10 Ways to Make Your Events Stand Out During the Holidays

The holidays are always a busy time – there’s parties and dinners to organize and long shopping lists to check off. So how do you grab the attention of people you want at your holiday event?

It’s a mixture of intention, preparation, and data, according to expert advice shared by three event organizers at our recent RECONVENE Session: How I Stand Out During the Holidays.

Here we break down the key takeaways from each of the event’s speakers to help your event stand out this holiday season – and the next, and the next…

Sana Javeri Kadri is the founder of Diaspora Co., a direct trade spice company working towards a radically equitable, sustainable, and more delicious spice supply chain.

1. Start prepping early

Sana shared that her event cadence is heavily weighted toward the holidays, so she starts planning a year in advance. Arranging logistics like transporting spices from across the world, preparing PR gifts, cultivating moments of joy for the community (through pop-ups and virtual cooking classes), and providing regular updates gets people excited.

2. Invite people in behind-the-scenes (especially superfans) 

Think of unique ways you can activate your community through the folks who love your events the most, whether in Slack, Discord or other platforms, and let them spread the word on your behalf. This is also a great way to keep your fans interested all year round!

“We have a Discord channel that we started about 2 years ago. Out of our total customer base it’s about one to two percent, but they’re super fans. Literally, the UGC that we get from that Discord channel is what we then use on Instagram. It’s pretty special,” Sana said.

3. Utilize your intuition, data and hospitality mindset 

Be intentional about your events by partnering with other like-minded organizations and focus on the data to see what works. Also, talk to your customers to see what they want.

“Every day of the pop-up in the mornings we offered free chai samples to people, just because it was cold outside, we wanted to warm them up,” Sana shared. “So, I think applying that South Asian Hospitality Generosity mindset and bringing that into what could otherwise just be a regular transaction has also made a pretty big difference.”

4. Pre-sell tickets ahead of time to poll who’s interested 

Sana explained that her company wanted to host a sari draping workshop and only 3 people signed up. “It was really awkward,” Sana admitted. “But you know, you learn and that’s also why we like Eventbrite so much. We have pre-orders and we pre-sell tickets for absolutely everything, so if only three tickets sell you know to not host the event… whereas we have other events where we have 600 RSVPs.””

Kae Burke is a Co-Founder and Creative Director of House of Yes in Brooklyn, New York, a nightclub concept that began as a humble DIY art space in 2007. It has since evolved into a world-renowned venue and performance space that hosts inclusive events with a focus on creating inspiring experiences for all.

5. Leverage what people are into 

After learning people like to go out dancing after Thanksgiving dinner, Kae and her team introduced a themed party called It’s Giving! Thanksgiving Throwback Rave.

6. Utilize a DMR (Daily Manager Report)

This will gauge walk-ups, ticket sales, and how much traffic there is at the bar and in the food area. Completing (and potentially publishing) a recap of the party will help you analyze how things went and what people liked.

7. Have a vibe-o-meter 

Be aware that people can be over-socialized around the holidays, so put yourself in their shoes by doing an event that is more chill and convenient for them. Be adaptable and think about people’s energies and motivations.

“Historically, [there] was a huge popular night on Wednesdays. We’ve seen the numbers dip on that Wednesday before and we’re like ‘cool, maybe people are oversocialized’, so we actually turned that into a private staff party as a thank you. So that’s a thank you party for our staff rather than trying to have this huge banger of a party.” Kae said.

Harry Weil is the Vice President for Education and Public Programs at The Green-Wood Cemetery. Since 2016, he and his team have produced over 300 public programs a year, including art installations, concerts, dance performances, walking and trolley tours, and immersive events.

8. Make people feel valued

One of Harry’s goals is making people feel welcome and appreciated. The key is to engage attendees to make them feel special; doing so makes them loyal customers.

“We want them to feel excited and that there’s so much to discover, so that’s why we just do the greatest hits,” Harry explained. “We got you for 90 minutes. We’re not going to hold you captive, but in those 90 minutes we want to really show you the best of what we do and then hopefully they’ll want to come back.”

9. Gift people an experience

Think of an exclusive experience you can offer your attendees. At The Green-Wood Cemetery you can gift someone a private tour, which they can redeem at any time during the year. Harry also shared that you have the option of adopting a tree commemorating people lost, or sponsoring a beehive which allows visitors to form a deeper connection with their venue.

Key takeaway: Use the holidays as a way to highlight your offerings in a new way.

10. Expand your audience

The Green-Wood Cemetary has over 300 active ambassadors who volunteer with the organization. Harry and the team engage with this valued community through a weekly newsletter and other communication to build connections and offer support. Why not use the holidays as an opportunity to recruit volunteers to join in?

For more in-depth insights, watch the full RECONVENE video below, which features Sana Javeri Kadri, Kae Burke, and Harry Weil. And for additional tips from Eventbrite’s ongoing RECONVENE events series, visit our recaps hub.