Why Do You Meet?

When I attended my first training meeting, I was instructed by my manager not to get distracted by the speaker, but to try and focus on the information the speaker was delivering. Good advice, because when the speaker entered the room, he was a very unimpressive man with a speech impediment that after a period of time really got on one's nerves and to this day, I don't remember what he said. He was followed by another man in a wheelchair who told a heart wrenching story about his life and then followed it with some really impressive sales training. He made the group get up and repeat after him, and interact with him.  We cried, we laughed, and I remember him well. I never anticipated being the one who would be planning events like this but this experience taught me one thing: make it memorable!

10 Event Essentials

Over the years I have learned to pack along with my event road case, besides the normal sharpies and scissors.

Wrinkle Releaser- This is great for linen creases when the linens are already down or when using pipe and drape. Makes it a lot easier than steaming and ironing in a hurry! 

Zip Ties- From your standard cord bundle to your cocktail table sash, they can do it all. They can replace floral wire and also make your LED Lighting cords a lot less chaotic. 

Gaff Tape- Perfect for taping carpet steams, bundling your pipes during strike, and making the holes in your hanging drape disappear. Need to sew something onsite and fast? Gaff tape is usable without damaging fabric (except lace and velour).

Anti-Bacterial Windex- From touching up your mirrors and glassware onsite to cleaning up what the last event left for you. 

Command Strips- This is one of my favorite items. I cannot tell you how many times I have been thanked for using these on podiums and doors instead of tape or other adhesives. They hold quite a bit of weight and come off clean, leaving no trace of residue or damage to the surface. These are also wonderful when you do not want a centerpiece to slide around on mirror or fixing a feather topper to tall skinny piece of glassware.

Staple Gun- From a quick fix of drape to fixing signage they come in handy.

Magic Erasers- Checkered dance floors are quite popular these days along with a lot of acrylic products. These will remove those transportation and installation marks not to mention the scuffs on a brides shoes or the spot on your muslin fabric. They are truly magical. 

Tylenol- Not only is this for the team but for your flowers. Have your floral had a rough day? Give them ½ an aspirin and it will perk them right up. 

Power Strip- Have a cord that just won’t reach? Did the DJ not plan on you having to use that source as well? Want to protect a valuable electronic? Power strips are great to keep a circuit from completely tripping out your entire system to protecting your products onsite. Also when working at an outside festival or event your electronic devices are best plugged into the power strip because you never know how the outdoor source will react to weather and or a lots of use.

Bounce Dryer Sheets- Are great to get that leftover wax off your mirrors and glassware to making an entrance way a little fresher smelling by hiding them in your entrance fabric and or greenery. Trust me someone will notice the fresh smell.  These too are great to remove static on the bride or mother of the brides dress or the key note speaker’s jacket. You don’t want that type of electricity in the wrong place.

Happy Candy Month

June marks the beginning of summer and a large number of weddings. What item best helps celebrate these two special occasions?  Candy, of course!  Not only does candy add temptation and an interactive component to summer celebration or reception, it also brings texture to a table by integrating a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors.  Any color/theme that is applied towards an event can be complemented by incorporating candy.  Here are a few ideas to "sweeten" up your next June event:

Customized Candy as a Favor:

• Give away candy that has the name of the bride and groom printed on it.
• Give away the favorite candy of the bride and groom.
• Give away candy that has a message from the bride and groom printed on the wrapper.
• Give away candy that is related to the last name of the couple (i.e. if the last name is Atkinson give away Chick-O-Sticks; if the last name is Boyer give away Mallo Cups).

Candy Buffet:

Fun items to include-

• Red Wedding?  Red hots, licorice, and candied apples.
• Yellow Wedding?  Lemon Heads and Peeps.
• Winter Wedding? White chocolate covered pretzels and white jordan almonds.
• Asian Themed Wedding?  Fortune cookies and green tea candy.
• Valentine's Day Wedding?  Hershey's Kisses, Brach's Candy Hearts, and Cherry pops.

 Centerpieces:

• Replace crystals/aqua beads with colored candy.  
• Mix wrapped candy in with aqua beads or water.
• Fill varying height cylinders with a complementing colored candy.

Candy Inspired Drinks

Peppermint Candy Martini
Courtesy of Flavor Laboratories

1 shot of Peppermint Schapps

1 shot of Vanilla Vodka

1 shot crème de cacao

1 Peppermint candy

A few drops of grenadine for color at bottom of glass  

Broken peppermint candy pieces to rim

Rim glass by wetting rim and dipping in broken candy.

Place a few drops of grenadine at bottom of glass.

Shake with ice and strain into glass using a spoon to slow down the pour-so the red at the bottom stays fairly unmoved.

Change and Adapt

About two months ago, my manager came to me with quite an opportunity. As a "real" venue manager, my response…"HECK yes!" Becoming or morphing into the new venue manager at CenterStage@NoDa was everything but slow. I literally had to pick up where someone else left off with structure and organization that I was not used to. It’s hard to follow in the footsteps of someone who has been a rock star.

I guess it would be safe to say I am an OCD organizer, “must have structure”, and I am a professional over filer! After one week of familiarizing myself with a new desk, I found it difficult to operate using the old structure. I had no choice but to tear it up and start over; all while keeping events running. The freedom of creating your own framework of; working and building relationships, events, marketing, and sales is 50% AWESOME and 50% OMG! Making it your own is a beautiful thing but the time it takes to see if it works is terrifying and can be stressful.

“Change and adapt” is my motto for the month after discovering my inner organizational diva. My advice for others who find themselves in this position is, “do not be afraid to make changes so that the system will work for you. Implement your changes into your work load, make it fun, own it! When you work in the creative world you must work creatively."

It Takes Two to... Tangerine Tango

Drum roll please... The official color of 2012 is... Tangerine Tango! Since it's announcement by Pantone LLC, this color has had a prominent influence in home decór, fashion, and beauty by industry experts.  You too can also get recognition for the use of Tangerine Tango. Here are some creative ways to incorporate the color of the year into your event of the year:

Tangerine Tango Uplighting

Use (Don't Abuse) Technology

I'm not sure if I am in the minority by saying this but I have noticed that some of the people in my life have developed an unnatural attachment to technology.  They're emailing and texting while they're driving, they consume more Facebook content than soak in their surroundings, and the mobile phone has become the window into the world outside of them.  They seem to be missing out on the natural connections that, in my opinion, fuel our humanity.

Please don't misunderstand me.  What I'm saying is not that technology doesn't have a very large role in the evolution of our culture (obviously, it does) but rather that it wasn't intended to replace vital interpersonal interactions.  It was meant to augment those relationships.  Many people are no longer picking up the phone for a quick conversation but rather texting.  ATM's are replacing the friendly faces of tellers.  And libraries have become archaic only to be replaced by the leviathan we know as Google.

Flash Mob Team Building

Are you looking for a new creative way to engage your team?

We have just the thing.  Charlotte Arrangements has taken “Flash” mob to a whole new level.  You have 3 options to involve your team in activities designed to bring them together.

#1 Flash Picnic

Your office may seem like an unusual place for a picnic, but we think it’s the perfect place to rally the team.  Waiters and waitresses in uniform will swarm your office with delectable mocktails and invite employees out of their cubicles to a central dining location decorated and ready for their arrival.  Upbeat music will highlight the delicious fare and employees will feel appreciated and valued as they eat and share time together.


#2 Flash Dance Teams

At a location of your choosing, your group will be divided into teams that they will name.  A choreographer song to will be assigned to each team so that they can learn a routine.  After a little practice time each team will perform for pre-assigned judges and awards will be presented.  You can add video services and Youtube uploads for residual impact.

#3 Flash Party

Bring your group to a meeting where we set the expectation that they will be watching a Powerpoint presentation just like the ones they've seen before. Once everyone is seated, the room will be transformed before their eyes into an elegant soiree or sports bar.  We will interrupt the meeting with large scenery moving into the space, food displays, decorations, and fun activities transforming the room into a good time.

Why Team Building?

Reinforce your corporate culture by providing your employees with an outlet for socializing.  Company culture comes from the top and can thrive when it is supported by activities built around engaging the team on a social level.  Nothing speaks team work more than running the 3 legged race with the boss, or watching the VP of sales get drenched in the water balloon toss.

The investment to create a memorable experience for your team and to bring them together in a way that improves communication among the ranks could be the difference between a motivated group of individuals striving for the same goal and a group of individuals seeking self gratification.  How many opportunities do the players on your team get to communicate offline in a safe environment?

What do you think the difference would be if they had this opportunity?

Other Picnic Ideas we can do for you:

• Boat Cruises
• Theme Park Picnics
• Outdoor Venues
• Gourmet Cooking Competitions
• Carnivals built on-site
• Old Fashioned picnic with games