Driving an excavator simulator. Walking through a 30-foot black tunnel suspended from the ceiling. Fundraising games throughout the room. Flaming martinis. Glitter face paint. Tarot card readings. Casino tables. Large construction equipment INDOORS with a video demonstrating its use. A live auction that creates a friendly bidding war. A 50-foot red carpet entrance. A balloon photo backdrop. A video that brings you to tears.
As event decorators in South Dakota, we can tell you with confidence that EXPERIENCES at your corporate event, fundraiser, gala, or social event will level-up the memories people make. And when guests make memories, they want to come back again and again — each time contributing to your cause or supporting your business the best way they can.
People don’t open their wallets because they’re sitting at a table listening to someone talk or because of great event decor (although we love those things); they give because they feel something—inspired, connected, and part of something bigger. That’s what experiences do. They transform your event from just another night out into something personal, engaging, and—most importantly—deeper emotional connections and more generous donations.
We’ve had two recent examples of events that used experiences very successfully. The first was the Safe Harbor Mardi Gras event in Aberdeen, South Dakota. Safe Harbor is a domestic abuse safe shelter whose mission is to help people in crisis by providing shelter, intervention, and support. Talk about an organization that will pull at your heart-strings with their stories. They REALLY prioritized experiences with their Mardi Gras theme. They hosted over 400 people for a night of casino tables, custom martinis, tarot card readings (Hitch set up a sheer tarot card “booth” suspending from the ceiling), an area where women could visit a makeup artist who added sparkles added to their faces, and the grand, mysterious and ceiling-hung 30-foot tunnel entrance! Also in the entrance was a 30-foot wide balloon backdrop and lit letters that spelled MARDI GRAS. It really made you feel like you had “arrived” at this special event. Let’s be sure to give their sequin chair covers some love too, because WOW, did they make a statement!
Take a look below at some of the EXPERIENCES they made possible for their attendees! If guests are enjoying themselves, they’ll stay longer, share their experience on social media (free marketing!), and walk away talking about how much they loved it.
The second event we decorated for this month was the Bowes Construction 50th Anniversary event! And it was extra special because they asked Hitch Studio to decorate at their 40th Anniversary event, so we were able to once again bring their event to the next level! They parked their huge and impressive construction equipment outside the Dacotah Bank Center in Brookings, South Dakota, so you knew when you parked that you were in the right place. A 50-foot red carpet with red velvet ropes led you to the front doors, where you were greeted with lit letters “BCI” and a gray photo backdrop if you wanted to take a photo! As you walked down the hallway to the event, the walls were lined with photos from Bowes’ history. Then…one final touch before you entered the actual event. They had 200 red roses for guests to take since the event was on Valentine’s Day! What a special touch!
Then, once you walked inside, there were bistro lights hanging from the ceiling, a stage full of sequins and bistro lights, and more machinery and equipment on dirt piles around the arena. They even had an excavator simulator and many videos demonstrating their equipment! A band played until 11 p.m. and 1100 cheesecakes made the night extra sweet. (That’s right. We said 1100 cheesecakes. You should see our video of them all!) The tables were decorated with fresh flowers, Hitch decor, and hats and pins for guests to take with them. The food was amazing and the vibe was full of pride.
Congratulations to Bowes for 50 years in Brookings community!
All this to say that guests love to attend your corporate event, but what’s even better is if they can EXPERIENCE your event. It will leave them with a lasting impression for the next year of your fundraiser (or the next 10 years!)
Hitch Studio is proud to decorate for these local corporate events and social fundraisers across South Dakota! Let us know if we can decorate for your event. Take a look at these photos from Bowes Construction Inc 50th Anniversary:
