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 Insider Tips - 11 Continuing from our last Insider Tips with our "event details" theme, Angela Vink of Davidson Communications offers more tips on how to get the little things straight in the planning stage so they will contribute to the smooth operation of a fabulous event: 1. If you're planning an outdoor event, there are a couple of very important things to consider. The first is obvious: what if the weather doesn't co-operate ? Make sure that the venue you've chosen has an appropriate and available indoor space and that your guests will be directed accordingly upon arrival. Second, and less obvious: where will the sun be? Most events include speeches or performances so stage placement is important. You don't want your audience or any photographers/camera crews looking directly into the setting sun - it's hard to get a good picture or enjoy an event when there are spots in front of your eyes. 2. At a cocktail reception with lots of great nosh, stay away from presenting food that requires guests to juggle plates, cutlery and their martini glasses. It's also never advisable to have the CEO's chin sporting a dribble of peanut satay sauce just as the press and the board of directors gather around. Sounds pretty simple, doesn't it, but you'd be surprised how often the best caterers or restaurants suggest a menu for a stand-up function that would be best left to a seated affair. And you might not realize exactly what's being served, even though you've been given a description in advance, until it hits the chafing dishes. Always test first! And kill the sauces as well as the stuff that requires a two-handed approach, no matter how good it tastes or looks. 3. We once worked a very large event where the dinner portion of the evening was in honour of government dignitaries from another country, which will go unnamed, for obvious reasons. Protocol had been gone over endless times with everyone. However, for a completely innocent reason, the hired caterers decided to move away from standard services and re-use outfits which had been a smash hit at another party they'd worked. Unfortunately, the caterers neglected to tell us so we were presented, an hour before the guests arrived, with wait staff sporting the official colours of a country known for its enmity with the home and native land of our special guests. We were lucky inasmuch as some simple changes quickly rectified the situation but we could have had a major catastrophe on our hands. The caterers learned a valuable lesson but so did we: Check every detail not just twice (we assume you always do double-checks) but as many times as it takes to be sure all the players get it right. You may drive the staff to distraction but you won't have an international incident, an uneaten dinner, and the shambles of your career ahead of you. Check out Angela Vink's bio at Head Credits.
Contact Davidson Communications. Whether you're planning an event for 50 or 5,000, we can ensure that none of the details gets missed. Check out our Power Points for other communications services we offer. |
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