Let's be honest, who doesn’t love attending a good event? Events are what bring us all together. Whether it's someone’s birthday or a wedding, or maybe it’s a concert in the park, the bottom line is we all want to be there enjoying our time together. In my opinion, the key elements that make an event memorable are what relate to our senses. It’s what we can see, smell, taste and connect with on an emotional level. The venue, music, food and content all play a key role in our emotional response to an event. So what’s not to love about an event?
A Memorable Event
I attended a women’s panel discussion and networking event about a year ago with a friend. Now I know what you’re thinking - how could a panel discussion event be considered FUN? This may not sound like an amazing experience to some people, but it was for me! From the moment I walked in the door, I was greeted with a free gift bag that included products like nail polish, coupons and gift cards, notebooks, pens, lip balm and more! Who doesn’t love free stuff? The discussion was captivating because it focused on each panelist’s experience of their successes and challenges with launching their women-owned businesses. The atmosphere was on an all time positive vibe. I connected with so many women from all sorts of backgrounds. The food was also amazing! I am partial to mexican food and there was a full spread available! Combine mexican food with free mixed cocktails and I’m sold. The bottom line is, you never know what event you’ll enjoy unless you give it a chance. A room full of strangers, making connections, enjoying each other's time over great food, drinks, music and conversation is what made this event so memorable for me.
Getting Started In Events
On the back end, there’s definitely a lot of work with planning and thinking through each task when it comes to launching a successful event. During my undergraduate studies, I worked for Kirkland Fine Arts Center (KFAC), which is a 2,000 seat venue hosting a variety of live entertainment events. I loved everything about working there! We had small and large acts perform at KFAC from “The Roots” to “Sara Bareilles.” KFAC quickly became a huge inspiration to me as I helped manage the front of house operations. For these events, I helped manage all event operations in preparation for the performances; from scheduling staff members, coordinating with parking and coat check attendants, preparing for merchandise and concession sales, and connecting with backstage personnel. It was a lot of work, but also a lot of fun! What I love most about events is that each one is not the same. If you do something you love, it doesn’t feel like work. Yes, coordinating and running a successful event can be a lot of work and a challenge, but there is a lot of joy in seeing the final outcome of the work that was put in.
If you feel like event planning is the career path for you, stay connected on my journey for tips and tricks on how to plan great events. Until next time!
