Arthurs Day Verdict

For those few "lucky" people that didn't get to go the this year's Arthur's Day celebrations.  Previously I gave out invites to this event. My post can be seen here.  I had 200 invites to give out and I thought, this is going to be a challenge. but to my surprise, I manage to give them all out and more. I had to request for another 20 invites as I miscalculated.

Nevertheless,  it was my first Arthur's Day event that i was attending due to the fact that I was working in Shanghai, China for the past 2 years and only got back to Malaysia this year.  Heard so much about it when during the first installment in 2009, they featured Black Eye Peas at Sunway Lagoon.

This year, they held it at Speed City @ Selangor Turf Club.  When i first knew about the location of this event, i went....REALLY??? Don't get me wrong, the venue is great for housing 15,000 bobbling heads.  Its the way to get there that is really troubling.  Basically there is only 1 way to get there to my knowledge. Ok, maximum 2.

Come event night, in short. 3 hours in the car stuck in horrendous traffic. reached there when they were just announcing Taio Cruz. Went in grabbed some RM10 guinness, and WHAT??? THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING AND SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!!! WTF.

The invites clearly states, the event will start from 7pm till late.  SERIOUSLY??? your definition of TILL LATE is 12:30am??? What a load of crap.  Stuck in 3 hours of traffic only to be at the event for 30mins.  Bought 10 cups of guinness and i barely downed my 1st cup and its the end of the event.....SERIOUSLY.....

Coming from an events management background,  the event was really really bad. I wonder who is the events management company that was in charge of this or the marketing people at Guinness that is at fault.  Details were not looked at in DETAIL!.

Where do I begin bitching. I'll put it in point form for all the "lucky" ones that didn't get to go.
1) Signages leading up to the event venue is non-existent.
2) Guests had to pay for parking. (Organisers should have package this with venue)
3) Signages from the from parking leading up to the entrance is non existent. (Does it cost much to put up signages. NOPE)
4) Misleading time of event on the invites. (Total bollocks)
5) Terrible Venue Selection. (Bad Decision)
6) Guests had to pay for drinks. (Other brands gives out free flow such as Hennessy Artistry and Johnnie Walker. Imho, if you can't afford it, DON'T do a branding/awareness event. You want guest to come to your event and pay for it??)

Spoke to a few people during my short time at the event, and many swore that they were NOT going to attend next year's celebrations.

To the organisers and Guinness, if you think you've done a good job, then you can continue thinking that.  And if you think 1 person's opinion is not that important, then good for you.  But coming from a brand angle, you guys didn't a terrible job. My opinion and my opinion only.

Regardless,  here are some photos that I manage to take during my 30 min there.

Please check out my Facebook Page for more event give-aways.