As with most technological evolution, the fear around data privacy and exploitation is present. AI specifically creates a deeper fear for humankind — redundancy. Now the question is: will AI ever have the ability to make experiential marketers, agencies, and the event industry redundant? 

Obviously, we’re shouting an emphatic “NO CHANCE!” over here at the RED VELVET HQ underscored when hearing about the fake Halloween parade in Dublin. But let’s consider this: can AI be helpful in our industry?

I created a general pitch inquiry and fed it to ChatGPT and the RED VELVET team to evaluate the output…

Y’all know Charmin! The stuff we trust. American-made; will never leave us in a port strike, pandemic or otherwise (we make sure of that in Texas as we clear the shelves each time temps drop below freezing). The rolls with the scalloped edges we ensure are hanging OVER that holder, because under just won’t do.

“Look up.” 

We hear it all the time. Scolding anyone whose eyes are glued to their screen as they attempt to multitask life: navigating through foot traffic, queued up for a coffee, glazed over almost missing their subway stop. Once your eyes are released from the screen’s suction, you’re usually hit with a pleasant reminder that the outside world glows with a vibrancy that can’t be captured in pixels. Here’s a secret: if you lift your gaze a touch higher, the sky becomes the limit.  And marketers have caught on.

Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to celebrate the rich cultures, histories, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino communities across the United States. What began as a week-long celebration in 1968 now spans September 15 to October 15 each year, marking the anniversary of independence for many Latin American countries including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Mexico, Chile, and Belize. Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month isn’t about understanding these cultures perfectly, it’s about being open to learning, asking questions, and engaging with these diverse communities in a meaningful way.

It is one thing to demonstrate Unreasonable Hospitality, which involves seeking out ways to create extraordinary experiences and giving people more than they could ever possibly imagine or expect, but it is wholly another to experience it. Experiencing it - most especially when it comes as a gift or even better packaged in the unexpected - creates a virtuous cycle. You give more to get more, and so on and so forth. All boats rise with that tide (I’ve always loved that phrase, and I am such a believer in it!).

Imagine a world without “Imagine”, the 21st night of “September”, and the power ballads of Aerosmith. Imagine a world without “Boogie Wonderland”... scary, I know. Fortunately, that’s not the world we live in, and the iconic lyrics and melodies continue to play long after their release date. These songs, just to name a few, were made extremely popular by male dominated bands and the vocalists are often given credit for the song's divine inspiration. In reality, when we look closer at the creatives behind the music, these frontmen are replaced by Carole King, Diane Warren, Allee Willis, and more.

It’s 2024 and we’re sharing a thought piece about women’s equality. It’s 2024 and it still seems to be as necessary as ever. As a country, we’re a few months out from Harrison Butker’s infamous commencement speech. We’re also on the heels of the country advocating for America’s Sweethearts to make more than their current earnings, which is roughly half of what the average NFL waterboy brings home (as brought to light after the popular Netflix series).

Owala was started by dreamers & designers who wanted a water bottle for everyday use that made it easy for hydrators to stay hydrated. A water bottle for the people. One with realistic functionality rather than over-the-top aspirations of hiking Mount Everest. Their motto is to “do more of what you love,” so we pledge to continue creating immersive brand activations with the support of our personality-expressing, thirst-quenching sidekicks...

Unlock Hayden Lockaby's insights on eliminating random acts of marketing and crafting impactful brand experiences from the Experiential Marketing Summit 2024. Delve into the importance of insight-based strategy, understanding what the brand stands for, who it's trying to meet, and how it wants you to feel.

Embark on a romantic journey with Missed Connections, a nationwide pop-up activation inviting singles to rediscover lost opportunities and failed flirtations in a whimsical setting. Sweethearts ensures unexpected encounters, promising the meet-cute of a lifetime.

Embark on RED VELVET's 2023 year of the rabbit full of rebranding, nationwide ad campaigns, navigating industry shifts, and turning 21 in the era of Generation Z. Our CEO's strategic acquisition adds excitement to a year of resilience and growth. Read more about our year in this vibrant recap!

Born between the mid-1990s and early 2010s, these emerging professionals are not just another wave of fresh blood; they’re a tidal shift in workplace dynamics. If you are looking at your team and haven’t considered the Gen Z factor, it’s time to tune in.

We’ve watched brands, ourselves included, pull out all the stops: posing questions, following trends, and even sharing behind-the-scenes content. And still, all these traditional social media engagement strategies just aren’t working for any of us. So, what can event professionals learn from Threads, from how it attracted users to its post-launch slump and engagement drop-off?

We don’t need to say it, but we will; Barbie will go down in history for being one of the best case stories for how experiential marketing enhanced the customer experience, deepened the brand’s relationships with its fans, and most notably, drove sales to new heights.

Sometimes the only way to make magic happen is by looking at the world in a way only kids can. Armed with $400 worth of fake money, furniture rental printouts, and lots of Elmer’s glue, event marketers-in-training took over the RED VELVET headquarters and showed the seasoned event professionals that when it comes to bringing your brand to life, these girls mean business.

Where does the time go? It feels like, just yesterday, we were breaking ground on our headquarters at 7121 N Lamar. Well, that was five years ago.

Experiential Marketing Summit (EMS) made its biggest post-pandemic splash to date, and we were honestly . . . relieved! After catching up on some quiet back in Texas, we’re ready to dive into our key takeaways, favorite & not-so-favorite elements from this year’s summit. To those who shared our journey, curious, did you walk away with the same sentiments?

When do you know that you’ve found the right career?

When do you know you’ve found the right partner in life?

When do you know it’s a good time to change careers?

When do you know to leave a safe job?

The list goes on…

Experiential marketing at South By Southwest (SXSW) has come a long way since 1987. The RED VELVET team shares some of their thoughts on the 2023 festival and the good, surprising, and underwhelming.

As a woman-owned experiential marketing agency and WBENC certified organization, it is RED VELVET’s commitment to not only nurture a culture of support and empowerment for the women on our team, but also be part of larger conversations happening throughout the world.