We know that event planning usually revolves around logistics, budgets, and outcomes.
But as Brian Kellerman, GoGather’s CEO, and Gary McCreary, our Executive VP, point out, there’s one important ingredient that often gets overlooked in the planning process: fun.
In this episode, Brian and Gary dive into how adding a playful touch can make a corporate event stand out. They talk about how incorporating fun can break down barriers and create a more engaging experience for your attendees.
About the Expert: Gary McCreary
Gary McCreary, cmp fellow, cpce, csep, is the Executive VP of GoGather where he helps the GoGather team drive operational efficiencies and enhance the client experience.
Gary has received numerous awards and accolades, including 10 Gala Awards and 31 Gala Award Nominations from Special Events Magazine. He is also the recipient of Six ONE Awards from the National Association of Catering & Events and was named the 2009 Caterer of the Year by the National Association of Catering & Events (Las Vegas Chapter). Additionally, Gary has been featured on the Food Network Program "Behind the Bash."
Transcript
Brian Kellerman: We've seen a push toward, or we've enjoyed the success of pushing toward even gamification around programs, right? Getting people back into that environment where they're able to stand and stretch and perhaps play a game and have a little bit of fun. Talk to us a little bit about the fun side of events.
You've talked about what it means to be hospitable. We've talked about what it means to be sort of effective and set our goals. What about fun? Is there a place for fun in events?
Gary McCreary: I think fun is such a powerful element that if you can harness that fun, like, again, it's in a way like hospitality. It causes people to let their guard down. It incites people to be more participatory in whatever the event is and it creates sort of almost like a unification, because you could have the CEO there and he or she's having fun, and then you have the new team member and they're having fun.
And that fun instantly breaks down all those barriers. So I think it's something that everybody should think about that as elements throughout, not just at one part, but sprinkle it out, because it really, it's kind of like an igniter in a way.
Brian Kellerman: That's amazing. So there's a place for fun inside events. What about inside planning events? Oh, is there a place for fun?
Gary McCreary: Absolutely.
Brian Kellerman: Really?
Gary McCreary: Well, if you think about it, between planners and clients, that's one of the closest bonds that need to be made. Between planners, clients, the suppliers, you need that team working together seamlessly, and that's an element that I think people should really kind of think about. I was talking about the importance of partnership.
It's critical. It's absolutely critical that you're respectful to your partners, but that you should have fun with your partners too, and laugh about things because, you know, planning events and executing, they're stressful. Because an event is a living, breathing thing. It constantly changes. It doesn't matter how much you've planned for it, something's going to go wrong.
It will, period. And you've got to be able to fix not like a contractor who can just come back and take time to fix it. You have to fix it live, in real time. And I've always said that hospitality is the most perishable commodity on earth. It can evaporate in an instant.
And if you've created a good team of people, people that have fun, that like each other, that like working together, you know, we're all going to make mistake. I'm going to make a mistake. You're going to make a mistake. But let's say I make the mistake. Come to you. We already have that bond.
You're instantly, not just because of business or any of that, but because you like me. I like you. You're going to want to help me fix the mistake. And the magic of events is I found that over the years, I've made plenty of mistakes. Is that that mistake you're able to create something better than what you originally planned?
I've been reading the book, by Judi Dench, and the other author escapes me, but it's called Shakespeare, The Man Who Pays the Rent. And one of the most brilliant passages that she brings forward from Shakespeare is mistakes. There's magic to be mined in them, which really resonates with me.
It speaks to our frailty as humans, but it also speaks to our resiliency.
Brian Kellerman: Absolutely. I couldn't agree with you more. I think we're sort of a living, breathing example of this. When we first started, that partnership that we had was based around fun, was based around joking and having a good time and sort of razzing each other and maybe even practical jokes within the hotel that we were working with.
Gary McCreary: That never happened. (laughs)
Brian Kellerman: It created such a strong bond to the point where we could go years without even speaking with one another, but then be able to call one another and have a conversation and be able to share stories and ask each other for advice and all those things because of that bond that we built, years and years ago, that was sort of based around fun.
And ultimately, I believe, and I want to get your perspective and opinion on this. Events are, while I've said, an incredible opportunity for you to kind of see the fruition or the fruits of your labor, they're also a reflection of those that plan them. And so if you come into an environment stressed out and concerned or your goals aren't aligned or in perspective, how does that reflect? Do your attendees feel that? What would you say?
Gary McCreary: I think absolutely they do. I think if you come into a venue and you, as the planner, don't have a good relationship with the hotel, everyone's going to be professional, but there's going to be that undercurrent of tension and stress. And I've seen it countless, countless times.
It's that relationship where everyone has a job to do and why do you want to do a job all stressed out, or would you rather do a job and you're having fun at it, even if let's say the job is your passion, it's your career.
But those two elements, you know, they have an impact. We're human. If we were all robots no, it wouldn't happen. But it will.
Brian Kellerman: Right, and as the planner, you're truly seen as the host, right? This is the position that we want to elevate a planner to. And as the host, how do you balance your responsibility to the logistics, and the project management versus the attendees and the executives, and the stakeholders?
How do planners prepare to sort of be in a good place once they're on-site to be that host?
Gary McCreary: I would say first, a planner really needs to take care of themselves. They need to get enough sleep. They need to make sure they're drinking enough water. They need to remember to eat. Those, to me, are core. They're core to our bodies. You have to start with that.
If you come into a program and you haven't slept for four days, you're not doing your client any good, and you're certainly not doing the program any good because you're not going to be as sharp as you need to be. To me, that is one of the key things there.
The other key thing is that you've worked during the planning process to create those good relationships. And planners have been in the business for a long time, you've had those commiseration sessions, you've had all of that.
You need to lean on your resources and those bonds you created, and not in a master-servant at all, because that does exactly the opposite. But as a friend, as two people who have a common goal to make that event extraordinary.
Brian Kellerman: Yeah, I think you're absolutely right. And then their ability to just be on site and really sort of be seen as that shining example.
Gary McCreary: Part of it, though, and I don't mean to sound disingenuous by this at all, but a meeting, you're on stage and you're on stage the whole time.
Brian Kellerman: There's no hiding.
Gary McCreary: You're being seen the whole time. And that's one of the mindsets that you need to be in, that you need to hold yourself together, especially if you're the core planner, because everyone looks to you for direction, for inspiration. If the core planner is calm and projects a calm demeanor, it resonates.
Brian Kellerman: Excellent. Well, this has been fabulous. I think there's so much for us to continue to talk about, and we'll probably have to save that for some future episodes. We'll give our editors a chance to cut this down into bits that matter and make sense, but I appreciate you joining the team, number one, I'm super excited about all the things that we're going to do together and all of the different clients that we're going to be able to work with and help and partner with.
COMMENTS