What is it?

It’s a party where the food, drink, entertainment—EVERYTHING—is simply “The Best”.

What’s Up? Media’s Best of Annapolis and Eastern Shore Party celebrates the BEST of the area’s restaurants, shops, entertainment, and businesses all rolled up into one fantastic fundraising event that will benefit a local charity with the goal of giving $20,000 through What’s Up? Gives Foundation.

At the party, “Best of” restaurant winners serve samples of their winning dishes, bands entertain, and shops and service businesses donate their goods to raise money for the featured charity. This is an amazing community event that always sells out!

The Best of Annapolis and Best of Eastern Shore event attracts 700* guests, including professionals and business owners in the 21–65 range!

What’s Up? Gives is a component fund of the Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County, a 501(c)(3) public charity.
*The Best of Annapolis & Eastern Shore Party can only accommodate 700 guests due to limited upscale event venues in the area.

History

In 2003, What’s Up? Media held the inaugural Best of Annapolis event featuring the winners of What’s Up? Annapolis magazine’s readers’ poll and invited them to participate in an event to showcase their specialty. The party has grown year after year!

In 2008, after What’s Up? Annapolis magazine launched its sister publication What’s Up? Eastern Shore, a readers’ poll was included in the first issue to identify the Best of the
Eastern Shore. The competition is tough as local businesses campaign to win the title of THE BEST!

In the last nine years, What’s Up? Media has donated $75,000 through our Best of Sponsorships and Silent Auctions to local charities. Our goal for 2012 is $20,000. In 2012, the winners of both Best of Annapolis and Best of Eastern Shore will once again join to celebrate the BEST of both shores.

Market Reach

Print: The Best of Annapolis and Best of Eastern Shore issues are one of the most anticipated issues of year! What’s Up? Publications are the only area magazines that have a circulation audit. Our circulation audit is done by an outsource company called Circulation Verification Council.

What’s Up? Annapolis magazine
Average total printed monthly circulation: 60,169
Estimated monthly readership: 210,000

What’s Up? Eastern Shore magazine
Average total printed monthly circulation: 26,553
Estimated monthly readership: 92,900

Internet: What’s Up? Media’s website, WhatsUpMag.com, is a leading source for local events. The Best of Annapolis and Eastern Shore Party will be the focus of the website content where readers go to vote for the BEST, winners are announced, and party details are revealed. WhatsUpMag.com gets over 30,000 unique visitors every month, and over 100,000 page views. We send out a weekly requested Events E-newsletter to 10,000+ readers.

Presenting Sponsor Package includes:

• Exclusivity in product category. Upon signing as a presenting sponsor, category competitors will not be accepted at any other sponsor level.
• Only one (1) presenting sponsorship opportunity.

Pre-Event Exposure
• Standard feature banner on What’s Up? Media’s website linking to sponsor site. (May & June)
• Boxed ad on What’s Up? Media’s website linking to sponsor site. (1 year)
• Premium logo/company name position/inclusion with hyperlink (when applicable) to company website on all Best of Annapolis & Eastern Shore e-marketing promotions from time of signing:
• E-mail blast sent to past attendees
• E-newsletter (sent weekly to 10,000 readers)
• Food Flash E-newsletter (sent weekly to 10,000 readers)
• Facebook postings (3,660 fans and adding daily)
• Twitter postings (2,380 followers and adding daily)
• Event webpage
• Online Best of Annapolis & Eastern Shore event ads
• Premium logo/company name position/inclusion on all Best of Annapolis & Eastern Shore print materials from time of signing including:
• “Best of Annapolis” and “Best of Eastern Shore” winner announcement letter & TOP SECRET delivery folder
• All print communications to Best of Annapolis & Best of Eastern Shore winners
• What’s Up? Annapolis and What’s Up? Eastern Shore magazine ads, at least one full-page ad in three (3) consecutive issues of each magazine
• Event postcards
• Flyers
• Posters
• Tickets
• Event program
• Press releases and other media publicity
• Name mentioned in all Best of Party radio spots

Onsite Event Exposure
• Opportunity to display product or company banner at the entrance of event. (Displays must be approved by the event staff before the event.)
• Prominent location and table for your company display and promotional materials/giveaways.
• Recognized as the Presenting Sponsor from the stage during the event.
• Recognized as the Presenting Sponsor on event signs throughout the event.
• Premium position of full-page color ad in the Best of Annapolis & Eastern Shore event program.
• Sponsor logo featured prominently on front cover of the Best of Annapolis & Eastern Shore event program.
• Opportunity to put advertising materials and/or promotional items in Best of Annapolis & Best of Eastern Shore event goody bag.
(Only sponsors are permitted to put advertising materials in goody bags. All other contributions to the goody bag must be a promotional/giveaway item.)

Post Event Exposure
• Sponsor logo will appear on post-event YouTube video footage of the Best of Annapolis & Best of Eastern Shore event.
• Sponsor logo included in post-event ad thanking sponsors. (Ad will appear in What’s Up? Annapolis & What’s Up? Eastern Shore magazines.)
• Picture and caption mentioned in the Seen & Be Seen section of both What’s Up? Annapolis and What’s Up? Eastern Shore.

Other:
• Twelve (12) tickets to the Best of Annapolis & Eastern Shore celebration.
• Discounted tickets available to sponsoring company employees or customers.

For more information on sponsorship and rates, call Joanna Baker at What's Up? Media at 443-569-2555 ext. 121

Stage Sponsorship Package includes:

• Only one (1) stage sponsorship opportunity.
• Exclusive in category.

Pre-Event Exposure
• Standard box ad on What’s Up? Media’s website linking to sponsor site. (6 months)
• Logo inclusion/name mention with hyperlink to company website (when applicable) on Best of Annapolis & Eastern Shore e-marketing promotions from time of signing:
• E-mail blast sent to past attendees
• Event webpage
• Logo inclusion/name mention on all Best of Annapolis & Eastern Shore print materials from time of signing including:
• “Best of Annapolis” and “Best of Eastern Shore” winner announcement letter
• What’s Up? Annapolis & What’s Up? Eastern Shore magazine ads, at least one full-page ad in three (3) consecutive issues of each magazine
• Event postcards
• Flyers
• Posters
• Tickets
• Event program
• Press releases and other media publicity
• Name rights to stage in all advertising and a special section on the event webpage (i.e. On the Jostein’s Stage)

Onsite Event Exposure
• Prominent signage on the stage.
• Prominent location and table for your company display and promotional materials/giveaways.
• Full-page color ad in the Best of Annapolis & Shore event program.
• Opportunity to put advertising materials and/or promotional items in Best of Annapolis & Best of Eastern Shore event goody bag.
(Only sponsors are permitted to put advertising materials in goody bags. All other contributions to the goody bag must be a promotional/
giveaway item.)

Post Event Exposure
• Sponsor logo included in post event ad thanking sponsors. (Ad will appear in What’s Up? Annapolis & What’s Up? Eastern Shore magazines.)

Other:
• Six (6) tickets to the Best of Annapolis & Eastern Shore celebration.
• Discounted tickets available to sponsoring company employees or customers.

For more information on sponsorship and rates, call Joanna Baker at What's Up? Media at 443-569-2555 ext. 121

Silent Auction Sponsorship Package includes:

• Only one (1) presenting sponsorship opportunity.

Pre-Event Exposure
• Standard box ad on What’s Up? Media’s website linking to sponsor site. (6 months)
• Logo inclusion/name mention with hyperlink to company website on all Best of Annapolis & Best of Eastern Shore e-marketing promotions from time of signing:
• E-mail blast sent to past attendees
• Event webpage
• Silent auction webpage
• All e-communications regarding Best of Annapolis & Best of Eastern Shore silent auction.
• Logo inclusion/name mention on all Best of Annapolis & Best of Eastern Shore print materials from time of signing including:
• “Best of Annapolis” and “Best of Eastern Shore” winner announcement letter
• What’s Up? Annapolis and What’s Up? Eastern Shore magazine ads, at least one full-page ad in three (3) consecutive issues of each magazine
• Event postcards
• Flyers
• Posters
• Event program
• All materials designed to promote and solicit for the silent auction.
• Press Releases and other media publicity.

Onsite Event Exposure
• Exclusive recognition on silent auction signage at the event.
• Logo inclusion on silent auction bid sheets.
• Opportunity to donate item for LIVE auction giveaway at event. (single item to be auctioned off.)
• Prominent location and table for your company display and promotional materials/giveaways.
• Full-page color ad in the Best of Annapolis & Best of Eastern Shore event program.
• Opportunity to put advertising materials and/or promotional items in Best of Annapolis & Best of Eastern Shore event goody bag.
(Only sponsors are permitted to put advertising materials in goody bags. All other contributions to the goody bag must be a promotional/giveaway item.)

Post Event Exposure
• Sponsor logo included in post-event ad thanking sponsors. (Ad will appear in What’s Up? Annapolis & What’s Up? Eastern Shore magazines.)

Other:
• Six (6) tickets to the Best of Annapolis & Best of Eastern Shore celebration.
• Discounted tickets available to sponsoring company employees or customers.

For more information on sponsorship and rates, call Joanna Baker at What's Up? Media at 443-569-2555 ext. 121

Business Sponsorship Package includes:

Pre-Event Exposure
• Logo inclusion with hyperlink to company website on Best of Annapolis & Best of Eastern Shore e-marketing promotions from time of signing:
• E-mail blast sent to past attendees
• Event webpage
• Logo inclusion on all Best of Annapolis & Best of Eastern Shore print materials from time of signing including:
• What’s Up? Annapolis & What’s Up? Eastern Shore magazine ads, at least one full-page ad in three (3) consecutive issues of each magazine
• Flyers
• Posters
• Tickets

Onsite Event Exposure
• Half-page color ad in the Best of Annapolis & Best of Eastern Shore event program.

Post Event Exposure
• Sponsor logo included in the post-event ad thanking sponsors (ad will appear in What’s Up? Annapolis and What’s Up? Eastern Shore magazines).

Other:
• Four (4) tickets to the Best of Annapolis & Best of Eastern Shore celebration.
• Discounted tickets available to sponsoring company employees or customers.

For more information on sponsorship and rates, call Joanna Baker at What's Up? Media at 443-569-2555 ext. 121

Patron Sponsorship Package includes:

Pre-Event Exposure
• Logo inclusion with hyperlink to company website on Best of Annapolis & Best of Eastern Shore e-marketing promotions from time of signing:
• E-mail blast sent to past attendees
• Event webpage

Onsite Event Exposure
• Half-page color ad in the Best of Annapolis & Best of Eastern Shore event program.

Post Event Exposure
• Sponsor logo included in the post-event ad thanking sponsors (ad will appear in What’s Up? Annapolis and What’s Up? Eastern Shore magazines).

Other:
• Two (2) tickets to the Best of Annapolis & Best of Eastern Shore celebration.
• Discounted tickets available to sponsoring company employees or customers.

For more information on sponsorship and rates, call Joanna Baker at What's Up? Media at 443-569-2555 ext. 121