We Have NO Ball - the Blogalog Continues!

In an ongoing discussion with @projectmaven Deborah Pannell, we look at the differences between events in New York and Vancouver, and as New Year's approached, where I was up the coast in Sechelt, a quaint community only reached by ferry where we celebrate with neighbours at a beach party and launch fireworks at New York New Year's (letting those with children have fun and then still get home at a decent time) I realized, we have no ball.

Heading down to the "beach shack" for the party

Times Square for as long as I can remember has owned New Year's Eve. Millions of people join in via live feed to count down New York time, even though only a slice of the people watching live in that time zone. A perfect example of Event Marketing - make your place the "go to" place!

While I plan large events all the time, I have to say that I don't really like being in the midst of large crowds, perhaps it was all the risk management training I have done and knowing the seven ways crowds move... However my friends who have experienced NYNY have said it is one of their most memorable experiences EVER and would do it again!

In Vancouver there is no first night, no central gathering, no ball. There are instead snowshoe hikes and fondues, warm homes with friends and gourmet dinners, restaurants and nightclubs full of revellers, and even a special occasion venue or three hosting an event of their own. Would it be cool to have a ball? Of course! I would also like to have the tree like they have at Rockefeller Centre, but these, the famous window displays, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parage, these are part of the magic of New York and we wouldn't want to compete with that!

We are lucky here, we can celebrate with NY at 9pm, and then celebrate again at midnight in our own time zone! What we do have, all around Vancouver and the areas nearby, ios the opportunity to wake up on New Year's Day and enjoy that first cup of coffee with this kind of view!




The view on New Year's Day



Blogalog - Vancouver, New York, Vegas

Over the last few weeks I have had some seriously great opportunities to think about venues and events and the differences determined by location.

First, I went to the Aquarium, not through the back door or on a site visit, but with my children and niece on a (gasp!) public weekend day. First, kudos to the Aquarium for their great management of a lineup that went to the sidewalk, and on managing to move people through in a flow that rarely felt crowded. Second, boy, do I prefer having cool venues for private events. Yes, spoiled, I admit it! I love when you can take somewhere really cool, and make it your own for the evening, and when you can add in hospitality elements and great entertainment to a fantastic backdrop, perfection.

I have also had the pleasure of following along with @eventwist and while there are noteable pangs of envy at the fabulous venues already in New York combined with the always new openings of venues, I do love what we have here.

Yesterday I was in Lake Louise, where it was still snowing, and where our "summer" program that will happen in four weeks might not feel quite as summery as the clients had hoped, it will definitely be a stunning setting.

A couple of weeks ago I had the distinct pleasure of having lunch with King Dahl, who has the very, very cool job as Director of Events for MGM Resorts. @kingdahl is inspiring, lovely, relaxed and energized all at the same time, and I can imagine what a pleasure it must be to be part of his team - a massive team that includes bringing the dreamiest dreams that can only be seen on the scale they are seen when you are somewhere in Vegas. Where a massive installation can be up for a season, and then pieces can be recreated for an event; where the ballrooms are designed for events and you can rig a catwalk that dancers can perform on so it is 5' above people's heads and they party underneath... the imagination is entrenched... as I said to King, I would do nearly anything to just spend a few weeks on an internship because the scale of events and the opportunity to THINK BIG BIG BIG is something that just on scale we won't see here - our biggest productions are scaled to suit Vancouver, our Canadian modesty and while fabulous, inspiring and engaging, there is simply nowhere to hang a catwalk, or 8 life size reindeer covered in chestnuts as you might see in the lobby of the Bellagio in the holiday season.  (well my boss might miss me but the offer stands!)

Coming up we will create a Midsummer Night's Dream in the rainforest at Capilano, Uber-Lounges where a business session just happened 90 minutes before and car reveals that will cause gasps of delight - all events that we are very excited about. We will continue down the path of engaging, authentic events in settings that simply cannot be replicated anywhere else, and will continue to admire the events that happen, well everywhere else too, and seek inspiration from our #eventprofs friends.

Now, back to work!

Blogalog with Eventwist April 21

Check out what Deborah has to say about New York and its challenges and inspirations here Eventwist says...

What I want to know is, as an event planner in Vancouver, how do you incorporate the unique aspects of your city that you love so much into your creations? But more importantly, when I visit you, what are you going to show me that will really make me know we’re not in New York anymore?

First it will be about the cuisine. First breakfast at Market at the Shangri La is followed by a bike ride around the seawall, and then we will board our luxury yacht and heading out on the water, passing freighters in the working part and the most luxurious homes as we head around the point, docking at Granville Island for a truly unique shopping experience - imagine acres full of fresh food, local artisans and their gorgeous wares, and NOT ONE chain store! Lunch can be enjoyed at one of the amazing cafes, restaurants or market stalls you discover along the way.

For the evening event, we will incorporate the fresh food found today and while enjoying amazing BC wine, we will enjoy the sun setting over the harbour while a local musician adds the extra ambiance that ends this evening in perfection. Ten minutes after leaving the market, we will be back at our downtown hotel, sated and delighted. Hello Vancouver!

Event Planning in Vancouver - Blogalog with @projectmaven



MPI WEC10 Welcome Reception on the VCC Terrace

 So here is the thing about event planning in Vancouver. We are truly a cosmpolitan city that has been dropped into an amazing natural west coast rainforest. An utter oasis of delight, whether you are under a centuries old tree, or heading out over a cliff or simply enjoying the view from the Convention Centre or one of our many meeting hotels that overlook the harbour and the coastal mountains. In a heartbeat you can go from sitting at a conference table to being in a kayak paddling into silence, or hopping on a bike for a 7 mile ride around the Seawall, enjoying a picnic along the way.

In the nearly two decades I have been planning meetings and events, I have been at a PCO where we worked locally and traveled with our clients; at a destination management company; at an incentive house where it was back to traveling around the world planning events; and back to a DMC - because I love my family and didn't see them for three years pretty much... but also because I am truly excited to share our destination with people from around the world. Our supplier partners are amazing, innovative and have both a ton of experience to share but also are excited to try new things with me.

Yes, New York you are full of great producers and stunning venues (BizBash has been my home page since it launched) but if you want to really connect, slow down, work in a city that leads the world in sustainability, and be pleased with the service you receive along the way... let's talk Vancouver!

EventTwist and TahiraLovesEvents - a blogalog begins!

Recently, Deborah Parnell aka @projectmaven sent me a (very long) email asking if I had ever thought of guest bloggers. I had not but I really think of this as "my little blog". Apparently this is all perception - and really, I like Deborah's perception better.

So her idea is that some of us blogging out here in the event world could be having a conversation through our blogs - an ongoing dialogue on topics we are excited about, that also has relevance to the business of special events, meetings and event production. A veritable blogalog!

Deb and I both realize there's already a terrific discussion going on in the Twitterverse among a very talented and diverse group of event professionals. In fact, it doesn't stop! Plus, it contains everything a good conversation should - useful information, good jokes, random comments, sly remarks and clever observations... what else could one ask for?

Well I'll tell you - more than 140 characters!

Now Deb has noted that as skilled an editor as she is, and a lover of the simple elegance of a good haiku, she'll admit, she does love to go on. ("ya think?") And, well, a blog is a little more accommodating of the stream of consciousness style of communication that is, frankly, her element.  Then she found me....

In Deb's words....
"So in choosing my first online pen pal, I naturally gravitated to Tahira Endean whose blog, "Events, Life and Impact Points" she describes this way: "Exploring event experience design and the positive impacts we can have when planning relevant and thoughtful meetings. Includes musings on the cool people and lessons along the way."

And I didn't have to dig too far to discover that she embodies the same appetite for blending personal anecdote with professional observation as I do. When I contacted her with the idea, she reacted with great enthusiasm. In fact, as our correspondence got underway, she remarked, "I like when you write me because yes you may be the only person I have met that writes more than me..." I am so glad that my wordiness is making someone else feel good!"

I do love that someone else writes more than me. I do fear though that when Kiki L'Italien and I show up in New York and hang with Deb - we simply won't have time to sleep and will never, never, never shut up! (which I am ok with)

We decided that our first topic would be a comparative look at New York City and Vancouver, BC, the cities we each live and work in, as segments of the event planning world. Having never been to Vancouver, Deb is excited to get an insider's view of that city, particularly from someone like me, who is so passionate about work and life here!  I have planned events on three continents, but NEVER New York, so I too am pretty excited!

Stay tuned as we launch what I hope will be an informative and entertaining back and forth. Who knows? You may even want to blogalog with us!  (please!)  

photo by the italian voice
what she said