Events: Prepare and Plan for Failure

During my time at Colosoul I have been privileged to be able to see and help out at three events. I haven't played a major part in these events, but I am still happy to say quite confidently that I have learnt a lot! I have seen how what sort of preparation goes into events, how they can go right, and of course, like it or not, how they can go wrong. I remember being told in a PR lecture to "plan as if everything would go wrong, because it probably will". Quite startled at this melancholy statement during the lecture, I can actually agree that it is the best advice to give for an event. Because there is nothing like not having a back-up plan in the middle of the night when something does go wrong! At all three events that I've helped out at, at least one thing has gone wrong at each. At least five things went wrong at one! But that's not to say it was poorly organised, just the slightest things had obviously not been considered, or forgotten during the lengthy preparation process. Things that I am lucky to remember for any events I should one day organise.

Friday night I helped out at the latest event by Colosoul. It was a fashion event run at City Farm for the website launch of Colosoul's fashion agency, FoxFeet. It turned out to be a great event, with six runway shows throughout the night, as well as market stalls, and great local bands playing sets in between the runway shows. I am so proud of the girl that organised it, because looking back, the night was so full on and entertaining, she would have just had so much to consider.

When thinking back to my responsibilities for the night, the list is quite long! I didn't have one set job, but was bouncing about here and there filling gaps that were needed throughout the night. I liked it this way. I kept busy and the night went quicker. It was also practically 4 degrees, and the event was entirely outside! I shouldn't be complaining though, because the poor models had to do a swimwear show! My jobs included: unloading car loads of stuff for the night and setting it up (my poor neck is still paying for this two days later), dressing models, minding a stall, driving to get $40 worth of ice, chasing down a spare run sheet, welcoming guests, driving to BP to get extra change, getting ten pizzas at Dominos for the models and staff, taping the soles of shoes, taping models boobs in! Not to mention packing away the remnants of the night at 12.30! I'm pleased to say that my efforts were little but many, and didn't go by unnoticed! Both my supervisor and the Colosoul director noticed my hard work and both made a note of it and thanked me the next day. I was stoked, to say the least.

Helping at events have really been my most valuable experience at Colosoul. While I'm not entirely sure if events are the path I want to take when I graduate, at least I can go into the area with some knowledge of how they work and things to remember. I know I can definitely take the idea to plan for failure... as morbid as that sounds! Anyway, here are a few snaps I managed to take from the night!

Bye for now,

Holly