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The Ghosts Of Events Past, Present And Future

  • 08-07-2010 12:07am
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,499 ✭✭✭


    Curious to see what makes the various members here tick and the experience that is on offer.

    What events have you participated in (and what role), how did you get on, lessons, why you did, etc, etc, etc?

    What events are you currently involved in - how is it going, as anticipated (workload, preparations), lessons, etc, etc, etc?

    And what events are you planning / going to be undertaking in the near future (along with additional footnotes :) )?



    Myself: Don't have a wealth of experience in the event management side. Did a few online Quake tournaments a couple of Summers ago. Was an interesting experience and highlighted that there is quite a lot to take care of...even when everything is running smoothly.

    Was run pretty well considering the 0 budget (thank you internet!). Had streams for spectators, updated brackets and a chat dialogue going. Lesson learned: Feedback was hard to come by despite constantly asking. People just said "it was good, had fun", etc...but numbers dropped. As Dr. House once said "people always lie" :)

    Also did a few online tournaments for a free game called Trackmania. Bit different to the standard tournament format as everyone was on the track at the one time (ghost cars) and were given a 5 min window to post their best time. Points given out based on finishing position...Then moved onto a new track (similar to an F1 season). It was where a player called HotSwat first caught my eye - and went on to showcase his talent in the World Cyber Games 2009 and the Electronic Sports World Cup.

    Currently - a small Street Fighter league. Nice to start small, learn a few lessons before trying to take it bigger. About to hit the halfway point and people seem to be enjoying it which is nice. Will be a small prize pot at the end for the winner...but even better if people value bragging rights (a prize often overlooked in this day and age!).

    🤪



Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,854 ✭✭✭Rogue-Trooper


    I'm involved full-time in the 'Event Management industry' and have been for the last 20 years. I wouldn't even know where to start answering all your questions! :eek:

    Currently working on the 'Hoist The French Sail' event as Production Manager and Event Controller, when that's over I'm straight onto The Festival Of World Cultures in Dun Laoghaire as part of the production team and then it's off to Killarney for the 3 Irish Open looking after the cosy world of corporate hospitality! Three very different events in as many weeks but that's the great thing about the event business - there's no shortage of variety!

    Lessons learned? Should have paid more attention in school and got a real job....!!;)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 134 ✭✭steod


    Hi there im studying event management and marketing as a part time degree and will be getting oppurtunity to produce some events as part of college this coming year.

    Rogue trooper you have lot of experience and would love to hear more about your experiences of event industry in Ireland. Im keen to try get more hands on experience while working around my full time job. I would love to specialise in crowd safety and safety in general.

    Great that this forum has got the go ahead :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,971 ✭✭✭Orim


    I've very little experience in running events, until last weekend.

    Ran a Street Fighter tournament. Have done a few of these over the last year but they were done in a gaming cafe which made them relatively easy to run.

    This time I had booked a venue, had to organise getting equipment and generally actually organise things.

    It was at the same time a disaster and a great success. The day itself went well and everybody enjoyed themselves.

    However I was very aware of all the things that could have been done better. Posters, t-shirts, equipment and sponsorship to name a few of the main ones. However I didn't

    The good thing is that it's a monthly tournament so with each tournament, things should get more organised and I'll have more time to do different things.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,499 ✭✭✭Sabre0001


    From what I've read Orim, the event went really well. Keeping the junkies out may be one thing to look at but can you afford security :) You'll just have to beef up in the next month! Couple of things that you will learn from naturally but for a first event with a good sized gathering of people, it seemed to go really well!

    You're nearly better off keeping the costs low and building as you go so the extra things can be tacked on over time. Sponsorship would be a good thing to look at but you need to be able to provide the Return On Investment for sponsors - solid evidence that their brand will get out there. Irish sponsors will want to get the name associated in Ireland (so something like mentioned in a news post on SRK MAY be of less relevance to them).

    Also, I wouldn't put down the fact that your previous events were in the XGC. It takes certain headaches away but there is the potential for others. At the end of the day, it is the event orgainser who ends up getting hit with the blame rather than everyone allocating things to the centre...Though, the FG community seems to have been pretty understanding (and therefore accepting of issues such as heat :) ).

    🤪



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,499 ✭✭✭Sabre0001



    Currently working on the 'Hoist The French Sail' event as Production Manager and Event Controller, when that's over I'm straight onto The Festival Of World Cultures in Dun Laoghaire as part of the production team and then it's off to Killarney for the 3 Irish Open looking after the cosy world of corporate hospitality! Three very different events in as many weeks but that's the great thing about the event business - there's no shortage of variety!

    Lessons learned? Should have paid more attention in school and got a real job....!!;)

    So how did you enjoy your roles in these events and how do you think they went? Rather large scale operations!

    🤪



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,854 ✭✭✭Rogue-Trooper


    Sabre0001 wrote: »
    So how did you enjoy your roles in these events and how do you think they went? Rather large scale operations!

    They all went well thanks. They were 3 very different types of events but they were all high-capacity / high-profile events and all were outdoors! The weather has been very changeable as you know - I was moving from sun-block to raincoats constantly for the last few weeks and am sporting a lovely farmers tan now too!:rolleyes:

    All were well attended by the public and all went very well with no major hitches to report. In each event I had a slightly differing roles so it keeps it interesting. Hours are very long on all of them - on most of the events that I work I am first on-site and last to leave each day so it's taken a couple of days to get over the tiredness of the last few weeks!

    Have already moved on to the planning stages of the next few events - can't say too much about them at the moment as they are not announced yet but suffice to say they are big annual events that you are probably familiar with!:)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,854 ✭✭✭Rogue-Trooper


    steod wrote: »
    Hi there im studying event management and marketing as a part time degree and will be getting oppurtunity to produce some events as part of college this coming year.

    Rogue trooper you have lot of experience and would love to hear more about your experiences of event industry in Ireland. Im keen to try get more hands on experience while working around my full time job. I would love to specialise in crowd safety and safety in general.

    Great that this forum has got the go ahead :)

    Hi steod - sorry, only spotted your post now!:o

    Yes I guess I do have a lot of experience however writing about it would probably melt the Boards.ie server!! I also wouldn't even know where to start putting it into words either............!!:confused:

    Where are you doing your degree and is it useful and practical do you think? I have met lots of 'event management students' and they are always stunned with the reality of an actual event and the things they are taught seem to have little relevance. Some of the lecturers also seem to have no experience or understanding of the business which would lead me to believe that a lot (not all) of these courses are nothing but cash-cows for the 'college'. Most of the students also seem to have terribly unrealistic visions of the reality of the events business and their employment prospects in it. Unfortunately our industry is like a barometer for the economy - one of the first things to suffer is always the entertainment budget! :(

    I admire your interest in the crowd safety side of things as it isn't the 'glamorous' side of the business (ok, the reality is that there ISN'T a glamorous side!!;)) and one that most people wouldn't even consider. It's also an area that I have specialised in in recent years - particularly in 'Event Control'. This area interests me greatly however it makes you terribly unpopular with clients, event managers and punters alike as you are always the one saying "No you can't do that"! People don't grasp the responsibility of this role either because if something were to go wrong on an event it's the Event Controller that has to explain to the judge what went wrong.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 134 ✭✭steod


    Hi steod - sorry, only spotted your post now!:o

    Yes I guess I do have a lot of experience however writing about it would probably melt the Boards.ie server!! I also wouldn't even know where to start putting it into words either............!!:confused:

    Where are you doing your degree and is it useful and practical do you think? I have met lots of 'event management students' and they are always stunned with the reality of an actual event and the things they are taught seem to have little relevance. Some of the lecturers also seem to have no experience or understanding of the business which would lead me to believe that a lot (not all) of these courses are nothing but cash-cows for the 'college'. Most of the students also seem to have terribly unrealistic visions of the reality of the events business and their employment prospects in it. Unfortunately our industry is like a barometer for the economy - one of the first things to suffer is always the entertainment budget! :(

    I admire your interest in the crowd safety side of things as it isn't the 'glamorous' side of the business (ok, the reality is that there ISN'T a glamorous side!!;)) and one that most people wouldn't even consider. It's also an area that I have specialised in in recent years - particularly in 'Event Control'. This area interests me greatly however it makes you terribly unpopular with clients, event managers and punters alike as you are always the one saying "No you can't do that"! People don't grasp the responsibility of this role either because if something were to go wrong on an event it's the Event Controller that has to explain to the judge what went wrong.

    Thanks for taking the time to reply. You have pretty much hit the nail on the head in your post regarding issues of studying events. I have been unsure of the quality of the degree after hearing about what some events employers perceive as a lack of quality in some of courses on offer at the moment. Im studying part time in Dublin Business School and am fully aware of some peoples negative perception of this as a private college which has disheartened me a little to be honest.

    I agree also about some of the unrealistic views some students have about events. While myself and most others have more realistic expectations there are quite a few who think of it as a high flying fancy career and will land a job easily :confused:. Im 29 so not really as fresh faced and starry eyed as others :pac: and have no problems getting my hands dirty such as clearing up and taking out the trash after the events over and anything else :pac:

    Also got to take in the economic situation like you said with reduced disposable incomes everywhere im sure its tough industry and when people do attend events they need value for their money.

    Yeah the less glamourous side of things interest me and small details. For example when at a gig my thoughts wander to things like who orders the portable toilets and how do they know how many they will need (yeah im weird that way :)).


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,854 ✭✭✭Rogue-Trooper


    steod wrote: »
    Thanks for taking the time to reply. You have pretty much hit the nail on the head in your post regarding issues of studying events. I have been unsure of the quality of the degree after hearing about what some events employers perceive as a lack of quality in some of courses on offer at the moment. Im studying part time in Dublin Business School and am fully aware of some peoples negative perception of this as a private college which has disheartened me a little to be honest.

    I agree also about some of the unrealistic views some students have about events. While myself and most others have more realistic expectations there are quite a few who think of it as a high flying fancy career and will land a job easily :confused:. Im 29 so not really as fresh faced and starry eyed as others :pac: and have no problems getting my hands dirty such as clearing up and taking out the trash after the events over and anything else :pac:

    Also got to take in the economic situation like you said with reduced disposable incomes everywhere im sure its tough industry and when people do attend events they need value for their money.

    Yeah the less glamourous side of things interest me and small details. For example when at a gig my thoughts wander to things like who orders the portable toilets and how do they know how many they will need (yeah im weird that way :)).

    Great to see that you are being realistic. Also nice to see that you are prepared to get your hands dirty - cos they will be!!:pac:

    In answer to your question regarding the number of toilets - Environmental Health will dictate that relative to the event profile & expected numbers. A rule of thumb is 10 female toilets to every 1000 females and 2 male toilets and 8 urinals to every 1000 males. This may seem like a ridiculous fact to some people but that's the mad stuff you gotta know to be across your sh1t (pardon the pun!) in the events game!:)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 73 ✭✭sibh1


    Hi All!

    Have worked on a range of fundraising events for Crumlin Children's Hospital. Included comedy gigs, black tie balls, music gigs, charity cycles and lots of other events!

    Did a postgraduate course in event management and public relations.

    Volunteered and worked on a small scale on a number of larger events inc. Top Gear & Electric Picnic.

    I currently work full time for Special Olympics Ireland, looking after fundraising events and on a smaller scale sporting events. Have worked on the Law Enforcement Torch Run and the National Collection Day as well as local and regional fundraising events.

    It means working on a wide range and varied events, each week is different! It's also very rewarding and challenging.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,825 ✭✭✭Gambler


    Have been running a salsa dancing congress for 5 years now, attendance for the last few years has been around the 500 people mark with most of them coming for the full weekend from Friday evening to Sunday morning.

    The two biggest lessons I've learned are:

    1) You have to work the budget constantly. Ours is a non-profit event which means we are constantly revising what we can and can't afford to do at the weekend so I ended up writing some custom software that lets me instantly see where we are in relation to projected budget and actual figures. Even if you just use an excel spreadsheet, keep an eye on those costs at all times!

    and

    2) When you are running an event all you are likely to see is the problems that crop up. The first year we ran the event I thought "Wow, how did we manage to get things so badly wrong" until people started sending in thank you emails and telling us what a wonderful weekend they had. That was when I realised that while I had seen nothing but the small issues that needed fixing at the weekend these only actually affected about 5% of the people attending and each time we got it sorted so quickly they all went away happy. I think it's easy to get into a panic that everything is going wrong when in fact 95% of things are going right but your job is to stay on top of that 5% of issues so that's most of what you see at the event.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 683 ✭✭✭leincar


    My apologies for not finding this forum earlier, but I spend quite a bit of time out of country and don't look into boards as often as I would like.

    I started out as an unpaid intern for Harvey Goldsmith in April 1985 just as I was finishing collage(DIT Rathmines) and three months before Live Aid. I originally wanted a career in music and unbeknownst to myself I could not have asked for better experience than Live Aid. From starting off making coffee and delivering envelopes in the office, I found myself very quickly in the frontline of Wembley stadium first off all staying in the background, then finding myself involved in event production. I bought my own ticket for the gig as I was an intern. Two weeks later Harvey found out I had bought my own ticket and refunded me the £25 cost and hired me full time. After a couple of years with Harvey I went to work for Bill Graham who at the time was probably the most famous concert promoter in the U.S. I stayed there until Bill died in 1991 and then went to work for a major U.S brewer where I was in charge of production management at a series of nationwide concerts they were promoting on the college circuit.

    In 1994 I went to my present employer and landed in Israel where for the next five years I looked after all aspect of event management from event production, project management, production management and most importantly budgets for the Middle East, and Southern Europe. Thank God for more than one passport. In 1996 I was drafted back to the U.S. for the Atlanta Olympics for six months which was my first foray into major sporting event management.

    I went back permanently to the U.S. in 1999 and became head of event management and sponsership for North America. In 2002 in advance of the World Cup I took over Asia and in early 2006 became Head of Department for global events.

    Straight after the Beijing Olympics I landed in my present position of V.P. and Director of International Event Management.

    I have always found that there is always a solution to whatever problem may present itself. I very seldom had rows with suppliers. If things were not going my way, I would just cut them loose, there is always someone else who is willing to pick up the slack. You will find the longer you are in this business, people will respect you for this attitude and after a while it will virtually always go your way. You must always be firm, but fair and politeness is of the essence. Remember too, that while your client is picking up the tab, the client has hired you for your expertise and in that respect you must show your professionalism by being the boss.

    Unfortunately, while I live now back in Ireland I have never worked here, except being here for the odd event where I have just been the overseer. While my office is based in Atlanta I can work from home when I'm not travelling. One subject I would caution, you must and need to have a hunger to succeed from your first day in college to your first day in the office where you make the coffee, to your first event. In a previous forum back in May an Event Management student asked me if there was any opportunities that I could possibly give him. I PM'd him about a possibility but never got a reply. That person lost out, potentially on eight weeks paid employment in South Africa working on the World Cup. A salient lesson. This is not a Bill Cullen type rant, but I had to write at least fifty letters before Harvey Goldsmith(lovable curmudgeon that he is) replied.

    Next year is relatively quiet. The major events are the World Special Olympic Games in Athens and the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, however right now we are already planning the European football championships in Poland and the Ukraine in 2012 and the London Olympics.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 72 ✭✭rhondadunphy


    Hi leincar,

    If you have any more opportunities for a student I'd love to send you my cv I'm a first year student in DIT studying event management and I have also completed one year event management in Stillorgan.

    And I wouldnt pass up any opportunity to gain experience in the event industry

    Kind Regards

    Rhonda


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 42 nevsky


    leincar wrote: »
    My apologies for not finding this forum earlier, but I spend quite a bit of time out of country and don't look into boards as often as I would like.

    I started out as an unpaid intern for Harvey Goldsmith in April 1985 just as I was finishing collage(DIT Rathmines) and three months before Live Aid. I originally wanted a career in music and unbeknownst to myself I could not have asked for better experience than Live Aid. From starting off making coffee and delivering envelopes in the office, I found myself very quickly in the frontline of Wembley stadium first off all staying in the background, then finding myself involved in event production. I bought my own ticket for the gig as I was an intern. Two weeks later Harvey found out I had bought my own ticket and refunded me the £25 cost and hired me full time. After a couple of years with Harvey I went to work for Bill Graham who at the time was probably the most famous concert promoter in the U.S. I stayed there until Bill died in 1991 and then went to work for a major U.S brewer where I was in charge of production management at a series of nationwide concerts they were promoting on the college circuit.

    In 1994 I went to my present employer and landed in Israel where for the next five years I looked after all aspect of event management from event production, project management, production management and most importantly budgets for the Middle East, and Southern Europe. Thank God for more than one passport. In 1996 I was drafted back to the U.S. for the Atlanta Olympics for six months which was my first foray into major sporting event management.

    I went back permanently to the U.S. in 1999 and became head of event management and sponsership for North America. In 2002 in advance of the World Cup I took over Asia and in early 2006 became Head of Department for global events.

    Straight after the Beijing Olympics I landed in my present position of V.P. and Director of International Event Management.

    I have always found that there is always a solution to whatever problem may present itself. I very seldom had rows with suppliers. If things were not going my way, I would just cut them loose, there is always someone else who is willing to pick up the slack. You will find the longer you are in this business, people will respect you for this attitude and after a while it will virtually always go your way. You must always be firm, but fair and politeness is of the essence. Remember too, that while your client is picking up the tab, the client has hired you for your expertise and in that respect you must show your professionalism by being the boss.

    Unfortunately, while I live now back in Ireland I have never worked here, except being here for the odd event where I have just been the overseer. While my office is based in Atlanta I can work from home when I'm not travelling. One subject I would caution, you must and need to have a hunger to succeed from your first day in college to your first day in the office where you make the coffee, to your first event. In a previous forum back in May an Event Management student asked me if there was any opportunities that I could possibly give him. I PM'd him about a possibility but never got a reply. That person lost out, potentially on eight weeks paid employment in South Africa working on the World Cup. A salient lesson. This is not a Bill Cullen type rant, but I had to write at least fifty letters before Harvey Goldsmith(lovable curmudgeon that he is) replied.

    Next year is relatively quiet. The major events are the World Special Olympic Games in Athens and the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, however right now we are already planning the European football championships in Poland and the Ukraine in 2012 and the London Olympics.

    I was just wondering if you have any intern positions? If so, could I send you my C.V.? Salary is not an issue, I just need to get sone experience as there are so few positions at the moment. You have the position that most of us dream about.

    If you have no internships available would you have any advise on getting a foothold in the industry.

    Cheers, Nevan


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 683 ✭✭✭leincar


    PM sent.

    On the subject of my job being a job most people dream about. At the end of the day it is a job. It is a job I admit I am good at, but like most people in life it is not the job I always wanted.

    Even now I would swop it for a life writing for Rolling Stone, which is what I originally wanted. Like most things life gets in the way.

    Very few ever get the ideal job or career. In my book getting paid for your hobby or passion is the ideal, that a lot aspire to but few ever attain.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3 Sbuff


    Hi leincar,

    I too am interested in working in the events industry. I am in my final year in college and would greatly appreciate any tips or experience/ internship you have to offer. Pay isn't an issue and if necessery I am willing to travel.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 42 nevsky


    leincar wrote: »
    PM sent.

    On the subject of my job being a job most people dream about. At the end of the day it is a job. It is a job I admit I am good at, but like most people in life it is not the job I always wanted.

    Even now I would swop it for a life writing for Rolling Stone, which is what I originally wanted. Like most things life gets in the way.

    Very few ever get the ideal job or career. In my book getting paid for your hobby or passion is the ideal, that a lot aspire to but few ever attain.

    Thanks Leincar. C.V. and PM sent.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17 dimiec


    Just to add my 2cents worth, more and more admin / office jobs have event management in their job spec. For instance the company I am with at the moment, I project manage the events. Each year we do a charity table quiz, we also organise social events for our members throughout the year so getting into admin that incorporates this aspect may be a way of gaining experience in the industry. One thing I am learning is that everything is usually last minute, so you have to think quickly on your feet, be highly logistical, try to cover all eventualities, and if things go wrong to rememdy them pretty quickly.


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