Event organizing industry here booming, say

THE event organizing industry in Davao City is booming and is now on its peak especially with the advent of social media, an industry player said.

In an interview with Manic Nightnings Production (MNP) founder Kat Dalisay, she said there had been a huge development with the event’s organizing market reach today compared to its reach four years ago. This is supported by the current situation of Davao City, which has the national limelight.

“Now that’s Davao City is getting more popular, events are getting more and more as well. There had also been different types of events being conducted and many people engaging in these types of events. They really go to festivals. It’s more developed compared, say, four years ago,” Dalisay said.

She also added because of social media, people had become more curious and open to new brands and to try out new things. Advertising had been easy as the first customers can always do the promotion by way of posting in their social media account as well. Dalisay said it helps that the market is now more educated and more engaging.

“Before, when you say food festival, others may be a little hesitant to go or patronize because they’re not familiar. They are more open to new ideas, the market is now more engaging,” she said.

MNP is responsible for the different events conducted in the Davao Region and its neighboring areas including Carte Blanche, Arcadia, SM Lanang Weekend Night Market, President Duterte Thanksgiving Party, and Kaondayawan.

When MNP started in 2013, Dalisay said they used traditional marketing materials to promote and inform people of their events such as tarpaulin and lamp posts. Using these traditional means, her Carte Blanche in 2013 was attended by 10,033 people. In 2014, she leveled up her digital promotions but still using printed materials. Her attendees increased to 12,138.

This year, solely using digital printed materials through social media infuencers and sponsored posts, her SM Lanang Weekend Night Market has average foot traffic of about 120,000 per night.

“The market of Davao City is very visual, the interest will always be captured by how colorful or how beautiful your poster is even online. I don’t think that will change,” said Dalisay.