May 2, 2014
Summer is coming …..we think…..we hope
I know that the April rain has been dreary but with summer just around
the corner, I am sharing a few quick ideas on how to make your corporate summer
picnic fresh this year.
1.
Add
some color…
Art Factory in Toronto does custom
painting events
2.
Add some heat…
Have a celebrity chef (someone like
Rob Rainford who is local here in Toronto) judge a contest of the best BBQ
sauce produced by your own employees. No
better way to heat things up than with company
cooking teams over a hot grill (include
some of your executives in head chef roles)
3. Add
some hype
Set a Guinness World Record - nothing builds excitement
like having Guinness at your event to break a world record. A great way to share on various social media avenues
a.
Largest 3 legged race
b.
Largest balloon toss
c.
Most coins tossed in one place – (coins donated to charity)
http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/set-a-record/record-services-for-corporates/employee-engagement/
Hope my “Free Idea” makes your
Friday!
Mar 20, 2014
Star Award - Nominations Announced
I am in Niagara Falls and Niagara-on-the-lake for several
site inspections for upcoming summer and fall events. I promise to share all the good happenings in
the area on a future post.
I also want to send out a huge CHEERS and THANK YOU to the aNd team and all the venues and suppliers from our nominated events - we have 4 events nominated this year!
The team at aNd Logistix would like to acknowledge the great teamwork we had with:
I also want to send out a huge CHEERS and THANK YOU to the aNd team and all the venues and suppliers from our nominated events - we have 4 events nominated this year!
The team at aNd Logistix would like to acknowledge the great teamwork we had with:
·
The Royal York Hotel
·
The Metro Toronto Convention Centre
·
Fox Harb’r Resort
·
The Art of Leadership
·
Speaker Spotlight
·
Telav Audio Visual
·
Frischkorn Audio Visual
·
Stronco Show Services
·
PSAV
·
devan
·
WOW factor
·
Christopher J Designs
·
inOrbital
·
Live Media
Check out all the nominations here:
Good luck to all the talented event industry professionals
across Canada.
Feb 14, 2014
Flag Follies at Cilly Hall
I can excuse many things when it comes to politicians and I
have never been one to judge people on their “recreational activities”. However last week’s flag follies at City Hall
were ridiculous.
The flag debate erupted last Friday, when the mayor found
out that a rainbow-coloured flag had replaced a City of Toronto flag on a
courtesy flagpole used to display the flags and banners of a range of
organizations. Councilors started to
chime in - some in support and others on what they thought should take its
place.
Here are a few WRONG
things I heard and saw:
-
Let’s fly the Canadian flag in its place
o
The ceremonial courtesy flagpole never flies the
Canadian Flag. The Pride flag replaced a City of Toronto flag that normally flies
on the city’s courtesy flagpole when a specific flag, requested by non-profit
or charitable organizations for example, is not up on that flagpole. In fact,
there are several Canadian flags prominently displayed in Nathan Phillips
Square
-
Let’s fly it along with the Canadian flag
o
Wrong - the National flag should always be flown
on its own mast - it is improper to fly two or more flags on the same flag post
-
Let’s fly the Olympic Flag
o
Wrong – the Olympic brand is the Fort Knox of
licensing - you need permission from the IOC (International Olympic Committee)
-
Let’s hang a Canadian flag in the window of the
mayor’s office
o
This frat house maneuver just didn’t work mainly
because it was not displayed correctly.
It should have be suspended vertically with the stem on the right when
viewing it from the street
 |
| I love this shot from the National Post |
Good thing the mayor and councilors don’t have the “power”
when it comes to flying flags – Protocol at City Hall is strong and holding
firm to preserve the dignity our national flag deserves.
Go Canada Go
Lucky for us here in Canada, we have been seeing quite a bit
of our flag at the Winter Olympics. So
what better time for event planners everywhere to review some flag etiquette
and keep our flag flying with pride.
Here is the best link for protocol rules for the Canadian
flag: http://www.pch.gc.ca/eng/1359048153800/1359048247377
Patriotism consists not in waving the flag, but in
striving that our country shall be righteous as well as strong. James Bryce
Hope
my “Free Idea” makes your Friday!
Feb 7, 2014
Pomp and Pageantry at the Opening Ceremonies
The final firework has fizzled, and the show is over!
The aNd team watch it together and though it wasn’t as long as you would imagine when the ceremony consisted of 18 chapters covering 1,000 years of Russian history with 3000 performances. Here are a few of our highlights:
Opening ceremony – the pyro technicians have been rehearsing the fireworks for days.
(Screen
shot from CBC’s Live Stream Olympic Ceremony Opening)
I loved the constellation of Olympians, and how it represents their stories being written in the stars. (I know, its uber cheesy)
What a great way to exit into the games with the lighting of the Olympic Cauldron into the Musical Firework finale with Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker.
The aNd team watch it together and though it wasn’t as long as you would imagine when the ceremony consisted of 18 chapters covering 1,000 years of Russian history with 3000 performances. Here are a few of our highlights:
My favorite – the shear engineering of “The Building”
The $600 million building designed to house it all is Fisht
Stadium. Though Fisht is the primary stadium for the games themselves, its
designers—the US-based sports venue architects at Populous and structural
engineers at Buro Happold—designed it so that it could offer "studio
conditions" for the opening
ceremonies. That means the translucent polycarbonate roof will not only give
the building an appearance of snowy peaks, ensuring it sits in harmony with the
landscape of the Imeretinskaya Valley and the Caucasus Mountains, but this roof
can be used as a screen for projections, as well as massive hangars at
each end that will be used as staging areas for the thousands of athletes and
tons of equipment that must be moved quickly into the arena.
From Shawna….Opening ceremony – the pyro technicians have been rehearsing the fireworks for days.
Fireworks
over the Fisht Olympic Stadium at the Olympic Park during a rehearsal of the
opening ceremony in Sochi, on Feb. 4, 2014.
Lyne shows her French Canadian pride…Solotech (a
production company in Montreal) lands in Sochi with one of the biggest
projection systems in the world. They are handling the video projections
for the 2014 Sochi Olympic Games. Does anyone see any snow? This is
the 2014 Winter Games! Known as
the Russian Riviera, the Black Sea resort of Sochi is the warmest city ever to
host the Winter Olympics.
Canada’s presence at the 2014 also includes Quebec’s
world-famous circus act Les 7 Doigts de la Main, a troupe with previous Olympic
experience, was involved in a 10-minute performance immediately after the
athletes’ entrance into the Stadium.
From Charmaine….our
eagle eyes noticed that one snowboard sculpture refused to light up.
From Rachel….wow-worthy
special effects – here is her favorite sceneI loved the constellation of Olympians, and how it represents their stories being written in the stars. (I know, its uber cheesy)
What a great way to exit into the games with the lighting of the Olympic Cauldron into the Musical Firework finale with Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker.
The Olympic
stadium grounds were built with great thought and care, that filmed from a
bird’s eye view, Sochi looks like an Olympic Nation.
(Screen
shot from CBC’s Live Stream Olympic Ceremony Opening)
Hope
my “Free Idea” makes your Friday!
Jan 24, 2014
Thawing out from the polar vortex
It’s cold
out there and while temperatures are plummeting, I thought I would share some
ideas on how to thaw the ice and get your own office staff or meeting attendees
to warm up to each other.
From time to
time clients and colleagues have asked me for suggestions for games to refresh
attendees, get them energized, ready to work and into a collaborative mind set.
Here is a list of easy Ice
Breakers and team activities that I have collected over the years that may work for your next meeting:
The common pursuit of trivial knowledge
This one is very simple and
works well for drop in hospitality rooms or casual settings where attendees are
arriving at different times. Put out the
playing cards of a Trivial Pursuit game where guests will easily see them. People
will automatically start reading the questions to one another instantly and
naturally engage in conversations with one another.
Who am I?
Tape a piece of paper with
the name of a person, place or thing on the back of each participant, but don’t
let them know what the paper says. Have attendees mingle around asking each
other questions about the word on their back. They can’t directly ask what the
word is – they can only ask for hints. This is a great game to refresh people
and get them talking to each other.
Penny for your thoughts
Break people into small
groups at a volunteer meeting or first gathering of a volunteer board and give
each person a penny. Ask them to introduce themselves to the group and talk
about what they were doing during the year on their coin.
Pick Pocket
This activity is a mini
scavenger hunt which doesn’t require a great deal of space or preparation. Participants hunt through their pockets,
purses, wallets and briefcases.
Organize attendees into
groups of five to ten.
·
Give
each participant a Pick Pocket List of 10 items (items listed should be things that are normally found in a wallet or
handbag like a nickel, a points card, photograph of children, a mobile device,
mints or gum)
·
Tell
groups they have 2 minutes to come up with as many items from the list as they
can. Tell them that each item is worth
2-5 points.
·
Explain
that they may make a reasonable substitution, but if they do, that item will be
worth less. For example, someone may
have an Aeroplan card rather than an Air Miles card.
·
After
2 minutes, ask groups to count their points.
·
Ask
groups to share what items they got from the list and which substitutions they
made.
Cocktails and Dreams
A la Tom Cruise, teams mix
up their own cocktails, collaborating to win the tastiest and most attractive
concoction from a range of identical ingredients. (Think reality shows like the
Cocktail Chronicles or Battle Mixology). Make fruity virgin versions for
meetings where alcohol may not set the right tone.
Hope
my “Free Idea” makes your Friday!
Jan 17, 2014
Do the Hustle…
If this
week’s Golden Globe nod and Oscar nomination are any indication of success then
it looks like AMERICAN HUSTLE is the movie to watch and transform into your
next great event.
As you know
I find it irresistible to use movies as an inspiration for event themes, décor
and music ideas.
AMERICAN HUSTLE is an enhanced
return to a popular 70’s theme event. From the fashion to the furniture to
the funky music the movie offers some bright ideas for event elements.
Here are a few concepts to
help you create the ultimate throwback to the 1970s:
- For lounge furniture –
white, white and more white but try paten white – this glossy option adds
a fresh twist.
- Embellish your table
settings with a luminescent glow using golden-threaded organza linens then add sequins,
chrome lamps, embossed menus and even faux fur.
- The 70’s may evoke
images of harvest gold and chocolate brown but strong vibrant colours like
turquoise also play into the mix. Be brash; be bold, and over-the-top!
- For music options, start
the reception with classic rock cuts from ELO, Elton John and Chicago then
elevate the energy at the after party with some Donna Summer dance
classics at a Studio 54 re-enactment.
- Food inspiration - any
Italian menu would connect to the plot of this crime drama set in New
Jersey and for a little fun don’t forget to add a simulated pill popping candy bar for dessert.
Looking
for other movies that offer creative themes? Look at the films that are nominated for best cinematography
or animation. These stunning motion pictures offer plenty of substance for
creating out-of-this-world environments.
GRAVITY – an AV manager’s greatest
fantasy creating a 360-degree outer space atmosphere. You can go starry-night elegant or retro
sci-fi. Plus an icy luge of Russian
Vodka is the perfect feature for your Bar.
Check
out this YouTube clip of Lighticles an audio visual animation using particle effects
HD - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2KZ41EOd1Q
Don’t
want to commit to an entire theme then try using it as a conference opener to
grab the audience’s attention – check out this visual eye opener - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orCK8svCXxg
FROZEN
–
a fantasy landscape of sparkling ice, shimmery fabrics and glittery
lights. Crystals, icy blue fabrics, and
snowflake patterned gobos are just some of the templates that can be used to
create this FROZEN theme event. Use
these elements to layer the look as much as you can. And if you don’t want to commit yourself to
the whole theme try just a frozen dessert station featuring liquid nitrogen
frozen drinks and ice cream bars.
This
weekend – watch a few movies!
Hope
my “Free Idea” makes your Friday!
To learn more, please
visit www.andlogistix.com
Jan 10, 2014
2014 - Game On
My husband and I started off the New Year braving the cold
and snow at the NHL Winter Classic in Ann Arbor. Huddled in the trenches of the Big House with
105,000 frosty hockey fans, we had no regrets on our decision because it was
truly a once in a life time experience.
Though I have always promoted sporting events as a team
builder, my day at the Winter Classic really made me understood what it meant
to bond with the crowd (even though they were strangers) we quickly connected
on several levels because of our shared experience. And we all know that it is the “experience” that
provides that biggest ROI.
Now if it’s something big you had in mind (think Super Bowl
or perhaps the Indy 500 or the Masters) for your highest producers and most
important clients, the event will guarantee your award recipient will enjoy a
sports experience they won’t soon forget and if you go as a group - expect to
grow closer to the people you go with.
Many of these iconic events have well deserved
reputations earned over the years because of the magnitude, exclusivity
(limited availability) and tradition that goes with the event. Take our
Winter Classic experience; the enormity of the event and everything associated
with it from the pre-game activities like tailgating, the kids playing hockey
on the back pond during intermissions to all of the dancing in the stands to
keep warm and the high fives with total strangers when the Leafs scored made it
an experience that you just have to be a part of and most importantly, will be
envied by everyone who watched it on TV.
On a smaller scale, finding the perfect sporting event to
motivate your employees or say thank you to your clients locally isn’t
difficult; especially here in southern Ontario where the sports franchises are
abundant (regardless of the fans being loyal or fickle).
You don’t necessarily need the comfy confines of stadium/arena
suites or private boxes for a sports event to be memorable. And it
doesn’t have to be a group activity either. Sitting in the thick of things with everyday
fans, enjoying a hotdog with a beer and box of popcorn with friends/colleagues,
can be just as much fun. Make sure to include an extra ticket or two so a friend,
family member, or significant other to make the experience more enjoyable. Most
people don’t want to watch the game alone. Programs, souvenirs and autographed memorabilia
are a great way to enhance the experience.
My “go to” sports guy is Atiq Ahmed from Maple Leaf
Sports +Entertainment. Atiq keeps me in the know on what is
happening on all things sports including soccer. He tells me that we’ll start to hear much
more about Toronto FC in the news – they are doing big things for this upcoming
soccer season.
Feel free to reach out to him for special access to hard to
get tickets and discounted tickets (when possible) atiq.ahmed@mlse.com
BTW – I am using the new Pantone Colour of the year – RADIANT ORCHID. The hue which
is a perfectly blended mix of purple and pink is so versatile. Pantone suggests using an RGB of 200/107/168
but I went a little lusher using 162/60/128.
And don’t be surprised to see this colour (or shades of it) easily
paired with many other colours and patterns for décor options this year – think
rich browns, radiant blues, animal prints, metallics and even red. You can’t help but feel happy setting your
eyes on this fantastic colour ………..even on this dull and dreary January day it
will make you smile.
Hope my “Free Idea” makes your Friday!
Sep 13, 2013
Let the music play
September is Road Show month with travels across Canada.
Here are a few NEW
things on the music scene that I discovered for you to check out in these
cities:
·
Live
Performances at the Edmonton International Airport
o
I love this program – The EIA has partnered
with a number of local organizations to hire a variety of musicians -- from
folk singers to harpists -- to fill the airport with beautiful music. What better way to sooth the soul than live
music. Check out some of these hot up
and coming talents who perform on a regular basis
·
Hamilton has an amazing music community and fans
that are both fiercely loyal and loyally fierce
o
Supercrawl, primarily located in the James
Street North area of Hamilton is an annual music festival that in 5 short years
has expanded its attendance to 50,000+.
There are too many highlights to mention – check out the line-up for
this weekend at this link: http://www.supercrawl.ca/supercrawl/music/
·
The most music clubs per capita can be found in London,
Ontario– you could go to a different venue every night of the year
·
Legends like Neil Young and Gordon
Lightfoot headline Ottawa’s Folk Festival – but also check out
some new folk favourites like the Sheepdogs
that won a slew of Juno Awards this year or one of Canada’s best up and coming
bands, Hey Ocean!
Hope
my “Free Idea” makes your Friday!
Aug 23, 2013
Before the Summer Ends
The cooler air this morning was a chilling reminder that
autumn is just around the corner.
Here are a few hot
things to check out before the summer ends:
·
Night Markets which
have their roots in Asian countries (where the temperatures are so high in the
day time that shopping in the evening just makes sense), are very popular this
summer.
o
Mark this Distillery District
night market in your calendar for all things Christmas – starts at the
end of November http://torontochristmasmarket.com/
·
New Venue
o
Metropolis Factory, located at 50 Edwin
Avenue, a vintage vibe in the west-end Junction neighbourhood. https://www.facebook.com/metropolisfactory/info?ref=ts
o
Nick Di Donato of Liberty Group has another hit
on his hands. Cibo Wine Bar on King West.
I love all the different private rooms – great for those holiday parties
and group dinners http://www.cibowinebar.com/cibo_ks/index_ks.html
We will be back with
more Free Ideas in September with a new look and format – stay tuned for more…
Hope
my “Free Idea” makes your Friday!
Apr 26, 2013
Springtime Poaching Season Begins…
I briefly touched on this topic back in March and many of
you asked for more details and measures you can take to resolve the poaching.
Poaching? A hotel poacher is a housing company that well basically STEALS your delegate, sponsor and exhibitor lists looking for ways to contact people that may be looking to book rooms for your conference or tradeshow.
Poaching? A hotel poacher is a housing company that well basically STEALS your delegate, sponsor and exhibitor lists looking for ways to contact people that may be looking to book rooms for your conference or tradeshow.
Watch out for these companies that go fishing for your
attendees and take action!
Here is how:
·
You have every right to warn your attendees in
your publications, websites, e-newsletters, exhibitor manuals, email blitz,
twitter and Facebook (any vehicle you use to communicate with your attendees)
·
Be clear and concise in your messaging – here
are a few I have seen on various association websites -
o
Beware of solicitation from unauthorized
hotels and housing agencies…
o
We encourage you to book your accommodation
through our sanctioned supplier…
o
We would like to make you aware of a
situation that has been brought to our attention from several of our attendees. There are companies (xxxxHousingxxxx) who
have been contacting our exhibitors to assist with hotel reservations….
·
Include the links to your housing company or
department or hotel in every piece of material you send out so that all attendees
can book directly and have the information handy all the time and name your
accommodation partner – so everyone is familiar with their respectability.
·
Ask your attendees to be the watchdog and report
on any unauthorized solicitation
·
You can ask some of the attendees you know
better (sponsors committee members, board members) to forward any emails they
receive from these fraud organizations so that you can investigate further
·
Warn them about possible cancellation penalties
and credit card fraud and advise them to take precautionary measures
Not only can these scammers cause havoc on your bedroom pick-up
that could result in attrition penalties, it can also damage your contractual
obligations to your hotel and your own housing partner. Most importantly it can ruin the conference
experience for your attendees and we all want our attendees happy and coming
back year after year.
Beware and don’t be
afraid to call them out and fight back!
Hope
my “Free Idea” makes your Friday!
Mar 22, 2013
Luck be a lady tonight…
Luck be a lady tonight…
Not to worry, this blog entry will not join the heated
debate about the proposed casino in Toronto – not yet anyway – we will save
that thorny topic for future examination.
Today is all about celebration. CanadianSpecialEvents.com applauds Canada’s
event professionals each year at its Annual Awards Gala, which is being held
this evening in Toronto.
aNd Logistix is proud to be nominated in the following 4 categories:
Mortgage Forum 2012 – 3 day conference held at the Vancouver Convention Centre for the Canadian Association of Accredited Mortgage Professionals, featuring tradeshow, educational sessions, Hall of Fame Awards night, and Comedyfest.
Best Tradeshow
Discovery 2012 – Hosted
by the Ontario Centres of Excellence, this 2 day tradeshow showcased the
hottest innovations and newest inventions from leading minds from Ontario. Our
client attempted a Guinness World Record for World’s Largest Business Mentoring
Event and achieved that title with over 320 participants!
Best Fundraising
Outstanding Logistical
Achievement
Hope
my “Free Idea” makes your Friday!
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