J Patrick Designs Blog

I recently had an event to install in Philadelphia and took advantage of the trip Northeast to spend some time in New York.  I lived in Manhattan for eleven years and the city vibe never gets out of your blood once you have been a part of it for that long.  It is not an exaggeration to say that New York City is the most vibrant city in the world.  No other metropolis has the “in your face” feel of so many individual cultures coming together to create an energy unsurpassed by Paris, Rome or even Tokyo.  Is it any wonder that this would be the ideal place to recharge ones creative batteries while getting a glimpse of what will be going on in our universe over the coming year?

The one trend I saw everywhere was reflective; from reflective backgrounds in store windows to mirrored furnishings to “shiny” clothes.  This was, more often than not, complimented by black and white.  This trend has been working its way, slo-o-owly, into the Atlanta market over the past year (I did two weddings in ’08 featuring black and white linen as a main décor element for the reception) Brides maids in black cocktail length dresses truly frame a bridal gown of all white.  I truly believe this will be the season/year it really takes off.  Of course you cannot beat crystal accessories for the reflective; this applies to jewelry as well as containers for centerpieces.

To keep this look from getting to kitchy, I believe, it must be used with a delicate hand.  Any social event should flow easily and appear natural and unforced.  One way to do this with black and white is to choose a real colour.  Although I have used red, by request, I find it, or any of the primaries to be a bit harsh.  I like to see colours like lavender, peach, or pink.  Used with black and white, these pastel shades pop and take on a very vibrant personality and can lend an air of romance to this sleek style.

With the new B&W theme it is also necessary to get rid of a lot of the fru fru.  It is time to say good bye to the swaged tulle and the over the top Chuppa.  Clean lines are the item of the day.  Could it be that weddings are taking a real cue from the economy?  Less is more… this does not mean that your special day should look bleak by any means!  But clean lines accented by furnishings and custom lighting can truly make for a splendid look to your event.  If draping is necessary, because of an unsightly view or bad wallpaper, keep it sleek and contemporary as opposed to yards of swag. Crisp overlays for tables as opposed to meringue like pinnings.  If you are feeling very much in the contemporary mode consider mirrored tabletops for your reception, they cost little more than high end linen and the end result is amazing.  Pair this with candle light in crystal cylinders and you will have a wedding event that will be remembered for years!

I found this to be an excellent article worth reprinting on the blog!

in these economic times it is important to get the word out in as many ways as possible; please share Stacey’s sentiments and ideas with your client base and staff!!

 

Event planner Stacey Paul Barabe, CSEP, head of Orlando, Fla.-based Exhilarate Events, wrote this post to the Orlando Sentinel in response to an editorial praising two Florida law firms that canceled their holiday parties, donating money to charity instead.

I am all for giving to charity, but think with me for a minute.

My friend who worked this [law firm holiday] party for years used that money for holiday gifts to his family; he now has no income for December. Other small business suppliers–the caterer, florist, lighting guy, dance band and janitors–also depend on the income from this holiday party. Now instead of them earning a living at their craft to supply a happy holiday for their families, they are struggling.

Let’s go a little deeper. A lot of people go to this party; it is a coveted invitation. Wives and girlfriends buy the perfect dress, get nails done, hair styled. Men get their cars detailed, shoes shined, a haircut, a new shirt and tie. A couple would have an economic impact on small retail shops like hairdressers, nail techs, boutiques and car detailers.

Some couples get a babysitter for the occasion. All year long they hardly go out, and their middle-income lifestyle of two kids and a dog doesn’t give them the time or energy. They make special use of this event to “do it right,” rekindling their romance. After merrily dancing and partying, they stay at the small hotel a short cab ride away from the event, then sleep in next morning.

Meanwhile, the babysitters been set up with the shopping Mom did to help keep her kids engaged while out–purchasing coloring books, crafts, treats and a video, and left some cash to call the local pizza company. A typical couple might spend a conservative $600 getting ready for the party of the year.

Now not only the babysitter’s holiday spending money is gone, but the hotel is at the lowest occupancy rates ever and not scheduling the housekeepers any hours, the craft store laid off some cashiers, and the cab drivers are idling expensive gas away. The local pizza shop is closed; his big holiday season sales tanked.

Why? Because every couple, party supplier, entertainer, server–every person who would have been at that party, all with families–stayed home and made spaghetti. They are fighting about money, the kids are crying and the dog is hiding.

THE PARTY’S PAYOFF

So, let’s talk about things that typically happen at this gathering. Networking opportunities abound at this year-end party. New business deals are coming together, competitors are letting down their guard for good tidings, and singles are mingling. This party is noted as “the kickoff to the holiday season.” Dare I say … now it doesn’t even feel like the holidays. Yes, I dare! No one is shopping because no one is working.

Because of perception, we have created some big local economic problems, not including any of the business deals and weddings that come out of such an event. My simple math says we are talking about a lot of money.

A solution: It’s an oldie but a goodie. Have the party, ask guests to bring a small gift for the charity, then the law office matches the gift. That’s pretty big donation. Everyone keeps working and creates a positive impact to our economy.

Instead, all of us are standing in line at that needy charity, and the $150,000 [donated to charity by the law firm in place of hosting the holiday party] just isn’t enough to go around. There are too many hands out, from too many industries. Many feel embarrassed. It’s the first time they couldn’t provide holiday gifts for their family.

The line could be shorter this year–it’s not too late!

I am not naïve enough to think that every business had a stellar year, but some did. Just because stocks and real estate are down doesn’t mean the human spirit has to be too.

Some friends told me they were “relatively unaffected by the downturn, they bought their house years ago and didn’t have any money in the stock market.” They decided to turn in their Hummer for a Prius because “it was the right thing to do.” When they go to holiday parties this year, who knows, they might run into a real estate agent with the perfect new green-friendly house for them.

My economic (and optimism) stimulus plan: Party this holiday season! Life’s too short not to be celebrated!

Contact Stacey Paul Barabe, CSEP, at www.exhilarateevents.com.

 

Hire a designer with experience and a warehouse filled with décor!

 

            Everyone involved with the event industry wants to be cutting edge and new.  We all want our clients to be “Blown Away” by the event we have produced.  Well, before you go leaping out of the box and send a fantastic proposal to your client, talk to a designer in your area.  As a designer I want to produce a fantastic and imaginative event just as much as the next guy but I also carry a great deal of versatile inventory that can be reinvented through great lighting and placement.  As designers we know how to take a prop that was the Lost City of Atlantis and turn it into something totally futuristic. A week later those props could be part of a Southwestern or Italian Vignette ( I have a 3-D Spanish façade that transforms into a haunted Halloween cemetery).

            When you are asking for a design no one has yet produced you are automatically adding dollars to your bottom line.  It takes time to design new props, time to build new props and time is money.  Be flexible with your concept.

            After you come up with the concept for your event, whether it is corporate or social, you should meet with a designer who not only knows his inventory but the inventory obtainable from other companies. 

            If my clients are using items I have in house, it is much easier for me to work on discounting the final event than if I must create, with my staff, a completely new design.

            Another way to save money is first, labor and then transport.  If you have the time and flexibility of booking your event; go to the back of house and look at the delivery situation.  There should be ample loading docks and elevators designated for event deliveries and these two elements should be in close proximity. As soon as an event team has to wait for space to unload and then travel long hallways and share elevator space with an entire hotel or office building, your hourly rate begins to climb.  Every company charges a transport/delivery fee.  If you have one company delivering linen, another delivering floral and yet another delivering décor you have just tripled your fees as well as created a potential load-in nightmare!  When ever possible work with a design company who will provide and deliver every thing at once.  The money you save here may be invested out where your client will see that you have truly delivered the goods on their event.

            If you will follow these simple tips you can still produce a knockout event with a smaller allocation.  This is a good thing for you as clients like big bangs for little bucks!

           

  

 

Many people in the corporate and private sector are put in charge, or take on producing an event with little or no knowledge of what is involved.  Let me say that organizing a sorority event or a college kegger is not a qualification! The pitfalls of a badly produced event are enormous and stories abound in the event world, here are two examples.

 

            An outdoor event for 500 employees and family members set in a public park

With public rest rooms consisting of four toilets…no one thought to order supplemental port-o-lets. 

 

A wedding Catered by a friend of the bride (not a professional caterer)…no one thought of having plates and utensils for 125 guests.

 

These fiascos make for lasting memories but not the ones you hope for! 

 

When you start to look for an event designer or event planner you may want to see that they are connected within the event industry.  There are several professional organizations: M.P.I. Meeting Planners International, N.A.C.E. National Organization of Catering Executives, and I.S.E.S. International Special Events Society to name a few.  Members of this kind of organization have professional relationships with vendors in their community and the capability to network nation/worldwide when necessary.  They receive publications informing them of all the latest market trends and new products and most of all, for you, ways to save money.

 

How much is your time worth? 

How much is your sanity worth?  

How much is your job worth? 

 

These are real questions and are all reasons to work with a designer/planner: they save you time by being your single contact for all of your needs and knowing how to follow up and follow through.  You can sleep at night knowing that you have complete listings of everything from time schedules to menus put together in an orderly fashion.  A professionally produced event may not only save your job but could even lead to a promotion!  

 

I hope that you will find the information on this blog useful.  if you have any comments regarding information posted you may always contact me throught the web site.

 

FOR STARTERS

I have many friends and clients who ask for advice on upcoming events in order that they may produce a seamless “production”.  I use the word “production” to describe all of my events, whether they be a wedding, a convention booth, or a corporate dinner, because, to me, that is exactly what they are.

The stars of these procuctions are my clients or sometimes thier products and it is my job to make sure they come off looking fantastic.  It is my goal, through this blog, to help inform and educate consumers on exactly what goes on in producing an event.  to that end, I shall be discussing events I am working on at the moment, or those coming up in the near future.  I hope you will find these entries useful.

I am going to start with a novice call I receive often.  A potential client will call and ask:  “How much do you charge for flowers.” or “How much do you charge for an event?” or “What are your wedding prices?”

I hear my friends and fellow designers smiling!

Now, I do not want to lose business by saying: “How much do you have to spend?”

but that is the real question at hand!!!  with any production the sky’s the limit and a designer needs to know what you want to allocate for services.  For a designer to invest valuable time designing a $5.00 event when you, the client, only has $2.00 to spend is a waste of a designers time and yours. 

When I know what my client wants to allocate to the production I can immediately start finding resourses to make it work within thier guidelines and then present a realistic proposal that moves us all forward instead of losing time back-tracking to make the event work in some fantasy.

If you think you are going to save money by not telling a designer/planner what you want to spend you have already made mistake number one.  it is always my goal to provide you with the best service available.  it is through this that I can be sure of your repeat business and referrals.  remember;  the designer wants you to be the star!