Cold Calling: Relevant or In the Past

Cold calling. We’ve all been there. Wanting to get our name and brand out there for the world to see our talent. Most of the time these calls are frustrating and take forever to reach someone to make an impact.

Sometimes all the effort leads to nothing and we are back to square one. But in today’s world of technology and social media, do we really need cold calling?

There are so many different ways to get your career as an event professional to the next level without cold calling. First you need to know who your audience is. Are you planning weddings, corporate events, charities?

The first way to advertise your business is LinkedIn. There are millions of professionals available to you, just by the click of a button. It is completely normal to message a professional you do not know personally. Make sure you write your own message – not the pre-written one LinkedIn provides.

Another idea is simply emailing the person you are trying to contact. Most websites provide that information if you look close enough. It is acceptable to write another email a few days with no response, just be respectful of their time.

A less direct approach is Facebook advertising. Your company may do many different events, but with Facebook you can narrow down who you want to advertise to. Be specific in your words and after awhile those people you have been trying to reach for a year might be contacting you.

Lastly is networking. Join groups with similar interests. Or simply get involved with your community and help out when needed. Volunteer your services and maybe it will catch someone’s eye! A lot of different people act as board members on any given charity. When you put yourself out there good things come back!

There are many other ways to reach executives or the decision makers of companies today. Be creative and do some research on the person. If they are super involved in social media, tweet at them! Maybe it will catch their eye and start a conversation.

Cold calling is in the past, it is time to start moving forward and gain clients without the frustration!

/by

Event Setup: Gaff Tape

When doing event setup you need to take good care of the venue. Tracy Fuller gives a short tip how to do just that! Watch below!

/by

11 Tips For Great Conversation

Engaging in conversation can be somewhat of a sport: listening to others ideas, collaborating, discussing deep subjects. It is something I love to do and find it to be essential to my wellbeing and the health of my mental state. I have learned to enjoy networking and find the new ideas and meeting new people fascinating. During various conversations I learn new things about the other person as well as myself with each and every encounter.

As an entrepreneur and with any social career where you find yourself interacting with others, conversations are bound to happen. Some discussions can lead to career advancement, building relationships within your business community, or just creating a valuable connection or future friendship. Therefore, it is something that cannot be ignored in most instances.

Conversing doesn’t always come easy, but I have found that applying the following tips in my conversations can help get the ball rolling:

1. When introducing yourself, use both your first and last names

When you meet someone for the first time, use both your first and last name. I know there are tendencies to use first names only if the other person does, but sometimes your last name can be a conversation starter or help others recognize what they have heard about you and your business from others. If this is all positive conversation, this will add instant credibility to your conversation. I like to say what company I am with as well. Sometimes others may have heard of your company only, so it’s a great way to put a face with the name.

2. Mirror body language

If the person you are talking to is standing with their arms crossed, cross your arms. Exchange a few sentences and then uncross your arms, see if they do the same. Subconsciously we follow each other’s body language and maybe you can encourage them to open up. If not, offer a pleasant ‘nice to meet you’ and move on to the next person or group. If they don’t open up maybe someone forced them to attend this event and they are just not in the mood to share.

3. Focus on others first

I find it fun to play a little game and watch the conversation. I ask the person I am speaking to what they do for a living, wait for the answer and see if they ask me. If not, I move on to the next subject and ask another question. I am waiting to see if and when they will ask about what I do, about my family, or something to engage the conversation both ways.

4. If you listen, they will think you are smart

The person conceived as the smartest person in the room is the one that is the best at listening, weighing the conversation, and then speaking. Be a great listener and you will project the interest that others are seeking to have fulfilled.

5. Put away the cell phone

This shouldn’t have to be said but a cell phone in your hand that you check often lets the other person know that they fall second to whoever or whatever is on your phone. Turn off the ringer, put it in your purse or pocket, and have a real conversation that you are engaged in with the person standing right in front of you.

6. Don’t interrupt with ideas

I know you may have that great idea that just came to your brain that has to do with what the other person is talking about and if you don’t blurt it out it might disappear. Hold that thought! Literally. Give the person speaking the opportunity to finish their thought before you give them that really awesome idea that will save the world.

7. Know when to dig deeper

Sometimes a person needs to talk things out, so know how to ask questions that keep them talking. Make sure the conversation stays positive and keep asking those questions that can’t be answered with Yes or No. Encourage them to talk through the issue and keep your eyes open for what is really being said. Remove the emotions. This will lead to more productive outcomes for everyone involved.

8. Know when to stop digging

I’m not talking spouses or family members here. We all know how to push buttons of those that are closest to us, but for casual conversation if the content becomes negative, change the subject. If the conversation continues to be negative, politely excuse yourself and find someone else to engage. We all know that person that loves to have toxic conversation all the time!

9. Focus on the person you’re in conversation with

No eye darting, nodding to others, etc. There is no better way of making someone feel insignificant than you looking for your next target for conversation while talking to them.

10. Look into their eyes

When being really engaged with someone, look into their eyes or at least at their face when speaking with them. I know this is a no-brainer, but sometimes it is hard to do. Make sure you are not looking at body parts that make the other person uncomfortable.

11. Open yourself up to others

When networking, don’t stand in the corner with your arms crossed and a scowl on your face. Smile, drop your arms to your side, and stand flat on your feet. This is a power position and an invitation for others to approach you. You never know who your next client is going to be!

Next time you are out networking use these tips and you will converse like a pro!

/by

10 Customer Service Skills Essential For Event Planners

Event planning is stressful. This is a well-known fact. CareerCast lists event planning as the fifth most stressful job in the United States in 2016. The role of an event coordinator falls directly below Military Personnel, Fire Fighters, Airline Pilots, and Police Officers. Wow! Now, I agree that events are stressful; after an event, I often feel like I’ve been hit by a truck, but I wonder if event coordinators actually deserve that high of a ranking.

You might be wondering what makes event coordinators rank so high on the scale of stress. Well if you can imagine, keeping a crowd of 500-500,000 people happy might cause a bit of that stress, or all of it.

As coordinators and planners, we deal with budgets, tight timeframes, satisfying human comforts, food allergies, hot and cold rooms, transportation issues, talent hiring, and the list goes on and on. Of course we are stressed! To top it off, we have to plaster a smile on our faces as if we don’t have a care in the world.

I put together a list of 10 customer service skill to help you pull off that “not a care in the world, and you are my only concern in the world” attitude:

1. You were born with 2 ears and 1 mouth

Were you ever told this growing up? Well it turns out that it is a skill set worth knowing – more so than your times tables. Listening is a lost art. Every event planner needs to be a pro at listening to what their client wants to achieve, how they want the event to lay out, and the ultimate goals of the overall event.

It has also been said that if you listen and keep quiet, people will think you’re the smartest person in the room. So, stop talking for the sake of hearing yourself talk and try active listening to get those clients to love you.

2. Be organized!

How is this a customer service skill? Well as the planner, you are in charge of the details and keeping your clients on track for a successful event. Knowing your timelines and having important information available at your fingertips will give your client confidence. It will also help keep them relaxed and reduce their stress.

3. A CAN DO personality

It can be tricky to change a client from a bad idea or idea that doesn’t work to a great event-saving idea. Because “NO” is not in our vocabulary when working with our clients, we have chosen phrases like “That’s an idea, but what about this?” or “I wonder if this wouldn’t work better.” We also give them reasons WHY we feel an idea has merit and what the difference might be.

4. Great negotiation skills

Clients hire you because you have the know-how to work with vendors and get the best pricing available. Understanding what needs to be in the program, working with your vendors to cut the fat and deliver what is need on the event, and helping your client by developing your vendor team are all great customer service skills. Don’t forget that treating your vendors like customers will go a long way in relationship building as well.

5. Radiate energy

Okay, nobody like a lazy, tired, less-than-enthusiastic event planner. You’re in the best industry out there, so don’t be surprised that there are thousands of people ready and willing to replace you. Get that cup of coffee and do your jumping jacks before you greet your client – whatever it takes to pump up your energy levels. Upbeat and energetic attitudes go a long way at an event.

6. Be a super-secret problem solver

Keeping your eyes and ears open and having cat-like reflexes to watch for any impending problems is what you do as an event planner. You are agile, quick, and smart as a whip; nothing gets by you! Solving problems before they become apparent or before you need to inform the client makes the event feel stress-free for your clients.

7. OK TEAM, it’s go time

Having the ability to gather people, delegate, and send the right players in are all the elements of being a great coach. Getting people to achieve tasks effectively and efficiently along with being thrilled to help you out are skills every event planner should have in their back pocket. So get out those playbooks and SCORE a great event!

8. Skin like an armadillo

Armadillos have a tough outer layer of skin and can curl themselves into balls, leaving no soft tissues exposed. Therefore, things can roll right off their back. Nothing negative can get through that tough skin to throw them off their game.Be like an armadillo by developing tough skin and protecting your “soft tissue” so you can’t get thrown off your game. The event world is fast-paced with live action and not everything is going to go right every time… develop your outer armor!

9. Bounce back quickly

Your clients are counting on your ability to do this. If something happens to go wrong, stay calm, cool, and collected – even when you want to run away screaming down the hall and out the door to never be seen again. Your clients expect you to remain calm so they know that you have it all under control. This enables them to stay calm in return. Remembering to take deep breaths and give yourself a moment to think will produce better results than losing your cool.

10. SMILE!

Yep, this simple act is the best way to do almost anything in your life; the event world is no exception. Having a smile on your face even when you’re clenching your teeth will make your life easier. It will also keep your vendors and clients feeling happy. This is probably the best way to make things happen. It’s really hard to be rude to someone from the hotel staff if you’re smiling when asking them to bring you a ladder, turn down the heat, or a myriad of other things you will need done to make the event comfortable for your attendees.

Remember, you have the best job ever! Not everyone gets to play in the event world like you do. Keep that smile on your face and hone your customer service skills. This will keep your clients coming back to you year after year to plan their amazing events.

/by

Body Language & Success

In this TED video ‘Your Body Language Shapes Who You Are’, social scientist Amy Cuddy examines not only how your body language affects how others perceive you, but how you see yourself. Simply by changing your posture or stance, chemical levels of cortisol and testosterone in the brain can change. These changes may have an impact on our chances for success.

When defining communication people often think of words and content, but nonverbal communication or interactions are extremely important as well. Do you ever take a second and realize what nonverbal behaviors you are portraying? Next time you are in an important meeting with powerful people, watch as they tend to take up space and show their power.

Next time you are in a situation, whether that be in a meeting or an event, watch closely how you portray yourself to others. Open yourself up, physically. This shows comfort and confidence which will make yourself feel better and in the end have your meeting or event go better.

Amy suggest trying these power poses to make yourself feel better. Fake it until you become it! Portray confidence until one day you just are no longer pretending. She says it is the presence that you bring, not necessarily the content that will make the difference.

To learn more click the link and watch!

/by

Throwing an Outdoor Event Inside

Problem: How to throw an outdoor event indoors

Solution: Use video screens to display the environment you want

Planning a festive outdoor event in Iowa (or any Midwest state) can be tricky because the weather is so unpredictable especially during the months of November through February, it is almost impossible. You can throw your event indoors and still make it feel like an outdoor event by strategically placing large video screens around the room and projecting video of outdoor scenes and images. Video screens can transport guests to different places and environments. They can even provide them with a very realistic outdoor experience from the climate-controlled comfort of their indoor seat.

One of our clients recently treated their conference attendees to a fireworks display by projecting large, realistic fireworks on to several large screens. A sound system with bass helped complete the experience so guests felt as if they were really watching them outside!

Utilizing video screens to create different environments to help bring many event themes to life: bring the beach and ocean to the Midwest or transport your guests to the 70’s. Whatever the theme may be, video screens are one solution to help pull your event together.

Things may not always go smooth in the event industry, be resourceful with your solutions. If you do get stuck we have the answer for you! Book an hour with our CEO and President Tracy Fuller and she will use her book of tricks and work through the problem!

/by

5 Crazy Theme Foods For Events

Theming your event can help pull everything together from the décor to the music and the overall feel for the room. One item that gets overlooked when theming an event is the food. Whether you decide to theme the food or not, make sure you have something everyone will enjoy. Before you take it too far, make sure you maintain the quality of the food and don’t make it so far out that guests don’t even try it. For fun we put together a list, here are 5 crazy food displays for your next themed event!

1) Rainbow Grilled Cheese:

Stuck in a rut with your sandwiches? Not anymore with this insanely awesome rainbow grilled cheese! Have this for a candy land theme party or try it out with a princess event. The possibilities and colors are endless!

Photo source

2) Stadium platter:

Amaze your friends and family at your next tailgate or super bowl party with this ridiculous stadium platter! People will be talking about it all year long.

Photo source

3) Watermelon Shark:

Make healthy eating fun for any age! Enjoy this usually average fruit at an aquarium or nautical themed event. For extra fun throw in some candy fish!

Photo source

4) Vegas Baby!:

People love Vegas, but don’t let your attendees fly all the way there! Bring the party to them with a deck of cards desserts and jello dice! They will be so swept up they’ll think it was the real deal.

Photo source

5) Tea Party:

Think Alice in Wonderland with mini desserts at your next tea party! You will have your guests charmed at this magical theme!

Photo source

Don’t forget about food in your theme! Have a little fun with it and be creative. If you are stuck in a rut about theme ideas check out our page to give you a little inspiration!

AND for a little extra craziness think about a Bloody Mary bar for a brunch event! (Ok maybe this is a little overboard).

Photo source

/by

10 Networking Tips For The Self-Employed

Learning to network doesn’t come naturally, which I found out the hard way. When I started my business I was a young entrepreneur that needed to figure out how to make a business work. Very soon, I started to understand the importance of networking to help build my business and connections. This often meant going out of my comfort zone.

When going to networking events I would often pull into the parking lot and sit in the car giving myself a pep talk about what would happen at the event and how I would walk in the door. It was hard for me even though I consider myself an extrovert. It took time, but I have learned many important lessons about networking over the years.

Below are the most important lessons of networking I have learned in my 25+ years of business:

1. Be genuine:

People like knowing you can show your true self and that you aren’t trying too hard or making things up. Share a bit about yourself like your family, what you do for entertainment, where you travel. These things will give you all sorts of connections that you might not have already had.

2. Go with your goals in mind, but don’t be forceful

Have goals like passing out 5 business cards to qualified leads OR to those you can help with their career and connections. Helping others will ultimately lead to success for you.

3. Visit as many groups as you can when you start out

Look for groups with like-mindedness as well as where your clients might hang out.

4. Volunteer

Get involved in community service to lend a hand locally. Find groups or organizations that inspire you.

5. Ask open ended questions when you meet someone

Be a good conversationalist and learn how to pull conversation from others.

6. Become known as a source

If a hotel needs to know where to find a unique piece of furniture, they know you will be able to find it.

7. Know your elevator speech

You have 30 seconds to connect – make sure your speech is no longer than it takes for the elevator to get from the first floor to the 3rd floor. Be sufficient and clear about what you do and who your ideal client is.

8. Know your ideal client and how to tell others who your ideal client is

Being able to identify your ideal client will allow others to help you in your search for the perfect client. They will know exactly who you are looking for and when they come across that perfect client, they can share your contact information. Word of mouth is so much more valuable than that expensive ad you put in the magazine.

9. Follow through with contacts

Now that you have their information USE IT. You never know what will become of the connection.

10. Schedule follow-up meetings

Set up meetings with those contacts that have something for you or have something they need from you that you can provide. Giving first goes a long way to serve you.

A lot can benefit from networking, be yourself and use these tips next time you are out! Let us know, what networking techniques have helped you in your business?

/by