Happy New Year! I hope everyone was able to relax and find some peace over the holidays. I know it is still a stressful time on many fronts, but as we look into 2021, I can’t help but feel a glimmer of hope. From the chatter I’m hearing, a lot of people are feeling the same way and some are even…
As we near the end of the year, I once again find myself filled with gratitude despite all that has happened in 2020. Even with a worldwide pandemic, there is so much joy to be found and created. In the events industry, the effects of Covid were felt completely and immediately. It hasn’t been easy. But, as I take stock, I can’t…
Sometimes, you’ve just gotta take things into your own hands. The event industry hasn’t bounced back and the way things are looking, it might be awhile. Instead of waiting, I decided to organize an event designed to nurture and inspire my guests, while keeping all safety precautions in mind. It has been a whirlwind process. But, it’s been a process…
As fall closes in and the days start to get shorter, we look forward to gathering with friends and family for the fall and winter holidays. This year, no matter how much of an “all clear” we get from the powers that be, our minds are still thinking about Covid and how we can gather safely with our friends and…
As fall rolls in, thoughts turn to the upcoming holidays and the celebrations that surround them. No doubt, for many of us, the pandemic and guidelines for gathering in large and small groups will put a damper on some plans, but there are still ways to enjoy festivities while keeping your distance. The surprise outdoor engagement party I planned for…
Summer typically ushers in large outdoor festivals, fairs, and concerts. Of course, that’s all changed this year. Our industry has experienced unprecedented change over the past few months and much of the change will linger long after we have a vaccine for Covid-19. All news in this industry is not bad news, however. Planning for in-person events is picking up,…
Thank You for all Your Support for the Festival! Who would have thought that sharing the festival I’m organizing and hosting would get that type of reaction? Your support and enthusiasm have blown me away. Thank you for taking an interest in this project that is so near and dear to me. I promise to keep you updated on the…
Celebrate Summer with Safe Outdoor Events As the world opens up, we are heading outside to enjoy gatherings with coworkers, family, and friends. As exciting as it is to enjoy a few more freedoms outside the walls of our homes, it’s vitally important to continue observing safety precautions even in the open air of the great outdoors. If you…
It’s Not too Early to Start Planning Your Future Event After the past three months, predicting the future of large event planning is like walking on sand in high heels. You never know when the landscape might shift. There are ways to mitigate this uncertainty when planning an event. Some ideas include shifting your vision of the event design to…
Dear friends, It is my fondest hope that you and your family, friends, and colleagues are all safe and healthy. I struggled with what to write this month… or whether to write at all. Like many industries out there, event planning is taking a hit. I continue to help clients with speaker management as they move their conferences online and…
“Internet access has become a basic utility like electricity and running water – ease of connectivity is a priority, and after that having adequate Bandwidth matters but it’s important to know what attendees will be using the connectivity for in order to plan properly,” says Michael Judeh, Regional Director of Technology NYC IACC. I have personally witnessed events, that day…
There’s a lot more thought that goes into catering decisions than deciding if you want the spicy wings or the mild. One of the biggest decisions you must make – even before deciding on a menu – is to figure out whether you want drop-catering or full-service catering. Confused? You’re not the only one. The truth is, food can…
Thank you for an Amazing Year! As we prepare for the exciting rush of holiday events allow us to share our gratitude to our clients, vendors, hosts, and guests for an absolutely amazing 2019 event season. You are why we love what we do! Host Memorable Events that Drive Engagement with Your Brand We don’t often think about holiday parties…
Are You Leaving Event Guests Out in the Cold? Ahhh! The crisp days of Fall – that time of year when wild temperature swings can send your event success meter in a tailspin if you haven’t taken steps to accommodate chilly guests. Here are four quick tips to make sure your guests are comfortable at your upcoming event: Provide hot…
Aren’t you glad summer is here? I know I am! As you may know, I’ve spent the past few months rolling out my rebrand and I have to be honest, it’s been more stressful than I thought it would be. Which caused me to empathize with the way a lot of my clients felt about planning events before…
You have to work hard to get attendees to show up to your event – and be thrilled to be there. Remember, they’re giving up a large part of their day or week for you, and foregoing other priorities in their personal or professional lives to be there. This means you need to bring them to locations and activities that…
The best brand activations create a well of trust, build upon client relationships and spark a tide of loyalty among prospects and active customers alike. Many of you may consider brand activations to be “any old marketing campaign,” but brand activations are designed specifically to create a deeper relationship – and a long-lasting bond with customers. The benefit to companies…
7 Horrible Mistakes to Avoid with Your Trade Show Event There are few things worse than putting a ton of time, money, and effort into something, only to have it go horribly wrong and result in all that investment being essentially wasted. Yes, you may have learned some lessons from the debacle, however some of the best advice I’ve ever…
Unless you’ve been vacationing under a rock in the middle of the desert, you’ve likely heard about the plastic straw ban sweeping through the nation. First, it hit individual restaurants, and then entire cities began instituting prohibitions against the environmentally-destructive sipping tools, which all too often make their way into the sea. From turtles to fish to lobsters, too many…
Each event has VIP. It’s inescapable, though you’ll notice that the scale of VIP varies dramatically from event to event. For example, you may work an internal company conference, where the VIPs are the company executives themselves. For other, more consumer-facing conferences, VIPs may be celebrities, thought leaders, authors, rock stars (literally) or representatives of the media. A VIP is…
Bespoke, a unique event space set with the Westfield Centre in the hub of San Francisco offers a unique opportunity to host large-scale events in the bustle of the city center, with plenty of opportunity for customization and scalability. I recently partnered with Girls in Tech (GIT), the world’s largest organization dedicated to supporting women in tech, to host their…
There’s a lot of speculation about what the best day to hold a conference is. Fridays give traveling attendees the chance to sightsee over a long weekend. Wednesday breaks up the work week just right. And no one in their right mind would hold an intellectual event over the weekend! With all the information out there, how should you know…
Planning an event is not easy. If it was, professional event planners wouldn’t exist. There would be no one to help plan your wedding, conferences, and company’s social gatherings. So in order to execute the perfect event, you’ll need to hire a professional event planning company. There are hundreds to choose from and plenty of factors to consider, which means…
With only a week left until your next big event, it’s time to give your event planners budget one last evaluation. After grouping cost figures, working out a break-even point and setting aside money for generous amounts of SWAG, the budget is finally complete. What a relief! Delicious catering, budget-friendly rentals and keynote speakers are all accounted for and it’s…
One frequently asked question I receive as a planner is “How do I find event sponsors?”. After years of events, I’ve found that these 6 tips improved my chances at finding an event sponsor. They’ve worked well for my organization and I’m happy to get to share them with you! Here’s a few tips in getting quality sponsors for your…