Winter 2022 Newsletter

Your VIBE Winter Wrap Up Is Here

The recent chilly weather is a great reminder that lots of cool things have been happening at VIBE. After a well-deserved holiday break, we’re already in the swing of things for 2022. This year, we’re looking forward to continuing to grow our creative approach to events and expanding our capabilities to deliver on brand memorable experiences.
Read on to find out about a few of our latest hot topics and trends.

Our Top 10 Most-Viewed Blogs

Looking back at our most popular articles of the past year, it’s clear that our readers and followers are just as interested in how-to’s, industry insights, and up-to-date trends as we are. Thanks! We’ll try to keep bringing you more of the same and continue being your trusted resource for event marketing and the event industry.

In case you missed them (or in case you want to read them again), here were our Top 10 for 2021:

– Teambuilding Activities and Themes

– Understanding Your Clients’ Brand

– Award Presentations and Event Ideas

– Wellness Activities for Your Next Event

– Casual Corporate Dinner Concepts

– Event Industry Awards Worth Following

– Robotic Event Extras and How to Use Them

– How to Guide: Event and Travel Health Screenings

– Plant-Based Event Menu Ideas

– Over-the-Top Room Service Offerings

Don’t forget to check out our ongoing BLOG, as we update it frequently with more tips, tricks, and insights to help you get the most from our event and meeting opportunities. Thanks again for reading!

Event Furniture Trends

If your typical definition of event décor is mostly about what color table linens to use, it’s time to expand your vision to the ever-growing world of furnishing and décor options available.

One of the biggest trends happening in the event space is a shift towards décor that feels more like being in a large comfortable home. Couches, club chairs, upholstered benches, seating clusters, and cocktail tables are either replacing traditional round tables and chairs, or they’re working side-by-side with traditional formats to provide more options for attendees.

Another development in furnishings and décor is happening in response to an increase in outdoor events. Seating and accents with natural materials like bamboo or rattan create a memorable ambience in a garden or lawn space. Sleek modern pieces made of resin, plastics, or acrylic can have an almost sculptural quality are equally interesting ways to amp-up the visual impact of a venue. The benefit of both is that they are weather resistant, more durable, and more aesthetically appealing than folding chairs.

Texture and color are also things to consider when it comes to today’s furnishing and décor decisions. People like to interact with their surroundings and while “white on white” styling is timeless, it doesn’t do a lot to engage the imagination or senses. Be willing to explore unique prints or patterns, or bold pops of color (especially if they connect to your brand). Think about how the feel and look of velvet can immediately add elegance to a space, or how fabric panels can divide a room without making it feel stiff or boxy. Furnishings can also be arranged to define and separate areas without putting up walls.

Explore your favorite home furnishings catalogs or websites to get inspiration, and then realize that VIBE can help make almost every idea a reality.

Is the Metaverse the Next Branding Frontier?

Online is becoming less of an activity and more of a way of life. Vital elements of our daily lives are now fully enmeshed with the digital world – things like banking, entertainment, education, and even grocery shopping happen with a click, tap, or swipe more often than ever before. As we continue to blur the lines between online and everyday life, the idea of the Metaverse has become more prominent as the vision of the future.

What IS the Metaverse?

At its simplest, the Metaverse is the digital universe where all our interactions happen. We’ll navigate this world with digital avatars, visiting electronic destinations that exist solely in the online realm, having conversations with people on opposite sides of the physical planet as easily as though they were sitting in the same room of our homes or offices. Zoom meetings and digital events have provided a first glimpse of what Metaverse functionality may look like, but it’s only the beginning. With the rise of AI, augmented reality, and immersive sensory technologies, the Metaverse has the power and potential to be just like living in a video game.

Picture it – you log into the Metaverse, and with your augmented reality (AR) technology all set up, you could be walking through an authentic Chinatown street market, smelling the savory aromas of a dumpling shop, ordering it for delivery, and having it at your door in minutes. You could meet a friend for “coffee” or visit an art exhibit and view the artists’ works together. You may attend a concert with hundreds of other fans, or a poetry reading, or a family wedding, all without ever getting in the car, hopping a plane, or even leaving your couch.

What Does That Mean for Events?

Obviously, if everyone is spending their personal and professional time in the Metaverse, then events need to be able to happen there as well. And, it needs to go beyond the simple Zoom experience we’re currently used to.

A good example would be an event VIBE organized for Shiseido – in which attendees used digital avatars to move around a digital space, have individual conversations, and also collectively watch presentations from digital “living rooms.” You can see the whole event details here, but again, this is just the tip of the iceberg as to what’s next in the Metaverse.

For instance, “venues” will become anything you can imagine, and that budget will be more reliant on technology bandwidth and capabilities. At first, it may be that attendees need to go to a fully-equipped AR facility to be part of the environment. But as the technology becomes more accessible to a broad range of people, they will be able to recreate the experience in the comfort of their own homes or offices.

Likewise, entertainment and food & beverage experiences are sure to change. Crossover integrations with local restaurants for deliveries, make-at-home cuisine and cocktails will replace plated vs. buffet decisions. We may see digital offerings for wardrobe, hair and makeup, and more. Brands will need to adapt in ways that mirror product placement or smart sponsorships in order to be visible and accessible. Digital interactions will be key to brand and product exposure, or forging meaningful networking connections.

The possibilities are virtually endless, but it will take careful analysis and attention to detail to make the most of opportunities in the Metaverse.   Intrigued?  Take a look at our VIBE Metaverse.

3 Easy Plant-Based Hors d’ Oeuvres for Your Next Gathering

With so many people trying to incorporate more plant-based foods into their daily routine, it’s a smart idea to plan event menus accordingly. These 3 recipes are vegan-friendly, easy to prepare, and sure to delight all guests.

1. Buffalo Cauliflower
   If you haven’t tried this tasty treat yet, you’re definitely missing out. When oven-roasted, cauliflower takes on a somewhat creamy texture that’s similar to baked or roasted potatoes. To make buffalo cauliflower bites, simply start with a head of cauliflower (purple can be VERY fun and festive), and separate florets into slightly larger than bite-sized pieces. Spread out on a baking sheet and coat liberally with your favorite buffalo sauce or hot sauce. Pop into a 400-degree oven for approximately 8-12 minutes, or until florets are fork tender. Serve alongside celery or summer squash slices and enjoy.
2. Chickpea Swedish Meatballs
   Everyone loves a classic meatball with some sauce. This version happens to be 100% plant based and delicious. Using either canned or fresh chickpeas, add to boiling water for around 15 minutes, then remove from heat and leave sitting for 45 more minutes. Strain and remove chickpeas from water and pat dry. Add to food processor and pulse until small crumbles form. Add sesame butter and/or tahini slowly and pulse until a paste-like consistency forms. Remove “dough” and roll into balls. You can also add sauteed onion in small amounts if desired, this is completely optional.
   To make sauce, add 1 part almond cream or coconut cream to ½ part vegetable stock. Add a splash of soy sauce, a splash of  vegan Worcestershire sauce (if you cannot find a vegan version, coconut aminos are a good substitute), a sprinkle of rosemary, salt and pepper to taste, and stir. Dunk meatballs in sauce and place in a 350-degree oven for 5-7 minutes. Repeat dunking and reheating procedure once or twice to build up saucy coating. Serve with remaining sauce for dipping.
3. Mushroom “Pate”
   With its smooth luscious texture and herby taste, you’ll be surprised how much this version of pate tastes just like the original. Take 4 to 6 cups of your favorite ‘button-style’ mushrooms – portobellos, shiitake, chestnut, or soaked porcinis all work well. Avoid oyster, morel, and other non-cap varieties as they can be difficult to bring to the right texture. Remove mushroom stems, slice thin, and sautee with finely chopped onion and garlic in olive oil. Make sure to stir mixture frequently until all water/moisture has evaporated.
   Pour mixture into food processor or blender and add equal amount of white navy beans (canned and drained is fine), and equal amount walnuts (you can boil and drain these ahead of time, if desired, but raw is fine too). Blend on high until smooth. You can add more olive oil (or truffle oil) if needed to keep mixture moving. Add tarragon, rosemary, and salt and pepper to taste. Remove mixture and pour into ramekins or bowls, cool in refrigerator for 20-30 minutes to allow mixture to firm or “set up.” To serve, spread over crackers or veggie slices.

About the VIBE Agency: The VIBE Agency is a Miami-based award-winning full-service production agency that specializes in the creation and orchestration of live and virtual experiences for the corporate industry.   The agency is forward-thinking and was recognized as one of the 50 top event companies by Special Events magazine in 2019 and 2020.  If it can’t be live, make it VIBE!