Hello everyone!
This would be my second post, and I will be sharing a brief
overview about my very first PR event – GoMyWay Launch.
To start off with a little introduction about GoMyWay: GoMyWay
is a location-based app that allows users to share taxis. Founded by four friends,
they look to leverage technology to achieve greater efficiency in Singapore’s
transit infrastructure. There are many benefits in using GoMyWay, including
sharing the fare of the taxi trip, potentially reducing waiting times by
reducing taxi queues, achieving greater efficiency to contribute positively to
the environment and reduce congestion, and interacting socially with
interesting people. The GoMyWay App is available for free download at the
iPhone App Store and coming soon to Android.
Days before the event
The GoMyWay Launch was held on 22 August 2012, at Sansui
Contemporary Japanese Dining and Bar (Clarke Quay). The whole event was
actually split into two parts, where both the media launch and the consumer
launch were taking place on the same day. As such, lots of preparation works
were required for the different group.
Days before the event, the entire MAX team had several long meetings,
with my colleagues briefing us on the event schedule, our respective roles, and
other work-in-progress issues to be completed.
A list of things to prepare was also listed out. I was tasked to
purchase the items required for the event, getting the media name tags ready
for the lanyards, and the packing and organising of the event box (important
materials for the event).
Day of the event
Though the event was held from late afternoon onwards, time
was passing fast for all of us in the office with the event preparations and other
work from the company’s other clients. Throughout the whole morning, other than
the usual daily tasks, I was assigned to burn the soft-copy of the press
materials into CD-ROMs (in addition to the hard-copy press materials), and
making sure that the files could be opened. At the same time, I was peeling the
price tags off from the files. Soon, I started to pack the media kits, lanyards
and the event box, making sure that all materials were included in it. My
colleagues were also very helpful in helping me along with the packing.
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| A bag of media kits and lanyards, with the event box packed ready for the event |
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| Media kits |
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| Media kits |
Our team went down to the event venue two hours before the
media launch, to make sure that the arrangements for the media launch were all
in place. I was also tasked to prepare the media registration area and arrange
the media kits and lanyards accordingly. But soon, just about an hour before
the media launch, a small nerve-wrecking situation happened. One of the journalists
came much earlier than expected and I was the only one manning the registration
area (the rest of my colleagues were inside the venue briefing the founders and
having a final check through). Luckily, I was able to manage the journalist
well after I had regained my composure. It was a pretty scary situation as it
was my very first event in contact with a journalist. Luckily everything went
well! As time passes, more journalists began to arrive at the venue, and for
those journalist who have not yet arrived, my colleague and I were doing call-downs
to them. But sadly, there were some journalists who were unable to attend last
minute.
The whole media launch went smoothly according to schedule,
first starting off with a presentation by the founders, and Q&A sessions. There
is also a small demonstration area for the media to explore the app using the
iPads available.
After the media launch, our team went for a quick dinner
around the area before the consumer launch party at 7pm. For the consumer
launch party, only attendees who have RSVP their attendance on the GoMyWay event
page were allowed into the restaurant. I was assigned to help take photos for
the attendees with the taxi cut-out and other ad hoc tasks on-site. There were
free flows of F&B throughout, live music and an interactive game. For the
game, attendees were to key in their next destination after the party using the
GoMyWay app. Four lucky winners, whose destinations are the nearest to any of
the four founders’, would win $20 in cash and a trip together with the chosen
founder.
Though it is a little messy with the amount of attendees for
the event, but overall, the event was a success in being able to spread
awareness of the app and getting people to use it.
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| Attendees for the event outside the restaurant |
Source:
GoMyWay Official Facebook Page
For more information about GoMyWay, you can access their
website or official Facebook page:
It was really an eventful and interesting day for my very
first PR event. I gained many experiences, and had learnt more about press
events and the PR skills needed before and on the event. The right planning,
team work and management are really the important ingredients for a successful
event.
Till my next post,
Delvina Chiang
15006527
Curtin Singapore
