CarFest 2022, Cheshire and Hampshire
Service: Silent disco
Supplier: Silent Noize, 0203 727 5382, info@silentnoizeevents.com, www.silentnoizeevents.com
Details: Set up and run by Chris Evans to raise funds for Children in Need, CarFest is one of the biggest and most popular family festivals in the UK.
CarFest North’s ‘Big Early’ took place on the Thursday evening before the main festival and provided an evening of fun and entertainment in the campsite for those who arrived early.
Silent Noize provided one of its legendary silent discos to entertain 2,000 campers with one of its in house DJs performing alongside celebrities AJ and Curtis Pritchard. The silent disco was then moved to the KidsFest tent for another three parties over the weekend within the main festival site.
Customer feedback: Ed Manthorpe, operations and content executive, said: “We’ve used Silent Noize for a number of CarFests now and they’ve always been extremely good to work with. This year they provided over 2,000 headsets along with DJs and decks for our Big Early event as well as a nightly silent disco across the weekend. We’ve had loads of great feedback and every headset was used!”
Wedding Salon at Upton Barn & Walled Garden, Devon
Service: Full event design concept and coordination, sales and marketing.
Supplier: Charlotte Winship Consulting, 01884 277306, charlotte@charlottewinship.com, www.charlottewinship.com
Details: Events consultant Charlotte Winship was asked by Upton Barn and Walled Garden, in conjunction with Kate Walker Bridal, Abide Maids, Poppy’s Wedding Florist, Clare Makes Cakes and Oyster and Pearl Design, to help put together a special exhibition that would showcase not only the venue and services but also the expertise of a handpicked selection of trusted wedding suppliers from across Devon.
Charlotte initiated an experiential concept that would not only provide information, entertainment and experience for guests but also a valuable marketing opportunity for suppliers to demonstrate their services and products in a live event environment. The event consisted of ‘meet the maker’ presentations, bridal couture shows, food and drink tastings, hair, make-up and floristry demonstrations, Q&A sessions, live music and entertainment and a table styling workshop.
“I wanted to create an event that would serve to present suppliers’ services in a more engaging and intimate way,” says Charlotte. “Upton Barn has multiple rooms so I was able to zone the space into theatre, exhibition, workshop and demonstration spaces as well as space for guests to relax, mix and mingle and enjoy substantial food and drink samples”.
Tickets were limited to ensure guests could be given more attention. The tickets were also priced to ensure that only serious purchasers would attend. A robust digital marketing campaign was devised utilising the platforms of all participants as well as other wedding publishing partners.
Customer feedback: “A very well organised and publicised event… more value for both the couples and suppliers.”
Fringe by the Sea 2022, East Lothian
Service: Ticket software, box office and bookings management
Supplier: Citizen Ticket, 0131 290 2112, info@citizenticket.co.uk, www.citizenticket.co.uk
Details: Multi-arts festival Fringe by the Sea takes place annually over 10 days each August in the seaside town of North Berwick, Scotland. With a capacity of 30,000+, multiple venues host over 150 music, comedy, literature, political and family events.
Over the past two years the festival has welcomed the likes of Groove Armada, The Sugarhill Gang, Idlewild, Inner City, Reginald D Hunter, Janey Godley, Judy Murray, Ian Ranking and Kirsty Wark.
Citizen Ticket provided Fringe by the Sea with extensive online ticket sales, bookings software, box office and entry management software, event marketing support and customer service/account management.
Customer feedback: Rory Steel, festival director, said: “When we took over the running of Fringe By The Sea in February 2018, one of the first tasks was to find a quality ticketing agent that understood us as a business and our ambitions for the festival’s future. After discussions with many different providers, we chose Citizen Ticket and have never doubted that decision.
“The back end customer service the team has provided us with has been nothing short of exceptional and the user experience simple and easy to follow. Having worked with many other ticketing agents in the past on other events, none have come close to Citizen in their sheer determination to get everything right and adapt to our specific needs.”
The Abergavenny Steam Rally, Wales
Product: Online and on the day ticketing solution
Supplier: Ticketebo, 01617 680580, james.osmond@ticketebo.co.uk, www.ticketebo.co.uk
Details: Run by the Abergavenny Rotary Club, this steam rally is a highlight of the steam, veteran and vintage calendar. Based in the middle of the market town of Abergavenny in May each year, it attracts around 7,000 visitors across two days.
The steam rally had never used online ticketing, or taken card payment at the gate before. Ticketebo built ticketing webpages, advised all the way through the sales process and provided the equipment for the on the day sales and scanning of tickets. It also trained all of the volunteers the evening before in how to use the equipment. There was a member of staff onsite for the whole event to help where needed, and coach the volunteers as they changed shifts at each gate.
It would be fair to say that many of the volunteers were anxious about using the new technology and there were certainly a few concerned faces at the beginning of the training. However Ticketbo’s apps and tech has been designed to be used by people of all ages and abilities, so it wasn’t long before they were all up and running, scanning tickets and taking card payments like seasoned professionals!
The Ticketbo team is always excited to work hand in hand with new organisers who want to streamline and modernise their procedures while not affecting their long standing traditions and is looking forward to working with the steam rally again in 2023.
Customer feedback: Robert Parker, rally organiser, said: “We wanted to move from a cash only payment system for entrance fees and offer discounted prices for advanced ticket sales as well as the ability to take card and cash payments. Ticketebo worked in partnership with us from start to finish advising us at every step of the way and nothing was too much trouble for them in delivering a workable solution.
“We’ve had very positive feedback from the paying public about this innovation and they welcome the choice of different payment options. The new system also made a huge impact on reducing the length of queues at the gates. We would thoroughly recommend Ticketebo for any organisation wanting to go down a similar path. We can’t praise them enough.”
