Social Betty Blog

Why we LOVED the Maker Faire

2010-05-26T12:55:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, the wildly popular Maker Faire invaded The San Mateo Event Center. After having heard about it the past few years, we were ready to check it out. My were we in for a treat!

A common misconception of this event is that it is a 'craft fair'. While it does boast to being a home to all kinds of crafty stuff, it is so MUCH more than that. In fact, we saw it as more of a science fair on steroids. You know, the kind where you have to sign away liability regarding your safety, because you never know what could happen. In essence, Maker Faire is a place where hobbyists get out of their garages, basements, workshops, etc. and share with you what non-manufactured brilliance they have created.

Once we got past the super-friendly event staff and into the gates, we decided to start with the inside exhibits first, before they were crowded in the afternoon. The second we stepped foot into the expo hall, we had chills running through us and the excitement of our surroundings was electric. There were robots, lights and technology experiments EVERYWHERE. Can you say, robot spells your name in jelly on toast? Haha...we're serious!

In one corner, there was a homemade tent where about 20 people at a time crawled on the floor into it, and were privy to a 3D puppet-like show based on Star Wars. Honestly, it gave Hollywood a run for its money. In other corners, there was a gigantic, electronic spider and giraffe. We pet the giraffe, but not so much the spider. Remote controlled sharks were lit up and cruising the halls, although we didn't quite pet them either!

Outside, there was a HUGE spaceship replica to climb through, and all kinds of mechanical robots and vehicles roaming the grounds. Remember, these are DIYers (do-it-yourselfers), so you are seeing raw talent before you, not some highly manufactured concept brought to life by large technology companies and their funding. In purest form, it's the grassroots of innovation. Plus, there was every other aspect of 'making', from creative coffee makers to creative gardening solutions to straight bizarre creations we don't know how to begin to describe.

Marveling at the magnificent level of innovation before us, the experience brought forth many epiphany-like moments throughout the day. It was a real pleasure to see 'projects' that people had thrown themselves into in such detail. It made us realize as consumers ourselves, how much we've strayed from the pleasure that comes from 'making' something. As one person put it, 'we are so quick to run out and buy the same old doorknob replacement when we need one, but how cool would it be to have a uniquely made one the shape of a lion's head.' We don't know about having one shaped as a lion's head, but we get the point. Our fast-paced life is leading us to stray away from the beauty, uniqueness and pleasure that comes from the art of simply 'making'. This in itself gave us a greater appreciation for artisanship and hand-craftsmanship.

We were impressed with every aspect of the Maker Faire. We are thankful to all the 'makers' for sharing such talents and makings with us, and are thankful to the organizers for bringing forth the opportunity to experience it altogether. This annual event in San Mateo (more frequent events nationwide) is a 'Do Not Miss'.

We are already looking forward to next year!

To see add'l pics and video, check out Social Betty on Facebook

For more info on Maker Faire: www.makerfaire.com

Social Betty digs ELEW

2010-04-05T11:16:00.000-07:00

Forget 'hello', he had us at Mr. Brightside!

Eric Lewis, aka ELEW, tore things up in San Francisco this weekend, bringing down the house at The Redwood Room inside the uber-trendy Clift Hotel. ELEW, a pianist and rising star, has found a unique niche that infuses his piano magic with the rock/jazz world. His fingers hit the keys like no other, entertaining audiences with feverish intensity you rarely get to witness. Or maybe you were lucky enough to catch him at SXSW last month.

Either way, here's a few links to some of ELEW's past performances. You'll be hooked like we are:

Eric Lewis @ the White House - Mr. Brightside
Coldplay "Clocks": Eric Lewis on Piano
Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit": Eric Lewis
Eric Lewis does Linkin Park Breaking the Habit
"Georgia on My Mind" performed by Eric Lewis

And by the way, we loved his shoes at Saturday night's event...they were Social Betty-ish! :)

Super Bowl Party Planning Tips

2010-01-29T08:55:00.000-08:00

The biggest Sunday for parties of the year is Super Bowl Sunday. No matter if you are planning a meet-up at a restaurant or bar or having people over to your house we are sure that you need some tips on how to make it a great day.

Here is a great list we found of awesome Super Bowl Party Planning tips.

ENJOY!

Video Offering Non-Alcoholic Holiday Cocktails

2009-12-07T17:32:00.000-08:00

The holidays bring about lots of things, one of these is office holiday parties. One great thing to offer at these holiday parties is festive non-alcoholic drinks. This video gives some great tips on how to make these type of drinks in a quick and easy manner. Enjoy!

Wedding Planning tips from the 'just married'

2009-11-04T17:43:00.000-08:00

This insightful post is coming to us from a friend of Social Betty who got married in September. We asked her if she could give us a couple tips that she had for other brides-to-be out there now that she has been through the planning and the big day. So here are some lovely nuggets of info from a new wife to future ones:

If you can't afford to hire a planner for the wedding think about hiring one for just the day of. This allows you to really enjoy the day and not stress about all the little things like where the programs are. If you can't afford to do that make sure you have a personal attendant or a family member that can do the final setup and worry for you.

There are many places that you can cut corners in terms of budget, but do not cut corners on a photographer. We allowed a family friend to take our pictures and it was a mess. The photos were not great and the person actually lost one of the memory cards before uploading them, so they are gone forever. The photos of the day not only document the event, they bring all the wonderful memories of it. Make sure there is someone there to really capture that.

If you are having a DJ ask your guests for song requests. This helped keep OUR music interesting to OUR guests. DJs often play the same songs at every wedding and not everyone has the same taste in tunes.

Find the dress of your dreams and be willing to find it anywhere. The dress can make or break the day and you never know where you will find it. So be willing to try lots of places and when you try it on you will know.

Don't try to do the printing of save the dates and invitations yourself. It is super time consuming, nerve racking, and after paper and ink it costs just much as hiring someone to do it for you.

Look on Etsy.com for accessories. My headpiece was handmade for me and I got a million complements on it.

Even if you are not the bridezilla type, they day before and of is very stressful and can get to you. If you end up crying at some point about something little, don't worry it happens to us all.

Try and take it all in. The day is about you and your partner and people are there to celebrate a fun new adventure in your life

Thanks you so much for all the great tips and so many congrats on your new life together.

Tips and Tricks for Holiday Party Planning

2009-10-04T16:18:00.000-07:00

The holidays can be very competitive when it comes to finding that perfect venue for your personal or corporate holiday party. By now, many of the most popular venues have been booked up six months to a year in advance for the two busiest weekends of the year, and the chance of getting the venue you want could be challenging.

If you haven’t booked your venue yet, be sure to consider venues that aren’t as popular, but still offer a great experience. There are lots of hidden gems out there. Moreover, be flexible with your needs, especially if you are on a limited budget.

Speaking of limited budget, many organizations over the last year have been cutting back on their holiday parties due to the economy. Social Betty believes there is always a way to celebrate even if you have to cut back and we have got some great tips for you to still maximize your fun without breaking the bank:

• Use fewer decorations and stick with the basics.
• Choose buffet style instead of a sit down dinner.
• Offer a cash bar or hosted beer/wine instead of open bar. If you have some extra money in your budget put it toward a drink ticket or two per guest.
• Instead of door prizes, offer up opportunity drawings.

Regardless of your budget or location, the important thing to remember when planning a holiday party is to be sure your attendees have a great time. Providing the right atmosphere can make for a perfect event, but having the right people and energy will make your event even more special.

Are you ready for some Football?

2009-09-23T17:41:00.000-07:00

The fall season brings to mind things like the changing of the leaves, school starting, and one popular sport - Football. Football is one of the biggest sports for friends and family getting together to enjoy each others company and the game. There are numerous ways that people can plan events to get in on this pastime: You could be going to the game, inviting people over to watch the game at your house, or getting everyone to meet at a specific bar or restaurant. No matter which path you take it will take some planning to make sure that your Sunday is, in fact, a "Funday."

The major things to think about include:

Food-Always think about what time of the day the event will be and what types of food would be appropriate. Consider how long the event will be and make sure their is snacks to cover the day. Consider possible food roadblocks (no grill, guest is a vegetarian or has food allergies, food is cold but will be sitting outside). Call the restaurant or bar and find out if they are having their regular menu or something special for football season.
Drinks-With this you need to consider if there will be alcoholic beverages available with the non-alcoholic options. If there is going to be alcohol at the event remember to consider how people will safely get home. Call the restaurant or bar and find out if there are any specials.
Parking-This is something to consider with any event.
Seating-Make sure that every person can find some kind of a seat somewhere. This one doesn't quite apply when we are talking a pregame tailgate where standing is obviously allowed.
Televisions or Tickets-The game is technically the reason for the get together isn't it?

Hopefully some of these things will help you know what to consider before your next game day. We all know there is nothing worse than needing more ice or chairs or food or drinks during the game and having to miss the game to fill the void.

Happy Planning
Social Betty

Working with a Wedding Invitation Designer

2009-09-18T07:18:00.000-07:00

Please enjoy the second in our guest blogger series from Denise Scatena of Blue Ribbon Invitations- Working with a Wedding Invitation Designer

It's the day you've dreamed about for years and have planned for several months - your wedding. Now it's time to invite your family and friends to attend one of the most important events of your life. Working with an invitation designer can help you in many ways, from reviewing and recommending designs, assisting with wording, and ensuring that your order is on time and within budget. But how do you begin? Here are four simple things to help you prepare for your initial meeting with an invitation designer:

What's your vision? Inspiration comes from just about anywhere. Pictures, poems, song lyrics, flowers, and themes may guide your selection process. Colors can be a dominant feature or an accent, incorporated into the paper, ink and design selections. It will be important to have some ideas to discuss at your meeting, that will help guide your review and ultimately the selection of your ensemble.

What do you want to say? While you may not have the exact words and content ready to go for the invitation, you will want to have an idea of what information you would like to communicate to guests. For example, on the RSVP card, will you need to collect meal choices or guest count? Do you need separate cards for hotel options and/or directions? The amount of content that you would like to include will directly affect the designs available to you. Your invitation designer can research and answer your etiquette questions, and help you write the content for the pieces of your invitation ensemble.

What's your budget? Often brides don't know how much they want to spend on invitations until after they meet with an invitations specialist. However, you can determine a range for your budget prior to your meeting. How much are you willing to spend on the entire ensemble, which will include the printing all of the pieces? A common range is between $3 to $7 each. Prices are calculated by several factors, such as quantity, enclosures, and design. Understanding this range will also help you determine what designs and customizations may be considered to create the invitation you anticipate.

How many do you need? At your first meeting, you may not know the exact quantity, however, it's encouraged to have your guest list just about finalized. Typically, an invitation is sent to one household or family unit, rather than one for each guest. Invitations are usually sold in quantities of 25. The more invitations ordered, the lower the price per ensemble. You may also want to think about ordering extra invitations, for late additions to the list or if there are any addressing mishaps.

Answers to these questions will help prepare you for a successful start in the invitation selection process, and alleviate any stress or surprises as your order is created and prepared.

About the Author: Denise Scatena is the founder of Blue Ribbon Invitations in San Diego, California. Learn more at http://www.blueribbonsandiego.com/.

Picking a Venue for an Event

2009-08-26T16:33:00.000-07:00

When you are planning an event, no matter the kind, there is one thing that you know you will need: a Venue. Selecting the right venue for your event can be very difficult and take a lot of time, but once you find that perfect venue it is totally worth the effort it took to find it.

There are two major things to first consider when you begin the hunt for the venue of your dreams: the amount of money you can spend on the venue and the size of your guest list. Some people will put more emphasis on one of the above issues, but they really do offer equal importance. Finding a venue that you love that is out of your price range, way to big, or way to small will only put a damper (and waste time) on the venue selection process. The next important thing to consider is the location of the venue. We are assuming that you already had some idea of where the location would be (such as the city) and now it is about really figuring out where to have the event. Is a downtown location better for guests or something in a suburb? Does the event occur after something and should it be in walking distance from the first portion? This is just one more thing that can help cut down the list of places to look into.

Now that you know the budget, size, and location preferences for the venue it is time to start your search. Online review sites and event posting sites such as, you guessed it Social Betty, are a great place to start; you can often see pictures of the venue and read reviews from other people who have used it. Looking at these different sites can also cover other important areas that need to be considered such as food, beverages, parking, decor, and other amenities. Anything that can help cull out options that don't work and highlight ones that might without having to go to a million different places is key.

Towards the end of the online research it is best to create a list of the 3-7 top places to actually go look at. Contact the location, set-up an appointment, and head their way. Now you simply have to decide which venue feels like the right one you and your guests. Hopefully these tips will help save you some time and find the venue that will make your event as amazing as possible.

Happy Planning

Social Betty

Tips for Picking Music for Your Event

2009-08-19T19:02:00.000-07:00

Everyone knows that the music often makes the party; in the same token the music can ruin the party. There is nothing worse than an empty dance floor when it clearly is meant for some grooving. Picking the music for your event is a crucial piece for any event planner. There are so many different options and it seems virtually impossible to know which one will be the most successful. However, Social Betty has some tips to help make the impossible, possible:

Always start with what type of music supplier you want. Figure out if you want a live band, a DJ, a karaoke machine, or Uncle Phil mixing on the iPod. Once this is figured out you have cut your list of possible people down to a fourth of what it originally was.
Get references from friends, family, coworkers, online reviewers, and the venue. People love to give advice on services that they have previously used, so use that in your favor. It saves time and heartache of wondering about the final outcome.
If you go with a band or a DJ make sure to ask questions. See if they take requests, do they know how to play (or have) specific songs that you will be looking for, will they be the actual people there, will they want to eat, are there extra fees for time overage, what will they wear to the event, have they done similar events, and so on are all acceptable questions to ask.
Ask your guests for requests before the event. On the invitations simply include instructions for people to include 2-3 songs on their RSVP (best for DJ and iPods). This takes out a bunch of the guess work and insures that everyone will hear a little bit of music they like.
Make sure the music provider has an event schedule with times. It is important to make sure the music is playing (and not playing) at the proper times. Providing the schedule should alleviate “Baby Got Back” coming on in the middle of the first toast.
If there are songs you DO NOT want played make sure to speak up. If you don’t like the Chicken Dance, you don’t like the Chicken Dance.
Ask the venue questions about sounds systems and the dance floor. You always want to make sure they have what you need and that the music provider knows what they are walking into.

Have fun and bust a move!

Social Betty

Guest Post, Kareem Ahmed: Utilizing Social Media to Promote Events

2009-08-12T09:15:00.000-07:00

Social Betty knows that the best information often comes from experts and people who deal with specific things on a daily basis. Since this is the case (and we can't be experts at it all), we will be having a variety of Guest Bloggers sharing insights on our blog. These Guest Bloggers will be from a range of professions, but they will all apply back to (you guessed it) events and event planning.

Our First Guest Blog post is from Kareem Ahmed. Kareem is an Interactive Marketing Specialist with 2 years of direct Social Media Marketing experience. Kareem uses his talents to help companies build their online brands and engage with their consumers in the online space. Enjoy Kareem's take on using Social Media to Promote Events:

In this day in age, it is essential to have an online presence to any event planned: People’s lives are synced through their gadgets. During a time when emails come to phones and phone calls come to computers (Skype) it may seem confusing but have no fear, social media is here! Events must have an online presence and social media is a very affordable, effective, and easy way to promote them.

Facebook allows you to do a multitude of things with your event. First off, using Facebook to promote the event through status updates as well as creating an event page is very simple. Not only does using Facebook events allow you invite guests to your event with the option of making it public or private but you can also send a message to all members of an event with reminders, new information, and announcements. Perhaps the best thing about Facebook events is that if you RSVP to them, there is a small notice of the event on the bottom right hand corner of event goers’ personal accounts until the event occurs. This is a great way to keep your event on the tips of people’s tongues and tops of people’s minds.

Twitter is another great way to promote your event via social media. Members of the Twitter community pass events along to one another because it adds value to the conversation, and as most will testify, social media is all about conversation, interaction, and adding value. It is extremely easy to set up an Eventbrite (or Evite) page for your event to serve as a “landing page” as well as a way to collect RSVPs. This is a great alternative and I have seen it used for many events that I have personally attended, all with great attendance.

A great example of social media being used to promote an event is Glamorama 2009, which is a large Minneapolis based fashion event. I had never heard about this event until I stumbled upon someone having a conversation with them on their Glamorama 09 Twitter. I took this as my cue to do some investigating and checked out their Twitter feed as which led me to their Facebook Fan Page. Not until after I saw these 2 social media presences did I finally go to the Glamorama 2009 website and see that tickets were very expensive. I decided I would hold out on buying them when I learned that they were holding contests to win events through their Twitter account. I participated in all of the contests that they held and I happened to win the last 2 tickets to the show!

Social Media is a great tool for promoting events online, not only because it is so easy to share and interact with the event but because social media is a part of many peoples daily lives.

If you have any questions for Kareem feel free to contact him at youcanreachkareem@gmail.com or @Kareemy on Twitter

7 Ways to Save Money While Planning your Next Event

2009-08-05T15:17:00.000-07:00

Over at Social Betty we know that the economy has hit everyone pretty hard, but we also know that a limited budget should not rain on your event planning parade. There are a million different ways to save money and cut corners on your event without sacrificing the final outcome (or your sanity). Below you will find seven fun and easy ways to save money while planning your next event:

1. If you have the ability to schedule at any time of the year, shoot for off-peak seasons (keep in mind what off-peak means for the area you are considering). Certain venues will give huge discounts for filling up space during times when there are less visitors. This savings is often also passed along to your guests if the event requires hotel rentals.

2. Along the same token, if you have flexibility on days go for less busy days. Venues will charge considerably less for weekdays or even a Friday versus a Saturday.

3. Consider different times of the day for your event. Turn a birthday dinner into a birthday brunch since a sit down dinner is always going to be most expensive. Who says a candle in an eggs benedict isn't just as good as a candle in a cake?

4. Look into buffet style dining versus plated service. This saves on server fees and guests often prefer being able to choose what they want and their portion size.

5. If you are planning to serve alcoholic beverages at the event ask if you can cut down from a full bar to simply beer and wine. Another fun tip here is to create a signature cocktail as a third option, which looks chic and still keeps the cost low.

6. Ask the venue what is included with the rental fee (if there is one). Often times certain linens, chairs, and decor will be included. If it is not, ask if they will throw it in or if you can bring your own.

7. If there is a cake involved in the event, ask the venue if there is a cake service fee which usually applies due to the extra mess and dishes a cake creates. If there is a fee, consider cupcakes as an option and try to negotiate the fee since there will be less mess.

We hope some of these tips will help you (or jog your mind) on saving money at your next event.

Happy Planning!

Social Betty

Welcome to the Social Betty Blog

2009-07-29T17:45:00.000-07:00

Hello World!

Welcome to the new Social Betty Blog. The Social Betty team has so many fun things to share that we thought: why not blog about it! This blog will offer the inside scoop into news and exciting happenings surrounding SocialBetty.com. It will also be used to share some fabulous event planning tips and tricks with you. We will offer insights from experts in business meeting planning, DJ selection, lighting, linens, invitations, decor, guest list creation, wedding budgeting and so much more. We will also offer some good info about venue selection, since pairing venues and planners is what SocialBetty.com is all about.

Happy Blogging!
Social Betty