THE COUNTDOWN TO 2017 IS ABOUT TO BEGIN. WE ARE SO PROUD OF OUR BLOG, WE THOUGHT WE WOULD CELEBRATE WITH A GREATEST HITS COLLECTION FOR 2016. THESE ARE THE BLOG POSTS THAT OUR LOYAL READERS, CLIENTS, INDUSTRY COHORTS, AND COWORKERS ALL LOVED THE MOST. SO, HERE THEY ARE, OUR TOP TEN BEST BLOG POSTS OF 2016, JUST FOR YOU! DRUMROLL, PLEASE... 

#1 10 Ways to Get Big Impact on a Tight Budget

We all love to save money, and finding ways to do this for events is especially rewarding. Looking like you spent the big bucks, while not going over budget--now that's a triumph. In this post, we told you our best, most successful tactics for the most stunning results without breaking the bank. If you forgot some of the fantastic advice we gave, just hit that link there in the title and revisit this most excellent counsel we gave. And, a lucky bonus: this post came with a downloadable freebie--our complimentary guide to the ways industry pros (like us) save money while making it all look like a million bucks. 

#2 EVENT TRENDS FOR 2017

We used our psychic foresight and predicted the trends we thought we would see in the upcoming year. We think things like event mashups, live video platforms, lifestyle integrations are going to be huge this year. If you haven't already, check out our trend predictions and see if you agree. 

#3 YOUR HOLIDAY EVENT RECOVERY GUIDE

In our most recent post, we detailed how to recover from your Christmas events and how to prepare for New Years. We know you're probably as exhausted as we are, so we detail some ways you can get maximum restoration, immune support, and some moderation in a season of indulgence. Read the post if you want to know more of our excellent tips for staying well and recovering quickly. 

#4 'TIS THE SEASON OF GIVING

Who doesn't love the human story behind your favorite event production company? Well, you readers certainly do. Our holiday charitable giving guide was very well-received, and we are thrilled to know that you also support some of the causes that are close to our hearts: cancer research and support, clean water access, ALS, and the Special Olympics. Our founder and president, Jason Geshelin, also wrote about his support for Veterans on Veterans Day. If you didn't have the chance to read this meaningful story, you can find it here. 

#5 Illuminated: The Best Lighting Design Ideas for your Events

All events would literally be in the dark without lighting, so we're not surprised that this was a popular one. We detail all of the best innovations and ideas we have used and could find elsewhere to give your events the most inventive lighting possible. Lighting can be used to create anything from branding to art and the atmosphere it creates is essential to creating the feeling you want to convey. For more, read on...

#6 THE TOP 8 THINGS WE CAN LEARN FROM COMIC CON NEW YORK CITY

We wanted to examine one amazing event as a case-study for what works best in creating super successful events. We thought ComicCon would be an excellent example, given their repeat success on two coasts and unbelievable attendance and event loyalty. We researched everything that makes ComiCon tick so that you can use all of the tricks we uncovered to make your next event the best it can possibly be. Bonus, there's an awesome robot gif. 

#7 HOLIDAY PARTY #FAILS

There's nothing wrong with a little humor. You, our loyal readers, definitely seem to appreciate it when we break up all the serious advice with a little cheeky comedy. In this post, we outlined the most common oopsies we see at the many events we plan and produce. We don't want to tell tales out of school so we generalized a bit, but for sure we have seen our fair share of guests who are way too drunk, inappropriate intimacy, awful food, and transportation blunders. Want to read the rest? Click on over for a little giggle. We got a little goofy with this post about the feelings that make events meaningful and event experiences that are the #worst.

#8 Your Event is Over. Now What?

We frequently examine the planning and execution aspects of events and we thought it was high time to tell you the best practices for your post-game. Once all the champagne bottles are empty and the floor is littered with confetti, how do you best handle the tidying up? And, we help you understand what you can learn so that your next event will be even better than the one that preceded it. 

#9 How to Choose and Execute a Great Event Theme

The one thing that holds it all together? Your theme. It's the glue that keeps the whole event cohesive so being very clear about it AND making sure you choose the best possible theme is really essential. We help you figure out how to make a great decision and execute it with aplomb. Your only regret will be not reading this post before now. 

#10 Set The Stage: 7 of our favorite Stage Design Ideas

Your stage--it is the main focus and centerpiece of your event so being sure you get it right is essential. Not for nothing, we've done this a thousand times and we know how to make this great. This post outlines our favorite tactics for stylish, compelling stage design. See how color, light, fabric, and other unique materials can make the most beautiful possible stage for your event. 

WELL, THAT'S IT FOR US FOR 2016. WE'RE TAKING A FEW DAYS OFF TO TAKE OUR OWN ADVICE AND RECOVER FROM THE HOLIDAYS. CATCH YOU ON THE FLIPSIDE, FRIENDS! OUR NEXT POST WILL BE LIVE ON JANUARY 3RD. PLEASE BE SAFE OUT THERE AND ENJOY YOUR CELEBRATIONS. HAPPY NEW YEAR!