As all things 2020 goes the current state of affairs of the live event industry, among all things globally, is mostly a dumpster fire, but there is a little bit of good with the oh so very bad.
Fall is my favorite time of year for many of the basic b*tch reasons such as pumpkin beer, flannel, and everything else under the sun that calls itself pumpkin spice flavored, but also because it’s one of the best times to be in live events. I have spent the last 14 falls (aka my entire adult life) traveling around the US of A re-visiting my favorite cities and exploring new ones. There is something uniquely wonderful about spending a few fall days in Monterey, and then flying to Miami to get a last taste of summer and sun before heading to DC just in time for a ghost bar tour on a perfect fall night.
Live events are demanding, and taxing, and brutally hard at times and I miss them more than words can accurately describe. As a matter of fact, I would be willing to give up all things pumpkin spice to get live events back. I’m sure many of you planners out there will feel this.. I have literally made a career out of planning…not only events, but my life, my schedule, my vacations around work travel...you name it, its planned. I have known my schedule for the next 12-18 months for FOURTEEN years. To say that it has been a challenge adjusting to not knowing what’s going to happen in the next 8 hours, would be the understatement of the century. I am NOT comfortable with being uncomfortable…there I said it.
There is, however, a little bit of a good mixed in with the bad and sad ... might we even say a little light shining into the proverbial tunnel? I promise it is NOT another train. As it turns out, when you are not busy planning the next 12-18 months of your life you have time to think. I am talking productive, strategic, intelligent thought. It is the perfect time to CREATE…having had my schedule go from warp speed to standing still has allowed me to step back, take a breath and a break. Its given me clarity and just enough imagination to begin working on a special project and what I hope to be the birth of a new company. Best of all, I get to do it with my brother and a few extra special friends I’ve been lucky enough to pick up along the meeting planning way.
Live events will return, and while we all wait for that fateful day why not take some time to give some life and imagination into that idea? You know the one that has always been there, in the back of your mind for years but there was simply no time to plan for it.
Until we can meet again, or I write another blog post.… much love.
Genevieve