A Metaverse Manifesto, Part 22: NFTs as Event Badges

No more badges. No more lanyards.

In my last post, I talked about how angry people get at NFTs (aka ‘empty boxes’). I’m dying to move beyond the digital collectibles stage and finally use NFTs to power utilities and unlock magical experiences.

Okay, Katie. If NFTs are simply unique, non-duplicated nodes…then what do YOU suggest we do with them?

I want to customize NFTs, associate them with various media/data, then use them as keys that can unlock experiences and spaces for people with the ‘right’ key (NFT). In-person events and live sports and concerts are the places where I want to start. Festivals, concerts, conferences, sporting events create microcosms of the world, and it’s a great place to try these concepts out. I also come from live video, live event production, overseeing conference presences…basically all things event-related.

Since the beginning of NFTs, I’ve been thinking and reading quite a bit about how to activate NFTs as ‘keys’ that unlock rare or scarce or otherwise special experiences.

Scenario: Vidcon 2023

Let’s use Vidcon Anaheim, which isn’t until June 2023, as our example event here. It also gives them time to call me and let’s make this happen! ;) I’ve also been to the Anaheim Vidcon multiple times, so I can picture the setup.

The Setup

Let’s imagine I’m an Instagram mommy influencer. Vidcon asked me to be on a panel at the event, and I said yes. Once I commit, Vidcon sends me a link to the Vidcon app I need to download. The app contains a Vidcon-specific NFT Wallet, for use onsite at the event. I open the wallet, register, and then send the wallet address to Vidcon, and they send my Admission Badge NFT to the Vidcon Wallet.

I Usually Dread Registration

The line to get into Vidcon from a few years ago.

On Day 1, I show up at Badge Pickup, which is always such a pain. This time, attendees can approach any kiosk. The kiosk verifies your identity, your tracked registration, and then shares a QR code for me to download the Vidcon Wallet mobile app. Once my id and registration is verified, Vidcon sends the Vidcon NFT badge to my new wallet address from the downloaded Vidcon Wallet app.

Share Only What You Want, But…

Attendees are encouraged to protect their data like they’d protect money. Also like money, there are a lot of product features and elements that require certain data to be functional.

So while it’s not required to share any personal data, attendees learn that some of this shared data will be needed to power the Vidcon surprises, games, and hidden events. The NFT kiosk asks you for only the data necessary for product functionality and only for the event dates.

Attendees are asked to share: exact mobile location, social media profiles and access to follower counts, social profiles that are blue checkmark verified, and if you are a speaker.

You’re all set. Put your phone back in your pocket and head in to experience the event. The doors will show a green light when you go through them. No need to wear the badge around your neck or take it out at checkpoints. Passive security.

WHY do they need all of this data?

There’s no ONE piece of data that is the holy grail and must be protected more than any other. The power is in the LAYERING or stacking of data: NFT ownership, Twitter verified, exact mobile location, follower counts, etc.

Like digital security, they key to unlock the VIP treatment relies on:

WHO you are

WHAT you have

WHERE you are

1. Who you are. I’m Katie. Here’s my ID.
2. Where you are. Your exact mobile location lets us see you’re trying to unlock the VIP lounge.
3. What you have. Your NFT is the key that unlocks these spaces. It’s in the Vidcon app on your phone and will automatically be recognized when you’re in the set location.

In this event model, every attendee/speaker gets the baseline NFT badge (admit 1 person for both days). But then, by layering on the other data that shows who you are and what you have, each NFT badge becomes a customized unique key that powers that specific attendees door unlocking and admission, swag drops, access to VIP events, surprise location-based easter eggs, ability to sign and remint the NFT as a collector’s item.

I have so many ideas. But off the top of my head: What can we enable by turning NFTs into customized keys to events, experiences, and even spaces?

1. Passive Admission: Walk through the entrance gates. If your NFT is on your mobile device, the doors will buzz green and let you in. If not, the door buzzes red and locks you out.
2. Unlock Doors and Spaces: Doors throughout the venue can be magnetized, only to be open by the proximity of an approved Vidcon NFT. So if you are registered for a sold-out session, you simply walk past the scan machine, which counts your attendance. Doors won’t open for anyone unregistered or past capacity.
3. VIP party invites sent to certain segments of attendees and speakers. The party ticket is just added to your NFT badge so you won’t forget it (and it can’t be forged). There’s a late-night secret party at Denny’s — you found out because you are a verified influencer with millions of followers. I accept via the app. Because my NFT is associated with my exact location, the party planners sent someone over to my exact spot in a golf cart, to whisk me off to the party.
4. VIP lounge space. Wifi gets hard to come by at huge events, as well as power and somewhere to sit. It gets noisy. Speakers often need a quiet place to sit and work on their talks and grab some snacks. This unattended, locked space will automatically unlock when you are in proximity, allowing you access due to the settings of your NFT. For certain attendees, their NFT will automatically open the locked door.
5. Location-based easter eggs: Vidcon has hidden 10 tickets to Disneyland throughout the conference venue. Happy hunting! Attendees have to walk around, looking to ‘trip’ one of the 10 lat/long location points where the tickets are located. When a player does hit the spot, their Vidcon Vault app buzzes and makes noise. The winner is asked to turn on airdrop, and the 2 tickets are immediately sent to her mobile device.
6. Turn your art into an NFT. Although art collectibles market got overheated, it’s still a very viable use case for NFTs (it’s just not the only one). I go to a workshop explaining how to turn your art into NFTs. I took a looping meme of me falling down that my fans loved and associated it with a new NFT. It goes in my wallet, and there will only ever be this one I made…I’m kind of a big deal, so that could be sold for $$.
7. Sign and re-mint the NFT. At the fan signing, a girl asked me to ‘sign’ that NFT of the looping wipeout by drawing my signature over it using an app. She heads over to get some help minting this as a NEW NFT. That fan now has the only artist-signed NFT of my falling meme, to sell or keep.
8. Sponsored Elements. For my event producers, using event NFTs gives you another sponsor-able element for sure. You could have a crypto or wallet partner customize the wallet, use branded elements on the front-end, let the sponsor create ‘access-only’ events and spaces (and swag) for those attendees who…stop by their booth? Stuff like that.

This list was meant to help you guys see what I’m seeing…which is a huge WORLD of potential when it comes to events and locations. I see branded content elements easy to package and adjust to partners. I see ways to treat attendees more like individuals and less like a group of cattle.

Start with the question:

What magic or utility could I bring to that attendee without them having to LOOK for your promotion, to REGISTER, to proactively do anything. You have their exact mobile location during the show + a surprise you’ve lined up for them when they hit the right lat/long + you know they have the NFT “key” to unlock these secret or hidden experiences.

Let’s go play! (and call me if you want to actually DO this for an upcoming event…my startup Loud Labs specializes in building interactive web3 fan experiences, games, activities, contests, loyalty programs, fan club access, and meet-and-greets at live events and real-world places.

And guys…we have SO. MANY. IDEAS.

(katierichman7@gmail.com or https://linkedin.com/in/katierichman))

This is how I picture an NFT.