I thought I'd give you a more in - depth look at some of the skills and expertise I have acquired over the years... but also how typical situations can transcend through different types of events...
My involvement in Events, started out as a tedious admin task as a teenager, assisting my father with this promotional hobby he set up in his spare time. He had been a music promoter in the 70s bringing over several well known artists from America and Jamaica to London and also been a coveted DJ since the early 70s. I was surrounded by music from a young age, combined with my uncles being in a reggae band, another as a musician and a grandfather who was an entertainer with a studio. I was brought up in a thriving environment which sparked a love for creative industries, which rubbed off on me considerably, leading to my enrolment in performing arts school full time at 11.
Throughout High School, my fathers promotional hobby had flared my interest in organising events, he had steadily built up a loyal following with a high disposable income and had started to not only provide clients with successful club nights but introduced the idea of a holiday abroad with entertainment provided by us and London's best urban DJs.
The endless hours of DM campaigns... sitting stuffing envelopes to well over 5,000 people with a plethora of flyers for the upcoming events then began... if friends came over they were roped in also.. full of enthusiasm in the beginning, happy to go home at the end... but seeing the boxes off to the post office began just the start of a fantastic feeling of being involved in such an infectious industry.
I spent my weekends and evenings in my fathers record store, then sound and lighting store, or watched and learned how he set up events at some of the clubs he managed such as Podium, or in the studio while his friends Omar and Rick Clarke, for example, recorded some of their classics.
It wasn't long before I started to pick things up and eventually I was given creative reign to arrange the rooms, and liaise with the DJs, comedians in these grand hotels for large New Years Eve events dressed in a tracksuit...carrying drinks and listening to the A/V guys do a sound check... there the fantastic feeling continued... but watching those people who we'd sent flyers to, then show up, dressed to the nines, having a brilliant time... and telling you so.. then watching the power of Word of Mouth, ensure they turned up with NEW friends to the next one... there that fantastic feeling came to a penultimate moment...
That hard work finally meant something....
As the years went on, my involvement from stuffing envelopes evolved into capturing data at the events... to then ensuring the DJs and Entertainers were on time to liaising and writing to the hotel staff in marketing / events / banqueting to then managing the whole marketing process of developing the concept of the flyers, the theme for the events and scheduling the advertising for it.
The events grew from small nightclub promotional nights and product launches for 100 people, annual holidays for 500 clients, to coach trip day away's for 800 people, to New Years Eve events for 1000 - 2000 people. With clients aged between 18 to 60... we had a damn near impossible task.. but pulled it off successfully 9 times out of 10, to be known as one of the most reliable and successful local promoters... but as pioneers by setting a precedent, most of London's Urban Promoters will quote RJS as their single inspiration for entering the promotional market today.
My theory to planning events is, to never panic because there is always a solution... and that's how I approach every event and its contingency!
I pride myself on professionalism and my word, therefore the relationships I build are invaluable and have all been long - standing for many years all over the world and I therefore always attempt to bring business to all of my suppliers where possible. My meticulous nature of organisation had finally found an outlet!
I have since moved into corporate events in my daytime job, which I'll go into next time... but in terms of the above, I still do the following for fellow promoters and DJs.
Provide copy and initiate concept and design for both flyer and event itself
Provide copy and initiate concept and design for websites
Proofreader
Meet with Venue staff and discuss client needs and requirements on an on-going basic in the months before the event.
Liaise with external agencies regarding marketing and promotional literature for online and print.
Assist DJs in capitalising on their social media activities, promotional activities and sponsorship possibilities
Arranging PAs/Artists and Hosts and their hospitality pre event
Building relationships with Venues, A/ V sound ( Including Last minute Hire), Lighting specialists.
Manage the social networking promotion for the events
Managing event schedules, DJ schedules and set up meetings with promotional team.
Event manage on a freelance basis in my spare time;
- One - off Club Nights ( Usually a themed event)
- Live shows
- Birthdays for 14years to 60 years,
- Social Group Away Days
- Social Group Holidays
- Social Group Weekenders
- Assist with multi - visit holidays
- Christenings,
- Graduation parties, Engagement parties
- Weddings,
- Holy communions
- Baby Showers
Here's a sample ;- )
All Star Lanes Bowling Party
Charity Football Matches for Unique Radio
Now onto the corporate world.... Look out for the next post...
