Hello all!
So as you may or may not know, I had been heavily promoting the Madden Tournament hosted by CBT, Game On, and 790 the Ticket! The event was this past Friday evening, and let me tell you, it was insane. So, to fully explain the insanity, I obviously have to give you some back story on it. Here we go...
A great event usually takes anywhere between three months to two years (weddings) to plan. What are some of the essentials? Well, there is the main attraction, structure, the itinerary, the goal, the food, "what if" scenarios, guest lists, the motivation for attending, amenities, sponsors, and the marketing/promotions. So many things go into it!
How much time did I have to put together the whole event? About 5 weeks from the date the event was given the green light. Obviously, this left me with no time! Just getting sponsors alone is quite an ordeal. Most companies require that you give them between 2 and 6 months of notice to approve your event for sponsorship. This made it impossible to secure powerhouses such as Gatorade, Best Buy, Game Stop, Red Bull, or Champs Sports. SO what can you do at that point? Look for alternatives to the big companies. In the short time I was given, I secured Game On Videogames, Sports Grill, 790 the Ticket, Smoothie King, and AT&T! Quite the group of great companies! Game On and 790 the Ticket were especially wonderful companies to work with.
Even though we had 790 the Ticket on board and did some great radio and internet promotion through them, we only had their resources for a week! The reason for this is because 5 weeks was not enough time for radio spots to be secured and worked into the event. Therefore we did with what we had. Our previous event had 6 weeks of radio spots on various stations from Y100 to Mega 94.9. Instead, we threw out a few email blasts, direct mail drops, heavy street promotion, and even heavier social media promotion. It was a "grassroots" campaign. The social media marketing really did the trick for this one, yielding over 57% of the traffic for the event! This includes, Facebook, Twitter, this very blog, and some gaming forums (even some forums I was not on).
Next up: Food! With only a few weeks, I was given the green light to look for the caterer, and was rejected on several companies due the cost. So I was tasked to find an inexpensive caterer who could pull it all off. I contacted a company and was finally given confirmation to book them with 2 days remaining before the event. Not much time, right? Well, they ended up doing a decent job with the burgers and hot dogs, though they were placed in a bad location, where they were rained on. Not a very strategic placement, if you ask me. I digress, though. The point is that we booked a caterer that managed to cook all the food we needed, to the point that we had leftovers. That's the way it should be! You never want to be short on food. Always over prepare, because people always remember food at events. You should also never go cheap on your food. You can sacrifice in other areas....never food! That's event planning 101. The caterers didn't bring plates, and that was an issue for some, but I had asked them not to bring the plates because they (like ALL other caterers) charge extra for plates, cups, silver or plastic ware, and any other item they bring to the event. I simply purchased the plates at an affordable rate at a wholesaler. I guess the bottom line with catering is that if you want Texas De Brazil, you have to pay Texas De Brazil prices.
Alright, we covered sponsors, food, and radio promo. What else? The prizes were an XBOX 360 Slim and a copy of Madden 11 for the winner, a $75 gift card to Game On for the second place, and a gift card with a lap top bag for third place. Each gamer was given a "goodie bag" with coupons, marketing materials, and promotional information. We also raffled off Marlins tickets and Boomers gift cards that were donated by 790 the Ticket. For a free tournament, these were top notch prizes!!
So, the day of the event, there was a commercial being filmed in our gaming hall that didn't wrap up until about 45 minutes before the event, which left us way too pressed for time to set everything up. This is the kind of hiccup that is difficult to prepare for and just has to be worked around. I was not informed that a film crew would be using my gaming hall up until the last possible second, leaving me with no time time to set up. Therefore, we started about a half hour late, which always upsets me, considering how punctual I am. It was only a minor set back, and we adjusted and worked very quickly to set all the consoles and televisions up, as well as decorate and make sure everything was ready to go.
So, we fought the elements (rain, massively backed up traffic, and an impossible building to find) to bring in over 40 some odd gamers, and over 120 overall guests to our event! Everything went off without major issues. People had lots of fun, the event was impressive to most in attendance, and we crowned an ultimate Madden champion! So, for having less than a month and a half to put it all together, we brought in over 120 people, and impressed everyone who walked through our doors.
Lessons I learned from my first solo event:
1. Do NOT let anyone dictate where and how things will go down.
2. Be ready for bumps and hiccups.
3. Be assertive on what is needed, especially when it comes to food (lol)
4. Do NOT take "no" for an answer. Just readjust your strategy.
5. HAVE FUN!!!
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Monday, August 16, 2010
Why Should We Stay "Linked In"....
So, there are quite a lot of Social Media websites out there. What's the big deal with social media, right? I mean, we all know that social media is only good for talking to your friends, posting crazy pictures from Space, and Nikki Beach, and adding famous people like Kim Kardashian and LeBron James. It also makes my iPhone look cool when I have all these awesome apps! That's all social media is supposed to be used for, right? WRONG! It's about time we throw that kind of thinking out the door. Here are some facts for you, friends....
Over 96% of millennials have joined a Social Network.
Facebook tops Google for weekly traffic in the U.S.
Social Media has overtaken porn as the top activity on the web.
1 out of 8 married couples in the U.S. met via Social Media
It took 38 years for the radio to reach 50 million users...
13 years for TV....
4 years for the internet...
3 years for the iPod....
Facebook added over 200 MILLION users in less than 1 year!
iPod app downloads of Facebook hit 1 BILLION in 9 MONTHS!!!!!
If Facebook were a country, it would be the 3rd largest...
I realize I haven't given you much in the way of reasons why social media is more than just a friend adding and crazy picture posting machine.... SO here goes...
80% of companies use social media for recruitment, almost all of it through LINKED IN!
That's right, more and more companies in the U.S. are shying away from Craigslist, CareerBuilder and Monster. Barely any companies are using staffing agencies. No, no, no my friends, the best jobs are found on Linked In. Why? Because social media gives a company all the tools to truly know a potential employee. Linked In allows you to create a fully interactive resume, with recommendations letters and all! It allows you to network with major companies and connect with others who may be the doorway to your career! Linked In is a social network for professionals to make the connections needed for success in this, the Application Age. Find people you have met through professional settings, create a network of your coworkers, employers, and fellow professionals in your field of expertise. For those who are still college students, or even those who have never held a job, this site allows you to make the connections necessary to set yourself up for the career you want once you graduate. Finding a job in this economic climate is no easy task. Even less easy....is finding the job you actually want. Chances are you won't find it on Craigslist, CareerBuilder, Monster. Why? When you apply for a job or submit your resume through any of those sites, you are just one of possibly 500 other people. Not so with Linked In. On Linked In, it may be you and 19 others who are submitting their resume. There is a much higher probability that your resume will get noticed if you are applying with 20 people, as opposed to 100, 300, or 500, right? So, do yourself a favor, and get a Linked In people!
Now, here's the kicker....
While Linked In could be very beneficial to you in terms of your professional career, your other social media profiles will play a role in this as well. If you are on Linked In, chances are you can also be found Tweeting, and updating your status on Facebook. In the world we live in, nothing is private anymore. You can try to keep your professional life and your social life separate, but the internet has made that difficult. Lying on a resume is nearly impossible today, because employers can simply research you on Google, You Tube, and social media sites. So, your Linked In may paint a picture of you that your Facebook pictures at Mardi Gras completely discredit. In other words: Your Linked In may be writing a check that your Facebook can't cash. And believe me when I tell you this: If they received your resume on Linked In, they WILL research you on Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter. A potential employer doesn't want to see pictures of you fist pumping in the club. Employers like quality employees who will not embarrass their company, and social media is an easy way to make sure who you are hiring. Everyone knows people are mostly putting on a facade at their interviews, but social media usually tells them all they need to know about your character....so just be very careful what you put on the internet. Just like a tattoo, think clearly about your decision to brand yourself a certain way. People are watching!
-Danny
www.cbt.edu
www.cbt.edu/facebook
Over 96% of millennials have joined a Social Network.
Facebook tops Google for weekly traffic in the U.S.
Social Media has overtaken porn as the top activity on the web.
1 out of 8 married couples in the U.S. met via Social Media
It took 38 years for the radio to reach 50 million users...
13 years for TV....
4 years for the internet...
3 years for the iPod....
Facebook added over 200 MILLION users in less than 1 year!
iPod app downloads of Facebook hit 1 BILLION in 9 MONTHS!!!!!
If Facebook were a country, it would be the 3rd largest...
I realize I haven't given you much in the way of reasons why social media is more than just a friend adding and crazy picture posting machine.... SO here goes...
80% of companies use social media for recruitment, almost all of it through LINKED IN!
That's right, more and more companies in the U.S. are shying away from Craigslist, CareerBuilder and Monster. Barely any companies are using staffing agencies. No, no, no my friends, the best jobs are found on Linked In. Why? Because social media gives a company all the tools to truly know a potential employee. Linked In allows you to create a fully interactive resume, with recommendations letters and all! It allows you to network with major companies and connect with others who may be the doorway to your career! Linked In is a social network for professionals to make the connections needed for success in this, the Application Age. Find people you have met through professional settings, create a network of your coworkers, employers, and fellow professionals in your field of expertise. For those who are still college students, or even those who have never held a job, this site allows you to make the connections necessary to set yourself up for the career you want once you graduate. Finding a job in this economic climate is no easy task. Even less easy....is finding the job you actually want. Chances are you won't find it on Craigslist, CareerBuilder, Monster. Why? When you apply for a job or submit your resume through any of those sites, you are just one of possibly 500 other people. Not so with Linked In. On Linked In, it may be you and 19 others who are submitting their resume. There is a much higher probability that your resume will get noticed if you are applying with 20 people, as opposed to 100, 300, or 500, right? So, do yourself a favor, and get a Linked In people!
Now, here's the kicker....
While Linked In could be very beneficial to you in terms of your professional career, your other social media profiles will play a role in this as well. If you are on Linked In, chances are you can also be found Tweeting, and updating your status on Facebook. In the world we live in, nothing is private anymore. You can try to keep your professional life and your social life separate, but the internet has made that difficult. Lying on a resume is nearly impossible today, because employers can simply research you on Google, You Tube, and social media sites. So, your Linked In may paint a picture of you that your Facebook pictures at Mardi Gras completely discredit. In other words: Your Linked In may be writing a check that your Facebook can't cash. And believe me when I tell you this: If they received your resume on Linked In, they WILL research you on Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter. A potential employer doesn't want to see pictures of you fist pumping in the club. Employers like quality employees who will not embarrass their company, and social media is an easy way to make sure who you are hiring. Everyone knows people are mostly putting on a facade at their interviews, but social media usually tells them all they need to know about your character....so just be very careful what you put on the internet. Just like a tattoo, think clearly about your decision to brand yourself a certain way. People are watching!
-Danny
www.cbt.edu
www.cbt.edu/facebook
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Madden 11 Madness
So let's talk about this event.
As you all know, every year around the second week of August, EA Sports releases its most anticipated game: Madden NFL Football. This year is no different. On August 10th, Madden NFL 11 hit stores all over. Those of you who know me know that I am an avid sports fan, a dedicated gamer, and a loyal customer! Being that I am all those things, I buy Madden every year and find myself playing it until around February when the MLB: The Show baseball game is released.
As CBT College's Coordinator of Events, Online Activities, and New Media, I have been working very hard to make sure that CBT is not only a great place to educate yourself, but also a fun place that our students will enjoy attending. I know it sounds weird to say education and fun in the same sentence, but honestly they go hand in hand. Most, if not all people want to find a career that is not only lucrative, but fun. Why? Well, would you like to spend the next 40 or 60 years of your life doing something you don't enjoy? I didn't think so. Therefore, my job is to make sure our college is not only a top notch school in terms of education, but to make sure our students enjoy being here. CBT not only cares about their students, but wants to provide them with activities and amenities they won't find anywhere else! Events like LAN Bash, Halloween Havoc Carnival, or the Madden NFL 11 Football Madness Tournament are geared towards not only giving the community a taste of what CBT is all about, but also about showing our students how much we appreciate them.
That being said, let's talk about the Madden NFL 11 Football Madness Video Game Tournament!!!! Game On and CBT will be hosting the tournament on August 20, 2010 at
6PM. There will be free food, consisting of homemade burgers, hot dogs, Sports Grill wings, chips, smoothies, drinks, and other great things. There will be music, giveaways, prizes, t-shirts, and so many other goodies for our guests. The tournament itself is a 64 Player Single Elimination Tournament, and the Grand Prize Madness Champion will win an XBOX 360 Slim with a copy of Madden NFL 11! There will be prizes for the second and third place finalists. Best of all people...everything is FREE!!! Even if you are not a huge fan of Madden, football, or videogames, come down and enjoy some free food, some great music, get some gifts and giveaways, and meet some special guests. Yes, that's right, there will be special guests here on August 20th! I cannot reveal just yet who they are, but you will not be disappointed my friends! The event is being sponsored by Game On VideoGames, Sports Grill, AT&T, 790 the Ticket, Smoothie King, and Bawls Energy Drinks!
In order to enter the tournament, you have to register. Why should I register Danny? Well, like I said there are only 64 spots and they are going fast. Registering reserves you a spot, so you are guaranteed to play. If you don't register, you can't play. There are limited spots available already, so act quickly if you want to have a chance at winning a brand new XBOX 360 Slim with Madden 11.
So, I would say this event is going to be pretty huge! We are literally having everything you can think of at this event! Games, food, music, prizes, guests, and so much more... Like I said earlier, it's all free. Come and enjoy yourself, this event is going to be a blast.
The address is 8765 SW 165th Avenue
The event is August 20, 2010 at 6 PM
Madden NFL 11 on the XBOX 360
Grand Prize: XBOX 360 Slim with a copy of Madden NFL 11!!!
Madden NFL 11 Video Game, Review | Game Trailers & Videos | GameTrailers.com
Madden NFL 11 Video Game, Review | Game Trailers & Videos | GameTrailers.com
Game On and CBT will be hosting a Madden NFL 11 "Football
Madness Video Game Tournament"!!! The event is on August 20, 2010 at
6PM. There will be free food, music, giveaways, and the Grand Prize
winner will get an XBOX 360 SLIM with a copy of Madden NFL 11!!!! Best
of all, everything is FREE!!!! Just register at http://www.cbtlanparty....com/
...spots are filling up fast, so register now to save your spot for the
ultimate Madden Tournament!!! If you want more details, you can message
me or call at 786-693-8821. This event is going to be huge, and you do
NOT wanna miss it!
Game On and CBT will be hosting a Madden NFL 11 "Football
Madness Video Game Tournament"!!! The event is on August 20, 2010 at
6PM. There will be free food, music, giveaways, and the Grand Prize
winner will get an XBOX 360 SLIM with a copy of Madden NFL 11!!!! Best
of all, everything is FREE!!!! Just register at http://www.cbtlanparty....com/
...spots are filling up fast, so register now to save your spot for the
ultimate Madden Tournament!!! If you want more details, you can message
me or call at 786-693-8821. This event is going to be huge, and you do
NOT wanna miss it!
Monday, August 2, 2010
Madden NFL 11: My Final Impressions - PlayStation 3 Preview at IGN
Madden NFL 11: My Final Impressions - PlayStation 3 Preview at IGN
The release of Madden is a momentous occasion each and every year. Not just because it's the only NFL-branded game of pigskin available, but also because -- for many of us -- it signals the beginning of the NFL season. I've spent the last two weeks playing the finished review build of Madden NFL 11 and I can say that those looking for a great game of football needn't look any further once August 10th rolls around.
There's a lot to like in Madden NFL 11, especially if you skipped out on this year's NCAA Football game. The amount of gameplay changes is impressive and permeates just about every aspect of the game. From the new strategy pad that houses your hot routes, coverage audibles and other abilities to the new dual analog stick control that lets you pivot your player's upper body to glance off hits and gain extra yardage, there's a lot of nuances that weren't in Madden NFL 10.
I have no doubt that some gamers will complain about some of these changes (such as the aforementioned strategy pad, which requires an extra button press to change an assignment), but the bulk of these additions do a great job of adding extra layers of depth to the gameplay.
Madden Intro Video
Probably my favorite and most-used new feature is the improved blocking. It's great to be able to trust your pulling guard or surging fullback to lay the proper blocks when you expect them to do so. Talented defensive linemen are still going to be able to shed blocks every now and again, as they should, but all in all you're going to have a much easier time trusting your lead blockers than you have in the past.
Of course, according to EA Sports marketing, it isn't the blocking that should excite you. Instead, it's the new GameFlow playcalling feature. This enables the artificial intelligence (AI) to handle all of your playcalling on both sides of the ball. You can use a feature called Gameplanning to organize a set of plays that the AI will pull from, but at the end of the day GameFlow is going to be calling your plays unless you elect to go the full list of plays as you've done in past years.
Using GameFlow means that games essentially fly by. You can finish a game in 20 minutes where before it would've taken 40. I still found flaws in the default GameFlow settings as the AI routinely called long-bomb streak plays even when I was in the red zone, but all I had to do to fix it was organize my own playbook (and yes, you can have multiple playbooks) within the Gameplanning feature to remedy the situation.
The other big new addition is Online Team Play that's actually fun. This one I really love. I wrote a preview on it yesterday, so check that out for information and videos. Just know that it's great and works better than you could've imagined.
All that said, there are still moments of frustration that creep into Madden's design. First of all, ball physics could've been better. Watching the ball bounce around the field and on different parts of a player model looks very artificial. All too often the ball will get caught on a piece of a player's body and will bounce around unrealistically. Also, as I've experienced in just about every Madden game in history, defensive backs are pretty incompetent when it comes to making interceptions. I'm not saying that it doesn't happen (I've thrown plenty of picks myself), but there are certainly too many situations when one of my professional, NFL-quality defensive backs would have an interception right in his hands, only to have the ball drop to the ground. If I make a mistake in the passing game, I should be punished and the same goes for the CPU.
NFC Pro Bowl Offense Video
Another fact that's certainly going to enrage Madden diehards out there is that the Online Franchise, Offline Franchise, and Superstar modes are all untouched from last year's game. In fact, the Franchise Mode even had the NFL Network's weekly show and halftime presentation removed from this year's game (or at least I haven't been able to find how to turn them on). I understand that the main goal was to streamline the experience, but I think some will miss the presentation element.
Thankfully there are quite a few new presentation touches to talk about. Close-up shots of enthused crowd members are great to see and Gus Johnson brings a lot of excitement to the commentary, even if it technically is as fragmented as ever. I'd really like to see EA Sports develop some new technology to deliver commentary, as this has been a problem for some time. You still get enthused remarks coupled with subdued statements that just don't fit together properly.
I think those people concerned with a better gameplay experience above all else will be pleased with what Madden NFL 11 brings to the table. GameFlow coupled with all of the gameplay refinements that NCAA Football enjoyed make this year's title a real treat to play, but if you want a bunch of added features to Online or Offline Franchise mode, you're going to be sorely disappointed.
Keep an eye out for our review on IGN.com as we inch closer to Madden NFL 11's August 10th release date on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, PlayStation 2, PSP and iPhone.
The release of Madden is a momentous occasion each and every year. Not just because it's the only NFL-branded game of pigskin available, but also because -- for many of us -- it signals the beginning of the NFL season. I've spent the last two weeks playing the finished review build of Madden NFL 11 and I can say that those looking for a great game of football needn't look any further once August 10th rolls around.
There's a lot to like in Madden NFL 11, especially if you skipped out on this year's NCAA Football game. The amount of gameplay changes is impressive and permeates just about every aspect of the game. From the new strategy pad that houses your hot routes, coverage audibles and other abilities to the new dual analog stick control that lets you pivot your player's upper body to glance off hits and gain extra yardage, there's a lot of nuances that weren't in Madden NFL 10.
I have no doubt that some gamers will complain about some of these changes (such as the aforementioned strategy pad, which requires an extra button press to change an assignment), but the bulk of these additions do a great job of adding extra layers of depth to the gameplay.
Madden Intro Video
Probably my favorite and most-used new feature is the improved blocking. It's great to be able to trust your pulling guard or surging fullback to lay the proper blocks when you expect them to do so. Talented defensive linemen are still going to be able to shed blocks every now and again, as they should, but all in all you're going to have a much easier time trusting your lead blockers than you have in the past.
Of course, according to EA Sports marketing, it isn't the blocking that should excite you. Instead, it's the new GameFlow playcalling feature. This enables the artificial intelligence (AI) to handle all of your playcalling on both sides of the ball. You can use a feature called Gameplanning to organize a set of plays that the AI will pull from, but at the end of the day GameFlow is going to be calling your plays unless you elect to go the full list of plays as you've done in past years.
Using GameFlow means that games essentially fly by. You can finish a game in 20 minutes where before it would've taken 40. I still found flaws in the default GameFlow settings as the AI routinely called long-bomb streak plays even when I was in the red zone, but all I had to do to fix it was organize my own playbook (and yes, you can have multiple playbooks) within the Gameplanning feature to remedy the situation.
The other big new addition is Online Team Play that's actually fun. This one I really love. I wrote a preview on it yesterday, so check that out for information and videos. Just know that it's great and works better than you could've imagined.
All that said, there are still moments of frustration that creep into Madden's design. First of all, ball physics could've been better. Watching the ball bounce around the field and on different parts of a player model looks very artificial. All too often the ball will get caught on a piece of a player's body and will bounce around unrealistically. Also, as I've experienced in just about every Madden game in history, defensive backs are pretty incompetent when it comes to making interceptions. I'm not saying that it doesn't happen (I've thrown plenty of picks myself), but there are certainly too many situations when one of my professional, NFL-quality defensive backs would have an interception right in his hands, only to have the ball drop to the ground. If I make a mistake in the passing game, I should be punished and the same goes for the CPU.
NFC Pro Bowl Offense Video
Another fact that's certainly going to enrage Madden diehards out there is that the Online Franchise, Offline Franchise, and Superstar modes are all untouched from last year's game. In fact, the Franchise Mode even had the NFL Network's weekly show and halftime presentation removed from this year's game (or at least I haven't been able to find how to turn them on). I understand that the main goal was to streamline the experience, but I think some will miss the presentation element.
Thankfully there are quite a few new presentation touches to talk about. Close-up shots of enthused crowd members are great to see and Gus Johnson brings a lot of excitement to the commentary, even if it technically is as fragmented as ever. I'd really like to see EA Sports develop some new technology to deliver commentary, as this has been a problem for some time. You still get enthused remarks coupled with subdued statements that just don't fit together properly.
I think those people concerned with a better gameplay experience above all else will be pleased with what Madden NFL 11 brings to the table. GameFlow coupled with all of the gameplay refinements that NCAA Football enjoyed make this year's title a real treat to play, but if you want a bunch of added features to Online or Offline Franchise mode, you're going to be sorely disappointed.
Keep an eye out for our review on IGN.com as we inch closer to Madden NFL 11's August 10th release date on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, PlayStation 2, PSP and iPhone.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)