an unplugged general session. But why not an unplugged breakout session or networking event? Face-to-face time is vital to business, so encourage your attendees to put the phone down and really con- nect with each other.
If you really want to spice things up, consider reaching out to a select group of attendees for your next event and choreograph a secret flash mob. Run with your theme and design your flash mob around it. Zaroff mentioned a group whose theme was “glamping” and they incorporated a Dirty Dancing flash mob, which was a huge hit. While not necessarily a new trend, it is a fun, tongue-in-cheek way to add another layer of entertainment for your guests.
When talking about the design aspect of events, Zaroff believes the trend is moving more towards simple and classic elegance, looks that continue to include the use of mixed metal-
lics, soft pastels, lace and muted ivory. Looking ahead… Food as decor and food as entertainment is huge on the coasts.
It’s a trend that Midwest chefs are beginning to embrace. For ex- ample, attendees at MPI’s WEC 2014, held in Minneapolis, MN,
WWW.MIDWESTMEETINGS.COM
were treated to a display of framed charcuterie during the opening reception. It’s Zaroff’s personal goal to encourage more local ven- dors to start using food as art or entertainment at Midwest events. For Zaroff, constant surprise and delight every 30-40 minutes is imperative to any event, meaning every 30-40 minutes switch up what is happening. For social events or weddings, consider dancing between courses or offering surprise entertainment. “At corporate events, that might mean attendees come into a general session thinking they’re going to hear from one speaker that’s on the pro- gram and then they’re surprised by something else,” said Zaroff.
It’s all about shaking things up, something that Zaroff
tries to do with every event she plans. And it’s something she challenges all planners to do in 2015. “There are no rules in event planning,” she said. “You can do it however you want.” Event planning is a lot like TV production, with a distinct be- ginning, middle and end. And if you’ve done your job correctly; you’ve written, produced and designed your event to be a cliffhang- er that leaves them wanting more - the “season finale” if you will - then your guests will definitely be “tuning in” next year.
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