2013: A Year Full of New Features

It's that time of year where pretty much the entire Internet makes lists to reflect on what's happened over the last 12 months. Here at ezEvent we've released a ton of great features in 2013, and we're proud to present our picks for the 10 most notable ones (in no particular order):

1) Buyer Payment Options

We know that not everyone likes to pay online. We also know that our event organizers like options when it comes to how they collect their funds. For that reason, we now allow event organizers to choose between several different payment options. These options include ezEvent's Merchant Account for credit card processing, PayPal, and offline payment options such as pay by check, invoice the buyer, or pay at the door.

2) Help Center & Sample Events

ezEvent was designed to be very user-friendly, but we know that people will still end up with questions. To give our users the answers they need, we created a Help Center with 12 in-depth tutorials and 15 example events. If it's inspiration you need for your event page or if you want to master the event creation process, the answer can be found in the Help Center!

3) Merchandise

Selling merchandise is a great way to bring in extra revenue at an event. The problem is, if you go in without knowing how many people are going to buy your items and you produce more than you sell you could end up with a loss. To solve that problem, ezEvent now allows you to sell any and all merchandise alongside your tickets. Custom questions allow you to get into more details, such as what size or color t-shirt customers want, so you know exactly what you need to have with you at the event. Buyers will print off a voucher and exchange it for the merchandise at the event. Isn't that 'ez'?

4) Participant/Pledge Forms

Hosting a walk-a-thon, read-a-thon, or any other "a-thon" event that requires participants to collect pledge donations? ezEvent's particpant/pledge forms make it simple to keep track of the participants and all of the pledge donations they've collected all in one place.

5) Custom Event Header

If you want to grab someone's attention immediately, having an eye-catching image right at the top of the page is a great way to do it. ezEvent's newest feature allows you to upload a custom banner, poster, or other graphic to include as a header on your event page.

6) Attendee Information With Custom Questions

Do you need to know more about an attendee than just their basic contact info? Maybe you're planning for a dinner and need to know if you'll have any vegetarians in attendance. Maybe you want to know how guests heard about your event. No matter what you need to know, you can ask the question with the attendee information feature. Questions can have an open-ended text answer, or guests can select from multiple answers with a drop down box or radio buttons.

7) Ticket Scanning

You've sold out your event and the time has come to let guests into the venue. Our ticket scanning options make the process quick and easy! Whether you choose to scan using a QR code reader, a 2D scanner, or simply by entering barcode numbers into your computer, ezEvent's scanning system allows you to quickly check in guests and make sure there are no duplicate tickets.

8) Post Event Surveys 

Event planners work hard on their events, so it's important to get feedback once the event is over. ezEvent allow you to design a custom survey and send it out to all of your event attendees so you know what they thought of the event, the ticket buying process, and anything else you'd like feedback on.

9) Ticket Dividers

Many events have different categories of tickets or items for sale. Whether it's general admission, VIP, or merchandise, using ticket dividers helps to separate out different ticket groups so buyers can easily find and purchase various items that are on sale. Unlike tickets, dividers are just for display and organization. Not only do they separate your items, but you can even use them to add some extra color and style to your page! 

10) Calendar Widget

Many of our event organizers host multiple events that take place on different dates and times. We've created a nifty event calendar/event list iframe that organizers can post on their websites. When potential customers see a show they're interested in, they can click the buy tickets button and be directed right to the ezEvent page for that specific event date and time.

Keep an eye out in 2014 for more new and exciting features!

The Top 5 Christmas Cookies (With Recipes!)

You leave them out for Santa. You give them as gifts. You enjoy them after (and sometimes before and during) your Christmas meal. Cookies are a delicious highlight to any Christmas celebration, and baking has become as much a Christmas tradition as carols and stockings. If you're anything like me you wait until the last minute to bake because you can't decide what you want to whip up this year. Don't fear! We've compiled a list of the top 5 Christmas cookies (with recipes!) to help you prepare for your big Christmas event!

Sugar Cookies

Sugar cookies are a Christmas go-to because they're so versatile. They're essentially the blank canvas of the cookie world, which makes them great for people who don't really like sweets. For those who like a more flavorful cookie, they can be dressed up on the inside with flavors like lemon or almond. Sugar cookies are also perfect for decorating. You can cut them into cute shapes and make them your own with frosting, icing, sprinkles, and candies. The best part is you can let your kids do the decorating, and even if they look terrible they'll still look adorable.

Recipes: Easy Sugar Cookies; White Velvet Sugar Cookies; Chewy Sugar Cookies

Gingerbread Cookies

Gingerbread cookies are like the more flavorful cousin of sugar cookies. They're very traditional during Christmas as they're packed with warm holiday flavors like ginger, molasses, and cinnamon. Like sugar cookies, they're also great for decorating. Typically found in the form of men and women, it's a Christmas tradition to add icing outfits to your gingerbread people. Basically, they brings out the fashion designer in all of us. While they can sometimes be a bit dry, they're a great pairing for a hot drink or a glass of milk.

 

Recipes: Classic Gingerbread Cookies; Spicy Gingerbread Cookies

Peanut Butter Blossoms

These chewy little cookies combine are the perfect combination of things people love: chocolate and peanut butter, candy and cookies. They're textured and crunchy, but have the smooth taste of peanut butter in each bite. They're so good that they're usually the first to disappear from a cookie swap or dessert platter, and you tend to find a lot of people make these because they're so easy to prepare. 

Recipes: Original Blossoms; Red Velvet Blossoms; Nutella Caramel Kiss Blossoms

Chocolate Crinkles

Chocolate crinkles are, soft, fudgy cookies encased in a coating of confectioners sugar. They're as close to a brownie as cookies get. It's rare to find a cookie made of chocolate during the holiday season, so for chocolate lovers these are a must have. There's also something magical about the way these cookies look like they're covered in snow. Even if it's a green Christmas, you'll still be in the winter spirit when you eat these.

Recipes: Martha Stewart's Crackle Cookies; Peppermint Fudge; Crinkles With M&M's

Russian Tea Cakes / Snowballs / Mexican Wedding Cakes / Butterballs

These buttery little delights go by many names, but no matter what you call them they're melt-in-your-mouth delicious. These cookies are simple to make and are a great gift because they're easy to pack up and actually taste better with time, which can't be said for many cookies. They're also great entertainment. Just imagine how ridiculous people look when they eat them and get the powered sugar everywhere!

Recipes: Classic Russian Tea Cakes; Lemon Russian Tea Cakes

What cookies are your favorite to eat on Christmas?

Host the Ultimate New Year's Eve Bash

New Year's Eve is the biggest party night of the year, so if you're hosting a New Year's Eve event you'll want to make sure it lives up to your guests' expectations! Whether you're staying in and having a few guests over or hosting a big bash, you can make the night unforgettable for everyone in attendance!

To start planning your event, you'll want to choose a theme. New Year's Even in itself is a great theme, and you can use decorations in colors such as black and silver that focus on the year that's about to begin. Glasses that have the upcoming year on them are always popular, and once guests put them on they become part of the decor! Other popular themes for New Year's Eve parties include black tie, casino night, 1920s, and white wonderland. The more lavish you go, the better! If your theme requires a certain attire, make sure to let guests know. No matter which theme you choose, you'll want to  have noisemakers, confetti, party hats, and other items placed around the event space so that guests can interact with them while they ring in the new year. Another great addition would be televisions that are airing the ball dropping in Time's Square, or a projector that's displaying  a countdown to midnight so guests can keep track of the time and count down along with it.

Since New Year's events typically start later in the night, you don't need to have a dinner or buffet. Since guests will be partying all night, it's important to provide them with tasty refreshments to help them make it to midnight. Serve heavy hors d'oeuvres such as tiny dishes of baked macaroni and cheese, chicken skewers, sliders, and stuffed mushroms. Of course, New Year's is mostly about the drinks. If there's ever a night for champagne, this is it. Make sure you have some bubbly to pop open when the clock strikes twelve! You should also consider having other classic cocktails and a signature drink of your creation.

Music is the key to entertainment on New Year's to get people dancing and having a good time. If you have the budget for it, hiring a live band or DJ is an excellent option for your celebration. Just make sure to book far enough advance! There will be many other New Year's events held on the same night, so don't lose out on a great musical act to another party. If you're hosting a large, big budget event, you could also consider hosting a mock celebration similar to the ones you'd see on televised New Year's celebrations. Hire tribute bands and celebrity impersonators similar to those you'd see on tv so guests will feel like they're celebrating in Time's Square without having to deal with the crowds and cold weather!

How to Host a Hanukkah Celebration

"Hanukkah is the festival of lights. Instead of one day of presents, we have eight crazy nights."

-Adam Sandler, The Hanukkah Song

Celebrate the Festival of Lights with a Hanukkah party complete with great decor, amazing food, and fun activities. Whether you celebrate by hosting an event on all eight nights or just one big celebration, these tips will ensure that your guests have a great time.

Decor: Hanukkah is observed by lighting one light of the Menorah for each night of the holiday, progressing to eight on the final night. Since the Menorah is so important, it should be at the center of your decor. If you don't own a Menorah or want a more decorative one, retail stores like Macy's now sell them. You can also find many creative ones online that you can buy or learn how to make. To enhance your table and other areas around the Menorah, set up linens, plates, balloons, and other decor in the traditional Hanukkah colors of silver, blue and white. You can also hang images of the Star of David, the religious symbol of the Jewish faith. Bags of gelt (chocolate coins) can be placed on each plate. Decorations that are also edible are always a hit!

Food: All food served at a Hanukkah meal should be as festive as the decor. Foods served are those cooked in oil, as it represents the oil found in the Temple of Jerusalem. Typical dishes served include fried latkes, braised brisket, and jelly-filled donuts (called sufganiyot). Not only are these dishes symbolic but they're delicious! To mix things up, you can try something new like having a latkes bar with a variety of toppings that guests can choose, including apple sauce, sour cream, horseradish, or tomato and roasted garlic relish. For dessert, serve up some kugel, rugalach, or blintzes. Don't forget some kosher wine!

Activities: The lighting of the menorah can be an activity in itself if guests are at the celebration after sundown. Call up different guests and have each one of them light a candle. The dreidel game is a traditional game played at Hanukkah celebrations. Printable instructions for the game can be found here. Gift giving is also a major part of Hanukkah. Make it extra fun by pulling names from a hat to see who you'll give a gift to, or do a Yankee swap! Since you'll have eight nights of gift giving, the gifts are typically small and inexpensive so you don't have to get too extravagant.

Are You Prepared For Thanksgiving?

While you may not consider Thanksgiving dinner an event, it really is! You invite guests, provide food, and very likely have some sort of entertainment (even if it's just your crazy uncle). Earlier this month we gave you ideas for events you could host or partake in on Thanksgiving. With just a week left until the big day, it's time to start finalizing the details of the most important event of the day - the dinner!

While Thanksgiving isn't a holiday people tend to go crazy with decorations for, you can easily put together a beautiful table at a low cost. Napkins, candles, table chargers, and centerpieces in rich fall colors act as great accents around your plates. If you don't want to buy a centerpiece or aren't craft savvy, try an edible centerpiece! Not only does this type of centerpiece pull the whole design together, but it will bring guests to the table and kick off their meal in a fun way!

Another great item to add is a place card for each table setting. Place cards are great because they're both decorative and functional. You can use an online template to print out a simple one for each guest, or get crafty and make fancier ones like pine cone turkeys. The great thing about place cards is that they help you control where people sit, which helps you manage dinner conversation. If half of your friends are quiet and half are extroverts, mix them together! You can also use them to separate family members who may not get along.

While a nice table display will be appreciated, the menu is what guests really care about. When planning the meal, always remember that this is your event and no one will hate you for taking charge. If you plan out the menu in advance and tell guests exactly what to bring, it will help you make sure you don't end up with 5 variations of green bean casserole! When planning the menu, sticking with a traditional Thanksgiving menu is nice but don't forget to add in your own twist. If you're tired of plain mashes potatoes, try making chive and garlic potatoes or southwest mashed potatoes. Don't want to serve the same stuffing from a box that you made last year? Add in your own fresh ingredients and guests will think you made it from scratch! 

Another important tip is that less is more. Rather than serving 10 different sides along with pre-meal snacks and the turkey, keep the  menu small! Doing that will ensure that everyone can fully enjoy the smaller selection instead of having only a bite or two of each dish. Make some boxes or buy extra Tupperware so guests can take home leftovers. As they leave, they'll be thankful that they get to enjoy the delicious meal all over again the next day!

Holiday Party Trends for 2013

Many companies host end of year holiday celebrations for their employees. If you've been tasked with planning your company holiday party, time is running out to come up with ideas! If you want your party to be up to par with this year's trends, follow the tips below:

Food Should Be Your Focus 

When people think about holiday parties, they often envision a nice dinner. That still holds true, but nowadays people aren't interested in a generic, one-size-fits-all meal. Food should be your priority when planning the budget. Your guests probably aren't expecting caviar and filet mignon, however they'll appreciate you taking the time to create a custom menu with lots of options, including seasonal dishes, especially if you can put a new twist on a classic dish or present them with something new and exciting. Most importantly, don't forget to have options for vegetarians.

Room Decor

Red and green are the two colors the probably come to mind when planning a holiday event, but they aren't at all a requirement. Many event coordinators actually try to avoid the combination to prevent from making it seem like they're favoring Christmas over other holidays like Hanukkah. With that said, using red, especially when it's paired with silver, gold or black, is a classic choice that still gives a nod to the holidays. White and gray winter tones also invoke the same snowy, holiday idea.

Make Seating Flexible

Holiday parties often have table seating for 8-10 people, which means guests only get to interact with a small group of people they're stuck with for the whole night. Parties like this should give guests the opportunity to mingle and catch up with people at the company they may not get to see on a daily basis. A free-flowing setup of high-top tables in various sizes and cozy lounge areas are much more likely to encourage interaction. 

Show Employee Appreciation

A company holiday party should be all about showing your employees that they're appreciated. Many companies hand out awards during their holiday parties to give the event a business focus and emphasize the appreciation message with an optimistic future. Some companies show their appreciation by giving guests a gift, which could just be something simple like an ornament. Even something like putting money into a photo booth so that employees can take home a memento shows employees that you care.

5 Things You Don't Want to Forget on Your ezEvent Page!

Earlier this week, we provided you with information about the five things you don't want to forget when planning events. Now, we're giving you tips about things you don't when to forget when creating your ezEvent page.

First Impressions Matter

If a user looks at your event page and thinks it's too plain or doesn't look professional, they may question the quality of your event. Don't let that happen! Be sure to add in images, videos, and a theme so that potential buyers get an accurate impression of what your event is. If you have a website, you can match your event page to it so customers feel that it's legitimate. The better the page looks, the more attendees you'll get!

Event Details

Potential event attendees want to know what an event is about before they commit to buying a ticket. Use the event details section to provide guests with the event's schedule, entertainment, activities, menu, or any other information you think is important for them to know. Additional information such as the dress code or parking instructions may help you avoid no-shows or late comers. If your tickets have any special requirements (age limit) or extras (items in a VIP package), be sure to provide a detailed explanation that so buyers know exactly what they're getting.

Host Contact Information

If attendees have questions you want to make it simple for them to get the answers they need when they need them. This is why entering in complete and accurate host contact information is so important! ezEvent prefills the Contact Email with the email address entered in by the event organizer on the Sign Up screen. If someone else is the host you'll want to add a new contact by entering in their name, phone number and email address. If the event organizer is the host, it's important to add in all of the additional information so attendees know who they're contacting.

Publicize Your Event

What's the point of hosting an event if no one attends? If you want people to find your event page and buy tickets, you need to promote your event! Use ezEvent's tools to send out emails to all of your contacts, share your event on social media pages, and even create a Facebook event page that has a Get Tickets button linking to your ezEvent page. You can also use our widgets to add buy tickets buttons to your site, and include a calendar or list view of all of your events. Don't forget to include the event link on any signage or flyers you create!

Payment Information

If you have a paid event, you'll want to receive your money after the event. We can only do that if you provide us with your payment information! After you sign up, visit the Account page.Click the Payment tab and fill out the screen that looks like a check. You can also provide your payment information on the Customize screen under the Buyer Payment Options section.

If you complete all of these steps, your event is sure to sell out! If you need some inspiration on how to make your page great, check out our example events page!

5 Things You Don't Want to Forget When Planning Events

Some details of event planning are commonly forgotten, and unfortunately the stress levels of an event planner's job can make forgetting something even more likely. Once your event starts there's no turning back, so be sure these details are on your checklist:

RSVP information

You've spent tireless hours planning an event and no one shows up. Was it because you never included information about how to RSVP? Sometimes planners spend too much time worry about the look of the invitation, and forget to include information on how the guest should respond to it. Always include an address (mailing or email), phone number, and name of who guests should reply to.

The Little Things

Do guests need to fill something out at your event? If so, they'll need pens. Are they eating?  They should have silverware, plates and napkins, as well as somewhere to dispose of trash. If someone gets a small cut, is there a first aid kit or Band-aids available? Little things like these may seem minor, but if you forget them they can cause major problems. Keep a checklist, and make sure you've considered every detail of every item on it. Putting yourself in a guest's shoes and imagining what they'll do with each item or how they'll interact with it can help with that.

Finalizing Vendor Bookings

Have you put down a deposit on your venue or entertainment vendors? Most vendors will not save a date for you unless they have a deposit, so if you haven't given them one you probably don't have them secured. When working with vendors, following up is key. Keep in touch regularly and check in the week before and day of the event to ensure that you're up to date with everything and that things are set as planned. It's also important for you to set up an emergency contact person with each vendor so that if something goes wrong during the event you know exactly who to get in touch with.

Dress Code

Imagine walking into an event wearing jeans when everyone else is dressed in ball gowns and tuxedos, or being the only person who shows up wearing a Halloween costume. The last thing you want to do is embarrass your guests, especially if that's their first impression of the event. If your event has special attire (or even if it doesn't and you want to make that clear), let guests know to prevent any awkward situations.

Closing Down

Some towns or neighborhoods have a noise ordinance in place that would legally require your event to end at a certain time. Not knowing that could cause for an abrupt ending that makes you look unprepared. Be sure that you also designate someone to clean up the event. There's nothing worse than assuming everything will be taken care of and getting complaints of a mess the next day. If the venue is taking care of cleanup, ask them if they have storage space for items you might not be able to take back with you immediately after the event. If they don't have room, you'll need to make special accommodations.

The most important thing to remember is to stay calm! If you feel yourself getting overwhelmed, stop for a moment to take a breath. Stressing out won't help anything, so if you follow all of the provided tips and handle things with a level head your event is sure to be a success!

What to Do on Thanksgiving (Besides the Obvious)

Thanksgiving is less than a month away so it's time to start preparing! Many families will gather to enjoy a delicious meal, but how do you keep everyone entertained before or after they eat? Here are some ideas for Thanksgiving events that you can attend or organize that will please almost everyone, and perhaps even burn off a few of those extra holiday calories!

Thanksgiving Races
Many towns around the country host a "turkey trot" or other race the morning of Thanksgiving. These events typically host a separate walk along the same course so that everyone in the family can participate. Many people run these events in costume, so even if you aren't up for participating it's still fun to go and watch. Event perk: By the time you're done with the race you'll be extra hungry, and with all of the calories burned you won't feel guilty about the second (or third) piece of pie!

Parades
Watching he Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is a tradition for many. If you're in the New York area, you can attend the parade in person for a whole new experience. If you're not close to New York, many other states host parades with big balloons, marching bands, and extravagant floats that are a delight for all ages. Event perk: After being out in the cold weather at the parade, you'll be ready to warm up with some hot turkey!

Craft Fairs
Thanksgiving weekend marks the official start of the holiday shopping season, and many people take advantage of that by hosting or attending craft fairs. These fairs have everything from holiday ornaments, beautiful home decorations, and even foods that would make great gifts. Event perk: Since your family is in town, you can take them to an event and have them pick out something they like so you know you're getting them a gift that they want!

Farmers Markets
Farming was a major part of life for the pilgrims, so attending a Farmers Market and buying locally grown crops is a great way to celebrate the harvest the traditional way! Rather than buying your menu items at a grocery store, you can pick up seasonal produce, as well as meats, eggs, cheeses, desserts, flowers, and more for a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration that you can feel good about! Event perk: Not only are you picking up delicious, fresh food to serve at your dinner, but you're supporting local farmers.

Charity Events
Thanksgiving is a day to be thankful for what you have, and a great way to do that is to give back to those who are more in need than you. Many soup kitchens prepare Thanksgiving meals for those who don't have anywhere to go on Thanksgiving, and they're always looking for volunteers. Residents at nursing homes and hospitals would be happy to have company and someone to talk to on a day that's all about time with family and friends. Many towns host fundraising events on Thanksgiving that you can offer to help run or donate to. Event perk: Making Thanksgiving a good day for others through volunteering can create a very meaningful Thanksgiving day for you and other members of your family.

What are you planning to do for Thanksgiving?

Our 'ez' Payment Options

ezEvent is happy to announce that we now offer PayPal as a buyer payment option! If you're not familiar with all of the payment options available for our event organizers to use, here's a quick rundown:

ezEvent Merchant Account

The ezEvent Merchant Account is our recommended method, as it's the smoothest experience for the organizer and for the attendee. Credit card processing tends to offer the highest conversion rate over other payment methods, which means more sales for you! With this payment method, the buyer can pay with any major credit card and the money goes into ezEvent's bank account. ezEvent charges you a 3% credit card fee for this payment option. Three days after your event ends we'll send you a check minus an $0.89 fee for every ticket that was purchased and refunded. If you need the money faster, we can send you a check or ACH payment upon request so long as you have enough sales and credit worthiness to prove the event's legitimacy.

PayPal

If you have a PayPal account, ezEvent now allows you to use it as a payment method! If you choose this method, the buyer can pay using any major credit card, PayPal, or eCheck. All payments are made on PayPal during checkout. The money will go directly and instantly into the event organizer's PayPal account, meaning you don't have to wait to get your money! ezEvent does not charge credit card fees for this payment method, but the event organizer will have to pay PayPal's fees. ezEvent does not charge for refunds on orders that use this payment method, however there will still be an $0.89 fee for each ticket purchased.

Offline Payment

ezEvent offers several alternate payment methods, including Pay by Check, Send Invoice to Buyer, and Pay at the Door. When these options are selected, the event organizer is able to determine whether tickets are sent on registration or when the payment is received and we offer an easy-to-use paid/unpaid tracking system so that event organizers can ensure no one gets into the event without paying! All of the money collected by these forms of payment goes directly into the event organizer's bank account. There are no credit card fees taken out, and the event organizer will be invoiced for the $0.89 fee for each ticket purchased or refunded.

We hope you're excited as we are about all of our new payment options! If you have any questions about them or how to set them up, you can visit our Help Center or shoot us an email at support@ezevent.com.

Don't Forget the Vegetarians!

Choosing a menu for your event can be tough. Not only do you have to consider budget constraints, but you have to find delicious food that's going to please all of your guests. Many people will choose traditional beef, chicken of fish options as a main course because they think that covers all bases. In honor of National Vegetarian Month, we suggest that it's time to think about adding vegetarian options to your menu!

Unless you have a close, personal relationship with every person attending your event, it's really impossible to know what everyone's food preferences are. While you may think that no one attending your event is a vegetarian, it's a good idea to keep open the possibility that there will be. According to Vegetarian Times, there are 7.3 million vegetarian Americans, and an additional 22.8 million who follow a vegetarian-inclined diet. Odds are that someone at your event will prefer a meatless dish!

Even if your guests aren't vegetarian, many people just prefer meatless dishes. Some people are picky about the type of meat they'll eat or the way it's prepared, so if they're unsure of how it was cooked they won't touch it. Some people may be on a diet, or may find that the meat-filled dish you're serving to be too heavy or caloric. There are also people who have religious reasons for not eating meat, and even more who may have allergies that prevent them from eating it. Hopefully by now you realize that there are a lot of reasons why having vegetarian options is important.

So what types of food should you serve? Work with your venue to see what they offer. Many appetizers and main courses will be vegetarian, such as stuffed mushrooms and pasta, and if they have meat in them many venues are willing to exclude it if you ask.

DIY to Lower Event Costs!

Sticking to an event budget can sometimes be a challenge, especially if there are a lot of items on your must-have list. To keep costs down, try adding some do-it-yourself (DIY) elements to your event!

Supplies for DIY projects can be found inexpensively at places such as Jo-Ann Fabrics, Michael's Crafts, Dollar Tree, Marshalls, and even just around your home! Search sites like Pinterest and Etsy for ideas of things that you can make. You may be surprised at how many items you can make yourself that will save you big bucks!

• Thinking of renting a photo booth? To cut down on costs, hang up a king size bed sheet in a solid color or choose a printed curtain that reflects the style and theme of the event and have someone take pictures while guests stand in front of it. Cut out mustaches and lips out of construction paper and attach them to small dowels for easy and fun props!
• Looking at catering menus and can't believe how much the food costs? Make it yourself! There are recipes and instructional videos all over the internet that will help you make food that's even better than what you'd pay way more money for at a restaurant or bakery. You can also consider picking up pre-made items or platters at your local grocery store or wholesale club. You can add to them or use them as part of another recipe to cut down costs and labor time.
• Shocked at what a decorator costs? Instead of paying hundreds, maybe even thousands of dollars for someone else to do the decorating, do it yourself! Everything from centerpieces, signage, and party favors can be easily made. Making the decorations is not only fun, but affordable, and you save on labor costs of having someone else do it. 

These are just a few simple ideas to get you thinking about what elements would make great DIY projects. Don't forget to ask people around you for help! We are all born with our own special talent so ask around to see if you could get some friends to help or if they have suggestions on items you have on your list. 

Tips for Hiring a DJ

Having music at an event is not only a great form of entertainment, but it can really set the tone for how things will go. That's why so many event planners hire DJs. How do you find a good one who won't end up playing terrible tunes? Follow these tips:

Find an Experienced DJ: While hiring an amateur DJ may save you some money, there's a very high chance that you'll be sacrificing quality. Ideally you want to find someone who does the job week in and week out and has at least 3 years of experience (anything more than that is a plus). A seasoned DJ will know how to entertain a crowd and engage people if they aren't on the dance floor right away. When choosing a DJ it's important to keep in mind the type of experience he or she has. A DJ whose resume is full of nightclub experience may not be the best choice for a professional event.

Know Their Music Library: A professional DJ should have a wide range of music covering all types of generations and genres. Some DJs do not work well with extensive pre-selected lists, while some do. Let perspective DJs know whether you intend to pick out all or most of your music, or if you'd prefer the DJ to use their expertise and play the best music for the event. If they're willing to work with you on your playlist selections, make sure they already have the music or will be able to get it in time for your event. You should also find out if guests are able to make requests or not. If the DJ doesn't have the music you want and isn't willing to work with you on what you need, then that's not the right DJ for you.

Check References: Asking for references is important so you can find out other people's experiences with the DJ and the service provided. Be sure to get references from people who held similar events. A reference about the DJ performing at a school function won't be an accurate reflection about how they'll perform at a wedding. While a good DJ should be able to perform well at any event, it's good to know that he or she has experience in your particular event. If you're undecided on a DJ, it's good to ask your venue for suggestions. Most facilities are familiar with the professionals in the area and will know who has worked well in the past.

Pricing: Before going into conversations about pricing, you need to know your event date, time, and location, as rates can vary based on all three of those factors. If a company is trying to ask you to provide them with your budget first or if they won't give out their price over the phone, odds are they're more expensive than other companies and you should continue your search. When making a decision, be sure that you're not only considering the cost, but the value of what you're getting. Always remember that quality is not expensive - it's priceless! 

Sign a Contract: Once you've decided on a DJ and have worked out the details, it's important that you sign a contract. Your written agreement should state the exact date, time and location of your event so that you know that your DJ will show up and be ready on time and at the right location. It's also important that other details are included, such as what happens in the case that the DJ can't make it to the event or that they can't drink on the job. A contract is a Legal document, so you should feel safe knowing that you'll be getting the services you're paying for.

The most important thing to remember when looking for a DJ is to go with your gut. If you have a bad feeling about anything at all, then the person isn't right for you. When everything lines up and you feel confident in your decision, you'll very likely end up with a great DJ who will help make your event a success!

Delicious Dessert Trends

For some people, food can make or break an event. If you're planning a Halloween or holiday party, wedding, trade show, or a sit-down gala, these hot dessert trends will ensure that your guests leave happy (and full!).

Bite-size Is In: Taking the place of gourmet cupcakes and jumbo slices of cake are colorful desserts in small sizes spread out on a dessert buffet. Small desserts create the illusion that they aren't that bad for you. Instead of being stuck with one huge dessert you probably won't finish, you get to sample a variety of desserts without the guilt. Bonus: guests who have allergies or food preferences still have plenty of choices. Try s'mores, bite-sized tartlettes, and cheesecakes.

Branded Take Home Desserts: Many companies are looking to save money on food served at their events, so they now opt for a boxed dessert rather than a lavish dessert display. Branded dessert boxes not only make for a great favor, but they allow guests to reminisce about the event when they're eating it later on, and they keep your brand in their mind. Before giving out the desserts, use them in a creative display to help save on your decor budget. What should you put in the boxes? Cookies and cupcakes have been done too often and are now an expected option. Try whoopie pies, pie slices, doughnuts, or macarons to give guests something fresh and new.

Must-have Stations: 

1. Cotton candy is a hot new trend popping up at events. Cotton candy be added to anything - try it as a cocktail garnish, on s'mores, or even just on a stick. It can come in a variety of unique flavors that will satisfy all of your guests, and you can use food coloring to ensure it matches your color scheme. Talk about versatile! 
2. Candy buffets have become a staple at events. Not only is a candy bar a great decor opportunity, but it brings out the kid in everyone. Use candy that is easy to pick up, and place it in a variety of different jars and containers. Plan for 15 different types of candy, as most guests with try four to five pieces per person.
3. Any do-it-yourself station is sure to be a hit, because guests get to pick exactly what they want. Try a crepe station with made-to-order fillings (Nutella, chocolate, and strawberries), a S'mores station with different types of chocolates and spreads, or even a hot cocoa station with different flavors of mix and a variety of add-ins (caramels, chocolate chips, and crushed peppermints).

Horrifying Halloween Event Themes

With less than 30 days left until Halloween, it's time to start finalizing the details of your big Halloween event! 

Halloween is already a great theme for a party. It has its own color scheme (orange and black), atmosphere (dark and spooky), and attire (costumes). You can give your party more of a focus with a theme that will narrow your ideas for invitations, food, decorations, and activities. Here are our suggestions for Halloween event themes that will terrify your guests and ensure a spooktacular time:

Haunted Circus

A clown entryway used at the 2012
ezEvent staff Halloween party

Why it's scary: A circus theme takes fun memories from your childhood and turns them on their side. Clowns, by nature, are terrifying to many people. Who knows what kind of person is hiding under that makeup? The music from the calliope sounds like it's calling on Death to come take the souls of everyone in attendance. Let's not forget how circuses used to have sideshows where people would come to gawk at real life "freaks."

 

Decorating tips: Any kind of clown prop you could put around the event space will be sure to bring out everyone's coulrophobia, especially if the clowns are wielding bloody knives or have glowing eyes. Have guests walk through a clown entryway as they enter the event space so that they're anxious right off the bat. Hang table cloth roll in orange and black stripes around the event space to bring the tent feeling inside. Play the film "Freaks" silently against the wall to fill wall space and have eerie moving images of the olden days of the circus. If you have the budget, hire entertainers such as a sword swallower or fire juggler to amaze guests.

Anything Based on a Movie/TV series

Why it's scary: When people watch horror movies and scary television shows, they get scared but they're comforted by the fact that the villains and creatures they're seeing are safely confined in their screens. Bringing those fears to reality will always make for a terrifying experience! It's also fun to take a movie or show that's not meant to be scary, like The Wizard of Oz, and turn it into something horrifying. Something about seeing nice things gone bad that really creeps people out.

 

ezEvent party decorations!

Decorating tips: Have guests dress up as their favorite scary character so they're forced to interact with their fears embodied. Set up animatronics of famous villains like Michael Myers or zombies from The Walking Dead that move and talk. Have props around the room that go with your chosen movie/show, like Freddy Krueger's long creepy hand in the middle of the punch bowl just waiting for someone brave enough to get close. For ezEvent's 2013 staff party, we're having a twisted Wizard of Oz party. For party decor, we'll be having an entryway that goes from black and white Kansas to colorful Oz, creepy directional signs, including one for a haunted forest containing apple cider donuts and candy apples, a mini house with witch feet sticking out, and death certificates around the room for the film's main characters.

Asylum

Why it's scary: Abandoned asylums are places that everyone assumes are haunted. Everyone has heard the horror stories of people getting thrown into asylums and doctors doing horrible experiments or painful procedures on them. There are bound to be some vengeful spirits hanging around! Let's not forget that some of the patients themselves were dangerous. Asylums are not a place any sane person would want to be, so forcing guests to be in that environment will be sure to mess with their mind!

 

Decorating tips: Create condemned signs and post them all over the entrance to your event space. Put together zombie/ghostly patients and doctor figures holding torture devices. Print out old patient files and scatter them all over the floor. Break up an old mirror and cover it with polyurethane so it look like the patients broke out and caused damage. If you can find old, rusty wheelchairs or cots it would make a nice addition to your space!

Masquerade Ball

Why it's scary: Masquerade balls are all about hiding something. Do you really know who or what lies behind the mask? The fear of the unknown can be extremely unsettling. Also, have you seen Venetian masks? Just looking at some of them will send a chill down your spine, especially when they're paired with an elaborate outfit.

 

Decorating tips: Have guests come wearing the scariest mask they can find! You may not think about it, but the masks themselves are a great decoration. Holding your event in an old mansion or building that seems like it's from another time will really get guests in the right mood. Find antique candelabras and frames from a local thrift shop to put around the event space. Cover tables and walls with fabric that has a damask pattern.

 

Lessons Learned From the 2013 Emmy Awards

Most of us will never have the opportunity to plan a large-scale, televised event like the Emmy Awards. If, however, you are planning a local award ceremony, an event that has an awards portion, or any other event with a similar format, the 65th Primetime Emmy Awards telecast is a great example of what works and what doesn't.

The Host

What happened: This year's Emmy Awards telecast was hosted by Neil Patrick Harris, star of comedy series How I Met Your Mother. People had high hopes for Harris, who won an Emmy for his turn as host of the Tony Awards. Unfortunately, he didn't quite hit the mark. It's not that he was a bad host - you can tell he took the job seriously and was having a lot of fun. The problem is that nothing really memorable happened. Harris started with a dreary opening sketch of him trying to binge watch every episode of every series that aired in the last year. He tried to keep the energy up with jokes and a number in the middle of the show called, quite fittingly, "The Number in the Middle of the Show," but everything seemed stale and didn't quite live up to his Tony performance.

What we learned: Just because someone is a great host one year, it doesn't mean they'll be great another year. Find a host who is passionate about the subject of the ceremony, will keep the ceremony on track, and who will bring something fresh and new to the table.

Entertainment vs. Time Constraints

What happened: An award show that runs at three hours long is by nature going to get a bit dull, but this year's Emmys were harder to sit through than usual. The usually fun banter between presenters felt strained. Many of the acceptance speeches were cut short by the 'wrap it up' music before the winner had time to say more than a few words. It seemed as though producers were so focused on keeping the show on time that they wouldn't give anyone room to breathe. The problem is that they cracked down on the parts of the show people love. It's one of the rare moments on TV where we get to see celebrities completely unscripted. Fans eat up stars' emotional reactions to their wins. Cutting all of this short brought an overall feeling of emotionless to the show that shouldn't have been there. It also took away the moments from the show that are the most talked about the next day.

What we learned: The Emmy Awards are a televised event, so of course the producers have to worry about keeping it within the designated time. The way to do that is to cut the fat from the show. Were the two musical performances that were only loosely TV-related really necessary? No. Do we really need Shemar Moore's weird backstage segments? No. Focus on the awards and anything relevant to them. The presenters and the award speeches will bring the entertainment. If you want extra entertainment then do a big opening number, but don't waste the audience's time with things that they don't want to see throughout the show.

Tributes to Those We've Lost

What happened: Modern Family creator Steve Levitan summed it up as he was accepting the award for Outstanding Comedy Series when he said, "This may be the saddest Emmys of all time, but we could not be happier." The "In Memoriam" montage is always a nice way to honor and celebrate those in the entertainment industry we've lost over the last year. The problem with this year's Emmys is that we were smothered with five individual tributes throughout the show on top of the montage segment that aired later in the show. While they were heartfelt and appreciated, they also made the evening a bit of a bummer. Any time the show had a good pace going, the somber tributes brought the mood back down. Many viewers were also a bit put off by the fact that certain actors received individual treatment, while other big names in TV industry, such as Larry Hagman, Jack Klugman, and Annette Funicello, were lumped into the standard group memorial. If you're looking to offend family members of the deceased, that's the way to do it.

What we learned: It's great to pay tribute to those who've been lost, but do it right. Do them all at once so as not to offend anyone and to keep the pacing of the event going. Having some lighter entertainment after the tributes will help bring the mood of the room back up.