Picture this: a chilly January 18, and the Heroic Productions squad descended upon Glasshouse in Minneapolis for the stellar Raise + Arrange 2024 event hosted by Do Good Events. Our CEO, Account Manager, and Marketing maestro joined forces with 80 other event enthusiasts for the afternoon, turning a frosty day into an epic experience.

The theme of this event was “Back to the Future of Events.” The venue transformed into a neon dreamland, with vibrant pinks and purples filling the space. The eye catcher? An LED check in desk courtesy of Full Swing Productions! The festivities kicked off with networking, delectable charcuterie from Chowgirls, and Kombucha sampling thanks to J’s Kombucha. Even Minneapolis local Surley Brewing Co. showed up with some swag and giveaways for attendees.

As the clock struck 1:30 p.m. everyone took their seats at round tables to get cozy with other event wizards. Once our table got acquainted with each other, the conference kicked off. In three hours, this event packed in a treasure trove of knowledge.

Build a Million Dollar Fundraising Event

First up was Fundraising: Building a Million Dollar Event. Two members of The University of Minnesota Foundation, Nick Engbloom and Brittany Minke, took the stage to give us their genius tips for building a million dollar fundraising event. From building strong donor relationships to slightly altering ticket prices, these panelists were filled with a myriad of brilliant ideas!

PR/Marketing for Your Next Event

Next in line was PR/Marketing: Tips and Tricks, which included panelist Ben Theis, CEO of Skol Marketing. The hot topic – trying to bridge the data gap between offline and online marketing. The advice? Continue to mix traditional and digital marketing like a blender. Bring both to the table for conversation. Our pro tip takeaway: create/purchase a separate URL or domain for your event attendees. This way you can directly link web traffic to specific events. Genius, right?

Let Tech Bring You Into The Future

Cue drumroll for The Future of Event Tech, Heroic’s sweet spot! Ed Raeker, the brain behind Starlux, a new tech startup, wowed us with LED archways that can transform your event with illuminated geometric designs. Did we mention the LED check-in desk? Impressive stuff!

The New Age of Mobile Bidding

Then, it was time for mobile bidding, brought to you by the day’s sponsors, OneCause and Auction & Event Solutions. They make bidding and collecting donations a breeze, ensuring your fundraising event is smoother than a well-choreographed dance.

“Fundraise Awesomer” with Patrick Kirby

Donors, Sponsors… and Everything Else! Enter Patrick Kirby, Keynote Speaker, Author, and Founder of Do Good Better Consulting. He hit the stage with contagious energy, reminding us that it’s the little things—like engaging your donors—that truly elevate fundraising events to awesomeness.

The Alignment of Past, Present, and Future

Last but certainly not least, the sensational Heather Boll took us on a journey with Learning from the Past, Living for the Present, Planning for the Future. Heather left us with pearls of wisdom and the courage to conquer the year ahead.

The Raise + Arrange 2024 day wrapped up with a networking happy hour, courtesy of the delightful Brasa Rotisserie. As we indulged in Brasa delights, sipped our drinks, and mingled with fellow event enthusiasts, we left with newfound knowledge and friendships. What a day!

To learn more about what’s new in event tech, visit our blog.

To see what Heroic Productions can do for you, contact us.