On Friday, I got to go to a networking event at UCONN. It was a night for wedding and event professionals to meet, talk, and make connections with each other. When we got there Elissa told Jillian and I that we had to go mix and mingle on our own and leave there that night with business cards from 5 contacts we made. At first I was nervous! All of the people there were professionals and I was just an intern, so I was thinking, "What is going to make them want to talk to me?" Then I took a deep breath and realized, none of them knew who I was and it was up to me to create their impression of me. Not only was I representing myself to these people I was about to meet, but also Perfect Productions. I actually was able to utilize social and conversation skills that I had learned through my years in my sorority, Delta Gamma's recruitment room. I had five minutes to make an impression on the people I was about to talk to so I had to put on my best face and make conversation. After the first woman I met, things just got easier. I think it is always a little awkward and uncomfortable when you know you have to talk to people you don't know, but I quickly got used to it. I think it is something that is learned with time and I am sure I will eventually not be as nervous. In the end though, I came out with 9 business cards from new people I had met.
I hope that I get to attend more events like this because I can see how important it is to network and make connections with other people who attend these events. You can find new companies to work with, see who else is doing things similar to you, and become a part of other people's preferred vendor lists. I think it was a really good experience overall and I didn't think that in just the couple hours I was there I would be able to make so many contacts and learn so much.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Big Things...
Today I spent most of the day working on the flyer for the Buy a Date & Be the Change Bachelor and Bachelorette Auction. It was really time consuming but I finished it! I really like how it turned out in the end. At first I didn't really like it, but after meeting with Brian and Elissa, they helped me to make a few minor changes to really enhance my overall concept. I really like how professional it looks. By working on it all day I'm also learning a lot about Microsoft Publisher. I had never used the program before I did the menu last week, but I'm picking it up quickly.
To help me with my terms and ideas of event management, Elissa brought me in a copy of the book "The International Dictionary of Event Management". It is full of every term I could ever need to know about the event planning industry. I ordered my own copy on Amazon about 10 minutes after look through it.
I also spoke with the owner of the Zen Bar today and our band for the night, Covington Circle, is confirmed! Great news. Now that we have the band set, I was able to add them into the flyer and now we can put those into production.
So overall only a few things happened today, but they were all big things that are moving us forward.
To help me with my terms and ideas of event management, Elissa brought me in a copy of the book "The International Dictionary of Event Management". It is full of every term I could ever need to know about the event planning industry. I ordered my own copy on Amazon about 10 minutes after look through it.
I also spoke with the owner of the Zen Bar today and our band for the night, Covington Circle, is confirmed! Great news. Now that we have the band set, I was able to add them into the flyer and now we can put those into production.
So overall only a few things happened today, but they were all big things that are moving us forward.
Snowy Day Fun
On Tuesday it was snowing like crazy so we ended up leaving early. But while we were here, Elissa taught Jillian and I alot of things that could end up being really useful. First, Elissa told us about Travel Agent University and all the programs it had. It is a website that offers courses with readings on different areas followed by an exam at the end, which will help you to become a specialist in different areas. At first I didn't see how I could benefit from it since I don't want to be a travel agent, but then Elissa explained how so much of event planning ends up in planning trips also. You could get hired to plan a wedding for a couple that they want to have in Bermuda. Learning about different places and airlines and becoming a specialist in different areas could really end up helping.
I also helped Elissa with more of the JDRF event. She taught me a little bit about A/V and rigging maps and how to make sure that your rigging will line up with the space of the event. I then went back into Event Pro and entered the whole set up of the A/V company into the script. Having all of the details of what equipment will be needed for what at the event during set up will be helpful to everyone with the script because it is good to make sure that everyone is on the same page and knows what is happening to avoid conflicts or potential problems during set up.
After that we worked a little bit more on the auction. Our biggest problem has been getting people to agree to participate. Soliciting people to want to auction themselves off in a date has been a challenge. All of the people we have so far are people that we knew personally. We've found though that we've had better luck getting people to participate if we talk to them and ask in person, as opposed to calling. My goal is to have at least 10 participants signed up within the next week. We'll see how well we do!
I also helped Elissa with more of the JDRF event. She taught me a little bit about A/V and rigging maps and how to make sure that your rigging will line up with the space of the event. I then went back into Event Pro and entered the whole set up of the A/V company into the script. Having all of the details of what equipment will be needed for what at the event during set up will be helpful to everyone with the script because it is good to make sure that everyone is on the same page and knows what is happening to avoid conflicts or potential problems during set up.
After that we worked a little bit more on the auction. Our biggest problem has been getting people to agree to participate. Soliciting people to want to auction themselves off in a date has been a challenge. All of the people we have so far are people that we knew personally. We've found though that we've had better luck getting people to participate if we talk to them and ask in person, as opposed to calling. My goal is to have at least 10 participants signed up within the next week. We'll see how well we do!
Thursday, February 11, 2010
End of the Week
Today was kind of a quiet day. I met with Brian this morning to see what had to be done today and go over my themed menu. I was nervous when I sent it to him Tuesday because I wasn't sure if it was what they had in mind or if it was detailed enough. It turned out that he and Elissa both really liked it which I thought was great. I was really glad that I did well with my first assignment. They only had minor suggestions for me about things to change. I'm happy with the how the final product turned out. I think that the overall design, color scheme, and food choices match well with the theme.
After I finished the menu I did another case study. I seem to be understanding them better, or so I hope. With each one I learn something new, or have to think of things in a way I wouldn't have normally.
For the rest of the afternoon I followed up with some things for the Bachelor & Bachelorette Auction. I made more calls to local businesses asking for potential participants. A few places seemed interested so I emailed and faxed out applications. Finding people to participate has been a little bit harder than I had anticipated. A lot of people seem to be too shy to want to participate themselves, but seem willing to pass the application along to coworkers. The Zen Bar, where we will be hosting the event, is still working on confirming a local band to play at the event. Hopefully they will have the date available and be able to be a part of this. I think having a live band will make the night just that much more fun.
Next week I have a lot to do. Jillian was out today, but on Tuesday we need to work together to design fliers, create tickets and set a price, and finalize centerpieces. The Pink Petunia florist offered to donate flowers for the event so we want to make sure we let her know far in advance what we'd like. We will also need to continue to make calls for donations and participants. It should be a busy week!
After I finished the menu I did another case study. I seem to be understanding them better, or so I hope. With each one I learn something new, or have to think of things in a way I wouldn't have normally.
For the rest of the afternoon I followed up with some things for the Bachelor & Bachelorette Auction. I made more calls to local businesses asking for potential participants. A few places seemed interested so I emailed and faxed out applications. Finding people to participate has been a little bit harder than I had anticipated. A lot of people seem to be too shy to want to participate themselves, but seem willing to pass the application along to coworkers. The Zen Bar, where we will be hosting the event, is still working on confirming a local band to play at the event. Hopefully they will have the date available and be able to be a part of this. I think having a live band will make the night just that much more fun.
Next week I have a lot to do. Jillian was out today, but on Tuesday we need to work together to design fliers, create tickets and set a price, and finalize centerpieces. The Pink Petunia florist offered to donate flowers for the event so we want to make sure we let her know far in advance what we'd like. We will also need to continue to make calls for donations and participants. It should be a busy week!
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Catch up day
Today I spent most of the day working on catching up on assignments. I worked on case studies and my themed menu. When doing case studies, I realized that there's a lot I need to learn about the business end of this industry. Since I attend the Hartford Art School and my major is Photography, I understand the design end of events, but I don't have much experience in the business end, because I haven't had to take any classes related to that. I learned most of my knowledge on how to plan an event through my positions in my university's chapter of Delta Gamma Fraternity. I was responsible for planning recruitment events, and social events like semi and formal. I learned important aspects like how to stay under budget, follow contracts, risk management, establish themes, create a menu etc. but I didn't have to deal with the marketing end. I always knew who would be attending and what the budget per person was. Through reading all the cases I've been given, and answering the questions related to them, I have been able to research terms and concepts that I hadn't really thought about before.
I really enjoy the fact that at Perfect Productions, interns aren't just assistants filing paperwork or doing meaningless tasks. When I was first handed my internship handbook I was taken aback at the amount of assignments, readings, and case studies in it. I'm so glad though that they are included in this program so that I can be exposed to new ideas and issues that I wouldn't have been before. I think its really great that Perfect Productions is so dedicated to helping their interns succeed and learn all that they need in this field. Elissa, Brian, and Amanda always take time to stop and tell Jillian and I little tips that they have learned through experience that we wouldn't have known otherwise. I'm excited to see what I'll learn next...
I really enjoy the fact that at Perfect Productions, interns aren't just assistants filing paperwork or doing meaningless tasks. When I was first handed my internship handbook I was taken aback at the amount of assignments, readings, and case studies in it. I'm so glad though that they are included in this program so that I can be exposed to new ideas and issues that I wouldn't have been before. I think its really great that Perfect Productions is so dedicated to helping their interns succeed and learn all that they need in this field. Elissa, Brian, and Amanda always take time to stop and tell Jillian and I little tips that they have learned through experience that we wouldn't have known otherwise. I'm excited to see what I'll learn next...
Week 2
Last week a lot happened. Jillian and I continued to work on the Bachelor & Bachelorette Auction we are having at the Zen Bar in Plainville, CT. We finalized the application for participants and worked on getting more donations for the event. We are trying to put together full date packages so not only do you get the participant, but also the dream date fully paid for through donations. We have some great dates planned out that I'm sure people will love ranging from Yankee tickets to a limo ride and dinner. We are still working on getting participants. We've called local businesses and emailed out applications. our goal is to have 10 men and 10 women to auction off dates with.
In addition to the auction, I have been helping with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation event that Perfect Productions is planning. I went through all the contracts and wrote a script for the night so that at the day of the event, everyone involved can have a copy and know the time line for the night and who is doing what.
Through working on these events I have learned a lot. Even when a task seems small you are still learning. In calling and emailing asking for participants and donations I learned how to sound professional in phone calls and emails. When creating the script for JDRF I was learning how to use the Event Pro planner program that is used for every event. I also learned how important it is to create a script and the benefits of having one.
In addition to the auction, I have been helping with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation event that Perfect Productions is planning. I went through all the contracts and wrote a script for the night so that at the day of the event, everyone involved can have a copy and know the time line for the night and who is doing what.
Through working on these events I have learned a lot. Even when a task seems small you are still learning. In calling and emailing asking for participants and donations I learned how to sound professional in phone calls and emails. When creating the script for JDRF I was learning how to use the Event Pro planner program that is used for every event. I also learned how important it is to create a script and the benefits of having one.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
A Productive Week, At That.
The second week at Perfect Productions has been an interesting one. With computer server issues and client miscommunication, I am truly getting a real insight as to what happens when things go wrong. To follow-up from last week, Nicole and I have continued to work diligently on the bachelor and bachelorette auction to benefit the Petit Family Foundation. I have spent most of the day calling local businesses and restaurants for donations again. I am not sure how successful I am being because the follow-up rate with each of these companies is three to four weeks. I am hoping that a lot of the date ideas pull through: tickets to see Jerry Seinfield in Hartford, a horse and carriage drawn vineyard tour, a hot air balloon ride around New York and CT and hefty gift certificates for a dinner for two at restaurants in the area.
Aside from the auction, I was assigned another project on Tuesday. While this project also deals with sponsorship, it’s more relative to the sponsorship and donation I have looked for before for the Fight Against Domestic Violence. I am looking for major donations from local and national companies to benefit the Manchester Community College. I spent a few hours going through booklets from past events Perfect Productions has reached out to for donations and the booklets from past benefit events at MCC. I will putting more efforts towards calling these places for donations soon.
I am hoping to gather everything I am quickly learning at Perfect Productions through my hands-on experience and all of the amazing information in the Internship Handbook to help out a few people with their upcoming weddings. A son of one of the student center staff members at school is getting married in the fall and apparently has a bride-to-be that can’t make any decisions herself. Maria – the staff member – begged me for my help the other day because she knows that this is my dream job. After reading through countless blogs, twitter accounts and ripping through every detail of theknot.com, I told Maria I will help them in any way possible. She said it’s the little things she needs helps with: decision making about colors, centerpieces and venues.
I don’t think I’d be able to make any of these phone calls – talking on the phone = a phobia of mine – if I hadn’t been thrown into phone calling the last two weeks at Perfect Productions. I am forever grateful that my phobia has been (temporarily) cured.
I look forward to the rest of the work that has to be done on the bachelor and bachelorette auction, as well as the silent auction for Manchester Community College. All in all, week two was a productive week. Can’t wait to see what week three brings…
Aside from the auction, I was assigned another project on Tuesday. While this project also deals with sponsorship, it’s more relative to the sponsorship and donation I have looked for before for the Fight Against Domestic Violence. I am looking for major donations from local and national companies to benefit the Manchester Community College. I spent a few hours going through booklets from past events Perfect Productions has reached out to for donations and the booklets from past benefit events at MCC. I will putting more efforts towards calling these places for donations soon.
I am hoping to gather everything I am quickly learning at Perfect Productions through my hands-on experience and all of the amazing information in the Internship Handbook to help out a few people with their upcoming weddings. A son of one of the student center staff members at school is getting married in the fall and apparently has a bride-to-be that can’t make any decisions herself. Maria – the staff member – begged me for my help the other day because she knows that this is my dream job. After reading through countless blogs, twitter accounts and ripping through every detail of theknot.com, I told Maria I will help them in any way possible. She said it’s the little things she needs helps with: decision making about colors, centerpieces and venues.
I don’t think I’d be able to make any of these phone calls – talking on the phone = a phobia of mine – if I hadn’t been thrown into phone calling the last two weeks at Perfect Productions. I am forever grateful that my phobia has been (temporarily) cured.
I look forward to the rest of the work that has to be done on the bachelor and bachelorette auction, as well as the silent auction for Manchester Community College. All in all, week two was a productive week. Can’t wait to see what week three brings…
The First Week: Perfect
The first week at Perfect Productions was just that, perfect. After learning all about our project – the bachelor and bachelorette auction – I was so excited to start working on the event. I was even more honored to begin working on the event when I found out our client was the Petit Family Foundation. The first week with Nicole consisted of a lot of “to-do” list making. When it came time to splitting up the responsibilities of this event, I volunteered to be responsible for contacting local restaurants and businesses to donate for the event. I was excited to take on this responsibility, because after all of my work with Alpha Chi Omega and reaching out for sponsorships for the fight against domestic violence, contacting sponsors comes naturally to me. While there were a few bumps in the road the first few days, I rapidly became successful at getting in touch with companies and businesses all over CT to donate items or activities for the dates.
The first week, Nicole and I also met with Zen Bar to discuss a few more specific details of the event. So far, the parts of this event that Nicole and I are working on include: the small details, application and participant forms and contacting businesses for donations and participants. This week, I have also just been trying to get all of the processes of Perfect Production under my belt. It’s comforting to know that the forms that have to be filled out, logs that need to be kept and assignments that need to be completed all run on a timeline and are very organized. From little things like extensions to dial when making phone calls, the correct way to format letters and the correct wording that should be used in correspondence’s, it’s been extremely helpful to organize everything that we’re working on.
If I’ve learned this much in the first week, I look forward to everything else I am going to learn in the weeks to come.
The first week, Nicole and I also met with Zen Bar to discuss a few more specific details of the event. So far, the parts of this event that Nicole and I are working on include: the small details, application and participant forms and contacting businesses for donations and participants. This week, I have also just been trying to get all of the processes of Perfect Production under my belt. It’s comforting to know that the forms that have to be filled out, logs that need to be kept and assignments that need to be completed all run on a timeline and are very organized. From little things like extensions to dial when making phone calls, the correct way to format letters and the correct wording that should be used in correspondence’s, it’s been extremely helpful to organize everything that we’re working on.
If I’ve learned this much in the first week, I look forward to everything else I am going to learn in the weeks to come.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)