Expo! Expo! 

On November 16^th I had the pleasure of attending the International Associations of Exhibition and Events DC Chapter Pre-Expo! Expo! Young Professionals Kickoff Event. The meeting was hosted at the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority’s DC office. The gorgeous weather that evening allowed the event was moved to rooftop with spectacular views of the Capitol and White House.

The event was a networking mixer for young professionals to meet the night before the major Expo! Expo! Conference taking place the next day. It was a unique idea to provide have small group of professionals with common interests to meetup in a more intimate setting to make lasting connections.  With over 250 exhibitors at the convention, it can be tough to make a lasting and meaningful impression during such a large meeting. If/when there I an opportunity to attend a pre-convention event as a professional, I will definitely take advantage of the time to network.


Overall, the event was very well done. There was music, light hors d'oeuvres, and did I mention the views? Everyone was so excited when they arrived and saw the DC skyline all lit up, especially the out of town guests. Everyone was very friendly and impressed that as a student we were out networking with professionals.  I even made a connection with one association meeting planner who referred me to her website for possible internship opportunities. Overall it was well worth the experience. 

Here is clip from one of last year's booths at Expo! Expo! .

~Kristen 

Things I Learned This Semester

This semester has been very insightful in event management. The top three things I learned are:

1. From doing my informational interview I learned that I am better at networking one on one than in large groups. I realized that I make a better impression and I feel more comfortable when I can sit and connect with the person I am speaking to. In large networking I get intimidated and I never know how to approach someone.

2.  I always knew project management was vital in event planning but I wasn’t aware of the tools that can make this a lot easier. I really enjoyed getting to use MS Project and ASANA. I really liked that ASANA allows you to set up email reminders to help you stay on task. This is something I will absolutely utilize in the workplace.

3. I learned there are multiple avenues for event planners. When I would think about possible career choices as an event planner I would picture myself as a wedding planner, convention planner, or meeting planner. What I truly appreciated was listening to my peers during the informational interview presentations. I was able to quickly learn about other possible career tracks that I would have never considered taking or knew even existed. This really opened up more options for me as I apply for future jobs. There were projects about event planners at major clothing companies and even planners that work with professional athletes, both industries I would love to work in but did not consider. 

~Kristen 

Grape Expectations!

I asked a few of my classmate what types of events they were attending and they all seemed be going to major events and conventions in the DC area. I decided to take an alternative approach and attend an event in my local area, Gaithersburg, MD. Upon searching I found an event at one of my local beer and wine stores Grape Expectations and they were hosting a wine tasting on Friday, December 4^th. At first I was confused, and then intrigued, how could a little store that sells booze possibly host an event?

To my surprise it was quite a sophisticated and fabulous event. We entered a dimly lit room with the filled with the hum of classical music and guests gathered in groups talking among themselves.  The sommelier was very knowledgeable and presented us with free samples of four different wines from California. He walked us through the flavors and notes. I’m not much of a wine drinker but I really enjoyed the ambiance and experience of trying the different blends. Just as we were leaving a live band started setting up to play light jazz music for the rest of the evening. It was such a nice touch.

What I really appreciated was how creative the owners were at creating a way to interact with their customers and increase business. According to the sommelier, drinking wine is experience and Grape Expectations created an avenue for their customers to have the experience in their store for hours as opposed spending five minutes grabbing a bottle and heading out. He more time customers spend inside the store, the more money they are willing to spend. This event showed me that there are nontraditional ways of having a career event planning. I could easily consult with small businesses managing unique events to help set them apart from their competitors and interact with their customers. As a side note we passed a beer and wine store a few doors down and I was complexly empty, I think Grape Expectations has the right idea.

~Kristen

My Different Kind of Experience Working a Wedding!

I’m usually behind the desk of wedding, planning all of the logistics prior to the big day. On Sunday, December 6th,  I was center stage as an assistant to a caterer (who prefers to remain anonymous) at an all vegan wedding.  I was pleasantly surprised when I asked the chef how he deals with the craziness of bridezillas. His reply was that they come in for a tasting and then final guest count and menu selection and it ends there. The day of, I arrive and execute and they are usually in such awe of what we do because my food is “THAT GOOD” he says with a wink.

During my shift everything ran like a tight ship. There was a schedule that the manager stuck to by the book and she delegated tasks to make sure we were on time. Since it was a winter wedding and the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception took place in the same room. Everything for the wedding had to be set and ready to go in two hours. It was a lot of work but being steadily busy made time fly by.  I even learned how to fold fancy napkins.

This is how the the entire wedding took place in one space. Guests sat in the front half of the room. 

Depending on the quality of food of caterer and  by working a few more weddings, I would consider staying in the wedding industry from the catering perspective.  The manager handles the logistics, bypasses the bridezillas, and is amidst all of the action. It seems like the best of both worlds as a possible career choice.  On a side note I would also like to add the vegan red velvet cake was to die for! 

~Kristen