Keeping up with all the events in Baton Rouge isn’t always easy, but now, there’s an app for that.
Founder and graphic designer Jason Gardner, with the help of friend and local artist Christopher Turner, has created the Vivid The Event App, which covers events from “Annie” to Chris Brown.
With the app, anyone can connect with people to find events in their local city. Locals can post events, connect with those attending the same event and capture every moment by upload pictures to the event album.
Gardner came from the business of designing event flyers, and realized he wanted to create an app for the events.
“It’s just natural to go to an app with this because of the way that everybody receives information today,” Gardner said. “With the clientele base that I have now coming through my door for flyers, I said ‘hey let’s start putting these events up an app as a central place.’”
Gardner said that while there are other methods of finding out about events, such as social media, Vividis intended to be exclusively about events. Gardner’s customers frequently complained that they needed flyers because putting events up on Facebook wasn’t working as the posts weren’t relevant long enough to be effective promotion.
“On Facebook you get a little bit of everything, but what we’re doing is giving you an app that’s specifically designed to promote events,” Gardner said. “When people come on our app, we’ll know that they want to know what’s going on tonight, what’s going on tomorrow.”
Turner is the founder and CEOof Gifted Created Group, the company handling development and marketing of the Vivid app. While Turner credits Gardner with the birth of the app, he said he and Gardnercollaborated on making the app appeal heavily to users.
On the app, users can see what types of events other users go to and follow them to keep up with events in their interests. Users can also have their uploaded pictures displayed on projectors at each specific event they go to.
There is no limitation for events featured on Vivid. Gardner said both private and public events can be shown on each user’s feed.
“It’s like this concert and this ball, but don’t forget your cousin is having a birthday party at her house,” Gardner said.
The two said they want Vivid to not only feature smaller local events, but also culturally important ones that aren’t limited to Baton Rouge.
“We’re going to be the official app for the Bayou Classic this year,” Turner said.
Most importantly, Gardner said, the app is available for free in the Apple App Store and Google Play’s App Store.
Gardner said he and Turner are all about gaining users, not necessarily making money. One sure-fire way to gain users is by being generous, Turner said.
Vivid is currently doing two giveaways for users who download the app and create a profile. The first giveaway is tickets to the Chris Brown Valentine’s Royalty Concert on Feb. 12 at the Smoothie King Center.
Winners will be announced on Feb. 8 via the app. The second is tickets to the Love & Laughter 4: Tyrese and Monica concert on Feb. 14at the Baton Rouge River Center. Winners will be announced Feb. 12 via the app.