About New Orleans
New Orleans is a vibrant city on the Mississippi River in the southern United States. It's known for its unique architectural style, lively culture, and soulful music and cuisine. The city has been an important port and hub of commerce throughout its history, helping to make it one of the unique cities in America. The weather in New Orleans can range from warm and humid during the summer months to mild-cool during winter. The city experiences frequent thunderstorms due to its location, contributing to its subtropical climate. Did you know that French settlers founded the vibrant city of New Orleans over 300 years ago, in 1718? Acknowledged as La Nouvelle-Orléans, it eventually became a part of US territory through the Louisiana Purchase. During the Civil War, this port was essential in providing supplies, soldiers, and refugees.
Major New Orleans universities have strong computer science programs that often produce top talent for technology-driven events like hackathons. Additionally, several popular tech companies such as IBM, Microsoft, and Google have established offices in New Orleans, even starting tech incubator programs for local startups. This provides entrepreneurs worldwide with great opportunities for networking and learning from experienced professionals within their field, making organizing hackathons highly relevant for this particular city.
Hackathon Options in New Orleans
- Equipment Rentals
If you're in the Big Easy and are looking to host a hackathon, there is no need to worry! New Orleans has an abundance of providers offering top-tier equipment rental services, from computers and audio-visual hardware down to furniture and design pieces. This fabulous choice allows your event space customization so everyone involved can enjoy a professional yet cozy atmosphere.
- Catering Services
Ensure all participants in your hackathon are fed and ready to focus on their tasks with the help of skilled caterers from New Orleans. These catering companies can provide delicious food and beverage selections, ranging from daily snacks to full meals or buffets for evening events. Attendees can stay energized without worrying about feeling hungry, so they can do what's important — developing innovative solutions.
- Event Planners
Organizing hackathons with countless experienced event planners in the Big Easy is a breeze. Boasting connections with vendors, venues, and service providers to guarantee excellent outcomes from beginning to end, these masterful coordinators also provide customized decorations and entertainment ideas tailored exclusively for such events. By adding professional expertise, your hackathon will be unlike any other!
Hackathon Vendors in New Orleans
- Force 1 Solutions
Force 1 Solutions is a private investigation and security provider based in New Orleans. They offer comprehensive, specialized security services catering to each client's needs. Force 1 Solutions has highly trained private investigators who use advanced technology and classic techniques to provide accurate results. In addition to private investigation services, they offer Force 1 Protection Security Guard and Executive Protection Services to provide clients with the best protection against any threat. With years of experience, they are a reliable choice for anyone needing professional security services in New Orleans.
- Pigéon Catering & Events
Pigéon Catering & Events is an experienced catering company that offers services for events of any size, including weddings, corporate galas, and social gatherings. They have worked with five major hotels in the city and have been recommended by forty additional venues. Pigéon Catering & Events offers exclusive custom packages tailored to meet each event's needs. The company has extensive experience in disaster catering since Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and has been catering to private, parochial, and charter schools since 2006. Their expertise and practice make them a reliable team for any event, ensuring it is a memorable success.
- Partyflix®
Partyflix® offers movie screen rental services in New Orleans and surrounding areas for a great movie theater experience at any event. They offer commercial-grade projectors, premium sound systems, and inflatable screens in different sizes that can be set up anywhere. Their flexible services suit small, intimate gatherings and large corporate, school, or university events. You can select from DVDs or BluRay movies or connect live TV shows and video game systems for maximum entertainment impact. Partyflix® provides an easy solution to turn any outdoor or backyard space into a movie theater experience.
Pros and Cons of Hackathon Spaces in New Orleans
Hackathon spaces in New Orleans are an excellent option for event organizers who need to quickly assemble a fantastic hackathon experience. However, both the pros and cons of these spaces should be considered before deciding on a venue:
Advantages
- Culture: New Orleans offers an exciting cultural experience that can help make hackathons in the city memorable and enjoyable for attendees.
- Venue Availability: Due to its size and popularity as a tourist destination, New Orleans has plenty of venues suitable for large-scale events like hackathons that can accommodate hundreds or thousands of participants.
- Food Options: NOLA is known for its diverse food options, ranging from traditional Creole cuisine to international flavors, which can add variety and excitement when choosing catering options for hackathon events held in the city.
- Local Support: The people of New Orleans are proud of their city and often eager to support events held there by providing local resources like volunteer staff and discounted rates on rental spaces or services needed for successful event organization.
Disadvantages
- Weather: New Orleans has hot and humid summers, making it challenging for participants to stay comfortable during extended periods spent outside or in non-air-conditioned areas.
- Accessibility: not all potential attendees may have easy access to transportation to and from New Orleans, which could limit participation in the event.
- Security: some of the less populated parts of New Orleans may be more prone to crime, putting hackathon participants at risk if attending an event there.
- Crowd Control Issues: Large hackathons can draw hundreds of participants and spectators, leading to crowd control issues if appropriate planning and preparation are not implemented.
Tips on How to Organize Hackathon Spaces in New Orleans
New Orleans provides a unique opportunity for hosting hackathons due to its vibrant culture and diverse range of resources. Here are a few tips on how to organize a fantastic hackathon space in the Big Easy:
- Utilize a Variety of Venues: Hackathons in New Orleans can use various venues, such as tech centers, universities, or business incubators. The city has many unique cultural and historical venues that could provide an exciting backdrop for hackathons.
- Reach Out to Local Tech Companies: Hackathon participants will typically go where their needs are met. Reaching out to local technology companies in the area can be a great way to draw more participants and secure sponsorships and mentors for any event.
- Secure Resources: Access to all necessary resources, such as Wi-Fi, computers, and other tech equipment, is essential for hackathons. Locking these resources beforehand ensures that all participating teams have what they need to focus on their projects.
- Establish Clear Rules & Regulations: Participants should know what they're signing up for when attending a hackathon in New Orleans. Establishing clear rules and regulations before the event clarifies expectations and helps minimize confusion during the competition.
- Promote the Event Widely: The success of your hackathon depends largely on how well it's promoted. Utilize popular social media channels like Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook to get the word out about your event and digital advertising platforms like Google Ads.
Famous Locations in New Orleans
- Abandoned Jazzland
Abandoned Jazzland, a theme park in New Orleans, Louisiana, was just one of the many places decimated when Katrina hit. What was an idyllic spot filled with thrilling rides and laughter transformed into a dystopian wasteland that soon became irresistible to past-time explorers and daredevils alike. These days, instead of families crowding the lines for roller coasters and bumper cars, you can find photographers shooting eerie abandoned locations or graffiti artists getting their creative juices flowing on once vibrant walls. It's certainly worth visiting this utterly unique landscape for those looking for something out of the ordinary.
- Marigny
If you want to get off the beaten path while visiting New Orleans, head to Faubourg Marigny, just past the French Quarter on Canal Street. The area is home to the iconic Frenchmen St., a long strip of music clubs, bars, restaurants, and more. Music lovers and hipsters flock to the area for its nightlife scene — listen to live jazz at Hi-Ho Lounge on St Claude Avenue or grab drinks at any popular stops like Maison or Spotted Cat. The Marigny stretches from North Rampart Street and St. Claude Avenue in the north down to the Mississippi River in the south — all ripe for exploring!
- Restrained
Restrained is a bronze sculpture by celebrated artist Deborah Butterfield in New Orleans City Park, within the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden. Butterfield's work is internationally renowned for her unique portrayals of horses — a subject she has deeply associated with since a young age. After graduating from the University of California, Butterfield dedicated her life to exploring horses in her art. She manipulates cast wood pieces and recycled materials into life-size sculptures or miniature ones only three or four feet tall. She attempts to emotionally bond with different species through these works while learning something new about them.