New Year's Resolutions: Event Manager Style

Cheers! Here’s to celebrating the events of 2013. With this being j2’s final post on our event management blog for the year, it’s fitting to pen my resolutions.

1. Network more

Travelling the Australian Event Awards path reminded me just how healthy it is connecting with my industry peers. While we work side-by-side with great teams on events all year round, it just isn’t the same as having a casual chat and swapping ideas over a canapé or two.

2. Share what I’ve learned

Having delivered events since the 80’s, I’ve amassed loads of event planning tips and information that, when shared with relevant audiences, could help enrich the careers of future event industry leaders. I plan to continue feeding our event planning blog, contribute editorial to a variety of publications and start talking!

3. Teach the world to make a French Martini

Starting right now...

1 1/2 oz vodka (50ml)
1/2 oz Chambord® raspberry liqueur (20ml)
2 oz fresh pineapple juice (60ml)
1 twist lemon peel or a couple of fresh raspberries

Pour into cocktail shaker with crushed ice. Shake vigorously, pour into a martini glass, and serve. Garnish with lemon peel or raspberries.

Notes for bar staff (based on experiences during this year):

1. No. Cordial is not a substitute for Chambord® raspberry liqueur.

2. If I can’t see froth, you haven’t put your back into it.

3. When I have to Google a recipe for you, we should cancel my order then and there.

4. Purchase neon runners

I’ve been observing a trend that I can’t ignore any longer. Event crews have swagger when their active footwear is in flashy fluorescents. If bright colours are motivating and confidence-inspiring, then show me to the dazzling shoe band wagon...I’m climbing aboard!

5. Create and promote my own event

What?! Did I just put that out there?

We have always planned and delivered event projects underwritten by other organisations. With so many event ideas buzzing in my head, will 2014 be my year to branch out? Watch this space!

6. Maintain that things happen for a reason

We’ve all heard it said that the universe works in mysterious ways. I’m going to trust in fate, and remember that even when I don’t get what I thought I wanted, it may just be the best thing that ever happened.

7. Make things easier

I’m going to avoid reinventing wheels and over-thinking things. I will simplify, and I’ll use tools already invented for this purpose.

A great place to start is by borrowing my 7th new year resolution from the cool “new year’s resolution generator” by Monina Velarde. (Please launch your 2014 version ASAP!)

Just by repeatedly clicking “Gimme More” I have an endless supply of do-good, feel-good resolutions at my disposal.

8. See point 7 above.

Great! I’m achieving resolution 7 already.

9. Spend more time with my family


And that’s enough. A solid starting base and a lot to work on, but I’m up for it.

So as we share in Christmas celebrations and look to the New Year of 2014, I take this opportunity to wish you and your loved ones a safe and happy time at all 2013 Festive Season events.

X

Jo Jordan

Brisbane event management company | j2 ideas & events

Follow the j2 team on Facebook & Twitter to keep up-to-date with industry news and event planning trends, tips and technologies.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Event Industry Predictions for 2014

Image
First cab off our 2014 event management blog rank is a prediction: we’re forecasting challenging times for the special events industry in the coming year. Despite encouraging figures released in November 2013 by research company IBISWorld suggesting that the event promotion and management services industry will be up 1.1% for the 2013/2014 Financial Year [1] , I’m predicting that event managers will need to continue to work hard to rationalise their professional value to clients and to remain competitive in the marketplace. Many Australian event companies are struggling to compete with ongoing issues that plague our event industry at present, such as: > Competitive offshore destination packages, which are luring businesses to international locations for events, meetings and team building experiences; and > Increasing charges across the industry such as food, wages, Superannuation, electricity, entertainment, rubbish removal and accommodation. These challenges, featured in an arti...
Read more

Stirring Emotions Through Lighting Design

Image
What is it about a simple glowing light that makes us feel so happy? I asked Google. It seems I wasn’t alone in my curiosity. A few forums and research papers later, I’ve now confirmed this: humans are indeed drawn to and comforted by light. Inadvertently, I’ve also discovered the world of color psychology. From years of event production experience, we know that colour has a huge impact on event atmosphere. In the article “ Color or Color (The Psychology of Color) ” author Walter Graff says “Color has an incredible effect on your mood, your perception, and your likes and dislikes.” Colour alone, however, is little without effective lighting—something of a specialist science and art. International Association of Lighting Designers contributor, Stefan Graf says that “it is controlling this difficult, transitory medium that gives the lighting ‘artist’ the ability to create hierarchies, dynamics and mood.” MOOD LIGHTING AT EVENTS – AFFECTING HOW PEOPLE FEEL The IALD suggests good lightin...
Read more

Brushing Up On Presenting: 5 Key Tips

Image
Tips for presenting to a captive audience make for topical matter in event management blogs. Having organised hundreds of functions over the years I know why!  Having also been an attendee to a few corporate events recently, I’m reminded that some really simple things can make the difference between flawless and a flop. Not everyone can be as accomplished a presenter as 2014 Oscars host, Ellen DeGeneres. That said, a few back-to-basic presenter tips, along with a couple of clever things we’ve seen in recent times, are sure to get your audiences raving about your presentation techniques and your event planning. 1. Text. Clear. Large. Make any text in presentations large enough to be easily read, even by the old folk in the room. Choose a sans-serif font; something stylish, crisp and clear. Just last week Event Manager Blog contributor, Kelvin Newman clued us into the widely available font “Blue Highway” - something that can be read from a distance. If this font’s good enough to be ...
Read more