review, going to your website, liking your Facebook page, filling out a survey, etc.

Guide attendees through your event with mobile apps

Tue, 08 Apr 2014 11:34:38 -0500

One of the most mentioned technology trends for event planning in 2014, in addition to online event registration, is the continued use of mobile guide apps for your attendees.

The biggest benefit by going paperless is saving time and money and giving attendees control through their smartphones and tablets. In most instances, the online mobile event apps are not designed to create a singular, unique app for your event. Rather, app providers warehouse a vast number of events on a master list and require attendees to first download the app and then search for the event they are attending.

The price point for the use of a mobile event app varies from free and up, depending on the number of features needed for your event.

Some of the features offered include conference schedules, exhibitor lists, maps, speaker profiles, conference floor maps, social media integration, and organizer messaging and attendee feedback.

There is plenty of competition in the space. Here are a few to look at to get started: bizzabo, bloodhound, crowdcompass, doubledutch, eventmobi, and guidebook.

Our new “My Dashboard” page

Wed, 12 Feb 2014 16:37:00 -0600

Sorting through your events has never been cleaner and easier with our new “My Dashboard” page. The new page is divided into three distinct sections – “Upcoming Events,” “Past Events,” and “Recent Activity.”

In the “Upcoming Event” section, displayed is a list of all the events that have not occurred yet.

When you click on your event(s) you now will automatically have the option to “View, Edit, Duplicate or Delete” that event. It’s easy to duplicate an event–an annual conference or quarterly class, for instance–if it occurs on a regular basis.

And, the “Recent Activity” section provides organizers with an at-a-glance snapshot of any registration activity that has taken place with any of your events.

Take a look:

EventWax now offers printable tickets

Fri, 24 Jan 2014 10:35:11 -0600

Event organizers now have the option for printable tickets for their attendees.

The printable ticket, which is attached to the attendee’s confirmation email, displays all the pertinent event information including name of event, unique confirmation code, ticket price, date and time, venue, attendee name, ticket type, event organizer contact information and the link to the registration site.

Also, along the bottom of the printable ticket we’ve included duplicate ticket information such as confirmation code, ticket price, etc. so that it can be separated from the main ticket and distributed to another party, if needed. This is a useful feature for music concerts, where both the facilities owner and music promoter will want a copy of the ticket.

When you are creating a new event, EventWax automatically defaults the ticket format so attendees receive both an emailed ticket along with a downloadable ticket that can be printed.

To find this option for your event:

From the “Your Dashboard” page, click on the specific event

Click: “Edit Event”

Click: “Ticket Setup”

Scroll down to: “Ticket Format” box

You will see the option for “Email and Printable” or “Email Only.”

You may select your preference or EventWax will default to “Email and Printable” if nothing is selected.

Super Bowl planning tips for Game Day eateries

Tue, 14 Jan 2014 14:46:00 -0600

Restaurants and bars getting ready for Super Bowl 48, consider these Game Day tips to make your party a winner:

Promote. Promote. Promote. Get the word out about your Super Bowl Party. Advertise it on your webpage, social media and in local publications. Post table-top signage and fliers around your bar. Consider a banner sign for the exterior.

Proper big screens. Most likely your bar already has television screens, but consider purchasing or renting additional screens for the big day. Consult with a local electronics rental company and be sure to plan for delivery and installation.

Show some spirit. Nothing brings on a festive atmosphere like team colors. If your establishment is local to one of the two teams, decorate with team colors. If you’re located elsewhere, split your bar down the middle with team colors on either side, or go with a neutral theme of football.

Scrutinize your floor plan. Look at all your seating and make sure every seat in the house is the best seat for viewing the game. Rearrange furniture and tables where needed. Add extra bar stools, stackable chairs and folding tables to accommodate more guests.

Game Day menu. This is one more way to get your customers excited about the Super Bowl and excited to be in your establishment. Tie in names of the teams, offer cultural favorites from the teams’ hometowns along with traditional football fare. Whip up special cocktails for the event. Make sure your specials are easy to understand, priced well, and simple. Check in with vendors about having chips and popcorn on hand.

Your own half-time show. Consider your own half-time entertainment like a live band, contests, large video game rentals etc…

Online ticket sales. If you expect to fill the house, consider organizing your Super Bowl party with and online event registration management tool. You can use it to collect an entrance fee or even reserve specific tables.

Last minute New Year's Eve planning tips

Mon, 09 Dec 2013 16:20:00 -0600

New Year’s Eve is rapidly approaching and event planners with soirees in the works should consider these last minute planning tips.

Mind the lines – Everyone expects a big crowd on New Year’s Eve. Event planners should too. Make sure your event is properly staffed. That means plenty of people to check in guests; enough bartenders and bar backs; enough employees on hand to keep the bathrooms stocked and clean; and enough staff to man the coat check at peak times.

Extra cash – It is a good idea to build a cushion in your event budget. Inevitably, there’s always something you’ll run out of or forget the week or day of the party.

Delegate – Rely on your trusted team to help you get it all done.

Have a Plan B – Planning for the unthinkable can make your New Year’s event fail-proof. Have back up entertainment in the unlikely event that your live entertainment cancels at the last minute. Have another alternative that could be summoned on a couple hours notice.

Keep calm – Brief your staff on how to stay calm in a crisis. Make sure your staff knows not only how to execute Plan A, but also Plan B.

Save money organizing events with EventWax

Mon, 30 Sep 2013 14:47:25 -0500

Event planners’ jobs have been made easier since the onset of online registration and ticket sales. However, the task of keeping events on or under budget is ongoing.

At EventWax, we get it. We’re an online event registration company with a lean event management tool. We purposefully keep our pricing low by providing only the most important features so budget-concious event planners can put the money saved back into their event or back in their attendees’ pockets.

Simply put, our service is free when your events are free.
When you charge for your event, we charge a 2% fee per ticket with a minimum charge of $1 (USD) and a maximum charge capped at $5 (USD) per ticket. (Check other currencies.)

Compare EventWax pricing to the competition to see how you can save money organizing events. Some event sites charge a higher percentage of the ticket value plus a per ticket fee. EventWax services are available for one low fee that is capped at $5 per ticket. This means event planners or attendees will never have to pay more than $5 per ticket for a convenience charge.

Here’s how you can save using EventWax’s self-service online event registration.

Ticket prices	EventWax fees
$10	$1
$50	$1
$100	$2
$350	$5
$500	$5

The more tickets sold, the more fees add up quickly and become a significant percentage of the event or attendee cost. EventWax’s commitment to its customers is to provide a functional tool at a fraction of the cost.

Find out more about EventWax pricing.

Host your event in autumn's brilliance

Wed, 18 Sep 2013 14:12:38 -0500

Autumn Letchworth Park Gennesee River Gorge, by Julie A. Wenskoski

If you have the flexibility to plan an impromptu event, consider holding it amongst one of nature’s most brilliant spectacles – autumn.

An offsite venue might be just the thing to rejuvenate your attendees just as signs of fall are making a premature entrance this year, especially in the mid-Atlantic region where colors are forecasted to be particularly vibrant, according to Accuweather.com

Forecasters attribute the swift emergence to a cool and dry August in areas such as Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey. Foliage trackers are predicting the upper northeast to see colors change in early October while most of the Midwest can expect peak colors by mid-October. The Pacific Northwest and the Southeast can expect the most vibrant colors by late October or early November.

Local and state parks are inexpensive and ideal settings for gathering in a fall foliage environment. If your group is small, you can plan an impromptu visit. If you have a large group, you may have to plan for parking and reserving a shelter with tables.

If the idea sounds intriguing, consider this top-five list of U.S. state parks that boast fabulous fall colors.

Oak Mountain State Park, Alabama. With 9,900 acres of green valleys, colors are most prominent from October to November.
Camden Hills State Park, Maine. The land varies from rocky shores to high cliffs. From atop Maiden Cliff, are miles of amazing views. Peak colors from mid-September to mid-October.
Ridgeway State Park, Colorado. Though the West is not a typical setting for foliage viewing, Ridgeway offers a diverse appreciation for changing colors with bold golds and blondes. Best viewed mid-September.
Monadnock State Park, New Hampshire. The top of Mount Monadnock boasts 100-mile views of fall foliage from six surrounding New England states – the capitals of fall foliage.
Adirondack State Park, New York. Here you will find the most stunning fall foliage display of the United Sates. Peak colors are typically the last two weeks in September.

For more information about the states parks listed click here.

For more information about planning an outdoor event click here.

Catering your outdoor event

Fri, 15 Jun 2012 12:18:20 -0500

Summertime is a great time for outdoor events. Outdoor catering arrangements largely depend on your venue, type of event, and the time of year.

Consider these quick tips for catering your fabulous outdoor event.

Your menu. Before you choose your menu, consider the weather conditions you are likely to encounter. Food dishes that are on the light side or served cold may be preferable over something hot and heavy.

Your food. Food that requires plates and flatware will require extra cost and seating. Finger foods make it easier for guest to eat while socializing.

Watch for spoilage. Make sure your caterer keeps the food at the right temperature. Hot dishes need to stay hot while cold salads need to stay chilled.

The venue. When choosing an outdoor site, pick one that will be comfortable for your guests. If the site does not include a shelter, consider renting a tent in case of rain or for shade purposes. Consider if the site has restrooms available or if you’ll have to bring in portable toilets.

Entertainment. Check with your catering company or a separate amusement rental company for entertainment options including a DJ, outdoor inflatables, games etc…

Costs. Opting for the outdoors for your event can cost less than renting indoors, however, be mindful of other expenses that can drive up the total cost of your event. For example, consider the cost of event insurance, or additional costs for set-up and clean up.

Read more about outdoor catering at foodservicewarehouse.com.

Planning your outdoor event, Part II

Thu, 07 Jun 2012 12:38:15 -0500

Trying to think of everything when planning an outdoor event can be overwhelming. Here are tips that shouldn’t be overlooked.

Crucial coordination. Keep in mind that if you are not using an outdoor facility, that you will be bringing everything in and then hauling everything out.

Sanitation. Review with your vendor exactly what will be needed for your size event. Sub-par and too few restroom facilities can quickly lead to a discontented crowd. Also, plan for the days prior and after the event for your set-up and take-down crews.

Power. Be sure to arrange for back up generators for your generators in case of failures.

Communication. Be sure two-way radios are powerful enough for the area of your event. Also bring backup batteries, lots.

Lighting. If your event takes place at night or moves into the evening, be sure to not only light the event, but also the walkways, restroom areas, exit and entrance paths and parking areas.

Pests. Consider whether you will need to spray the area for pests. When scheduling the spraying, determine whether it would conflict with other aspects of your set-up, such as setting up tables and linens.

Heat. Plan for drinking and cooling stations throughout your venue.

Safety. At the very minimum, have first-aid kits on hand or designate a first-aid station.

Weather. Monitor weather far in advance and consider purchasing weather insurance. Wind can be hazardous. Make sure things are anchored accordingly.

Clean up. Consider hiring a hauling firm after the event. Or arrange trash hauling through your local sanitation department.

Planning your outdoor event, Part I

Wed, 30 May 2012 10:24:00 -0500

Summertime is a great opportunity to consider outdoor venues for your next event. Planning for the great outdoors, however, can be twice as difficult as planning an indoor event. And sometimes more expensive.

When in the early planning stages for your ideal outdoor event, consider these preliminary tips:

First, decide on the date and location. Outdoor venues can book up as early as a year or more in advance.
Obtain a permit. Omitting this step could shut down your event at the most untimely moment.
Consider logistics of the site. It’s best to determine the the site’s accessibility ahead of time. If your venue is a remote location, will it require long-distance load-in of equipment and crew?
Conduct a pre-event onsite meeting. Gather all your suppliers and meet at the site to brainstorm and collect different perspectives about the location. This step will determine how the event will be laid out and where attendees will park.
Review municipal and state ordinances. Look at noise restrictions, fire safety codes, or any local ordinances that would regulate outdoor events. Some ordinances may regulate festival seating or overselling tickets.
Have a backup plan. Always have a backup shelter available in case of bad weather, power interruption or other outdoor issues. Consider a covered pavilion, renting a tent, or even placing a deposit on an indoor space nearby.

How to determine bidding at your silent auction

Tue, 08 May 2012 10:28:00 -0500

Silent auctions are an entertaining way to raise money for your cause and gives attendees opportunities to participate.

Here are some helpful tips to get your started:

Start the minimum bid at half the perceived value. If the item is a gift card with a $100 value, start at $50 so you at least get the $50 and attendees think it’s a bargain.
Check eBay for pricing ideas, paying attention to the ending prices of auctions.
Start the bidding low to encourage participation.
If you spent any money on an item, make sure you start the bidding at $10 more than what you spent.
For big ticket items such as hotel stays, spa certificates and travel packages, start the bidding at 30 percent of the value.
Be careful not to start your bidding so high that people won’t participate. The more people involved in the bidding, more energy it brings to your event and the more money it brings to your cause.
Determine fair market value of the item. If the item was donated by an artist, ask how the artist would price it. If the item is a service, determine the cost of that service.
Let attendees know on the bid sheet that bids should be made in whole dollars to avoid penny bids.

EventWax tip: Use online registration to organize your fund-raiser’s silent auction. It’s an easy way to sell tickets for your event and track your attendees. You also can email your attendees an auction item list prior to the event.

To read more about how to organize and run a silent auction click here.

One conference planner's low attendance fix

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 12:13:27 -0500

What to do when your event attendance drops from medium to small and you suspect you can’t cover the cost of your venue?

That’s exactly what happened to a conference planner recently. But, by reaching out to his industry contacts, he found an alternative that created a win-win out of a losing money situation.

Here’s how the scenario played out:

Once the planner realized the attendance for the event was not coming close to paying for the high-end venue, he met with an industry friend and asked if his friend’s prominent Internet company could sponsor the conference to help defray the costs.

The outcome was unexpected, yet smart.

While the Internet company did not offer sponsorship to help bail out the conference, what it did offer was to host the conference for free in its company training space. The organizer, perhaps, lost his deposit at the venue, but didn’t lose his shirt in an under-attended conference. The host company gained greater exposure at an industry conference with attendees that could lead to future potential hires.

This was a shining example of friends and a business community helping each other out and everyone benefiting, including the attendees.

Post event sponsorship tips

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 08:47:10 -0500

The best way to insure sponsorship for your future events is to make sure your relationship with sponsors for current events is carried through to the end.

Follow up phone calls. Contact companies two to three weeks after sending out your proposal letters. This not only is the best way to find out if they received the letter, but also an opportunity to talk with them about why they may be interested or not interested. Take notes for next year if your event is annual.
Reach out to non-sponsors. Send invitations to companies that did not sponsor. They may be interested in attending your event and consider sponsoring next year.
Cultivate relationships with your sponsors. Don’t drop your sponsors after the event. Send thank you letters, inform them how much money was raised if your event is a fund-raiser, and let them know how many people were in attendance.
Showcase your sponsors’ publicity. Put together a packet that includes copies of all the ads they appeared in, photos of their banners at the event, and photos of people using their product at the event.
Stay in touch with sponsors, but don’t overdue it. Send sponsors newsletters or updates on your group, send them annual reports, and invite them to other events at your organization.

How to find event sponsors, Part II

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 15:59:27 -0500

Sometimes drumming up sponsorship means going about things the old-fashioned way – by making telephone calls and writing letters.

Make lots of phone calls. Call local businesses and find out if they are interested in reaching your market. Come up with a 20-second or less pitch that explains the event, the audience and the benefits to the company you are pitching. If they are interested, you can go into more detail.
Calls will vary. The type of companies you reach out to will vary in size. If you talk to small businesses, you will likely speak to the owner of the business about your event. At medium-sized companies, you may speak to a marketing department rep. Large companies get sponsorship requests frequently and may have a sponsorship request guideline to follow. You may have to submit this months ahead of your event.
Tap agencies. Try contacting public relations or advertising agencies to see if any of their clients might be interested in sponsorship at your event.
Look at your competition. Find any similar events to yours and review their sponsors.
Send proposal letters. Keep the letter short and focused on what the solicited company will receive for their money.
Customize the letter. Make your potential sponsors feel like you are talking to them directly, not like they are reading a mass mailing.
Be specific. Request a particular level of funding from each potential sponsor and tell them what that will get them.
Be clear. Make sure your sponsor benefits are easily found and easy to understand in your letter.
Personal touch. Hand sign each letter and include a short description or additional brochure about what your organization does.

Read more about these tips condensed from an article originally authored by Rebecca Mojica and posted on idealist.org