Blogs
Your New Hires First Week is an Event
Don’t disappoint your new team member with a terrible first day – or week. “A first day isn’t an event. It is just another day of long orientation and a day of lost work.” That is how so many managers think – even if they won’t admit it out loud. Take a step...
Non-Profit Galas – Rethink the Sit Down Dinner
The non-profit galas have started to follow a very predictable formula. Attendees arrive for light appetizers and drinks, a sit-down meal is followed by a live auction and a 50/50 raffle, with a silent and dessert auction to round out the night. A DJ is often engaged...
When You Start to Hate Your Passion
I was putting together an event at work last week and a single thought rang through my head. “I hate putting events together.” Now, this is a scary thought for a person who has built her life and career towards putting together events. I did an event internship in...
Top 3 Things for Hosting an Educational Event
Hosting an educational event can be a great way for your company to showcase its expertise and to gain new leads. Here are my top three things for hosting an educational event that will draw a crowd. 1. Pick a Timely and/ or Popular Topic One my of the best-attended...
Trade Show Lead Follow Up
You just had a great trade show. Traffic was awesome. Attendees were in your target market. Your giveaway bowl had to be emptied 3 times. Now, all you want to do is kick back with your favorite drink and watch the latest episodes of TV that you have been missing in...
3 Reasons to Exhibit at a Trade Show as a Small Business
There are three reasons to exhibit at a trade show. Sell your product or service, gain leads for your business and to gain brand awareness. All other reasons fall under this. I want to walk through these reasons in detail and show how to make them work for you. Sell...
Why Site Visits are Crucial for Your Event
Site Visits are when you look over a venue before you sign a contract to host your event at that location. Why do the site visit? You can see the venue in person. We have all booked the hotel that has beautiful pictures and arrived to find that they used clever camera...
5 Reasons to Have Security Personnel at Your Small Business Events
Security is both important and expensive for your events. Here are the top 5 reasons to hire event security. 1.They can help keep uninvited guests out. When you are hosting an exclusive event, you want to keep to your VIP Guestlist. I will often have my own staff...
5 W’s of Trade Show Giveaways
Your trade show giveaways should have a purpose and a strategy behind them. Walk through the 5 W's to ensure that your giveaway will have the greatest impact. I know the last W is why but how does have a W in it. But seriously, take a moment to think about your...
5 Tips for Staying Healthy at a Multi-Day Trade Show
Trade shows can be 15 hour days and when you string 3 or 4 of those together it can be a recipe for illness. Over the years I have found with 5 ways to stay healthy and ensure I have energy after the trade show is finished.
Getting Paid as an Event Planner
Getting paid as an event planner is not easy. Below are three options on structuring your fees to get paid what you deserve. Option 1: Packages For special events where I know the average time that will go into them, I put together Packages. This allows my customers...
Post-Trade Show Surveys
In-house, post-trade show surveys have given me invaluable feedback and great ideas. I ask each salesperson and booth staffer to complete my quick 5 – 6 question survey. People who were just attendees at the show to complete the survey as well. It gives a slightly...
My Love/Hate Relationship with Chairs
Chairs. I have a love/hate relationship with the chairs that often come with your trade show floor space. The basic booth package for a 10 x 10 space is the pipe and drape, one 8 foot table, and two folding chairs. I often hide or give away the chairs that come with...
Event Food Pitfalls
I loved the movie Oceans 8. It has a great cast but from an event planning standpoint – it has a great moment. The scene where Sarah Paulson's character is talking about the need for a nutritionist on hand because of all the special request foods made me think of all...
Brainstorming for Trade Shows
I love brainstorming sessions. I love to stand in front of a huge whiteboard and bounce ideas off of others. To build on ideas. To think up wild ideas. Some of my fondest memories of afternoons at work have been huddled around a white board and dragging random people...