Simple Trash Blind Eye

I am thinking about this Jamaican proverb....meaning small things can have/cause big effects/problems.

In events the little things overlooked can actually ruin the experience. Something as simplE as forgetting to put adequate Toilet paper in the bathroom can mar the impact of an event.

I am beginning to realize how completely in control the event manager has to be and hence am trying to work on my flaws......one BIG one....PROCRASTINATION!

I do get things done...no doubt...but I could get more done if I would organize my time better.

ONE NOTE ON THE WORLD CUP

So far I have one problem with the World Cup...... but back to SIMPLE TRASH BLIND EYE.... The vuvuzellas are really annoying!

They are ruining the joy of watching the games and listening to the commentary. Why didnt they think about the impact of tens of thousands of people blowing this instrument and the racket it would create.

this just goes to show

YOU HAVE TO SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF

Thinking about the Impact of Events

Our first assignment for Event Management Class has thinking about the impact of events on the community and stakeholders. Firstly, the impact of an event can be either positive or negative (this we know intuitively) its like something good may happen and something bad is definitely going to happen. True, the best planned events have had some major setback or challenge that can derail the entire project.

Case in Point

My sister and I went to the recently held Ms St James Festival Queen Pageant, the event was wonderful, entertaining and well organized. We had fun and our only regret was that we late and missed the opening ceremony.

A friend of mine who is closely linked to the event told me, that the girls' formal dresses (designer made) only arrived 2 minutes before the formal wear segment of the competition.

We didn't have a clue. The show went on smoothly, while backstage was in chaos.

Events are kinda like that the 80's T Shirt that says Sh*t happens.

It does though, and when it does happen it can ruin the impact of the event if the sh*t that happens outweighs the good that happens.

So What To DO

Events are planned to have impact. Positive impact is preferred (for normal people at least),So it is the Event Manager's Job to take control of the event and clients to ensure the impact is positive.

More on what to do....... when i find out what to do.

I Want My 30%

So we are in Event Management class and we are brainstorming trying to find the perfect event to have the right impact on the lives of our community. An experienced member of the class suggested we do something for Charity, so I am all for it.

So after this was suggested, I asked if we were doing this strictly non profit and give all the proceeds to the children, the reply

"I don't know about you but I want my 30%"

What if all 20 something of us wanted our 30%.

More on that later.

Finding Out More

Another Events Management Class yesterday and we are learning more....as to be expected yes. The class will have to plan and execute a real Event in August. This event will contribute 60% to the overall course grade and so far there have been some interesting suggestions during our brainstorming...including the suggestion of a dog show!

I chuckled a little when the dog show was suggested...not that I don't like dogs, but a Dog Show! The beauty of brainstorming...everyone gets to get their two cents in, i got a chance to learn more about the people i will be spending the next 10 weeks with.

Well the consensus seems to be that the class should organize a Charity event to assist needy children with back to school funds. That is good, I like the idea Jamaican children need all the help they can get. So I am fully on board with the charity event.



'look at those cute faces'

More Details Please!

OK so I have found what I was looking for....I found an Event Planning company that uses questionnaires to get a detailed brief from their prospective clients. They ask a number of questions that provide enough information to go forward in planning an event.

http://www.pivotalevents.com/pdfs/pivotal_events_questionnaire.pdf"

I Love the questionnaire, it appeals to the Economists in me...but there is an emotional side to the brief that i don't think the questionnaire will be able to capture. Sure, it will capture the specifics, but there is also the not so specific aspect.

I remember when I was planning my wedding, there was a certain vibe/feel that I wanted my wedding to have. I didn't know how to communicate it through words, but I would download pictures from the Internet to illustrate the feel I wanted.

This emotional element (what I am calling 'the feel') is a little harder to capture through such objective data collection methods.

So I am thinking now that after administering a questionnaire to clients (to get the raw data), then the next important aspect is to meet with them and gauge their vision for the event, this includes; asking for pictures of the similar events that they like/love, asking them about the feelings they want to evoke in their guests and basically capturing their personal vibe (such as whether they are sophisticated or eclectic).

Its important to know their design aesthetic, and on that note I need to do some research on design styles and maybe put a label on mine.

Then, the event planner should be able to assimilate and analyse all this data both objectively and subjectively and transform it all into a stellar event.

Cool, I Like that!

The Brief

Wednesday May 26, 2010 was the first day of classes for my Ten week Events Management Course. Is ten weeks enough (30 hours contact time), maybe not, but I am sure there is a lot that I can learn both in class and on my own.

Firstly, last evening was a milestone in my life. It was the first time EVER I have been in a classroom setting with my Mother and Younger Sister. It was so surreal! Here we are determined to learn as much as possible about this new interest, but most importantly learning something new about each other in the process.

So our first lesson was basically centered around
1 The Importance of Networking
2 The Fundamentals of Events Management
3 Understanding the Brief

Well I have always known about the Importance of Networking, not by actively networking, but by observing people who do. At University I was always amazed by the ability of some people to always have a friend somewhere to help them do something.
These people were always in the know and were exposed (through their contacts) to many opportunities.

While observing this I would think about Networking as the 'Users' Game.' I came to this conclusion because I thought contacts were being made just to say 'I know so and so' or to say 'So and so can do that for me.' I am sure for some people Networking is a game, but in Events Management it seems to be a necessary tool to enhance my effectiveness in getting the right people on board.

So right now I am going through my phones' contact list, bridging the gaps and re opening the lines of communication.

Understanding the Brief

The bulk of our class time was focused on going over the fundamentals,however, we did an exercise that brought to life an important aspect of Events Management; The Brief. I understand the brief to be the first contact between the client and the Events Manager in which the client gives the Manager a 'run down' of their vision or objectives for the event. The client may or may not go into great detail but it is important for the Events Manager to identify some key details such as;

Why
Where
When
How (much money)

These four question basically encapsulates the more specific questions such as

Objectives for the event
History behind the event
Date and Time (including running order)
Capacity
Catering and Seating
Geography
Demographics
among other things

I am thinking it is the responsibility of the Events Manager to garner as much information from the client, since I really cant imagine many people really have an idea for an event and provide all the details (especially in Jamaica) but then I may be wrong.

So the brief is important and the starting line for the entire event planning experience.

I suggested in class last night that maybe a good tool to get all the information needed to go forward with the event would be a questionnaire. Do Event Planners use questionnaires for this purpose?

I guess i'll Google that.

The Perfect Mix; Creative and Organized

I have been searching for some time now for a career that would allow me to utilize some key facets of my personality. My core education is in the fields of Economics and International Relations
(which I love!) but I was still searching for a more hands on career where I would not be confined to one space for many hours in a day.

I studied Economics because the discipline appeals to the pragmatist in me, the side of me that knows how to compartmentalize and deal with certain issues in part to create a change for the whole. I love Economics and Lectured for about a year at the Montego Bay Community College (where I was a student). Lecturing was good, but it wasn’t great, and I was limited in the methods I could use to bring the subject matter to students. The job a little too much structure for me, so I left that job to someone who would better make use of the opportunity.

I studied International Relations as my minor just for the love of it. World Affairs and how issues in other countries ripple around the globe is fascinating. Especially now, we are so interconnected through the web. You may be reading this from Sweden!
So my Education thus far has brought me thus far. Now my aim is to use the practical skills of Economics and the analytical skills from International Relations and apply them to my new venture EVENT PLANNING. I will do this by adding my eye and flair for design and the spice and warmth that comes inherently to all Jamaicans.

So I am ready to get started

I am enrolled in a ten week EVENT MANAGEMENT course

At University of the West Indies Open Campus.