Sometimes the best event ideas start with someone saying, “Okay, where did you get THAT?”
That’s actually how our Sketchy Bots made their way to Kearney, Nebraska.
After seeing Sketchy Bots at another event, the client reached out to FotoFunSpot wanting to bring the experience to the inaugural event for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program.
And honestly? Sketchy couldn’t have found a better crowd.
Entrepreneurship Meets a Few Very Creative Robots
Engler is all about hands-on, community-based entrepreneurship. Rather than simply learning about business in a classroom, the program encourages students to start doing, building, problem-solving, and turning ideas into something real.
So bringing an experience that combines creativity, technology, personalization, and a physical takeaway felt pretty fitting.
The event included an attendee and family night at Yanney Heritage Park in Kearney, Nebraska, complete with catered BBQ and around 150 attendees.
Our job? Make sure Sketchy was ready for all of them.
150 Guests Without the 150-Person Line
Here’s something people don’t always see when they walk up to a FotoFunSpot experience: there is a whole lot happening behind the scenes.
Before the event, Kayla worked through the expected attendance and event length to customize the Sketchy Bots experience specifically for this crowd.
Because a cool activation isn’t very cool if guests spend half the night waiting in line.
Everything from the number of options available to the flow of the experience was considered ahead of time so guests could move through smoothly, get their sketch, and head back to enjoying the evening.
So…What Does a Sketchy Bot Actually Do?
This is where things get fun.
Guests start with a selfie, either at our FotoFun Station or by uploading their own photo through a QR code.
From there, they choose the caricature style they want Sketchy to create.
For an event, clients can select up to five prewritten caricature prompts or work with us to create one completely custom prompt. We can also incorporate event-specific details like logos and guests’ first and last names to make the experience feel even more personal.
And here’s one of the coolest parts:
Ten people can choose the exact same prompt and receive ten completely different results.
Every sketch is uniquely generated for that guest, which means everyone walks away with something that is actually theirs.
From Selfie to One-of-a-Kind Keepsake
Once the portrait is created, Sketchy gets to work bringing it to life.
Guests receive their finished portrait on custom 4×6 preprinted sketch paper, which can be designed with event logos, branding, or other details that tie everything back to the event.
But the experience doesn’t stop with the physical print.
Each participant can also receive a text showing the digital experience of their photo being sketched, followed by the finished artwork.
So you get the fun of watching the transformation happen AND something physical to take home.
Win-win.
Custom From the Front End to the Back End
What we love about Sketchy Bots is that they don’t have to look or feel the same at every event.
Kayla works directly with clients behind the scenes to make sure everything feels cohesive, from the caricature choices and personalized details to the custom sketch paper and guest flow.
That means Sketchy can show up differently for a university event, conference, corporate party, trade show, fundraiser, or brand activation.
The technology might be cool, but the customization is what turns it into an experience that actually belongs at your event.
Interactive Event Entertainment That People Remember
For the inaugural Engler event in Kearney, Sketchy Bots gave attendees and their families something unexpected to experience together and a pretty great souvenir to remember the night.
And that is exactly what we want.
We don’t want guests walking away saying, “Oh yeah, they had a photo booth.”
We want them asking, “Did you see the robot that drew me?!”
If you’re planning a conference, corporate event, university event, trade show, or brand activation in Kearney, Omaha, Lincoln, or anywhere across Nebraska, FotoFunSpot can customize a Sketchy Bots experience around your event, your attendance, and your brand.
Because your guests probably don’t need another branded pen.
A robot-drawn caricature of themselves, though?
Yeah. They’ll keep that.