This year’s most awaited event for YouTube enthusiasts are all geared up to arrive in Colombo. With the overwhelming response to the event, of a massive amount of registrations close to 1000, Organizers are anticipating a fun filled event to embark on an active community of YouTubers and companies who are making the most of YouTube as a marketing and engagement platform to reach out to consumers.

YouTube Open Mic Night is scheduled to happen on August 10^th 2018 from 6 P.M onwards, in the scenic venue of Shangri-la Colombo. The organizers: Google and the local hosts of the event Google Business Group (GBG) are inviting all YouTube Celebrities, Brand Ambassadors, Content Creators, Social Media influencers and YouTube Fans to join the event.

YouTube is the world’s leading video sharing platform with over 1.57 billion active users each month as of May 2018. With over 1 billion hours of videos consumed per day, and 400 hours of video uploaded every minute, YouTube is today’s second largest search engine in the world just after Google and has higher daily viewership than both Facebook Videos and Netflix combined (Brandwatch Stats, 2018). In Sri Lanka, YouTube has been gaining momentum over the last 2-3 years with over 2.5 million unique daily visitors and approximately 6.5 million monthly unique visitors in 2018 (Youtube stats, June 2018).

Youtube has been a sensation among the digital crowds since 2005 and keeps winning over the favorite choice of media so far; Television. Why YouTube is turning out be a favorite medium in every corporate and other field is because it is not just a medium of entertainment. It has grown into a platform, where people can interact and join together as a community. So among the many other reasons, this keeps rising YouTube’s popularity internationally and within the borders of our island.

By now Sri Lanka has a large community gathered around Youtube and the demand for YouTube has been rising in every field to enhance their public communications and influence. Therefore these communities have been anticipating an event to meet and interact with other enthusiasts of YouTube. To fulfill this requirement Google and GBG joins this year, to organize the YouTube Open Mic Night in order to interact the Sri Lankan YouTube enthusiasts to celebrate their interests and diverse communities that Youtube has contributed to creating. In brief, the event will be focusing on bringing the best of YouTube to one place with a quality event to help them network, mingle and share experiences.

The line up of the event will be comprised of several knowledge sessions focused on the latest news and the latest landscape of YouTube in Sri Lanka, How to earn with YouTube and the first official YouTube creator space in Colombo, How to make an awesome channel and about getting the right settings and features for your YouTube hit. The knowledge sessions will be followed by an experience sharing segment by several top YouTubers such as Janai Priyai, Wasthi, FTT, Kalu Malli, Travel with Wife, Drill team and more in Sri Lanka which will help them grow together with each other’s ideas and strategies. The main segment of the event will be the Open Mic, curated by the famous Danu Innasithamby (WTF by Danu) where we invite our YouTubers to step up and perform live for the audiences. This is with the purpose of giving them a platform beyond the camera and screen to explore and showcase their talents and network, mingle and have fun.

Providing exclusive Electronic Media Coverage for this Event is one of Sri Lanka’s leading Television and macromedia corporates - Derana who is onboard as the Official Electronic Media Partner for the YouTube Open Mic Event. “The Derana Media Conglomerate has always seen digital media and the migration to new media as a crucial KPI. We partnered with Google's Business Group (GBG) in their efforts to organize the first ever YouTube Open Mic Night in Sri Lanka as we see YouTube as a great platform to showcase Sri Lankan Talent to the world. We are excited to empower local original content as it is ingrained in the Derana ethos and in that stride we look forward to support GBG in their future endeavors" says Janeeth Rodrigo - General Manager Digital Media at Derana.

Onboard as the Official Telecommunication Partner for the event is Mobitel Telecom. “Mobitel is proud to be the Exclusive Telecommunication partner for the first ever official YouTube meetup in Sri Lanka which brings out a collaborative platform for the local YouTubers and entrepreneurs. Asthe national mobile services provider Mobitel is continuously supporting and encouraging entrepreneurship in Sri Lanka, through many initiatives” stated Prabath Gamage – General Manager - Enterprise Business at Mobitel.

The Official Event partner for the YouTube Open Mic Night is one of the most celebrated and sprawling hospitality destinations in Sri Lanka ; Shangri-La Hotel Colombo. Located at One Galle Face along the Galle Face Green Promenade, which is one of Colombo’s most exclusive addresses, Shangri-La Hotel Colombo offers uninterrupted views of the Indian Ocean views to most of its 500 guestrooms and 41 serviced apartments. Shangri-La Hotel, Colombo’s facilities continue with the largest event portfolio in Sri Lanka. Over 3,500 square metres of space including two ballrooms, an outdoor lawn and several function rooms can host up to 3,000 guests. Intended to appeal to large conferences and events, and complement the island’s attraction as one of Asia’s top MICE destinations alongside Bangkok and Singapore. Shangri-La has held many notable events since it commenced operations during the last quarter of 2017 in the heart of Colombo. From events such as Ironman Challenge to Colombo Swim Week, and its recent Partnership with Google’s Business Community for the Official YouTube Open Mic event,Shangri-La hotel enters into the innovative event scenario in Colombo. Shangri- La will be facilitating the YouTube Open Mic Night and the event will be hosted in the elegant 'spice room and the lawn adjoining it at Shangri-La Hotel Colombo, a most sought after venue in the country.  And they are looking forward to become a part of this event.

In addition many more top brands of the country’s rising scopes have joined hands together with the event, Many corporates and brands have come onboard to partner for this first official YouTube meetup powered by Google. Among these Partners are the most notable Social and Digital Media companies like Loops as the Social Media Partner and Roar Media, Decibels.lk and Readme asDigital Media Partners. Providing Outdoor Media Coverage is Emerging Media as the Official Outdoor Media Partner while PR Wire has partnered for YouTube Open Mic to be the Official PR Partner. From the list of partners are two of Sri Lanka’s most prominent F&B brands SOZO and Paan Paan. SOZO Gourmet teas have been gaining popularity for its range of freshly brewed iced teas and herbal elixirs which are available at prominent outlets like the Good Market, ParkStreet Gourmet and more. Paan Paan one of the country’s most notable bakeries is also a Sponsor coming onboard as a Brand Partner for this event.

Attendees for the YouTube Open Mic Night also have the privilege of using Uber, the Official Mobility Partner for the event. Uber will be offering exclusive ride discounts to and back from the event venue, Shangri-La Hotel Colombo for the 10th of August during the event time frame.

Event Happens on 10th August 2018 at 6pm at the Spice Room, Shangri-La Hotel Colombo. This is a free event and is open to all YouTubers as well as YouTube fans.More information can be found on www.facebook.com/GBGSrilanka