Table For One?

Hi there,

I have never thought so much about tables until I returned back to my industry after raising my children. Again, I am at that point where thinking about my industry and how awkward things are when someone ask for a table for one.

 The looks, the comments. Do I take something to read? Do I read my phone, live tweet, live Instagram or just sit there and stare. What is it about being single that creeps out people? Awkward not. I'm not about to give into that thought or give up my rights, because I'm alone. Maybe, I grew up in a different world where woman had the right to be alone if they wish.

I grew up seating by the pool side by myself. Tanning, reading sipping on the latest refreshment. There are many things to be learned. Taking public transportation anywhere I wanted without being asked to give up my seat. I encourage my children to take the bus, train, plane and test it to see what it is like today. They did. They learned what a stare is. They learned how awkward one feels at times. They also learned how they are living in better times then my grandparents or their grandparents lived.

Gloria once said: "A woman without a man is like a fish without a bicycle."  She right we can do anything today. The goal is to make something beautiful out of something that may or may not be.

The industry is filled with tables and it took me a while after helping many with their place settings and the number of people at each table, placement of place cards. It's a difficult thing to decide when it involves people you know and care about. Do I put children at a children's table? Do I place singles with married people or at a singles table? What seems like a trivial thought to an event planner is a great big deal to the person planning the event.

For example a board meeting in a traditional office is set up so board members can usually see each other. What if you have a non-traditional board. What then? How does one address an out of the box thinker? Will one use a classroom style?
What if you want more? Will you have beautiful flowers on the table or keep it serious business with just the materials then need. Is this considered a placesetting?

Will one break the group into tables of 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 will this leave someone out. Maybe the tables need to be set in odd numbers. 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 13. Making room for people who have attended the event alone not feel bad. Not everyone attends events or even board meeting with their spouse, family member, another staff member. Most of the time people attend these things along. I enjoy working with people who come up with solutions for their business and I consider myself a person who doesn't judge another on the bases of having to do things alone. 

Photographs in this blog by pixel.com

Now remember before you start planning your next event consider writing down three things you'd like your single attendees to take away from the event.

If you'd like creative thinking for your next event consider MK Pure Diamond Events. 

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Three

Three

Hi there, Reader;

Have you thought about three. In business we talk, talk, talk about the things we want to do. However, there are those doing it. Bigger and better than we could ever imagine.

Three such a simple number. Numbers the infinite possibilities of things that can happen. I believe that there is a truth to three, that no man can truly understand, yet all man covet.

The wiki dictionary had definitions of three. From religion to philosophical. Such profound things escape me. I am on the more realistic of thoughts. On the practical. In business your word should be truth. At least in my business. It's on the contract.

The philosophy of meeting and event planning in it's simplest form is. This like the English language always has the following.

1. Beginning: You have to meet with the clients. Discuss what they want, what they need, and what they are willing to pay for. This might take one meeting, it might take two meetings, either way it is the moment when people come together to discuss the needs of what they want.

2. Middlle:  When you are planning the event. It doesn't matter if it is your meeting, your wedding, your event. It is the day to day planning when things are refined. Discussed, planned, refined, produced and implemented. This is the process were contracts sometimes get altered, due to the changes. This is where the event planner has the right has the right to change the budget you originally discuses because you want more than planned. You want flowers that cost more. Venue that wants more, reception linen that came with the venue wasn't good enough so you want to change it. You want a bitter and bigger music it went from dj to live band. The photographer changed from uncle sam to a professional photographer. The tears from the bride can no longer be taken from friends and family hearing her say..."This is my wedding. I have been waiting for this all my life." The business person things..."This is my event, I have been thinking about this for 6 months, I thought of this a year ago." What is the reality...in a year lots of things change. Pricing changes and last years trends may not be today's. Are you into the trend or into what it will bring when its over. Either way it comes with a cost.

3. End:  The final result from the event, meeting or wedding. What your guest see, feel, think. How they interact with you as a person. What name and reputation you build.

The reality is three. The symbol for many things. The remembrance of sacrifices made and a life that is sometimes created from an event to be remembered in the life of the person for life. Knowing the difference between life and reality. Truth and false and that in business it is best to have truth. What is truth?

Disclaimer I was not paid by any advertisers for this blog. The photograph above was taken by Maria Kamon©™ Photography for the sole purpose of this blog.

Hot Trends

Hi there, Reader;

Did you ever want your business to grow? Grow now? I want, I need, I have to have. Here is a list of my I wants, I need, I have to have.

1. I want to make enough money to support myself and my lifestyle. 
2. I need enough money to help feed me, clothe me.
3. I have to have a home (hopefully a house I own to live in.)

Hopefully, those things are no longer trends or are they? Business trends are different. They are items that distinguish one event planner from another. One business from another. How can I make mine better than yours so you hire me to plan your event? 

Here are some "Hot Trends"

1. Trendy Food: Trendy event food sliders, wok, tacos, array of  organic meats and vegetarian items

2. Hire Mixologist to give your business a mix drink people will 

remember you by.

3. Plan to donate or associate you business with a good cause. (Christian or Non) It is important to be helping people along the way. The company that is selfish is no longer looked upon as a "Great" company. 

4. Business App: Have one or at least have one for your event. Agendas, time schedule, breakout sessions, points of interest, speakers bios can all be placed on this app. 

5. Candy Stations: Have a station where your guest can get sweet and salty items. The colorful candy, help stimulate the mind and the Sweet and Salty trend is one that has lasted throughout the times. 

6. Gaming: Some companies provide an are for guest to play games. Maybe it's a time or breakout session to provide games.

7. Nightclub: Those attending your meetings need something to do at night. Provide them a safe place to go out. Create a nightclub atmosphere with a Topas bar good food and entertainment. Make sure the food is spread around the event. Not just buffet style. The trend is small plates of food.  

8. Team Building Activities: Find an activity with a greater purpose to work on 'Stop World Hunger"

When you're ready to plan your next trendy meeting, event or wedding give MK Pure Diamond Events a call. Sign up for our newsletter. Follow us on Facebook.com/mk-pure-diamond-events, twitter.com/mkpde, or instagram. Leave us a message or book an appointment. Let your voice be heard. Looking forward to helping you plan a great event.

Cultural Differences Events, Weddings and in Meetings

There are cultural differences that affect all of us.  Some of us accept others and some of us don't  Part of event planning is being able to identify the cultural differences and use etiquette or manners to identify, help, get the client or the customer through the event of their life.  

What to say and when to say it can be the best weapon you have in the fight to have the best day of your life at whatever event you are attending planning.  An event planner who is sensitive to the needs of her clients is an event planner worth every penny.

Affection is one of those that each culture is sensitive about.  For example one culture it is totally acceptable to show affection, (hugs and kisses) where another culture it is not.  The difficult pare it when within the culture it varies between individual.  For example the stereotype of the latin women who shows affection to everyone, because they are kind.  In the Japanese culture greeting someone is not always acceptable.  A handshake is more a sign of respect and affection.

Acceptable affections is a multicultural acknowledgement.  Workplace affections:  What is acceptable in the workplace.

1. Greeting:  Meeting the person you know acknowledgment of their presence with a handshake. Greeting.

Hello Mr.... or Mrs.......   It is a pleasure to see you again.

2.  Time: Punctuality is the second most reason why companies fire an individual.  Be on time.

3.  Alcohol Use: When there are alcohol at an event attending.  Have a glass of your favorite drink, but limit yourself to drinking another beverage to stay sober.  No one likes a drink.  They might be the life of the party at the event, however the next day they will be the gossip of the office.

4.  Gifts: Bringing gifts to the event your attending. This is one you should take the time to find out if it is acceptable or necessary.  Some host may feel the gift is a sign of your generosity, while other feel it is a bribe. "As your host if they have a special organization they would like an money donated to or if there is something special you can bring to the event."  If they say no thank you.  Then accept it as sincere. If you are uncomfortable with this then purchase the gift and tell your host, I know you told me not to but it is my tradition and way to say thank you for the invitation and thinking of me.

5. Color: There is difference in color used as well.  A company in the United States may use a yellow tag on the product, however when they ship the product to a company in China it makes them instantly specious.

6.  Food: Food each culture has food associated with them.  Some cultures you are brave when trying out their food that may be strange or look different. Other cultures see it as peace offering.  I remember at my wedding I had a very American wedding, however we had to offer one thing that was of my culture, as a respect to my parent.  Business is the same way it is about the person you are attending the event for.  Also their are culture food noises is acceptable and a way of showing the person the food is delicious!  Americans tend to judge the person making the noises as not having manner, it is the opposite for some cultures.

7. Clothing: This too can be cultural.  One culture can find a business suit very appropriate for all occasions, Americans tend to dress up or down depending on the event they are invited to.  For example:  To one person they may attend church in shorts and t-shirt, another person may love dressing up or more formal to make it a special time.

8. It is important to know yourself what is acceptable to you as a human being, what you can accept, how you can relate to others, by respecting the differences and honoring their culture.

Referenced: Multicultural Manners Essential  for Etiquette for the 21st Century