Too often we overlook what is most important. We fixate on things instead of people. It is the people who make every event memorable. Not just your guests but your staff. These individuals are the face of your brand, cause, event, company, and more. In this gig economy this aspect of part time work or the idea of “picking up shifts until something better comes along’ is looked down upon. Take for example that case of Jeffrey Owens bagging groceries at a whole foods and how he was job-shamed for trying to earn a wage. Just in that case many of the event staff at your party are artists, actors, models, singers, dancers who are between jobs.
Its this kind of dedication and hustle that makes the individuals behind a “gig” based workforce memorable. These people are the faces and voices behind major commercial campaigns, TV, shows, films, and your favorite magazines. They are also the people who work your event.
HighLife Model Adrian Gorbaliuk
The next time you plan your event, ask yourself that just like the food or the drinks or the music, can the staffing be better.
The primary goal of any host is to maximize the experience for their guests. All other objectives, including revenue, come second because if the party fails so does your reputation as a host and all future profit. However, “experience” is a very vague term and most people have a different idea of what a good experience looks like. A very easy way to maximize the appeal of your event for your guests is to put yourself in their shoes. To do this you must contextualize your party’s theme with all the ways your guests will perceive it.
Part I Sight:
This is where first impressions are made, the make or break moment. For this reason, focus on the entry point. How people view the party when entering will strongly influence how they view the rest of the experience. If you are throwing a party at night be sure to have quality lighting to set the tone of your event, the dimmer the lighting the more romantic the mood. If you are going for a club-vibe make sure the room isn’t pitch black, throw in some flashing lights or colored beams. If your party is in the day utilize natural lighting. Phillips makes a bulb called the HUE, which allows you to control the color and dimness of the bulb through an app, you can also let the lights change to your music!
Watch out! Be sure to decorate but do not overload the senses, if the space looks too crowded it will turn people off.
Part II Sound:
If anything takes the constellation prize for first impressions it is sound. The music you play can change the entire atmosphere of the party. DO NOT just throw your favorite songs into a playlist, be thoughtful and craft a playlist to the experience of your party. If you are looking for speakers, Sonos makes amazing home entertainment systems that will deliver a high quality booming sound for a good price. The speakers stream directly from the speakers to maximize sound quality (I promise this is an unsponsored endorsement). If you hire live musicians even better, but still keep genre in mind! If you are too lazy to make your own playlists we have you covered. Spotify and other music streaming services have pre-made playlists based on genre.
Don’t let the music overpower discourse, so be sure that you are able to understand others at a normal speaking volume with the music on. A good idea is to have rooms dedicated to louder music for dancing and other rooms with quieter music primarily used for talking. Silence is also an option but only in very specific situations because even faint background music can dispel any awkwardness from conversation.
Part III Smell:
This one is pretty obvious, make sure your party doesn’t have an intolerable stench. Keeping the doors open to the kitchen can be an easy way to spread delightful smells throughout your house -or- just buy some Febreze defusers to place throughout your event, make sure they are not overpowering though. If your party is centered around the smell, like a perfume advertising event, then smell becomes all more important. A pro tip is to put a bottle of cologne/perfume in the bathroom to keep everyone smelling nice.
Part IV Feel:
Just make sure everything is clean, plain and simple. Not just before but throughout the party also.
Part V Taste:
Everyone’s favorite food! If you are serving food at a party make sure it matches the theme of the party. Try to serve clean fresh ingredients, not only will they taste better but they look beautiful. If you are not a chef and cannot afford to hire one, catering is always a great option, it is quick and easy. Don’t leave the food in the catering containers, switching them over to a decorated plate is so easy and makes all the difference. Also, have options for everyone, don’t forget the vegan.
Author: Paul Erlanger, Intern for HighLife Productions
We are event producers here in NYC. HighLife Productions is founded on the belief that in our digital age we still want real human interaction. What better way to achieve this than a party. Which is precisely why we are here. Welcome. Have a seat. Have a drink. Have something to eat. Dance. It’s going to be a long strange trip.
HighLife Model Staffing division was selected by Instagram to support their annual summer event. Over 150 top Instagram executives including the founders Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger gave keynote speeches to the invited audience in one of Brooklyn’s most sought after waterfront rooftops. Delectable bites prepared by celeb chef Ashton Keefe and HighLife bar support paired local brews and vineyards for any incredible evening under the moon. The Empire State Building even lit up purple and orange!
Highlife Productions was tapped by the 50 top real estate producers in Norway to create a memorable company bash that celebrated all things Brooklyn. Venue sourcing, performance curation, farm-to-table catering, model staffing, bespoke burning (wtf?) cocktails and more were on the menu for the night. This intimate corporate event for 50 VIPs started out classy but became an all-out old-time-rager complete with costumes, games, and more. HighLife put together the complete immersive experience, bringing out the funky vintage loft we have always dreamed about living in bespeckled with funk and fun! Mara Kaye crooned the night away with Rapt affairs providing the bites. This was surely a night Norway would never forget!
Raptor Venture Capital hired HighLife Productions to produce their VR technology demo in the heart of their meatpacking office early in the summer. This intimate event for 60 people was highlighted by delicious treats and sumptuous eats. Tuna Poke Tacos, Basil Pesto and Brooklyn Ricotta Crositni were among some of the fresh canapes while guests sipped on Ginger Infused Buckwheat Honey Yuzu Margaritas with Fleur de Sel. Here’s to virtual reality and stunning rooftops.
Tapped by VICE to provide model staffing for their annual holiday party for 1300 guests. HighLife provided over 30 models decked in black leather to greet guests, manage the event, and keep the party going till the wee hours of the morning. Located in the historic Weylin Bank event space and teamed up with Smorgasborg this was one of the best holiday parties of the year!
Services provided: NYC Model Event Staffing, NYC Event Logistic Support.
Lush greenery. White livery. A Bat-Signal to all attendees that “it is summer and these champagne coupes ain’t gonna empty themselves.”
Well it’s back, oh intrepid wearers of seersucker, at the first ever Secret Summer, a Gatsbian cocktail bacchanalia at the historic Foundry in Long Island City.
