A gala worth
showing up
for.
showing up
for.
A film and arts nonprofit elevating its signature annual event.
FACTS Fest is a film and arts organization hosting an annual red-carpet gala in Central Pennsylvania. The first year proved there was an appetite for the event — but it also exposed a problem: nearly half the people who said they would show up, didn’t. For a gala that depends on atmosphere, sponsorship optics, and word-of-mouth, a 50% no-show rate is more than an operational annoyance. It undermines the entire proposition.
For the second year, the team wanted to do two things: execute a cohesive Gatsby-inspired identity that matched the ambition of the event, and fix the attendance problem for good.
A 50% no-show rate. A theme to bring to life. Six weeks to do it.
The Great Gatsby theme needed to be executed across every touchpoint — from the logo and step-and-repeat down to bar menus and event programs — without tipping into pastiche. It needed to feel elevated, not costumed. At the same time, the content system had to be built from scratch: reusable, scalable, and executable by a small team across multiple platforms for six straight weeks.
And through all of it, the no-show problem needed a structural solution — not just a reminder email, but an RSVP automation system that reduced friction and kept confirmed guests engaged from the moment they registered to the night of the event.
Full brand identity. Content system. RSVP automation.
We built the complete gala identity — new logo, step-and-repeat, bar menus, programs, and all print and digital assets — from a single cohesive design direction. Alongside the visual identity, we developed a full marketing strategy with content pillars and reusable templates that the team could execute consistently across platforms without reinventing the wheel each day.
The RSVP automation system streamlined confirmations, sent strategic touchpoints in the lead-up to the event, and reduced the friction between saying yes and actually showing up. The goal was to make showing up feel like the obvious, easy choice.
The second annual gala launched with a cohesive identity that elevated every element of the event experience. The no-show rate dropped from nearly 50% to just 3% — a result that came from both the stronger brand presence and the RSVP automation doing its job throughout the lead-up.
Email click-through rates averaged 30% across the campaign, and the content system sustained 2–3 posts per day for six weeks, keeping sponsors, press, and attendees engaged throughout the run-up to the event.
What we built.
- Gala brand identity & logo
- Signage, menus, programs & event collateral
- Marketing & brand strategy with campaign goals and pillars
- 6-week content calendar & creation
- Reusable digital content templates
- RSVP automation system & communication plan
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