Since the launch of Eventbrite’s annual RECONVENE Summit in 2021, we’ve been helping our global Creator community to unlock the power of live events.
At this year’s Summit, the industry’s sharpest thinkers and most inspiring innovators gathered to explore what’s now and next for the live events industry.
Our mission: to help event organizers stay one step ahead of the tech and cultural curve in this ever-changing industry by breaking down trends and what they mean for you and your business.
Making the connection
Connecting people is at the very heart of what every event organizer does, and, unsurprisingly, it was a theme that ran through this year’s summit.
As Eventbrite CEO Julia Hartz put it in her opening speech: There is power in connection.
Hartz also laid out three emerging themes that are impossible to ignore: ‘Immersive Experiences’, ‘The Rise of AI’ and ‘Multi-Channel, Multi-Platform Storytelling.’
“This is a platform that not only can help you build your business, but also help you create the change that we want to see in the world,” Hartz told the attendees.
Empowering creators through innovation
During his speech, Chief Product Officer Ted Dworkin, zoned in on Eventbrite moving from vendor to an essential partner. Dworkin shared more about the features Eventbrite is building to serve event Creators, like new generative AI tools, with the emphasis on accelerating — not replacing — human creativity. This was illustrated when Dworkin created an event page against the clock using Eventbrite’s AI-powered tool, which he completed in minutes.
Creating immersive events with generative AI
Audio visual artist and composer Ben Heim demonstrated ways to make events more immersive, bringing people together in a multi-sensory experience. He gave a glimpse into the future with AI-generated, real-time artworks created using data, sound or movement, and a stunning performance that saw a dancer’s moves generating interactive visuals.
“We’re on the brink of a new future with AI, which is really going to empower a new way of creating art,” Heim told the audience.
Creating culture and brand storytelling
Visionary entrepreneur Melody Ehsani’s inspiring journey as a creator began in third grade with a pair of plastic earrings and her first shop in her backyard playhouse. Ehsani shared how her core beliefs, rooted in unity, equality and justice, helped her transform women’s wear with her ME brand and has seen her collaborate with some of the most iconic brands and names of our time.
“Anybody that’s starting a brand… what would you wake up and do for free because you love it so much?,” Ehsani asked the audience.
How I hacked this
The final session of this year’s Summit saw three Eventbrite Creators sharing the lessons they’ve learned during their unique journeys as event entrepreneurs.
Anthony Schlander of Anthony Presents shared how he has “cultivated a powerhouse” with his day parties; Tayleur Crenshaw of Gold Beams talked about the importance of partnering; and Dr. Dapper of The Outlet shared how he has built a brand through “experience curation”.
Watch the full keynotes here
Reconvene Summit Toolkit
Welcome to the Future! Dive deep into today’s trends in tech & culture.
Put them into action to impact your business.
TREND #1
Embrace AI
(it’s not going anywhere)
AI has changed the game. From the tools we use, to the creation of truly immersive, next-generation experiences. It’s time to jump on the (mother)board.
TREND #2
Transform your experiences
(goosebumps included)
Evolve your business with immersive experiences. People need a reason to GTFO of the house, and you need to give it to them.
TREND #3
Multi-platform storytelling
is the new event narrative
Going beyond the four walls of your event has never been more important. How does your event continue to reach new audiences through takeaway content and social sharing?
TREND #1
Embrace AI
(it’s not going anywhere)
The cultural shift
Welcome to the future. Already, more than half the planet is reported to have experimented with generative AI tools or plans to*. In short: it’s transforming how culture is made.
AI is making many everyday business tasks a cinch, meaning creators can focus on the fun stuff, like designing one-of-a-kind experiences that audiences will never forget.
*Wunderman Thompson
Where we’re seeing it
MUSIC & STYLE
GRAMMY® Award-winning rapper and MIT Visiting Scholar Lupe Fiasco built an experiment called TextFX tool in collaboration with Google. The result? A tool that expands creative opportunities within text and language.
MIXED REALITY EXPERIENCES
Artist Rashaad Newsome creates a mixed reality with “Assembly” exhibition. During this celebratory performance, generative AI creates fractals and patterns projected into the space, during live performances by various artists.
MARKETING & PROMOTION
Maybelline, Barbie, Jacquemus and other brands are using “faux out-of-home” advertising to grab attention.
ON EVENTBRITE
AI writes a comedy show with The Lincoln Lodge
Creator name. The Lincoln Lodge.
Event concept. AI has a sense of humor? Who knew? At SCRIPTS: An AI Comedy Show, an AI program is fed with comedy material before writing its own jokes, which are then performed by this group of comedians. The results? Hilarious (we promise!).
Why it works? While AI might be doing the heavy lifting here, it’s all about creating an unforgettable experience. Attendees will laugh (and cringe) as the event creator zones in on where we’re at in AI development to create a unique, tell-everyone-about-it experience.
Each performance includes unique content generated with AI, performed live by comedians – with lots of audience participation. Past shows have included a drinking game with AI-generated rules; a TikTok dance with AI-choreographed steps and a performance where AI generated apology notes for guilty members of the audience.“
Michelle Leatherby, Lincoln Lodge
Put it into action
TIP #1 Get acquainted with free AI products
New to AI? A great place to start is the free tool ChatGPT to help with everything from drafting your promotional emails to coming up with menus for your F&B.
TIP #2 Use AI to transform your events into truly immersive experiences
- Enable audiences to co-create a live experience through sound or visuals that react to input and stimuli.
- Looking to create custom soundscapes for your event? Soundcharts analyzes music trends and listener demographics to choose music that resonates with your event’s audience.
TIP #3 Use Eventbrite’s industry-first AI tools
- For event creation, Eventbrite’s AI tools have simplified the process by automating summary and description generation. Designed to help you beat the dreaded writer’s block.
- Use our AI-powered tools to promote your event and measure how well a campaign performs, freeing you up to focus on the fun stuff.
Want to try AI tools on Eventbrite? Check out our AI tools here.
TREND #2
Transform your experiences
(goosebumps included)
The cultural shift
With increased competition, creators are really upping their game. Creating FOMO is key with immersive experiences that tap into the five senses, and truly elevates the everyday and leads to these events being on everyone’s socials.
While this shift is a reaction to the isolation and anxiety so many of us are experiencing these days, it’s not always about escape. It’s also about inspiring deeper connections with ourselves, each other, and the world around us.
Where we’re seeing it
IMMERSIVE ART
International art collective teamLab engages all of the senses with their awe-inspiring, multi-disciplinary installations.
GROWN-UP PLAY
Fashion designer KidSuper turned their Paris Fashion Week runway show into a full-fledged comedy show, flipping expectations and making the fashionistas smile in the process.
SENSE LED EXPERIENCES
Quiet Parks International is a non-profit that preserves areas dedicated to quiet nature without noise pollution.
ON EVENTBRITE
Spectra Art Space uses immersive tools as a ticket upsell
Creator Name. Spectra Art Space.
Event concept. Spectra Art Space creates modern event exhibitions in the Denver area. Their past events feature a collaboration of artists exploring a theme, like nature. With a ticket upgrade, attendees can go deeper by wearing “activation glasses” to feel fully immersed in their surroundings. Talk about truly escaping.
Why it works? This innovative approach allows for tiered ticket sales, expanding total sales without needing additional venue capacity or headcount. This model also allows to expand accessibility of the event, selling entry-level tickets at a lower or even free price.
Put it into action
TIP #1 Surprise people
Create unexpected,“you had to be there” moments. For example:
- Get the audience involved to co-create the event or experience such as choosing the adventure or moments of audience participation.
TIP #2 Activate all the senses
Think about what people see, hear, smell, touch, and even taste. From lighting and scent to the soundtrack and cocktail menu, find simple ways to elevate the experience and inspire a shift in mindset. For example:
- Create a signature event scent.
- Create a mixtape or playlist specific for each event, or for specific transitions of the event.
TIP #3 Build multiple touchpoints and moments into experience design
The space you create should be constantly engaging and feel explorable. Some things to keep in mind:
- Focusing on the details can transform “an experience.” Considered details can help drive your vision through.
- Challenge preconceived notions or twist convention concepts or aesthetics.
- Create immersive experiences by intentionally designing a hook that draws. attendees in, elements that allow them to explore more deeply, and offer a reward them with a “surprise and delight” moment.
TREND #3
Multi-platform storytelling
is the new event narrative
The cultural shift
With so many things vying for our attention these days, organizers are finding new ways to engage their audiences and build community. Think creative storytelling across platforms and collabs with brands or other creators.
This new world of brand building is all about going beyond the event itself to tap into cultural crossovers and underground networks to spread the word about a single product, purpose, idea or occasion.
Where we’re seeing it
COLLABORATIONS AND BRAND PARTNERSHIPS
Elyse Fox, Creator and Founder of Sad Girls Club, focused on telling the story of mental health and women of color — crossing from podcast to social channels, leveraging her offering to brand partnerships with HBO, NIKE, Victoria Secret PINK and more.
MULTI-CHANNEL,
MULTI-FORMAT STORYTELLING
Independent entertainment company A24 screened well-known films on an unconventional medium—digital billboards.
RISE OF MULTI-HYPHENATE CREATIVES
Artist, Creative Director, and Musician Solange Knowles expands her online community, Saint Heron, into a multi-disciplinary platform, studio, and creative agency.
ON EVENTBRITE
Thinking beyond the event with poetry me, please
Creator name. Rashan Brown, poetry me, please.
Event concept. poetry me, please is a community content hub and event series that provides a stage for spoken-word poets across the world to showcase their talents. Not only does each randomly selected poet get a moment to shine on stage, they also leave the event with high-quality content to help grow their audience.
Why it works? Rashan and team are creating an experience for folks in the room, with an eye for how the story will be told and shared after the event. Providing speakers with high-quality content of their performance not only supports the poets but helps create FOMO for the poetry me, please experience.
I walk my audience through real life experiences and give insights into the creative processes. When I share my success, people know what I’ve gone through. The community I represent isn’t used to having a multi-formal storyteller poet among them. I don’t want to disappoint the people I’m paving the way for.“
Rashan Brown
Put it into action
TIP #1 Promote your event with non-traditional tactics
For example:
- Send personalized voice messages to contacts in your phone inviting them to your event.
- Hire a chalk artist to create a stunning promo for your event in a public space.
- Create incentives for your attendees by giving away tickets when they bring folks to your event.
TIP #2 Explore partnerships that enable you to reach new audiences and add color and dimensionality to your brand story
- Seek out partners who can complement your event offering. Don’t start from scratch, find experts in areas you want to expand into.
- Think about how a partnership adds value. Partnerships not only help you grow audiences, but a novel collaboration can garner press coverage, or attract potential sponsors.
- Prepare a Pitch Deck that outlines what you can bring to the table, while highlighting what your partner will receive from the exchange.
TIP #3 Mobilize your community around a creative project, prompt, or challenge
For example:
- Look for ways your community can contribute to the overall storytelling, such as “confessional booths” onsite at your event to capture social content.
- Create interactive zones within your event, allowing attendees can respond to questions, and reveal trends across the audience.
- Consider using a tool like Slido to host polls or trivia during the event that you can post on social afterward.
