creatinganexperience-blog1

[creatinganexperience-blog1]

Honors Contract Submission 10: Final Overview of 2019 RFL

All previous submissions, combined, fully outline the first stage of the event planning process, pre-production. The pre-production stage mainly involves all of the committees and their separate roles to prepare for the Relay For Life event. The last two stages, production and post-production, are what will be discussed in this final submission. This year’s Relay For Life took place on Saturday, March 30th, 2019 from 6 PM – 6 AM the following day, in the Student Recreation Center on-campus.

The entire event is broken down into appropriate time segments and outlined on a schedule that is printed on huge poster boards and posted around the SRC. This years schedule is provided below.

The schedule is super important because it outlines exactly how the night is going to go, or is planned to go. For the most part, we stuck to this exact schedule. As event producers as well as planners, we understand that some things are going to change throughout the night and we need to be flexible and creative when dealing with those changes. For example, we ended up moving the dodgeball semifinals from 1:30 AM to 10 PM, just because the teams playing wanted to move right into the semifinals after they played the first few rounds. We also had to shift around some of the sponsorship laps to accommodate certain events that ran a little over their scheduled time slot. As discussed in class and for our semester-long projects, the best way to explain the production stage of an event is through pictures. Below is a video of some pictures from the 2019 RFL!

The final stage of event planning is the post-production stage, also called the evaluation stage. It is important to look at the return on investment (ROI) to evaluate the success of an event. For Relay, we could measure the ROI in a number of ways. One of the most common is to look at how much money we raised. We are still waiting on a final amount, since fundraising is still open until the end of June, but as of right now we have raised over $43,000 for the American Cancer Society. Our goal was to reach $50,000, so we are almost there! Based on this ROI, I would say the event was very successful. Every donation counts and the fact that we raised so much money for cancer research is amazing. 

Another way to evaluate ROI is by attendance. There were over 600 participants at Relay. This is a fantastic turn out and a very positive evaluation of the overall event.

A lot of things went right during this year’s Relay. We stuck to the schedule (with a few minor changes), committee communication was great, no liabilities happened, and we received positive feedback about the overall event from those who attended. Of course, as with any event, there were some challenges. Our PR/Marking leader was dismissed from the event and we had to quickly find someone to replace her. Luckily, one of her committee members was staying the whole night and was able to capture almost all of the activities and performances on our Relay Instagram (@riderurelay has a highlights section dedicated to the 2019 event!). Certain activities ran slightly over schedule, but this happens almost every year so we are prepared to be flexible. 

Overall, I would 100% say this event was a huge success! In the future, I definitely want to increase awareness/marketing for the individual activities/fundraisers going on during Relay so that those attending are more prepared and excited when they come to the event. As always, I am so fortunate to be a part of such a wonderful organization and I cannot wait to start the planning process for next year.

- Gabrielle Orszulak, 4/24/19

[creatinganexperience-blog1]

Seating Arrangements

1. Board Room

Situations/Events that it’s commonly used for: 

Business Meetings

Conference Calls

Club/Org Meetings

Pros:

Intimate Space where eye-contact with everyone is possible

Professional

Electronically-Equipped

Cons:

Small 

Not suitable for much else besides meetings

2. Cinema:

Situations/Events that it’s commonly used for:

Performances & Concerts

Conferences & Lectures

Movies

Speeches, Presentations, and Panels

Pros:

Ample Seating

Great Acoustics & Lighting

Fits large crowds with everyone having a good view

Electronically-Equipped

Cons:

Not intimate, focused on performance

Empty space is more obvious

There’s always worse seats & tall people

Possible Liability (Ex: Dark Lighting, Stairs)

3. Clusters:

Situations/Events that it’s commonly used for:

Social Events 

Weddings

Birthday Parties

Banquets

Dinners 

Corporate Events

Workshops 

Team-Building

Smaller-Scale Conference

Pros:

Ample Seating

Well-suited for conversation

Eye-contact with all tablemates possible 

Interchangeable across corporate and social events 

Cons:

Can get crowded (Think of the Oscars!)

If there is a main speaker, seats are not all facing them (This is not comfortable for those with their backs to the front!)

Breaking up larger overall group into smaller groups

May disrupt unity in corporate settings

Not all teams interact this way

4. U-Shape/V-Shape:

Situations/Events that it’s commonly used for:

Panel

Classroom

Intimate Meeting/Presentation

Pros:

Intimate Space where eye-contact with everyone is possible

Well-suited for conversation

Everyone has a good view of the presentation

Provides an environment of inclusion

Cons:

A clear divide between people and event leader (Could be a pro in lecture/classroom settings, but could deter group members from joining the conversation, an activity otherwise supported by this arrangement.)

Not suited for large groups 

Really only used for meeting-type affairs

5. Circle:

Situations/Events that it’s commonly used for:

Open discussions

Support groups

Classroom discussions

Team building

Pros:

Intimate Space where eye-contact with everyone is possible

Well-suited for conversation

Provides an environment of inclusion

Perfect for group-oriented gatherings

Cons:

Not suited for large groups

Could be too personal (with not enough personal space)

Forced eye-contact 

Really only usable for the above listed situations

6. Herringbone:

Situations/Events that it’s commonly used for:

Classrooms

Lectures & Presentations

Audition (With performer as front table and judges at the few tables facing it)

Church Sermon/Church Events

Intimate Wedding Ceremony 

Pros:

Fits guests with everyone having a good view

Interchangeable across corporate and social events 

Well-suited for viewing

Cons:

Not suited for large groups

Usually not the best option available

Limited Conversation

[creatinganexperience-blog1]

Alternate Names for an Event Planner

By Brittney McEachern

While the role of an event planner comes in many forms, there are a number of differing job titles that share the same responsibilities.  One of which is a Training Supervisor, posted by Talent Equity Group in Jersey City, NJ.  This position is required to oversee the process of training and onboarding for new employees.  Training Supervisors handle the logistics, administration and preparation of training programs.  They also act as the first point-of-contact for new employees during their training, as well as after training while employees find footing in their roles.  Overall, they coordinate the entire process of developing and executing a training program.

The Training Supervisor operates essentially like an event planner, but in an internal and corporate sense.  This is instead of the traditional idea of events (like weddings, conferences, concerts, etc.) that people tend to think of.  The Training Supervisor handles all aspects of pre-production, production and post-production, the difference being that the training programs directly benefit the company and its operations as opposed to satisfying a client.

Another event planning role that goes by a different title is a Director of Community Engagement, posted by Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA.  This position is largely responsible for developing and implementing programs that engage members of the Dickinson College community, as well as its community partners.  The director oversees a broad range of programs for the Center of Civic Learning and Action (CCLA), but also has other responsibilities that contribute to the overall advancement of the CCLA.

The Director of Community Engagement position shares the traits of an event planner because it acts as the leadership role within a team tasked with designing, implementing, and assessing a number of programs.  Though the audiences are primarily internal (in regards to Dickinson College), programs act as events that are meant to reach and spread a message to its clients.  This kind of outreach is reminiscent of planning an event for a non-profit and is the essence of the event planner title, despite its name.

Training Supervisor on Indeed

Director of Community Engagement on Indeed

[creatinganexperience-blog1]

Event Planning Job Roles In Disguise

Justine Collier

As discussed earlier in class, just because a job opening does not explicitly state the words event planner, doesn’t mean event planning is not a major responsibility of roles titled something else. 

One example of this is Ground for Sculpture’s current listing for an Experiential Programs Associate, whose primary responsibility is to assistant the Programs Manager in planning educational events and activities. In other words, this individual is part of a team that handles the scheduling and programming of interactive events used to entertain Grounds for Sculpture visitors. 

The above duties and responsibilities show that despite the name of this role, the actual tasks being completed are very much the same as event planners. Aside from the obvious tasks of brainstorming and planning actual event activities, creating internal memos to create awareness among colleagues in advance of scheduled events is the same as preparing a flier, posting on social media, or sending invitations. 

Also, this person is expected to handle maintenance requests and coordination with Grounds for Sculpture facilities to ensure program spaces are set up correctly, just as it is an event planner’s role to submit any needed paperwork to secure any venue and arrange the space correctly. This position also encompasses event producing, as the Experiential Programs Associate acts as a point person on the day of any event as well. 

A Banquet Manager is another role comprised of event planning tasks without detailing such in its title. Currently, the Chauncey Hotel and Conference Center is seeking an individual to manage all Food and Beverage outlets, or in other words, all events occurring on location.

Key responsibilities again prove that a Banquet Manager and an Event Planner are not so different after all, with coordinating with the Catering Manager and banquet staff making the list for both roles. Event production is another responsibility that the Banquet Manager owns, directing and organizing team members involved in event execution. This individual will oversee and assist in all Food and Beverage functions with corporate parties and weddings being specifically offered as examples, showing again that despite this role’s title, it is the perfect opening for an event planner. Also, this role manages the budget for this department, a major task for many event planners. 

Finally, the Chauncey Hotel and Conference Center’s Banquet Manager should be proactive in exceeding guest satisfaction. This is an especially important responsibility to note, as an event planner is always working to exceed the expectations of their client and leave them pleased.

[creatinganexperience-blog1]

The Many Names of Event Planners

Kara Winkler

While the Project Coordinator job for Capital Health might not immediately remind someone of event planning, there are similar elements involved that show comparisons. The first responsibility listed includes planning the process for proposed projects. A project coordinator has to develop each stage of a project and coordinate all the schedules involved in an efficient manner. A event planner has to do the same thing. Whether it’s a wedding, a birthday party or a shower, there is a lot of planing and scheduling involved that has to be seamlessly woven together. 

Similar to Event Planners, Project Coordinators have a relationship with vendors. Excellent communication skills are a must in addition to being able to problem solve on the spot and have superior organization skills. 

Another job title that is similar to an Event Planner is a Project Manager. 

This position is required to manage projects from start to finish. They serve as the main point of communication between the client and the company. They are responsible for making sure the client’s expectations are met and the project is executed perfectly. There are different categories of this job that include client relations, financial management, and project management. 

An Event Planner has to seamlessly balance all of the same roles. Whether it’s satisfying a brides wishes, thinking of every detail for a retirement party, or staying within a budget, there are many hats to wear. When people think of Event Planner they immediately think of an entertainment aspect for the most part, but there are other ways to qualify as someone that plans events, even if it’s for a project proposal or a company event for a healthcare company. 

[creatinganexperience-blog1]

EP Job Listings, Minus the ‘EP’ Title

Inside Sales/Trade Show Coordinator

Role Description:

Assist the sales team in the presentation and sales of company products and services to current and potential clients.

Assist the sales team in gaining competitive product knowledge.

Follow up on new leads and referrals resulting from marketing / field activity.

Identify sales prospects and contact these and other accounts as assigned.

Prepare presentations and proposals.

Develop and maintain sales materials and current product knowledge.

Establish and maintain current client and potential client relationships.

Communicate new product and service opportunities, special developments, information, or feedback gathered through field activity to appropriate company staff.

Contributes to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed.

Make outbound phone calls / emails and other prospecting efforts to support outside sales team.

Trade show management including but not limited to, hotel bookings, freight coordination, booth assembly and teardown, selling on the trade show floor, driving the booth to and from shows, arranging rental of booth items, (carpet, furniture, electric, floor space).

Other duties as assigned.

Although this job title is not specifically labeled “event planner,” there are several aspects of this job that are like that of an event planners. First, this position must communicate with potential clients and constantly practice obtaining them. We know from class materials and discussions that event planners are always trying to obtain clients and keep the one’s they already have. Based on the duties and responsibilities provided from Indeed, client relations is a big part of this job’s functions, which is very similar to the functions of an event planner. More specifically, the second to last bullet point directly relates to the activities of an event planner. As a Trade Show Coordinator, this person has to essentially plan all aspects of the trade show. These trade shows are basically corporate events put on for sales purposes for different companies. Activities like communicating with hotels, setting up transportation, and communicating with vendors (Ex. rental vendors such as venue, carpet, furniture, appliances, etc.) are all apart of the pre-production process of an event planners’ job. 

This position also acts as an event producer by setting up and taking down all aspects of the event as well as working (selling products) during the event. The Inside Sales/Trade Show Coordinator is concerned with return on investment (ROI) in the post-production stage, by considering things like: how many potential clients they obtained at the trade show, how many products were sold, how many businesses attended/participated in the show, how effective was/is their marketing activities, etc. They may also carry out other general event planning functions not already mentioned such as calendaring, budgeting/pricing, experiential marketing (at the trade shows), incentivizing (at trade shows), F&B (at trade shows), signage (at trade shows), negotiating contracts with clients, conducting liability assessments, etc. Regardless of what the job title suggests, this position is extremely similar to that of an in-house event planner, just without the exact wording in the title.

ELC Summer Junior Program Boston Activities Coordinator

Role Description:

The Activities Coordinator works under the supervision of the Campus Manager to ensure orderly and safe coordination and execution of afternoon and evening activities, and weekend excursions, including all points of activity and excursion organization, as well as supervision of Resident Counselors in their capacity as activity leaders. The position is akin to an "event planner".  In this position, the Activities Coordinator will have to think of creative, fun, and engaging activities in the area that are appropriate for our students, determine if they fit within the activities budget, staff activities, confirm tickets, and get all elements ready for Resident Counselors to successfully execute the activities. They will also be the primary point of contact for local information for all students and staff members. The Activities Coordinator works each afternoon and evening in the campus office to ensure that the activity program is being carried out as planned, and that all arrangements and reservations for the activities are confirmed ahead of time.

This job title, ELC Summer Junior Program Boston Activities Coordinator, as no trace of the words “event planner” in the title. However, the role description found on Handshake does in fact mention the job’s relation to event planning. This job essentially plans and executes small events (activities) for students apart of the English Language Center program, and the role description mentions that “the position is akin to an ‘event planner’.” As a sort of in-house event planner, this person mainly deals with the pre-production stage of an event. They are responsible for coming up with activities, communicating with vendors and Resident Counselors (who act as event producers by executing activities with the students), negotiating prices and contracts with vendors, working with a budget, selling the experiential aspects of the program, assessing liability of activities, etc. This person is very similar to an event planner in their duties, but also in their mindset. They must be constantly predicting what might go wrong, always thinking one to two hours head, and assessing all potential liabilities for each activity. Their main goal (ROI) is to arrange safe yet fun, engaging activities for the students in this program. The job title might not be as “sexy” as something like wedding planner, but it definitely carries out the same functions and requires the same skill set as that of an event planner.

- Gabrielle Orszulak, 4/16/19

[creatinganexperience-blog1]

Q&A With An Event Planner: Eugene Watts

By Brittney McEachern

A seasoned event planner, Eugene Watts is the current Senior Events Marketing Manager at Avaya, where he’s been working since 2010.  Watts has been in the event planning industry since 2001, following several years of technical publications jobs before shifting his focus to a field that he felt more passionate about.  To gain further insight into how an events marketing manager operates, I interviewed Watts on his experience in the industry.

Q: Before you started in the event planning field, what do you wish you knew?

A: I wish I was aware of the international opportunities [and] the fact that with this type of business, you can move around.  For recent college graduates and young professionals, I’d encourage them to do their research and explore their options.  Don’t think what you’re doing right now is what you’ll be doing forever.  Go be inquisitive, go knock on some doors and see what else you may be interested in or good at [in the field].

Q: What’s the coolest thing about your job?

A: I think it’s the fact that you get to an end product, that you get to something that creates a memory and an experience for people as well.  When you see months of hard work come together, there’s that sense of pride in your work and in your abilities.  There’s also that collective sigh of relief that everyone involved in the process shares before we move on to the evaluation stage and ultimately, the next event.

Q: What is one of the biggest challenges in planning an event?

A: Time.  You’re putting significant energy and effort into each event, which becomes extremely time-consuming.  There were many times where I felt like I needed more than 24 hours in one day and that’s a sentiment many professionals in this field share.  Because of that, you often don’t work the standard nine to five and end up powering through longer shifts, especially with large-scale events.  Even operational hours require you to be on the floor during the entirety of an event, so you really have to love what you do.

Q: What is a method or trick that you use to best manage your time?

A: I really think you should have a to-do list and let that to-do list do the worrying for you.  Get it out of your head, onto a piece of paper, and just work your way through it.  Worry only about the things that you can control, you can solve, that you can influence, and stick to that list.  At the end of the day, check those things off and write a fresh list for the next day.  That’s how you move forward.

Q: I know that things differ from event to event, but can you describe some of your daily responsibilities?

Avaya is a business communications company, so I do a lot of work developing internal and corporate events like trade shows, roadshows, conventions, and productions of that nature.  On any given day, my responsibilities depend on what I’m working on at the moment.  But I do a lot of communicating with other departments like marketing, corporate branding, senior management, and others to make sure that our goals are aligned and everything flows smoothly.  In general, I handle everything from concepts to planning to execution, which is also entangled with the budgeting process.  I also usually focus on working out where to start at the beginning of each day.  What are my priorities?  Where can I best add value?  What needs my time and my effort to unlock any issues that we may face?

Q: How important is problem-solving in your field?

A: Problem-solving is so critical that I’d say, if you’re not prepared or well-equipped to handle hiccups in event production, then find a different field.  I’ve dealt with everything from microphones deciding not to work at key moments, to keynote speakers missing flights the day-of, to natural disasters causing flooding in a venue and shorting out electrical equipment.  You really have to be a solutions-oriented personality to combat all of the issues that will inevitably be thrown at you.  If you can’t do that, you won’t succeed.

Q: What advice would you give your college self?

A: (Laughs) To change my major.  I have a bachelor’s in English and technical writing from Louisiana Tech University, so I started off doing a lot of technical publication work.  I was at a telecommunications company called Nortel when I started experiencing crossover and working with different departments, where I was exposed to the event planning field.  In 2001, I was fortunate enough to change positions within [Nortel] and that’s where I became senior events marketing manager.  I suppose job requirements were a lot more lax than today, but I think I’m doing alright!

[creatinganexperience-blog1]

Q&A With Tianna Fougeray

Kara Winkler

Tianna Fougeray is a 2018 graduate from Monmouth University who has already made impressive strides in her professional career. She had previously worked at Harrah’s as a Promotions and Event coordinator and is currently employed as an Operations Assistant at Enchanted Celebrations. Although she was a business students during her time at Monmouth, she was able to find a field that allowed her to express her burgeoning creativity skills.

I recently spoke to Tianna about different aspects of her current job and the field she has established herself in. We discussed her responsibilities, how she got interested in the first place, the difficulties involved, and her plans for the future. 

Kara Winkler: What is your official job title?

Tianna Fougeray: Operations Assistant at Enchanted Celebrations

What are you day-to-day responsibilities now? What were they at Harrahs?

At Enchanted Celebrations:

My company offers photography, videography, DJ, officiant, photo booths, lighting, and more for weddings across NJ, PA, DE, NYC, and beyond. There is really no “day-to-day” in the unpredictable wedding/event planning industry, however, that’s what makes it exciting! My current role allows me to help wherever is needed in all aspects of the marketing funnel and more. To give you a brief description, my current role includes the following:

-Assistant to Operations Manager in handling production, marketing, sales, human resources, finance, graphic design,  event and wedding planning, etc.

-Assists with the onboarding process of new hires and interns

-Creating creative website content, updating our photographers’ portfolios, scheduling email blasts, and posting to social media daily

-Coordinating with wedding sales team to help them with marketing or anything they may need

-Communication with caterers and wedding venues that we work closely with

At Harrah’s:

My title at Harrah’s was a Promotions and Events Coordinator, which again, I didn’t perform the same tasks daily!  I was in charge of executing my own small to large scale weekly special events and casino promotions. In addition, I was responsible for all event design, marketing, information technology tasks, and more to ensure my events would be successful.

KW: What got you interested in this field?

TF: I’ve always worked in this field throughout my college summers at prestigious hotels and venues. Throughout college, I was a part of an event planning club where I planned my very own events and it was a taste of what a career could be like. Although I have decided to move on from my event planning role at Harrah’s, I am grateful for the opportunities and connections it has given me in my current role. It also has reminded me of my passion for weddings and going above and beyond for couples.

KW: What was the most difficult part of starting your career?

TF: The most difficult part in event planning for me at least was finding my niche. There are so many different parts to the field and directions that you can go in. It was so overwhelming for me and I didn’t know where to start. After graduating college, I was set on working for a large corporation (like harrahs) to be successful and happy and reach the top. However, I realized that I really missed planning weddings and working with couples individually so I followed my passions and heart to where I am now! It was the best decision I could have made.

KW: What’s the most rewarding part of your job?

TF: There’s a ton of rewarding parts to my job because I am surrounded by coworkers that constantly are encouraging me. They truly motivate me to perform at my best. Also, not many people can say that they tied together both a career and a passion, and that definitely makes it rewarding and special for me. If I had to choose the most rewarding part it would have to be getting to hear from the couples and interacting with them pre and post wedding/engagement session/etc. Something as simple as the bride commenting on our Instagram post saying thank you to us for making their wedding dreams come true makes me so happy!

KW: What were the most helpful classes you took in school?

TF: I was blessed to be a part of Monmouth University‘s Business school and to have met many helpful and inspiring professors that I still keep in contact with to this day. There is one course from college called “Social Media and Public Relations” that truly changed my life. There was only one semester-long assignment given for the course; to create a blog on a topic of your choice and make social media accounts to promote it. I chose to design a wedding inspiration blog. At the end of the semester, we gathered all of our work from social media and created a social media portfolio binder. Interestingly enough, my professor loved my binder so much and recommended that I apply for a wedding marketing internship open for my current company, Enchanted Celebrations. I took her advice and brought this binder along to my interview, and it really made me stand out among the other candidates. I got the internship during my last semester of college and I am so happy to say that I’m back there today working full-time!

KW: What’s something you didn’t expect when getting into this career field?

TF: I would say that I didn’t expect how versatile my field really is. There are so many opportunities if you stay looking for them and learn what you are passionate about. Relating this back to Harrah’s, I thought I was limited to putting in long hours every weekend for events that I did not have the passion for. At my current role, my schedule is a lot more flexible with having off on the weekends and getting to be more creative with marketing and social media.

KW: Where do you see yourself in 10 years career-wise?

TF: I see myself growing and leading with my current company. I also have always had an entrepreneurial mindset so it has been a dream of mine to even start my own business in the long run, create a product, write a book, or simply just inspire people anyway that I can. Wherever life and my career takes me, I see myself being genuinely happy because I love what I do now and the passion will only grow stronger for me!

[creatinganexperience-blog1]

Honors Contract Submission 9: Co-Chair position

Every event, big or small, requires an event lead, or someone to execute all aspects and ensure the pieces come together smoothly. For Relay For Life at Rider University, this describes the Co-Chair position. A formal definition of a co-chair is “a person who is in charge of a meeting or organization jointly with another or others.” RFL does not have a traditional organization/club hierarchy (president, vice president, etc.) because it does not align with the needs of our leadership team. Instead, Rider’s Relay committee consists of advisors, co-chairs, committee leaders and committee members. So far, all the committee leader positions have been outlined in previous submission posts. However, there must be someone (or in this case, multiple someone’s) that oversee all of the leaders, because each is very focused on their own specific role and not necessarily the big picture. This is where the Co-Chair positions come in.

There are traditionally three co-chairs on the Rider RFL leadership team. The main functions of a co-chair are to conduct the committee leaders’ meetings, ensure all committee leaders are fulfilling their duties and expectations, act as a liaison between the committee leaders and the American Cancer Society, keep track of expenses/budget, act as event producers the day/night of the event, and ensure the overall success of Relay. Rider does not have an outlined description of expectations of a co-chair, because the one directly from the American Cancer Society is used. It is as follows:

Oversees all aspects of the Relay For Life

Prepares and leads committee meetings

Recruits other committee members

Provides leadership through regular contact with committee leaders to ensure progress and that all problems are solved

Delegates responsibility to appropriate co-chairs

Provides ongoing encouragement and support to all committee members

Serves as community spokesperson for the event and be the face of Relay For Life

Oversees activities the day of the event

Ensure that all Relay For Life standards are met

Work closely with the American Cancer Society staff person to ensure that Relay For Life goals are met

Help train new committee members

Write Thank You Cards at the end of the event

This position encompasses a lot of responsibilities and requires true hard work and dedication. Relay For Life would not be possible without the co-chairs overseeing all aspects of the event. It is important that committee members have multiple co-chairs above them to look to for guidance or to seek help from. Having three co-chairs is the perfect number because it provides multiple perspectives without being too overwhelming. I was lucky enough to serve as a co-chair for this year’s Relay For Life, along with COM 280 classmate Justine Collier, and will return to the position for the 2020 RFL as well. I love being a part of all three aspects of this event (pre-production, production, and post-production) and playing such a big role in the process.

From an event planning perspective, there is no better way to obtain event planning experience than regularly plan events. Relay For Life is a huge event that I have been a part of planning since high school. I encourage anyone looking for event planning experience to join our Rider Relay leadership team. The co-chair position is one that is available to those who have served as a committee leader for at least one year. This is an important requirement because of the amount of responsibility put on those holding the position. Co-chairs (along with our advisors) have the final say in all Relay related decisions. This position is also fully immersed in the three aspects mentioned previously. From the planning stage, to the actual day-of, to the post-production evaluation of ROI, co-chairs are the main event planners of this amazing event. They deal with all things event planning: liability, social media marketing, food and beverage, obtaining clients/sponsors, pricing/budgeting, calendaring – you name it! Not only are co-chairs event planners but event producers as well. Creating the night-of schedule, committee member grid (telling committee members what do to throughout the night) and executing all of it provide co-chairs with the skills to plan an entire event AND actually put the event on. The leadership and planning experience gained from this position is plentiful and it is the best feeling to see all of our hard work paid off in support of such a wonderful cause. 

- Gabrielle Orszulak, 4/15/19

[creatinganexperience-blog1]

Q&A with Molly Podosek - Holman Enterprises

-Justine Collier

While Molly Podosek’s title is not exactly “Event Planner”, planning the multiple events hosted by Holman Enterprises annually is a large part of her responsibilities. As their acting Human Resources Coordinator for the past two years, Molly focuses on combined corporate and social events primarily meant for employee recognition. She leads the planning and execution of all Holman events, the details of which are included below. 

To understand just what an internal employee handling corporate-social events looks like, Molly Podosek recently sat down to talk about her event planning experience. Comparing the amount of detail her position requires to that of a wedding planner, it was interesting to learn that despite her position title not indicating an event planning role, the knowledge she has to lend speaks otherwise. 

Justine Collier: What types of events do you plan?

Molly Podosek: There are four main events that I plan for my company each year. We have two service award celebrations where we celebrate all of the employees that have been with us for five years or more in increments of five, so five, 10, 15, 20, 25, and up. We have a spring one and a fall one, and then I also plan our Take Your Child to Work Day. Some years that’s more involved than others, this year it’s pretty relaxed- thank goodness because I’m planning the service awards at the same time and I don’t think that I could successfully plan a whole day of activities while planning the service awards! The service awards are really like planning a wedding, essentially. Then in December, I plan our Holiday Turkey Distribution, which requires a lot of coordinating leading up to the actual distribution which I would consider an event. 

JC: When kicking off a new event, what are the first steps you take?

MP: For some projects, like Take Your Child to Work Day, I have project plans built out with what I need to do and when I need to do it. For the service awards, this is my second time running it by myself. For that we start with a big team meeting- about 8 of us- that sit down and kind of plan out our first steps of what we need to get done. In this case, it was pulling the data from our human resources informations system and making sure that we’re capturing all of the employees that are celebrating service anniversaries this year and then deciding how many events we need to have because we can have upwards of four, while this year we’re only having two. So I’d say just coming up with a general timeline, starting to select dates, making sure that we’re all on the same page about where the event is and then putting together that first rough outline so we know when to send out RSVPs, contact our photographer, stuff like that. 

JC: How far out does planning these events start? How much time is dedicated to planning?

MP: We started planning this event in January, and the event is going to be May 16th. It takes about a month to create the spreadsheet and combine the data of who needed to invite, and then we like to leave about a month and a half for RSVPs. While I’m planning the service awards, they take up a good chunk of my time. Take Your Child to Work Day probably occupies an hour of my work day in the weeks before it, but I could spend a whole day on the service awards some days. 

JC: How would you manage stress as the date of an event draws near?

MP: I tend to lean a lot on my team members, especially if I need somebody to vent to about things that aren’t going the right way. I rely on my team to be my shoulder to cry on when people do dumb stuff, like send back an RSVP that asks for their full name with only their initials so I have no idea who they are. I try to remind myself that the event is probably never going to be 100 percent perfect to me, and that all I can do is my best in the moment. 

JC: What is a challenge you've faced in planning?

MP: In the past two weeks, we realized about two months into planning this [Spring Service Awards] that we missed a whole group of people when sending out the RSVPs. This happens almost every year, we just can’t get clean enough data to be totally positive that everyone that needed to be invited received an invite. This piece is almost disastrous, because these people get their feelings very hurt that we forgot about them. To combat this my team just tries to come up with the best way possible to make sure in the end they feel like we didn’t just forget about them but that there was an actual, credible reason behind it. 

JC: What do you think makes a good event?

MP: At the end of it, when people are smiling and laughing and they leave feeling like we spent time making them have a good day...when it’s over is when I feel the best. There’s always stuff we wish we would’ve done better or spent more time on. I can’t say I ever leave totally satisfied with it, but when it's over and you see the people appreciating the work you put into it, it’s a good event. 

JC: How do you assess the success of each of your events?

MP: We have a meeting afterwards within a week or two to break everything down and decide what we want to do better and differently. We take a lot of time to make sure that we can make events to come the best they can be. 

JC: If you had to be shipwrecked on a deserted island, but all your human needs (ie: food and water) were taken care of, what two items would you want to have with you?

MP: I would say my iPhone and.....my dad, can it be a person? Even without service I could use the flashlight, and my dad would figure it out. 

[creatinganexperience-blog1]

Q&A with EP Kylie Sheplock

Kylie Sheplock is the founder and owner of her own event planning business, Love Your Day, LLC. Love Your Day offers premier day-of event planning and coordination for weddings and has only been in business for a few years. Prior to creating this company, Kylie studied at Penn State University and graduated with a degree in engineering in 2013. After graduation she began working at Mars Wrigley Confectionery where she has been for the past 6 years. Her current role at this company is a Supply Planner for an external packaging warehouse in Georgia. Love Your Day serves as Kylie’s part-time side-business, since she is an engineer by trade but still possesses a love for event planning.

To get more insight on day-of event coordination and Love Your Day, LLC, I reached out to Kylie to chat more with her on the subject. Kylie opened up about her own experiences as well as what sparked her love for wedding planning.

Gabby Orszulak: How did you find your niche - weddings?

Kylie Sheplock: When I was in high school I worked at a hotel on the weekends, as a banquet waitress where I served at a wedding every Friday and Saturday night. By the time I went to college, I became a wedding expert from seeing all the highs and lows of these joyous events. It was a great experience that lead me to my love of event planning. After I graduated college, a large number of my friends got engaged and they all asked me to help plan their big day. When their big day came, all the brides wanted to spend time with their close friends and family, and I quickly realized I had to take over and start coordinating with vendors to make sure their vision became a reality. Soon after, I started Love Your Day, LLC. 

GO: How is your role/business different from a traditional, all-around event planner?

KS: I am the only associate at my business. I do everything . . . It is a great learning experience because there is really no one else but yourself to rely on. 

GO: What made you decide to take this route - an event producer of a part-time business?

KS: I have always been a busy person and I love having a lot of things going on. It has always been a personal goal and bucket list item for me to start a business. The driver of my business is that weddings are expensive, and a lot of brides now-a-days do their own planning and DIY projects. This is where I come in. I will be there to handle all the vendors and items that they have created for their wedding. Check out Loveyourdaykas.com for all the details. 

GO: Do you enjoy running this business by yourself or would you prefer to have a team of people?

KS: At the moment, I love having this business be just me! Perhaps in the future I would love to have a few other associates. 

GO: How has technology, specifically social media, changed since you started your business?

KS: It is amazing how easy social media made creating your own business. It also provides a lot of traction to your company, which is awesome. 

GO: How important is an online presence in this type of business?

KS: Very - an online presence will make or break your business!

GO: What skills did you already possess that help you to be a successful EP, and what skills are needed that you had to work on?

KS: You have to be organized and passionate, as well as outgoing. What I personally need to work on is becoming more social media savvy. 

GO: Describe a time where something went wrong or a problem arose during an event. How did you deal with it?

KS: I really have not faced this yet because I am just getting started in this industry - but I love a good puzzle! 

GO: What is one piece of advice (related to EP or not) that someone gave you when you were younger that you wish you listened to more?

KS: If you have a dream, follow it and never give up!

GO: Is there any other advice you would give to someone contemplating starting out in this business?

KS: Do it! If you don’t, you will always wonder what if. 

- Gabrielle Orszulak, 4/12/19

[creatinganexperience-blog1]

Honors Contract Submission 8: Team Recruitment/Recognition

Similar to any event, the success of Relay For Life is partly determined by its participants. The key details of the event must be communicated to it’s audience in order for them to want to come to the event. The more people aware of the event, the more money is raised for cancer research. In order to participate in Relay, each participant must sign up online with a team or as an individual. Most people decide to create a team. Many clubs/organizations on Rider’s campus create their own teams, such as Student Government Association (SGA) team, Greek life teams, Rider Women’s Soccer team, etc. Each team has a designated team captain that receives all information regarding day-of registration and other key-points. The Team Recruitment/Recognition committee acts as the liaison between team captains and Rider’s Relay For Life committee, to ensure that all participants understand the main aspects of the event and comply with all registration requirements.

The expectations for the Team Recognition/Recruitment committee at Rider University are as follows:

Promote attendance and sign up for Relay for Life event

Work with Team Captains throughout the year

Run registration the night of event

One of the roles of this committee is to promote attendance/registration sign-ups for Relay. This is done through tabling several times before the actual event. At tabling, committee members request a space and table, and position themselves in areas with lots of people traffic. Some common spaces on campus for tabling is Daly’s dining hall, Cranberry’s, and the SRC lobby. While tabling, members solicit sign-ups from people. Usually, committee members bring their laptops with them so students can easily register for the event. Since the committee leader needs to reserve the tabling space for specific dates/times, it serves as an experience for them to practice calendaring and working with vendors (in this case Rider) to obtain event spaces.

The other main role of this committee is to communicate with Team Captains and run registration on the night of the event. The committee can communicate information (such as when the event starts, what to bring, when to register, etc.) to the Team Captains via email or in-person meetings. Regarding the night-of registration, the committee is expected to sign people in to the event and provide them with wristbands. No one is allowed inside the event without a wrist band, because this is how we determine who has signed up and paid the $15 donation fee.

From an event planning perspective, the Team Recruitment/Recognition committee provides information to participants and increases the amount of people registered for the event. The flow of information from the committee to the participants can act as a preventative measure against liability by providing those attending with information, as well as do’s and don’ts. This committee also helps create an artificial scarcity by promoting certain times when the registration donation fee is discounted, which encourages students to sign up earlier than they usually would have if there was not a slight discount. Their night-of duties are also crucial because it ensures that everyone that gets to enjoy the event has registered and paid their donation fee. This is important because participants would not be motivated to raise/spend money if the registration was free. By requiring a small donation fee (amount set by the American Cancer Society), it makes sure that everyone is helping us achieve our donation goal in some way or another.

- Gabrielle Orszulak, 4/9/19

[creatinganexperience-blog1]

Karen Brown New York: A Website & Social Media Analysis

By Brittney McEachern

Karen Brown is a New York-based event planner who owns and operates her own company, Karen Brown New York.  Her business emphasizes wedding and proposal planning, but produces a range of different high-quality events, including both corporate and social events.

The business’ website features a number of elements that make it appealing to potential clients.  For starters, it comes off as up-to-date and cohesive.  Her logo and wordmark are simple, but elegant.  As a result, they set the tone for the entire website, creating a theme that resonates both personal style and professionalism.  The website pages also provide just the right amount of information to draw more interest from visitors, without overwhelming them.

A significant feature of the website is the “praise” tab, which is divided into two sub-pages that are titled “love notes” and “press.”  The love notes page features several customer testimonials, while the press page features press attention that includes articles, interviews, blogs, and external site reviews.  This provided a great way for the business to display customer satisfaction and the media attention that followed, both of which aid in establishing brand credibility.

While the business’ website as a whole is organized and informative, there was one glaring flaw in the layout.  The gallery is one of the first places that visitors are headed to when hiring an event planner.  It helps to build trust for potential customers, as they get to see that events were handled professionally, while also providing a visual portfolio of work.

The gallery page is sectioned off by type of event and displays the name of the company or person that the service was provided for.  While scrolling through, visitors are unable to click on the small individual images in order to magnify them.  They’re also unable to expand these photos to see more pictures from a particular event.  This design flaw makes scrolling through the gallery somewhat useless, as they’re unable to get the full feel of any event.  To correct this, a gallery of pictures from each event should be made viewable when the corresponding picture is clicked.

As a whole, the Karen Brown New York website provides an excellent entry to business for potential customers.  Its strong design is sure to entice visitors and they’ll have no trouble navigating the site.  In terms of physical spaces, traditional brick and mortar stores often capture the attention of people walking by and reel them in with their storefront layout and window displays.  To its credit, this website does much of the same, offering up a sense of Brown’s brand and personal style right from the home page.

Though the contact page on the website featured links to Facebook, Pinterest, and LinkedIn, it is clear that Karen Brown New York focuses more attention on Instagram.  Unfortunately, the business’ page doesn’t quite match the level of professionalism that’s found on the website.

While the Instagram page showcases a number of beautiful shots from different events that represent the brand well, there are a few issues regarding content.  Highlights are the first thing seen on a profile and should be curated and updated for that reason.  The highlights on this page haven’t been updated in 41 weeks and offer little value regarding the business itself.  It’s important to be efficient and purposeful, otherwise, highlights may cause more harm than good.

Another issue is the types of photos being posted.  There seems to be too much focus on table layouts, centerpieces, and flowers.  There is an excellent sense of theme, but it would work in the business’ favor to showcase different aspects of both the events that Karen Brown New York produces and its process in doing so.  It would also be beneficial to include more graphic content, as well as higher quality photos.

Additionally, there is an evident struggle with consistency and timing.  The posting schedule is so erratic that it’s difficult to average how often the account posts.  The date that a photo is posted may range anywhere from one to 10+ days.  As a business, it is critical to establish a timely social media presence.  Not only does this discredit the business, but it pushes away potential followers who may one day become customers.

Finally, more content should be aimed at engaging followers.  As of April 8th, the Karen Brown New York Instagram account has 1,119 posts and only 727 followers.  The majority of the posts are directed towards thanking vendors or featuring an event.  More direct engagement is key and interaction from followers should be encouraged.

Website: https://www.karenbrownny.com/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenbrownny/

[creatinganexperience-blog1]

EP Website & Social Media Analysis

Event planner: My Bellissima

Overview: My Bellissima is an event styling, design, & coordination company run by best friends Laura and Kara. The company has been operating for 14 years and has a niche in weddings and social events.

Website: www.mybellissima.com

The website is broken down into seven tabs (pages): home, team, weddings, social, news, trends, and contact. 

The home page and team page share a short overview of the business and background on the two women that own and operate it. 

The weddings page has several sub-pages within in, each dedicated to a specific couple and their wedding. Within each couple’s sub-page, the various aspects of their wedding are detailed (including photos) such as venue, photography, florals, catering, tent, and rentals. It is an advantage to have different venues and catering companies listed, so that if a client wants to have My Bellissima plan their wedding, they can look through the sub-pages of past weddings and possibly choose different florists or photographers based on what they see on the website. This also shows that My Bellissima is willing to promote the people that they work with to put on a wedding, so perhaps in the future they will return the favor or be willing to work together on another event. 

The social page has two sub-pages which each detail examples of past social events My Bellissima has put on. 

The news page discusses different on-the-rise news/trends in event planning. Currently, the page discusses the pros and cons of using Pinterest to determine your event style, theme, look, etc. 

The trends page focuses on trends specific to the wedding industry/wedding themes, such as Tropical Paradise, Rustic Elegance, and Farm Flair, and provides pictures of weddings that fit each of those categories.

 Finally, the contact page lets you send a message directly to Laura and Kara through their website, email them or be put on their email list, and connect with them on their social media accounts: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Services and specialties: Services include all aspects of planning an event and their specialty is in the wedding industry.

High-resolution photos: The website provides a lot of high-quality photos of each event posted on the website, including photos on every page/tab. There were no video clips provided on the website.

Testimonials: There were no testimonials provided on the website.

Consistent page design and color scheme: Page design and color scheme of the website were consistent across all pages and very aesthetically pleasing.

Blog about current events: There was no blog provided specifically about their current events or business, however, the website did provide several examples from actual events they have executed and provided a small statement on their home page updating viewers about what they have been up to.

Contact info: Their contact info (via email address) was provided as well as links to all of their social media accounts. No phone number was provided.

Overall, My Bellissima’s website was very appealing and user friendly. Since most event planners do not have a brick and morter business, their website acts as their store front. My Bellissima’s website is definitely a good entrance to their business. It provided lots of examples from real events they have planned, as well as working links to their social platforms. Another positive aspect of the website is that it provided various vendors used for each of the wedding examples, which is very helpful for potential clients, branding purposes, and vendor relationships. The statements provided on the website had a friendly, informal, authentic vibe that made you feel like you were speaking directly to them through the website. The one negative aspect is that there is no section that provides any sort of testimonials from past clients. Based on the pictures provided of the past weddings, it seems as though the clients are enjoying themselves; however, it would help the EPs promote their business and brand themselves more if actual written testimonials were provided.

Instagram: @mybellissima

Be consistent with presence: The @mybellissima Instagram page posts at least once every few days. Most posts happen within 2-3 days of each other.

Engage with customers & customer service: Their Instagram page engages with customers/clients by posting pictures and/or captions that encourage people to comment on the posts (an example of this is provided below). They also tag the Instagram accounts of different vendors (caters, photographers, dress-designers, etc.) in their posts, which helps promote their vendors and creates a better vendor relationship. The owners also post various Instagram stories that include the polling feature, so their followers can vote in the polls. These stories are saved on their profile to their story highlights section labeled “Fill Us In” so that all followers or accounts visiting their page can cast their vote. This helps My Bellissima gain automatic feedback/opinions from potential clients and also creates a two-way dialogue with them.

Drive traffic to website: They drive traffic to their website by providing a link to their website in their Instagram bio.

Brand (yourself) awareness: They brand themselves by matching their design, color scheme, logo, and overall aesthetics with that of their website. They also use several hashtags including their own hashtag, #mybellissima.

Match social media platform with audience: They have four total social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest). Although they are not just matching one platform with their target market/client demographics, in this case, I believe that they are still matching their various platforms with their audience. Many people today (that are “average wedding age” – 20s and 30s) are on various social media platforms and enjoy contacting with business on all platforms. By branding their business across all platforms, they are appealing to the wants of their audience.

Social media during events: The owners do use their Instagram during their events by posting videos and pictures on their Instagram story. These videos and pictures taken during different events are then saved to their story highlights section labeled “Real Weddings.”

Ephemeral content: Some of their content on Instagram (such as stories) can be considered ephemeral content because they are only available for viewing for 24 hours. However, some of their stories are saved to the highlights section of their account, so the ephemeral part is lost.

Overall, My Bellissima’s Instagram platform is branded very nicely to fit with the theme of their website. A variety of pictures and stories are posted frequently and a clear connection/dialogue is established between them and their followers. My only suggestion would be to post some videos (not just on their story) along with the pictures.

I have also chosen to complete a short analysis of a second event planner. I chose to do this because I know it was recommended to the class to try and use the same EP for this online asset analysis and the Q&A. I reached out to the owners of My Bellissima via email, however, I have yet to hear back from them. In the case that they do not respond to my interview inquiry, I will do my Q&A with the owner of the event planning business I will analyze below.

Event planner: Love Your Day

Overview: Love Your Day is day-of event planning and coordination business (with a niche in weddings; specifically located in NJ & PA) run by 6 times bridesmaid and engineer, Kylie.

Website: www.loveyourdaykas.com

The website is broken down into six tabs (pages): home, meet Kylie, services, testimonials, blog, and contact me.

Services and specialties: Services include day-of aspects of planning a wedding. The services page details the exact services, which are broken down on a timeline: 1-3 months before wedding, 1 week before, and on-the-day.

High-resolution photos: The website provides some photos, all high-quality, usually at the heading/top of each new page.

Testimonials: There was one testimonial provided on the website.

Consistent page design and color scheme: Page design and color scheme of the website were consistent across all pages and aesthetically pleasing.

Blog about current events: There was a blog page, however, nothing popped up when clicked on. It seems that the link to this blog page might just be broken.

Contact info: Their contact info (via email address) was provided as well as a way to send Kylie a message through the website. No phone number was provided.

Overall, the website was pleasing to the eye and easy to navigate. Kylie’s own voice shined through and her services were clearly outlined. The two negative aspects were that the link to the blog page did not work and there were not a lot of photos (such as a photo gallery of past weddings).

Instagram: @loveyourday_kas

I was able to find an Instagram that seemingly corresponded to the Love Your Day website (the owner of the Instagram page has the same name as the owner of the website/business); however, this Instagram as no followers, following, or posts yet, and it was not linked on the website. No social media accounts were linked on the website and I discovered this page through my own searching. I would definitely recommend that Love Your Day create at least one social media platform and link it to their website in order to better brand the business and attract potential clients.

- Gabrielle Orszulak, 4/8/19

[creatinganexperience-blog1]

Enchanted Celebrations

By Kara Winkler 

Enchanted Celebrations

 Right off the bat I notice there isn’t a ton of engagement on their social media posts on their Instagram. Engagement on social media is crucial for success in general, but especially if a business is trying to sell a service or a product. The account only tags themselves and sometimes the venue where the wedding took place. They should be tagging the bride, the groom, the venue, whoever made the dress, the florists, etc. Their Instagram theme lacks cohesion. Someone’s personal account has a lot of more leeway with construction, but a professional account should look the part. While the photos posted aren’t bad, they could definitely be improved.

 One thing the company could do is switch up the poses of the pictures they intend to post. Many of the photographs that are posted on the page look similar, especially when it’s just the bride and groom. From a consumer’s perspective it could look as though the company is a one-trick pony. 

Photographs are something that last forever and are referred to over the years throughout a marriage. Instagram offers a sneak peak at what kind of services are offered, and if it doesn’t look original and unique, it’ll be looped into the majority. The venues highlight tab at the top of the page is definitely a strong point for the Instagram. It shows a potential customer something different than what their feed does. They seem to keep their page updated which is always good. There’s no use having a social media platform to advertise your business if it isn’t current.

 The website is a reminder that their logo needs a makeover effective immediately. It reads outdated and that’s the first look a potential customer gets at a company and it has more of an effect than people may realize. They have really great tabs for people to explore. Each tab has detailed separate links whether that be services they offer, blogs posts from weddings they’ve done in the past, or their employees.

 They have all their social media listed at the top which is also a strategically productive move. People like to see and know all information possible if they’re going to spend their money on something. The general aesthetic still needs to be updated. The layout itself is strong but the text style could be cleaner and the color scheme could be improved. 

https://www.enchantedcelebrations.com/

Instagram : @enchantedcelebrations

[creatinganexperience-blog1]

By: Justine Collier

At first glance, while Emily Elizabeth Events, an event planner based out of Portland, Maine, has a website home page that is artistically appealing, I immediately noted across the heading labels across the top margin are extremely difficult to read on the changing photo background, seen below. These photos are very aesthetically pleasing, but having a solid bar behind the words detailing the page options to explore the site is important to this web page’s usefulness. With this change, I feel this home page is a good entrance to business. It represents the events she is capable of throwing as soon as you enter, giving you a taste of the services you get when you choose her, much like a brick and mortar store can capture a customer walking by from displays outside.

After navigating through the site, there are many features worth noting:

First, the high-resolution photos featured on the “portfolio” page are a great representation of this EP’s best designs. This successfully stands as an online folder of what Emily has to offer, from vision to execution. It gives the appeal needed to book clients just from viewing her online version of a brick and mortar store.

Next, Emily’s contact page include information including every possible way a person could want to reach her: e-mail, online form directly on website, phone number, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and LinkedIn. Including all of these options makes Emily very accessible to potential customers interested in her services, a huge bonus to having website that an event planner should take advantage of. A con I will include about her contact page, however, is the font of the contact form. It is very small and hard to read, and while her email is right beside it to use instead, why have a form if it can’t be used?

Lastly, Emily has a very informative “offerings” page, where potential customers can locate prices of services and what exactly each “package” entails. The changes among these different packages include time dedicated, price, and targeted consulting on different subjects surrounding your specific event. This page is all a potential client needs to know if Emily is someone they are interested in (and can afford) working with. My only critique of this page would be to break up the paragraphs detailing this information to make for easier readability.

In terms of social media, Emily Elizabeth Events does a great job at matching her Instagram profile aesthetics to her web page.

Featuring her website link in her bio and otherwise keeping it short and sweet, Emily prompts those her find her page to explore what she has to offer. By doing this, she drives traffic back to the website that details everything she is capable of. To reiterate the above idea, a web site stands as an event planner’s online portfolio. That being said, redirecting a customer who finds your Instagram profile back to the site gives you the best chance at selling them on your services, as these offerings are usually not listed on social media.

While Emily has a profile on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Pinterest, it is clear that she has recognized Instagram as the social media platform most appropriate for her audience. While active across all of these platforms, Emily has more than twice as many followers on her Instagram over her Facebook page, with 1,361 Followers to 613 Followers respectively. The interaction numbers boast an even larger difference in numbers, with Emily’s average Instagram picture receiving around 90 likes, compared to an average of about 10 likes on each Facebook post.

When looking at Emily’s followers, interaction numbers could definitely be improved. The most successful event planning social media profiles post to engage with consumers. In looking through the photos on this profile, I got a great idea of the vibes Emily Elizabeth Events is able to bring to weddings, but there was no posts prompting any time of interaction between herself and her potential new clients. I would fix this issue by asking feedback-prompting questions in photo captions, such as: “What is your favorite part of this amazing June wedding I put together last week?!”

http://emilyelizabethevents.com/

https://www.instagram.com/emilyelizabethevents/

[creatinganexperience-blog1]

Honors Contract Submission 7: Fundraising committee

The ultimate goal of Relay For Life is not only to bring awareness to the American Cancer Society, but also raise money for cancer research. Every year, Rider University’s Relay committee sets a fundraising goal and works hard all year long to achieve it. Fundraising is an easy, tangible way to see the return on investment for the event and for our Relay committee overall. Different fundraisers happen all semester long leading up to Relay and even after the actual event – just because the more money raised for cancer research, the better!

The expectations for the Fundraising committee at Rider University are as follows:

Set up fundraising events throughout the semester

Keep in contact with Team Captains about their fundraising goals and progress

Update fundraising thermometer and promote donations

Recruit sponsors for the event

Reach out to local organizations and businesses for support and donations

Since the main function of the fundraising committee is to raise money, they mostly focus on creating/executing fundraisers for before and during the event. Some of this year’s pre-Relay fundraising events included: s’mores night, restaurant fundraisers (Panera, Chipotle, Playa Bowls, On the Border), and Designer Bingo.

Some main fundraisers that happen almost every year at the event are as follows: jail tower, pie-a-person, frozen t-shirt contest, hand-on-a-car contest, raffle baskets, Relay race, henna tattoos, and much more. Pictures of some of these fundraisers from this year’s Relay are provided below.

As for post-event fundraisers, Relay is partnering with this class (COM 280) to have a dodgeball fundraising event. The flyer for this event with all of the relevant information on it is posted below. The committee also hopes to hold at least one more Playa Bowls truck event, since so many people on campus have stated how much they enjoy when the truck comes.

Other than coming up with and carrying out fundraisers, the fundraising committee also seeks out sponsors for our event. This year our sponsors (excluding the ones already previously mentioned in the fundraising events section) were Rita’s, Fedelos Family Pizzeria, and the Philly Pretzel Factory. These foods (Rita’s ice, pizza and pretzels) were donated to Relay For Life and served throughout the night of the event.

From an event planning perspective, the Fundraising committee is a huge factor affecting the schedule of events in all three stages of event planning: pre-production, production and post-production. Fundraising is one of the few functions that is not finished once Relay is over. This committee also directly affects Relay’s ROI, because it is easy to compare our amount fundraised to our fundraising goal and use that measurement as a way to evaluate the success of the event. So far this year we have raised over $47,000 and our goal is $50,000. We are so close to our goal – which is why the Fundraising committee is continuing to hold events and attempting to raise more money, so we can reach $50,000 donated to a great cause.

- Gabrielle Orszulak, 4/6/19