THE EDUCATION PROGRAM at The Special Event 2005 will bring together some of the biggest names in special events to turn up the heat on cutting-edge industry trends. Set for Jan. 5-8 at the Miami Beach Convention Center in Miami, more than 150 hours of workshops, panel discussions and case studies will deliver up-to-the-minute information in eight tracks ranging from food and design to management and marketing. This year, several of the 108 sessions offered have a distinctly international flair, a tribute to the multicultural flavor of the host city. Whether you're simply keeping your skills sharp or looking for the latest scoop in special events, these sessions offer something for beginning and seasoned event pros alike.
FOOD FACTOR
Good food tops the list for any great event, and the Food Services Track serves up catering tips on food trends, staffing and presentation to both caterers and event planners. The continued interest in ethnic and fusion cooking is addressed in “Ethnic Chic Marketing: Thinking Globally, Enticing Locally,” presented by Judith Williams of Catered Creations, Joy Wallace of A Joy Wallace Catering Production, and Kelly Murphy of Panache Party Rentals. The course covers the shift in demand toward global cuisine and will deliver ideas on how to add spice and flavor to events, position your company to navigate cross-cultural markets, and source vendors locally and on the Internet.
IN THE BIZ
The business side of events is explored in the Business and Professional Development Track, which tackles such topics as pricing, motivating staff and dealing with legal issues. One discussion on tap is “Still Taking Fun Seriously,” an encore to last year's popular session “Taking Fun Seriously.” Hosted by moderators Annie Revel of Revel Productions, Jaclyn Bernstein of Empire Force Events, Steve Kemble of Steve Kemble Event Design, Anthony Bollotta of Bollotta Entertainment and Michael Cerbelli of Total Entertainment, this fast-paced forum will provide attendees with tips to increase efficiency and decrease stress while promoting a fun atmosphere in the workplace.
WEDDED WAYS
Sponsored by the Association of Bridal Consultants, the Wedding Track covers issues relating to the business of brides for both seasoned wedding planners and consultants looking to move into the field. All the angles are presented in “Tales From the Trenches: Real-life Wedding Combat Stories,” hosted by Frank. J. Andonoplas of Frank Event Design and Teddy Lenderman of Bearable Weddings & Special Events. The hosts will share humorous stories drawn from their combined 30 years of experience in the wedding industry, showing attendees how to prepare for the unexpected scenarios that can arise on the big day.
FINE DESIGN
New ideas in decor are on the table in the Design Track, which focuses on details such as the floral, tabletops and linen that pull the look of an event together. In “Color with Confidence: Trends in Linen and Floral,” Jo Dermid and Joy Floyd from BBJ Linen will be joined by designers from the American Institute of Floral Designers to discuss the hottest new color palettes and designs for both social and corporate events. The presenters will cover the significance of colors to different cultures and the explosion of color in today's weddings, and show how spaces can be transformed through the use of tones and texture.
RENT RIGHT
The revamped Rental Track, sponsored by EES, offers something not just for party rental pros, but for any event professional who uses rental products at events. Sessions address the vendor/client relationship, latest product trends, and inventory management and pricing issues. In “To Rent or Not to Rent…That is the Question,” Terry Singleton of CCP Events and Claudette Bouton of A Legendary Event discuss tactics for using rental equipment to its best advantage while minimizing costs and maximizing decorating power. The duo will also cover methods for locating the best rental company for your needs and how to find unexpected sources for products, such as antique and hardware stores.
MIND AND MANAGE
The Event Management Track is geared toward teaching methods that help make an event a success from start to finish, from selecting a venue to fundraising to maximizing ROI. And with today's security concerns, site and crowd safety issues are brought to the forefront in “Red Alert: Security and Disaster Management,” presented by Pamela Fromhertz of C.O.P.E — Continuity of Operations Planning Experts. The session will cover the potential threats that event planners face and offer real-life solutions — including developing an emergency plan and creating a disaster supply kit — that will ensure the safety of both event guests and your business.
SALES CALL
Getting your company's name to stand out to customers in today's competitive business environment is covered in the Sales and Marketing Track, which explores such topics as creating memorable marketing materials, building sales muscle and using the Internet to your advantage. In “Experiential Marketing & Strategies: How To, When To, Why To,” Colja Dams and Anja Schmidt-Ott from Vok Dams Gruppe discuss ways to increase company visibility through branding and experiential marketing. Learn the latest trends in marketing/branding, what strategies work and why, and how to achieve realistic results for clients.
TRY AND CERTIFY
Event professionals studying for the CSEP certification will want to take advantage of the CSEP exam preparatory courses offered in the ISES Track, sponsored by the International Special Events Society. The courses, which are led by event pros who have already earned their certification, include an introduction to the CSEP program and test-taking tips for exam sections including administration, marketing, coordination and risk management. Attendees will also earn points toward certification for each course attended.
For more information on educational sessions at The Special Event 2005 and to register, call 800/927-5007 or 203/358-3751, or visit www.thespecialeventshow.com.
