For the most part, information sessions about subjects like the Full-Time MBA Program at the University of Utah are a yawn—faculty members and recruitment folks going through the checklist of subjects like curriculum, financial aid, and GMAT scores. When the new Manager of Master’s Recruitment and Admissions joined the department, she turned to Bruno Group Signature Events to help her bring her ideas to life about changing the way recruitment events are executed.

Instead of the typical one-way dynamic of a speaker at the podium and information seekers in the audience, the Full-Time MBA Program changed things up a bit.  For one thing, they gave the information session a look and feel. The “MBA Backstage” concert theme was a jumping off point for advertising, signage, presentation titles, and blog posts. Early attendees on the day of the event were given an opportunity to battle each other and the Dean of the Business School on rock band-style video games.

A social media presence on Facebook, Twitter (the event was live-tweeted), and WordPress helped recruit attendees and generate buzz about the event. Traditional advertising in local newspapers helped reach the non-social crowd. For those unable to attend in person, the event was live streamed to a virtual audience. Attendees were given backstage “passes” to enter the event and plenty of chances to win prizes including a FREE GMAT test prep course, snow skis, travel mugs, and flash drives. Oh, and future full-time MBA students learned a lot about the University of Utah’s Full-Time MBA Program.