A) I am representing Marina Bay Sands. They were a prime sponsor for the iLight Marina Bay 2012. Posters were put up around the country to inform people about the event. The internet is an amazing way to let others know about upcoming events. MBS have convention centres that could hold conventions and exhibitions to hold big events. With MBS being really famous and an attraction on its own, they don’t really have to go all out and make themselves known like smaller hotel chains. They have celebrity chef restaurants that are really famous. And also hosted well known shows for example Jersey Boys and The Bootleg Beatles. MBS hosted and sponsored the Sovereign Asian Art Prize Singapore 2012 where 50 works of art were displayed and auctioned supporting the rise of Asia Pacific Artists. Also, they have an excellent website portraying everything they have to offer, from room types, musicals, restaurants to shopping and lots more. They even have a monthly calendar on their site with all the various events they would be having, complete with date and time.

B) Organised by the National Arts Council, Singapore Writers Festival is one of  Asia’s first literary events. Started in 1986, this festival promotes new and emerging Singaporean and Asian writing to an international audience, and also to present the world’s major literary talents to Singaporeans. Singapore Writers Festival has pleased book lovers by featuring literary luminaries such as local writers Shamini Flint, Alvin Pang and You Jin as well as international writers such as Neil Gaiman,  Andrew Motion, Marc Smith and many more.

This festival is one of the few multi-lingual literary festivals in the world, which consists of Singapore’s official lanuguages that are Chinese, Malay, Tamil and of course English.

This year’s festival was a great hit, some sessions were so well-attended that there weren’t even room for audience to stand and watch. That was how packed it was. The topics discussed were not just literary, there was even a political debate going on in Catherine Lim’s session. The festival accomodated close to 200 panels and the issues ranged from culture, crime, food, sports, politics and media to sex. Some speakers even dissected Singapore’s identity with complete comfidence. Literally nothing was spared, from singlish, foreign workers, low birth rate, Singaporean’s love for food and shopping, the variety of sex scandals in the city to the set ways of politics in Singapore. The entire audience lapped the humour up and and blew the roof off of the festival tent with a roar of applause and mirth.

Despite the rain and bad weather, audience still came to support and snaking queues of autograph hunters were seen for several authors. The participating writers even had a two-hour long closing party to interact with each other as well as their fans.

There were live music to keep the guests entertained and also to display talents of local singers.

Overall, this event was an absolute success.

C) Product

This is a major event mostly for writers and book lovers. The core products are the authors and the speakers speaking. Fans get to meet and listen to their favourite authors live and might also get a chance to snap a photograph with them and get their autograph. They also get an opportunity to meet fellow fans and mingle around with the other book lovers. This is an inexpensive way to get out of home and do something that you would actually enjoy. This event only happens annually, so the audience were feeling rather stoked to meet the authors. The augmented product are additional benefits as well as services the audience receive.

Place

It was located in various places such as the National Library, National Museum of Singapore, Peranakan Musuem, School of the Arts, Singapore Art Museum, Singapore Management University and Switch. Casual atmosphere and some of the venues hold Singapore’s culture which is an excellent place for tourists to be at as they can know more about Singapore as well as to attend the festival. It was held at a really good location, just beside the heart of Singapore as many tourists visit that area and it mighth have led them to the festival. Food places were literally everywhere so people didn’t have to worry if they hear their tummy rumbling.

Programming

Event was held from 2-11 of November which is about 10 days. During the festival, there were literary meals and cocktail where fans get to be close and personal with the writers over a meal or a drink. A party was hosted by the authors for up to 25 guests or an intimate session with only about 10. There was also a Singapore Writers Festival publishing symposium. It was a two-day seminar of stimulating dialogue and discussion about the world of publishing, writing and selling your work. Workshops were conducted as well. In the workshops, experts offered invaluable guidance and practical tips to new upcoming writers who wish to take their craft to the next level and even those who are just starting out. Experts spoke about topics ranging from Latin and Baba Malay, to young fiction, graphic novels, and writing about fashion for the stage and for television. The events above are ticketed though. The Singapore Writers Festival Fringe is included in the festival pass. It was held at the Arts House. It explored the origins of desire, it seeked to examine the different facets of desire in the literary arts and the manifestation of sexuality in books, films, performances as well as the visual arts. Ream to reel is another event which brought words to life through sessions on writing and adapting for screen. There were panel discussions as well where writers shared ideas and inspirations behind their works. These sessions were thought-provoking, insightful and emotionally-charged. There was music playing during intervals to keep the audience entertained. There was also the Poetry of Song 2012. Local singers/songwriters from Timbre Music Academy gave a really good performance.

People

There were a total of about 193 authors and speakers. The festival Director, Sales and Marketing Manager, Sponsorship Manager, Operations and Logistics Manager and the Administrative Manager as well as the Finance Manager all play a big role in putting this entire festival together. Volunteers were also a huge help. The media also played a role, it includes repoters and camera men who were trying to get news and latest updates of the festival and the events to let public know exactly what is going on. And lastly, the audience who went for the event.

Partnership

National Arts Coucil organised this entire event. Sponsors for the Singapore Writers Festival were Lee Foundation and Suntec City mall. Partners include Singapore Management University, The Arts House, Singapore Arts Museum, National Museum of Singapore, Peranakan Museum, National Library Board and Switch. Rendezvous Grand Hotel was the official hotel for this event. Festival Bookstore was Kinokuniya Bookstore. Suporters include Aesop, British Council, Embassy of Israel, Caran d’Ache, Kim Choo, Norwegian Embassy, Embassy of the United States of America and a couple more.

Promotion

Posters were put up on along the roadside and up on the lamp posts as well. Festival pass holders were entitled to a 25% discount off any other ticketed events at the festival except literary meals and cocktails. There was also an early bird special where people got their tickets at a cheaper price because they bought the tickets early. Social Networking was a huge way to attract people to come. People liked, shared and retweeted Singapore Writers Festival’s page or tweet on both Facebook and Twitter and more and more people came to know about it.

Price

Price includes the admission fee, merchandise and packages. Festival Passes cost $15, Literary meals cost about $20-$80, Literary cocktails cost $25 and workshops cost $15 for an hour and a half, $20 for a couple of hours and $30 for three hours. Publishing Symposium was $20 per panel, $60 for a day and $100 for a couple of days.

Packaging and Distribution

Tickets were available online on the sistic website as well as at the sistic counters during operating hours and also at the ticket box office at the Festival Pavilion. Concessions and discounts were available to students, senior citizens and NSFS.

Differences between 2011 and 2012

There were many more local speakers this year compared to the previous year. I find this really great as they are allowing the locals to shine and make them known to international speakers. Events were held in many different places this year which made it easier for the audience in terms of crowd and accessibilty. One particular place would not be so crowded as there are more venues and since there are more venues, they would not be really far from each other.

D) I would propose that speakers could actually come and speak in our hotel’s convention centre itself. And have the various events around the hotel as the hotel itself is quite an attraction on its own. I believe people would be thrilled to come to Marina Bay Sands for an event as it is pretty luxurious hotel. I would also suggest having events at the Garden by the bay which is just across Marina Bay Sands. It is a new attraction and people would love to visit it as well as the festival. This would boost the hotel’s revenue and also increase tourism receipts as it would encourage not only locals but tourists as well to visit Gardens by the bay, and they have to pay an admission fee if they decide to visit the various dome structures. They could also have a competition where audience submit or poem about nature or anything related to Garden by the bay. This gives the audience something to think about and do when they are visiting the place. It encourages the audience to participate in the event rather than just watching and listening. They could also have a panel with cocktails on Marina Bay Sands’ Skybar. The view from the top is absolutely breathtaking and that would most definitely attract people. International speakers could stay at the MBS, and I’m pretty sure they would be amazed by the view from the hotel as well as the facilities there.

References:

Singapore Writers Festival, Retrieved on 21 November 2012 from http://www.singaporewritersfestival.com/

The singapore writers festival 2012 comes to a successful conclusion, Retrieved on 22 November 2012 from http://kitaabonline.wordpress.com/2012/11/12/the-singapore-writers-festival-2012-comes-to-a-successful-conclusion/

Marina Bay Sands, Retrieved on 22 November 2012 from http://www.marinabaysands.com/

Ilight marina bay, Retrieved on 22 November 2012 from http://www.ilightmarinabay.sg/press_release.html

Photos credit to:

http://poachedmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/418406_379265195426489_1624980971_n-722x500.jpg

http://eventful.com/singapore/events/singapore-writers-festival-/E0-001-050951238-0@2012111100

http://www.yoursingapore.com/content/dam/yoursingapore/live/256h_Singapore-Writers-Festival-364x184.jpg/_jcr_content/renditions/cq5dam.thumbnail.300.152.png

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http://moveoff.net/the-worlds-most-spectacular-pool-marina-bay-sands-singapore/