Holiday

All posts tagged Holiday

Get The New Year’s Edge

Posted by Judy Bird on November 18, 2015

Posted in: Event Planning, Promotions, Support Group. Tagged: exercise, get fit, Goal, gym, Happy New Year, Health, Holiday, New Year Resolution, New Year's, newyear, personal trainer, resolution, successful, Weight loss. Leave a comment

Any personal trainer knows how many people put fitness at the top of their list in the new year. If you Google New Year’s Resolutions you’ll likely get results relating to getting in better shape, losing weight and feeling better. Everyone wants to look their best and for some reason the New Year is the perfect time to begin a new promise to yourself to succeed with this quest.

Often you’ll see advertisements for deals and/or perks to encourage those with personal quests to join them to accomplish whatever that may be. It can be overwhelming trying to pick the best place to go to achieve your goal but it can also be quite the task for the business owner to come up with the edge that will draw the new customers to them.

Personal trainers and gyms are all too aware of people’s goals at this time of the year and the influx of marketing can just be overwhelming. Equipment and facility aside, a coordinator or trainer can easily appeal to these fitness go-getter’s by creating an event to give a taste of what they offer to a group of those interested. This way they can show people what they are all about, offer a personal approach and then get the commitment from people who are striving to get fit!

Reasons to have an event…

Explore: People like to see/get a feel for what is offered
Personalize: Show the consumer you can meet their needs & skill level, be personal
Motivate: Let people see they are not alone and encourage connections
Encourage: Let people bring others interested and increase their drive
Promote: This is your chance to sell yourself/business in a group atmosphere that amplifies what makes you the best choice

Demonstrate the benefits and get committed customers!

Get the word out by using software designed to help you promote yourself and services! You can promote your offerings using multiple pictures and videos with a personal message to entice those interested in making a change for the New Year. Easily create an event page where you could invite guests to register for free or cost to learn more of what you have to offer and also have your fitness packages available in the Goods and Services section for easy sign up during your event night! Simply have your computer or smartphone available the night of the event, bring up your event page and guests will be able to purchase your fitness package with credit card or visa debit!

Eventastic is designed to help you creatively market and manage your events where people truly get a feel for what they will experience. People worldwide are now using Eventastic for personal, business and community events and programs. You’ll have access to multiple features like registration/ticketing, donation and guest funding options, item and service sales options, photo and video upload capability, gamification options and a full dashboard to manage all guest or participant responses. Try it now!

Family Day Ideas

Posted by Judy Bird on February 2, 2015

Posted in: Family Day, Sports, Winter Fun. Tagged: community events, extended family, family, Family Day, family day activities, family fun, family relationships, games, Holiday, positive relationships, Skating, what to do. Leave a comment

In recognition of the importance of the family, some provinces in Canada have made the 3rd Monday of February in each year a public holiday. This is not a federally established holiday and there are some variations to the dates chosen depending on province. Family Day was created to give people time to spend with their families and encourage positive family togetherness.

Family is Important

The family unit, whether talking the nuclear family (smaller family unit with adult(s) and child(ren) or the larger extended family (aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents), is very important for a number of reasons and should be nurtured to be a healthy structure with values conducive to physical and mental well being. Knowing you have a supportive family network is encouraging and can lower stress levels. Taking the time to focus on family and promote healthy positive relationships within that family unit is positive for the individual, family and then subsequently, the community.

What To Do

Common Family Day activities include skating, snowboarding/skiing, watching movies, playing board games, crafting, attending winter festivals, tobogganing or going to art centers and museums. Your community newspapers will always list a number of events happening on Family Day in your city or town to give you ideas and help plan your day with family.

You Know Your Family Best

Having a discussion prior to the day of what everyone would like to do together is a great idea. Take everyone’s thoughts and opinions into consideration and let everyone know you are making this time together a priority. Even if you don’t get the day off work you can plan to do an activity that evening or schedule another day that will work best for your family.

Pick an activity that will be fun for everyone to do together whether staying in the home or venturing out somewhere. You might want to include other families in your neighbourhood to join in on your planned activity. One family I know is planning a tobogganing event on Eventastic and is inviting relatives and other families to join in. Their event page displays all the details of their proposed special day, many fun photos from times past, a registration link and even a donation link to the cause that is near and dear to their heart.

Just Have Fun

Be creative. Relax. Let your hair down. Have fun with your family. It’s why it was created.

Create your Family Day event for free now on Eventastic.

Thanksgiving is a holiday associated with people giving thanks for a good harvest and other good fortunes over the year. It’s a time where the community comes together and shares with those less fortunate through donations of food, clothing and items to programs directly helping those in need. It is also a time where people generously give monies to programs and fundraisers focussing on the communities’ needs.

In addition to the above I always feel so appreciative and thankful of those so willing to give not only their monies and items but also to those willing to give of their time in coordinating and planning events to support and help. Isn’t that what ‘community’ is all about? People helping people? People going that extra step to make a difference?

City programs, church programs, schools etc. all have people working this time of year to plan and prepare for Thanksgiving festivities and fundraisers centred around those young and old coming together to help others. It’s an all over warm and fuzzy feeling knowing you have participated in the process. Having a big heart and wanting to fundraise for a great cause is easier with the right tools. Event organizers can benefit from technology formulated to make the process of raising and collecting monies easier for them.

Eventastic is an online event software company which can help you help others by providing you free online tools making event planning, marketing and fundraising easier. With Eventastic you can:

1. Provide and share all the necessary details of your event or fundraiser on a webpage

2. Promote through photosharing and video technology

3. Sell tickets for your event

4. Accept donations for your cause

5. Personally thank sponsors for contributions

6. Sell merchandise/goods where applicable (i.e. pre-sell bake sale items)

7. Install a ticketing widget right on your own website

8. Share your event page through email and all social media channels

We would love to be of assistance to you this Thanksgiving. Click here to begin the process.

I’m already being asked what my plans are for March break this year. It’s crazy as I feel that Christmas was just yesterday. If you are planning on doing something special for March break, it is smart to begin the process of planning a couple months prior to the school hiatus.

March Break Programs

Many companies and businesses are in the process of firming up their schedules and finalizing their plans for what they will be offering their customers over the break. Travel agents, attractions, parks, rinks, communities, entertainment facilities, little theatres, clubs, camps etc. all consider what they can offer kids and parents to make that week fun and interesting for all who can partake.

I remember when my kids were young and wanted to participate in a March Break program. It was not only about their interest in a certain theme like sports or crafting, but it was about which company met my need and my children’s interest that reached me first.That’s what is important. Once the decision has been made and the child is excited, a parent is very unlikely to change the decision even if what is being offered beats factors like quality and price. There would have to be a very good reason to make the change.

Timing is Critical

Grandma used to say “The squeaky wheel gets the grease” and I have certainly come to agree with that over the years. Effective advertising will bring the customers to consider what you have to offer and then it’s the details of cost, timing, availability etc. that will hold them to make a decision in your favour. Timing is just as important as the other factors. When creating offerings that are time driven, reaching the client during the time period where they make their decisions is critical.

The key is to not only reach the customer but catch their attention. In today’s world there are many tools at your fingertips to help with the process. Gone are the days of just putting an ad in the local newspaper. Multimedia is where it’s at if you’re going to compete with other companies offering similar services. Parents will pick one program for the week and you want it to be yours!

Forms of Multimedia

Content (Text, Blogs, Articles, Program Itineraries, Testimonials)
Audio
Pictures
Video

Features Making it Easy for You’re Customer

Intriguing and attractive presentation – using various forms of multimedia
Program information readily visible & at their fingertips
Effortless sign up
Easy form of payment – online being the easiest for consumer
Sell related or required merchandise like t-shirts & supplies prior to start date
Program details easily shared through all social media channels – Facebook, Twitter, email etc.
Photos from the week simply shared with parents demonstrating they made the right choice

Eventastic is your free online invite platform allowing you to market your program and not just announce it. Eventastic offers you all of the features listed above to help you be successful. Take a few moments to fill in our template and get the word out now!

Family Day at the Cottage

Posted by Judy Bird on January 22, 2014

Posted in: Family Day, Winter Fun. Tagged: celebrate, celebration, event, event planning, family, Family Day, family day activities, fun, Holiday, kids, party, planning, what to do, winter. Leave a comment

My dream come true: Family Day at the cottage! Politicians knew what they were doing when they made a designated holiday where families could take time off work to spend with their families. Making it in February is great timing since by then some of us are dreaming of Spring and warmer temperatures where we are more likely to spend time outdoors with family and friends. Family Day encourages us to plan a day of fun with family and forget the humdrum stuff for a day. If you’re lucky enough to own or have access to a cottage it is a perfect location to relax and have fun for the day.

Fun in the Snow

You never really know what the weather will be like for Family Day but being ready for the elements projected is always wise. Should there be snow, we have some ideas that may be intriguing for you.

Cross country skiing or snowshoeing around the area
Downhill skiing/snowboarding
Tubing/sledding
Snowmobiling to a destination or just around the area
Building a snow fort with cool covered rooms
Tromping a maze in fresh snow and play a game of tag
Make a snowman family
Hiking
Skating/hockey

Fun Inside

If the weather hasn’t cooperated with your outdoor plans or you wish to stay inside where it’s warm we have other ideas for you. Put on your comfy clothes and consider one of these.

Family movie day
Playing favourite board/card games
Hide and Seek with little ones
Drinking games with big ones (pop of course… :))
Make your own pizza and share party
Crafts time
Everyone work on a puzzle and then frame it
Electronic games like Wii
Karaoke

A cottage is a place where you most likely already are tuned to be in relaxation mode. This makes it a perfect place to celebrate Family Day. Put down the cell phone and close the computer screen for a bit. It’s time to kick back, appreciate family members and enjoy time with them. Hope our suggestions are helpful. Check in with our Family Day Pinterest board for more ideas.

Eventastic is designed to help you creatively market and manage your parties and events where people truly get a feel for what they will experience. People worldwide are now using Eventastic for personal, business and community events and programs. You’ll have access to multiple features like registration/ticketing, donation and guest funding options, item and service sales options, photo and video upload capability, gamification options and a full dashboard to manage all guest or participant responses. Try it now!

Host a Post-Holiday Get Together!

Posted by Carla on December 24, 2013

Posted in: Christmas, Event Planning, New Year's, Party Tips, Special Occasions. Tagged: Christmas, Christmas and holiday season, friends, get together, Holiday, party. Leave a comment

You’ve had your turkey and the family festivities are starting to slow down. This is a great time to arrange a get together with your friends! The holidays can sometimes get expensive, especially if you are hosting family dinners and parties; don’t let that deter you from spending time with friends.

Host and Save Money

With a little organization and some advanced decision making (menu), a friend’s get together can be affordable for all and create amazing memories!

Saving Scenario 1: Catered

If the host collects money in advance to have the party catered, or pizza ordered, you can avoid the awkwardness of asking everyone for cash, fronting money for some friends and forgetting to collect it all. By creating an Eventastic Event you have access to create tickets that you can used to collect money. E.g. $10 per person. As the host, you can cash out the money and use it the day of the event to buy dinner.

Tip: Add a ticket item for alcoholic beverages and provide a few options for booze and mix. An extra $10 can go a long way when split with friends.

Saving Scenario 2: Pot Luck

Decide on what you would like to have; the Eventastic event page makes it easy for you to communicate details about the event. The ability to have conversations on the event page make it easy for all attendees to say what they would like to bring and to see what others are bringing. What makes this option great is that by RSVPing, the host can always see how many people to expect so everyone can make the appropriate amount of food!

Saving Scenario 3: Combo of 1 & 2

Do a bit of both and still save! Arrange for guests to bring apps and dessert and just get dinner! Use a combination on dinner tickets and comments to work out the details, source the cash and throw together an awesome party for your friends!

Organizing a party with shared costs makes a holiday get together affordable for everyone. Create your holiday event today!

Friends are chosen family

Friends are family too, don’t forget to make time for them over the holidays. It’s really simple to arrange a get together and to invite your friends via Facebook, Twitter, email, etc.

Be Successful with your New Year’s Resolution Planning

Posted by Judy Bird on December 20, 2013

Posted in: New Year's, Party. Tagged: friends, get organized, getting fit, girl's night, girl's night out, Goal, Health, Holiday, lose weight, New Year, new years resolution, party, planning, quit smoking, resolution party, success, support, support group. 2 Comments

Which Type of Goal Setter are you?

It’s that time where people start asking you what your New Year’s resolution will be… Which type of goal setter do you think you are? Any of these categories sound like you?

1. I’d like to do differently in the New Year and I already have a plan how to do it!

2. I have some ideas to make positive changes but find it hard to follow through.

3. I find it difficult to make realistic promises of change, so never follow through.

4. I have no interest in making New Year’s Resolutions because I’m perfect.

Typical New Year’s Resolution Ideas

There are some New Year’s resolutions that you can expect to be atop people’s list year after year to make positive changes in their lives. Statistic Brain’s Top 10 are:

Lose Weight
Getting Organized
Spend Less, Save More
Enjoy Life to the Fullest
Staying Fit and Healthy
Learn Something Exciting
Quit Smoking
Help Others in Their Dreams
Fall in Love
Spend More Time with Family

Attain Success with your Resolutions

There are many ways people attain personal success. Most often its accomplished if you:

1. Make a plan

2. Set a timeline

3. Share your goals with others

4. Take suggestions & be open to others experiences

5. Accept encouragement and support

6. Ask for what you need to achieve your goal

Plan a Resolution Get-together

Knowing you might be more successful with your new Year’s resolution(s) if you have the support of friends, now is the time to plan a get-together to begin the support you’ll need. Whether a few close friends or a larger gathering, this is the perfect way to get your plan/promise to yourself ‘out there’. It’s just too easy to discard your resolution plan after the first week or so of January if you haven’t shared it with people you know will be checking in on you.

Having a discussion of various resolution plans with others gives the opportunity for you to learn from others’ successes and failures. You’ll learn what a realistic timeline might be and resources you can and should tap for your success.

You might want to plan follow-up get-togethers either at friend’s homes or out at a coffee shop for ongoing support and positive suggestions. Depending on your goals, you might want to walk as you talk and hike together! Sharing email addresses or picking a ‘buddy’ you can call in those weak moments is also a great idea.

Get creative with your Eventastic event page and use it also as a method of support. Post updated monthly photos to your Eventastic event page to share your new looks, share pictures of your healthy meals and ask the team for support when you need it.

Create an event page now!

Have a Sanctuary of Support!

On the event page, have cover photos of inspiration and encouragement. You could all join together for a group video to start off the event page with a cheer of “WE CAN DO THIS!”. You can keep coming back and adding to your page for that lov’in feeling to gain the momentum you need to really reach your goals!

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