How to host a blogger event 101
Essentials on how to create the most lavish, most valuable shindig for the most fashionable crowd
Last summer, Connecticut Bloggers Collective, in collaboration with our community partners, hosted a Bohemian Festival at Bears Smokehouse in New Haven, CT. I meant to recap it for you guys a long time ago but, the last year has been WILD (more to come on the lessons I’ve learned). Of course, when it comes to anything in regards to our blogger collective, I have a long list of tasks to ensure it takes off without a hitch. When anyone approaches me on how to put on a successful blogger event, I always say, make sure it’s valuable and cute. In other words, as bloggers we love an insta-worthy moment and we also love to learn something new about our crafts we didn’t know before that will help us get to the next level. With that in mind, I’ve compiled a list of very helpful tid bits I’ve learned along the way on how to plan a successful event for your fashionable crowd. Scroll down for more…
“ When anyone approaches me on how to put on a successful blogger event, I always say, make sure it’s valuable and cute.”
5 Steps to Planning A Successful Blogger Event
Pick an ideal date and time. I’ve learned that weekdays are not great especially if close to 5pm which is rush hour. Also, try to stray away from holiday weekends especially Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, and of course the winter holidays. Saturday mornings to early afternoon and early to mid afternoon Sunday’s works best.
Pick an ideal venue. I’ve utilized some great and sometimes obscure venues for our blogger events. These venues have included Flora, a vegan restaurant in West Hartford Center, Wood ‘n’ Tap in Newington, Bears Smokehouse in New Haven, and West Hartford Coworking in West Hartford, CT. The best venues are the ones you show up and everything is done; minimal set up and therefore less stress. The more stressful venues are the ones were you have to put everything together to create the ambiance you want.
Collaborate with local businesses to curate your event swag bags and/or to curate a vending experience. This is my pledge to our community and our local businesses to empower them by choosing to showcase their brands instead of large corporate conglomerates. This is also a great way for our organization to build community ties.
Create insta-worthy moments and keep your attendees entertained. Who has visited The Sono Collection in Norwalk, CT? Now they mastered the art of insta worthy with the countless moments they have created around that half empty mall. I didn’t always see the value in doing this but if Create and Cultivate is doing it, why can’t/shouldn’t I? I always want to create at least two vignettes that can be utilized for posed photography. At the Bohemian Festival last year, we partnered with a local company called Adoro Paper Elegance which specializes in custom backdrops to create a greenery wall and I created two other bohemian inspired vignettes complete with furniture. Also, “build your own” bars are a great way to keep your attendees busy and add an extra layer of fun like the build your own flower crown bar we had at the Bohemian Festival.
Create Value. I always want that when people attend our blogger events, they leave feeling like what they paid, is minuscule in comparison to the total experience. I try to provide panel discussions which are always potent, a vendor marketplace which gives one on one interaction with local small businesses, and fun/creative ways to network such as a hands on activity such as a build your own flower crown bar. Also, my African heritage says it’s no party without lots of food or drink.
About the bohemian festival
The Bohemian Festival was a summery take on Coachella in Connecticut in July ‘19. It was an outdoor ticketed event, which was set upon the most beautiful setting at Bears Smokehouse at The Stack which provides a very Brooklyn feel with its modern contemporary large patio. The event featured a marketplace of various local vendors, a build your own flower crown bar, a Candy and Polaroid bar, an actual outdoor shipping container beverage bar, a live concert by CT artist Jillian Cailloutte, a hair braiding station sponsored by Rebel Hair in New Haven, CT, custom canvas swag bags, a panel discussion on Self Care for the Self Made Entrepreneur featuring bloggers Yinka Oni-Orisan, Nicole Morley, and Mariah Elizabeth, and unlimited Bears bbq. It was a very hot day, the sun was blistering, but absolutely worth the wait. Also, it was co-hosted by bloggers Kristen @kbouqs and Megan @styldbymeg. It was an afternoon to remember. A very special thank you to my real life friends Sheila, Jody, Tara, Myrnel, my brother Busani, and my husband Taj. They are really the behind the scenes people who make everything come together for me.
Looking forward
2020 is the year where I’m channeling my energy into my personal brand more than the collective. If I could clone myself 10 times over I would, but such is life and I need to find a balance between my personal brand and our collective. This year I’m focusing on small curated events for Connecticut Bloggers Collective that will allow for an intimate experience to help build stronger bonds between local bloggers. It is all about connection. I want to partner with local restaurants to create over the top dinner soirées for small crowds, local boutiques to create innovative shopping experiences, and local artists. In times past, I’ve done large events for upwards of 100 people but, more people, more problems. I’m excited to scale back and be able to create over the top experiences for a small crowds. I hope you found these tips valuable. A very special thank you to Amanda of Cottonwood Photography based in Connecticut and Lauren of L.Leonardo Photography now based in Oahu, HI for capturing all the images in this post. Also, thank you to Bears Smokehouse at The Stack in New Haven, CT for helping us bring this festival to life last summer. Until next time, and so excited to be back writing, big bisous!
