Annual Venetian Masked Ball: Il Ballo del Doge

Thanks go to my industry colleague, Sharon Bonner, of Bright Ideas Events here in Vancouver for this post. Sharon has landed a deal to promote Canadian attendance at the 2013 edition of the Il Ballo del Doge. I took a look at her web site and the video below of last year's event and realized the outstanding creativity and thought that went into it. I felt it would be a great idea to share it with readers as it is truly a magnificent event, so here it is, described below. For more information about attendance, go to the Bright Ideas web site at http://www.brightideasevents.com/il-ballo-del-doge-3/.

A palace lit by the flames of a thousand candles. A visual feast of performers and décor. A stunning parade of culinary masterpieces, assembled with a historic palette. And amidst it all, masked guests adorned in sumptuous costumes, playing their own part in an extravagant illusion, conjuring history, and bringing magic to a modern age.

This is the unforgettable real-life experience of Il Ballo del Doge. One of the most renowned events of the annual Carnival of Venice in Italy, Il Ballo del Doge is a masked ball without equal. The brainchild of Italian designer/producer Antonia Sautter, Il Ballo del Doge is held every year in the opulent Palazzo Pisani Moretta – a perfect setting for this amazing evening. This year’s event is called It’s All About Amore – with Eros, Romance, and Passion each taking over a floor of the famed Venetian palace.

Created to entertain and delight the most discerning of guests, Il Ballo del Doge even surpasses the lofty expectations of those accustomed to a world of beauty and luxury. No surprise that it’s a favorite stop on the social calendar for members of the global A-list and Vanity Fair called it “the most sumptuous, refined and exclusive ball in the world.”

Whether you are looking for an unforgettable way to celebrate the masquerade tradition of the Carnival of Venice, seeking a chance to anonymously rub shoulders with the rich and famous, or simply want to experience one of the world’s most memorable parties, the 2013 Il Ballo del Doge should be on your bucket list.

What better way to experience the unforgettable Il Ballo del Doge than by opening and closing the Venetian carnival with one of Antonia Sautter’s signature events? This year it’s finally possible. For 2012, Sautter has expanded her vision even further, bringing back her showcase 'best of' event for a second year with Frames of a Dream, to be held Saturday, February 2, 2013, at the start of the festival, and providing a suite of event packages for discerning travellers wishing to a enjoy a complete Carnival of Venice experience. As the exclusive Canadian representative for Il Ballo del Doge, Bright Ideas Events can arrange for your tickets to this truly unforgettable experience.

Five Predictions: What’s Next in Event Management Technology and What It Means

It appears that our fast-changing event world is increasingly dependent on technology, particularly mobile technology. Not a specialist in that area, I am calling on a guest for this week's post. He is Justin Ungerboeck, the Product Marketing Manager at Ungerboeck Software International. In this post, he takes a look at the future.

In an industry that evolves as quickly as event management technology, figuring out what comes next can be nearly impossible. However, there are some trends rising that could indicate some big changes for developers, organizers, and venues alike. Here are some of the “next big things” on the horizon for our industry, and what they could mean.

#1: Free or Low-Cost Apps

As more people come to expect mobile apps as part of an event, organizers will need a way to provide this perk without busting their budget. In-app advertising will offer a way to offset the costs of an application, and ever-decreasing lead times for development will also contribute this price drop.

#2: HTML5

StrategyAnalytics predicts that sales of HTML5-compatible smartphones will grow to 1 billion in 2013, up from just 336 million in 2011. This language will become the standard for event management applications because it allows for easier compatibility between devices. 

#3: DIY Mobile Event Apps

Mobile apps have traditionally been the realm of larger, established organizations, since the cost was simply too high for smaller players to get involved. DIY mobile event apps will provide an affordable alternative for those with smaller budgets. However, these apps will be limited in their uses and designs, leaving space for custom and semi-custom apps to remain. A parallel can be drawn between this and website development: Standard templates can be used to create a cheap and easy website. You simply fill in the blanks with your information and upload it. However, this template may not accommodate all your needs and also may not reflect the company perfectly. A custom website is more expensive, but it also provides flexibility and a better representation of your brand. In the same way, DIY apps will offer a fast and cheap solution, but custom and semi-custom ones are here to stay. 

#4: Multi-Platform Integration

Right now there is a heavy focus on smart phones, but development is moving more into tablets and desktops, as well as toward the integration of these three platforms. As hardware progresses and these devices become more powerful, they will become mobile equivalents of the laptop/desktop software, offering everything that the main system can do in a more portable package. All information will be available and synced instantly between devices. 

#5: Social Media

The role of social media will increase in mobile apps and be integrated into the software itself. This will allow attendees, organizers, sponsors, and other involved parties to network and communicate better, and lend a more community-like feel to the event.

These are just five of the possible developments that could occur in event management software over the next few years. Whether these changes actually come to pass is anyone’s guess, but in any case, it’s plain to see that mobile event management software, and the people who use it, are in for a major transformation.