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How an Entertainment Event Planner Plans His Own Wedding
This past year, I got to experience the ultimate NYC entertainment event planner dream by planning my very own wedding. My then-fiancée and I were engaged last October, and when choosing when to hold our event, we decided that it made the most sense to go on the academic calendar during one of her breaks…
Read MoreCell Service on the Subway: We’re On the Wrong Track
Today, the New York City Transit Authority unveiled a limited trial of cell phone access in a select number of Manhattan subway platforms. If all goes according to plan, the MTA aims to have cell service available at every station in the city by 2016. Is anybody else disturbed by this so-called “advancement” in communication?…
Read MoreSpringing Spontaneity on an Event Planner
Sometimes, I do something completely out of character – and I don’t regret it for a minute. Last night, for instance, was supposed to be one of rest, relaxation and a pile of work in preparation for the week ahead. That is, until my friend texted me with a last-minute invitation to attend a baseball…
Read MoreIn a Tough Economy, Family Comes First
My wife and I were married this past February, and we are expecting our first child this December (I know, I know – believe me, I know). Despite the fact that we both love our jobs and take great pride in what we do, after the Big Day arrives, I can guarantee you that neither…
Read MoreWhat Should Employees Get out of a Corporate Team Building Event?
So you’re considering a corporate team building event for your employees. Perhaps it’s an activity which was recommended to you, or the boss randomly wants to do one, or you ARE the boss and want to do something nice for your staff. Of the various items you are likely grappling with, including when the event…
Read More6 Frequently Overlooked Safety Hazards at Corporate Entertainment Events
As a fellow corporate entertainment event planner in NYC or elsewhere, you know the feeling of having details coming out of your ears. Everything is your responsibility: venue, vendors, catering, rentals, contracts, capacity, seating charts, green M&Ms- you get the drill. In the crush to get the function planned and executed, safety frequently takes a…
Read More50 Training Opportunities Your Employees Wish You Offered
Times remain tough for employers and employees alike. As the sluggish economy continues to sputter, firms are generating less revenue, which means management has fewer options to reward hard-working staff with money or advancement. However, companies can still recognize and incentivize their loyal workforce by providing development and training, so that they may grow professionally…
Read MoreAdvantages of the “Devil’s Advocate” Role In Group Decision Making
As the world gets flatter, teams are getting flatter right along with them. Thanks to the new digital workplace, team decisions are increasingly being made by consensus from members who weigh in remotely via email, conference call, Skype, text and a host of other ways. By several measures, this is a good thing for the…
Read MoreWhat Kind of Trivia is best for Corporate Team Building Events?
As the owner of a professional trivia company in New York City, it’s my job to ensure that the questions asked at our events perfectly fit an incredibly diverse range of corporate cultures. But when it comes to using trivia as a team building activity, what kind of questions should be asked? After all, with…
Read More10 Questions Your Boss Has About the Corporate Event Entertainment Vendor
So you’ve been assigned the unglamorous task of identifying options for the upcoming corporate event’s entertainment. Whether it’s an employee team building activity, holiday party, client entertainment function or brand awareness event, in the end it all boils down to you spending a lot of time asking friends and colleagues for recommendations, trolling through Google,…
Read MoreTrivia Questions For: Keith Ferrazzi, Professional Relationship Thought Leader & Brand Marketing Expert
As part of our new “Trivia Questions For…” interview series, I am thrilled to have caught up with Keith Ferrazzi, acclaimed thought leader and expert in professional relationship development. Called to be one of the world’s most “connected” individuals by Forbes and Inc., Keith’s New York Times bestselling books Never Eat Alone and Who’s Got…
Read MoreClean Up Your Act! 5 Ways Quizmasters can be More Professional
Before starting my own corporate event entertainment and employee team building trivia company, I spent 5 years cutting my teeth as a bar trivia host in New York City. As you can likely imagine, the level of expectation of a quizmaster from a room full of bar patrons who are out at the local well…
Read MoreLive Trivia Team Size: What’s Best for Team Building?
For groups using live trivia as a team building activity, probably the most frequently asked question is, “What kind of trivia is used?” A close second, however, is this one: “How many people are on each team?” While many factors of customizing employee entertainment events depend on the individual preferences of the group, this is…
Read MoreIf They Had Subway Announcements in the Workplace
For those of us who live in big cities, subways are a way of life. If you’re in New York City, then you are familiar with the ubiquitous automated announcements which intrude on your reading, talking or deep thoughts while riding the rails or waiting on the platform. Depending on the “mood” of the train…
Read More6 Tips for Keeping Morale High When You’re Short-Staffed
My wife is one of 8 teachers at her school who are pregnant. Everyone thinks it’s amazing- except her principal, who will soon find himself significantly short-staffed. What is he to do? While substitute teachers can be brought in, they are not familiar with the classes, students or the school itself, and will require training…
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