Photo Make & Take events are exploding in popularity among colleges, and they have been for years. These events make great attractions for orientation, welcome week, holidays, or really just about any event a college could hold!
At Neon Entertainment, we have decades of experience providing entertainment and attractions to colleges and beyond, including the immensely popular Make & Take events. So join us as we dive into the details of what exactly to expect for your Make & Take experience.
What is a Photo Make & Take?
A Photo Make & Take is an experience that can be booked for colleges, towns, corporations, or other entities where participants bring their favorite photo, logo, emoji, phrase, or other design and make it into a custom item.
We (the people running the event) take their photo and press it onto an item right there in front of the participant, giving them an awesome, unique thing to take home and show off to their friends.
What kind of items can be made?
Many different items can be made depending on what is preferred when booking. Signshop is the most popular photo make & take among students, but others are Photo License Plates, Photo Mugs, Photo Trucker Hats, Photo Neon Lights, Photo Light Up Frames, Photo Wind Spinners, and many, many more
Custom Designs Right From Their Phones
Students come up to the operator and email them their design/text. The operator finalizes and prints the design out. From there, they press the design into the item using a heat press, and the students get a brand-new custom object.
How Long Does It Take?
Generally, round items take longer to press than flat items; usually, a custom photo sign can be made in around 60 seconds, while a custom photo mug can take 2-3 minutes. The total length of the event is usually 2-4 hours, and the total number of items made depends on the item type.
Students Love Make & Takes
Now Make & Takes are popular. These kinds of events are experiences that college students love to the core. Make & Take events check many of the boxes that college students are looking for in their campus entertainment.
Cool Swag and A Cool Experience
Students obviously get a free item that they could customize. That is not only popular because they get new swag but because it’s a unique experience that gives them something they can share with their friends and family. You can’t just go to the store and make your own custom Phone Wallet
Creativity with the Community
It gives students a chance to be creative even in a small way and put their design work to the test. This creativity is not only enjoyable, but it gives students a sense of community when they are creating something with their peers. Additionally, creativity and artistic pursuits are shown to improve mental health by reducing stress, which is perfect for college students.
Afterwards, it gives students a great chance to socialize by showing off, comparing, and contrasting their unique items once they have gotten them made!
Surprisingly, Waiting in Line
Shockingly, through our decades of experience, we’ve discovered that one of the reasons college students like this event so much is because waiting in line can be enjoyable. Often, students like the social element of the event, and waiting in line gives them the perfect opportunity to talk to someone whom they’ve never spoken to before.
Disruption of the Day-to-Day
By having a Make & Take event set up in the union or in a courtyard, you are disrupting a college student’s routine. Simply by breaking students out of the class-eat-class-work-sleep schedule they may have found themselves in, you inspire a more positive outlook and give your students something to look forward to besides the grind. Make & Takes with their social and creative elements switch things up in students’ routines and make them want to participate in more events like it.
Bring a Make & Take Event to My Campus
At Neon Entertainment, we provide all sorts of unique experiences for events. Comedy, Inflatables, Rinks, Speakers, Game Shows, and of course Make & Takes. We know what it takes to make an event successful for colleges, and if you are interested in bringing a Make & Take or any other of our unique experiences to you, do not hesitate to reach out!
