Being
Creative
One of your prime selling
points is your creativity. It is the main reason
people hire event planners. Your employer or clients
expect you to come up with the fresh ideas they
can’t. Our job is to deliver the ‘wow’
factor.
This is sometimes easier said
than done. And it gets increasingly harder the more
events you do for the same client or company.
So, how do you pump up your
creative juices? Where do you find inspiration?
How do you stay current with new trends?
There are many non-conventional
sources seasoned professionals look to find ideas.
Here are a few places I turn to when I need a boost:
Television and movies
I have picked up so many theme
ideas watching movies and television programs I
should probably ask my tax man if my cable bill
could be a business expense!
I have used ideas from TV
and movies for everything from a Night of the Iguanas
party we did at the original film location in Puerto
Vallarta, Mexico to a 1950’s Beach Party for
a corporate client that was borrowed straight from
Elvis’s Blue Hawaii.
We’ve created game shows for corporate meetings
and team building events – really, who doesn’t
want to be a Millionaire? Fabulous themed events
have also been created from the Flintstones, Jurassic
Park, Field of Dreams and even Forrest Gump (that
was a favorite – we went through each of the
eras he experienced in the movies – from a
John F. Kennedy look-alike to sixties protesters
to the wharf serving Bubba Gump Shrimp!).
Even your regular old sitcoms and drama shows can
provide a spark now and again. You may find inspiration
for a new décor idea or spot a trend on the
horizon you can capitalize on now.
I mentioned the hit show Survivor
in the Introduction. I watched every episode with
a pad and pencil! I loved the different ‘challenges’
and the teamwork each required – not to mention
the psychological aspects. The décor was
too cool – all the tiki torches and the tribal
council area had me sketching designs like crazy.
Even the daily rations of rat, snake and rice gave
me terrific new names for my Survivor-inspired menu
(imagine, quail could look a little like rat?).
I’m in the middle of creating a spin off of
this for a corporate client – on a private
island in the Cayman Islands.
Other Events
I love invitations! Time permitting, I try to attend
all the parties, fundraisers, parades and festivals
I can squeeze in. Only by going to events can you
come to understand the event from the guest’s
perspective – an important element in your
job.
When you’re at an event,
think through all the steps that had to go into
the organization. Colors, décor, table placement,
registration – note in your mind what you
like as well as what doesn’t work and your
suggestions for changing it.
I usually keep a little camera
in my car to capture various design ideas I’d
like to modify in the future. I also pay attention
to the vendors being used – the rental company,
caterer, florist and entertainment – to determine
if I may want to use them myself in a future event.
In addition, what
better place to meet people who may need your services?
Many of these events are coordinated in-house, by
volunteers or other inexperienced planners. There
may be an opportunity for you to sell your services
for future events.
This
article is an excerpt from the FabJob Guide to Become
an Event Planner. Visit www.FabJob.com
for information.
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