I can’t thank you enough, my loyal community, for following my blog as well as all the thoughts I have shared with you via Twitter and Facebook.

I want to share my final thoughts with you on my experience working as an intern for 5th Element Events.

In my last semester at Humber I was busy preparing my portfolio, resume and cover letter, all of the things one must do before they take their first real step towards reality.

Being a student is nothing compared to all the excitement and challenges and everyday occurrences that come with a full time job. The term “intern” really means taking the first step up the career ladder.

When Jared and Aaron offered me the job as event intern at 5th Element Events, I knew that this was going to be my first real learning experience. I couldn’t have asked for better teachers or a better environment to make the first move towards my career. The 5th Element Events team did not glamorize the job and were truthful about the challenges that lay ahead.

There are everyday challenges that occur while trying to plan events, such as dealing with all the vendors, making sure the client is always happy and always being prepared for last minute changes and cancellations. Such as the last minute change of Sony’s Mardi Gras themed event to a “Go Canada Go” Olympic hockey event. I remember feeling the need to write a blog about making this last minute change, because I never thought  that it was possible to change the theme of an event the day before it was going to happen. This is a great example of being prepared and being creative and working with the demands of the client. Being an intern in the 5th Element office everyday, I was able to see exactly how much work goes in to designing an event, especially since 5th Element offers full 360 degree event design including lighting, decor, entertainment and more.

The biggest surprise to me was how much social media I would be responsible for, our marketing manager Jared Golberg is a thought leader in the social media world, and I would have to follow in his footsteps and start tweeting and blogging. To be honest, at first I thought there is NO WAY I was going to be tweeting 3 times an hour or blogging twice a week but, much to my dismay, I wrapped my head around the concept of social media. I felt the desire to also become a thought leader within the online community. I started to do more research so I could push useful content through my Twitter account as well as the 5th Element account.

It was an amazing feeling having people in the event community re-tweet the content I posted. I started to feel like i was a part of a bigger community outside of my office, and that feeling helped me grow to appreciate social media.

Even though I say that the event industry is not glamourous and exciting all the time, I am still confident that I am on the right career path. I have known this since the first event I ever did, and thankfully Aaron and Jared didn’t scare me off. The rush and excitement and challenges that come from an event is worth every minute because when the event is over, you have a sense of accomplishment. If I can have a career that continually gives me that sense of accomplishment, I would consider myself lucky!

Below are some points I feel would be useful to anyone who is following the same career path:

1. Do your research and know exactly what being an event planner entails, there are always going to be surprises but being prepared for the challenges is useful.

2. Get your creative juices flowing, event planning can give you the opportunity to get as creative as you want, sometimes you will have a small budget to work with and you have to get really creative and other times there will be an unlimited budget where the sky is the limit, and go beyond the limits!!!

3. Network, Network, Network!! Get to know as many people as possible in the event industry. Social media has helped make this very easy. Join the #eventprofs community on Twitter, and become a fan of the many event company Facebook groups. Having a strong network is key!

I hope the little tidbits of advice and everything I have shared with you over the past 15 weeks has been useful or at least interesting!

I will continue to share my thoughts and future endeavours with you via a personal blog that you can look for in the coming weeks and please feel free to follow me on Twitter (@CarlyAshR) or Facebook!

It has been an amazing experience at 5th Element Events and I look forward to whatever the future holds

Until next time,

Carly

 For the past two weeks, the topic of conversation was the Vancouver Olympic Games, who was winning, losing and which country was going to walk away with the most gold medals. As of Monday, all that’s left of the 2010 Olympics is airport lines, departing athletes and getting the city of Vancouver back to its original state – The Buzz is gone!

The emotion and excitement that went through our country over the past two weeks was indescribable for most. However, the ultimate win for our country happened on Sunday afternoon, February 28^th – The game that will resonate through out the ages! The Canada vs. USA hockey game was watched by more people then other sporting events, including the Daytona 500, The Masters, The last 5 World Series and the NCAA Basketball Final Four. 80% of our country’s population watched the game, now that’s what I call Canadian pride!!  

From a social media aspect bloggers, Twitter and Facebook made it very easy for fans to follow the games, even if they were away from their TV. Through Facebook and Twitter, fans had instant news, analysis, and interactions with journalists and even athletes.  Being fairly new to Twitter myself I was very excited to see just how much this really enhanced my Olympic experience. 

From an event perspective, the first thought that came to my mind was the tear-down process that Vancouver would be responsible for.

The empty streets of Vancouver Monday morning

The sound of fans celebrating in the streets has been replaced by sounds of power tools as temporary venues are being dismantled and packed into moving vans. The streets have now been cleared following the aftermath of Sunday night’s gold medal win. I know that when any big event takes place there is always an abundant amount of work that needs to be done post event. I can only imagine how much work needs to be done in Vancouver now that the Olympics have come to a close.

Now that we are coming down from our Olympic highs, it is difficult to go back to our everyday schedules, without Olympic Games to look forward to and seeing Canadian pride on every street corner. It makes me so happy when I see people who are still sporting their Team Canada jerseys, Olympic shirts, and the classic red Olympic gloves (they have been sold out everywhere, and I still don’t have a pair!!).  

Patriotism can be a powerful thing. It brings people from all different walks of life together and joins them in a common goal. I have never been more proud to be a Canadian, and I hope that although we are experiencing the aftermath of the Canadian Olympic Games, we can still keep the pride for our country and acomplishments alive!!

GO CANADA!!

Until next time,

Carly the very proud Canadian( you follow me on Twitter @CarlyAshR)

Well, last night one of the most important hockey games in Canadian history took place at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. Team Canada didn’t just win its first Olympic hockey game against Russia in 50 years, but they delivered an astonishing performance that will resonate through future Olympics! Canada beat Russia last night to advance to the semi-finals for a chance to win GOLD for only the second time – you can sense the passion and expectation growing!

What does this big win have to do with events? Well I am here to share that information with you!

Aaron received a phone call from the Sony event coordinator this morning to discuss the Mardi Gras event. She proceeded to tell Aaron that Sony wants to bring in a big TV screen so that guests can watch the hockey game that is starting at 9:30pm.  Most companies would agree and continue with the event as planned, however, Aaron and Jared have proved to be quite different.

In only a few minutes, the both brainstormed and decided that the DAY before the event they would pitch a NEW idea (this event was designed and signed off on in November). They wanted to create an Olympic hockey event, with all the fixings and of course the hockey game playing on a large HD projected screen.

I sat there in awe, the event is one day away and they were going to change the theme of the event. I never thought something like this was possible, however, in the short time I have been at 5^th Element Events; I have learnt that in the event industry anything is possible with the right amount of creativity and drive. Not to say it is always easy, because I can say first hand that I have watched events start from scratch and there are always many challenges. Why would we want to create MORE? Excitement, entertainment, engagement, memorable and of course – Clients come back when they experience creativity at its best!

This event will prove how energized Canadians are for their hockey, but will also prove that anything can happen in this industry and the ability to adjust keeps you one step ahead of the game!

Want to see the outcome of this quick switch? Coming soon! Pictures and behind the scene details from the event!!

Carly

When I applied for the Public Relations program at Humber College three years ago, I never anticipated that such a decision would help me choose what I wanted to do with my future. Realizing that the event industry was where I belonged, I became so curious and eager regarding the fifteen week internship I would do in my third year.

Once getting the job at 5^th Element Events, I decided to go in to it with no expectations, merely hoping to learn as much as I could in the proceeding fifteen weeks and prayed that I wouldn’t have a reason to change my mind about the event industry.

What I have learnt so far is that the event industry is fast paced and exciting, however, it comes with many challenges. Putting a large scale event together will always involve many hurdles; however it somehow always works out in the end.

There are a plethora of people involved in these types of projects, from event planners to design teams and caterers. It surprised me how many people it really takes to make an event happen.

Regarding my experiences with the 5^th Element Team, I have had the honour of seeing Aaron and Jared deal with clients, and it has really opened my eyes to how collaborative the event industry is. For example, there are always new people wanting to pool their resources and team up with each other, and, as a result, new events are born every day.

I have had the privilege of being in the office everyday while Aaron and Jared teach me how to network and talk to clients. It is really nice to still see people doing business over the phone and in person rather then through email alone.

Another big surprise for me when starting at 5^th Element Events was how involved they were in social media. I started reading articles every morning on Social Media Today, Mashable and Canadian Events Perspective Magazine and really started to become a part of the event community online. I opened my first Twitter account and have finally started to get a conversation going with other event professionals. Having the #eventprofs community on Twitter really helps when trying to build an online network.

I am thrilled that I have made it to the halfway point of my internship and I still have a passion for event design and planning, it is rare when someone finds their career path so early on in life. I feel fortunate that I have been placed with a company that has taught me so much in such a short amount of time. I only hope to learn more about the inner workings of the event industry in the next seven weeks.

I also hope that everything I have learnt from Aaron and Jared will stay with me throughout my career.

The next seven weeks should be exciting with lots of amazing projects on the horizon and of course look for my behind the scene updates. I am looking forward to being on-site at the next event! The excitement and rush is something I can’t resist.

Until next time…

Carly @CarlyAshR (The intern)

This year we made it to the standby list which really means the”stand around for hours and wait to possibly not get in the show list”. After waiting in line for hours we were  told that we’re the only four people that had a chance of getting on the show. Ten minutes before Oprah was going to make her grand appearance, my family and I walked through the doors and into the audience… 

This was a moment I was never going to forget! Cameras all over the room, a stage that was made for a queen and bright vibrant lights everywhere. The audience were all wearing bright colours and had smiles across their faces,  awaiting the moment when Oprah would walk through the doors.

I felt a tap on my shoulder and moments later the stage director was leading me to the front row. They needed someone in a bright shirt to fill a seat front row center and thankfully I remembered to pack the brightest shirt I owned.

As an event intern, I took a moment to examine the entire décor as I walked towards the front row. Having the opportunity to see how much effort goes in to creating a big event, I could see some of the same details that go in to creating the Oprah set. The biggest shock was when Lionel Ritchie went to perform and the entire set was transformed in a matter of minutes. The couches where Oprah conducts her interviews were removed and a piano was lowered from the ceiling. The stage was raised and a crystal chandelier was lowered. It was unbelievable; it looked like a different set entirely. This reminded me of the recent event I did for 5^th Element Events, when we entered the Fermenting Celler in the Distillery District for AdBall, I watched an empty room transform in to an amazing event, much like the set of the Oprah Show.

My thoughts were interrupted when I heard the stage director counting down…

5… 4….3…2…. and there she was! I had seen her on T.V hundreds of times but this was nothing like T.V!  Oprah was standing only steps away from me –  this was a surreal moment to say the least!

The best part of being an audience member was seeing the guests she would be interviewing. The extremely talented and phenomenal Lionel Ritchie and New Orleans Saints quarterback and MVP Drew Brees.

Drew Brees was kind, humble and down to earth considering his recent Super Bowl win.

He had his wife and 13 month old son join him on the show, and discussed how after the years of struggle that New Orleans has endured since Hurricane Katrina, he could feel the energy of the country with the team”.

The most shocking part of being on the Oprah show, is how many people work on the set, during commercials there would be 20-30 people  moving things around, touching up Oprah’s hair and wardrobe and preparing her for her next segment. The speed and transformation is almost like an adrenaline rush with everyone taking a specific role to make the transformation as smooth as possible. You would never know watching from your living room, how much effort goes in to producing the one hour show. 

When Lionel Ritchie walked on the stage, I sat their stunned at how close I was to this legend. He was there to discuss the remake of We Are the World with 80 talented singers like Tony Bennett, Celine Dion, Jay-Z and Jennifer Hudson who joined on to raise awareness for Haiti. It has been 25 years since Lionel Ritchie and Michael Jackson wrote “We are the World” to end hunger in Africa and now he was here sitting in front of me discussing what this song means to our world and the people of Haiti. I clearly remember a comment Lionel made “I’ve never seen so much excitement—Tony Bennett, Snoop Dog talking to each other. Lil Wayne, Barbra Streisand talking to each other,” Lionel says. “Everyone stepped up, and it’s beautiful.”

It was a great moment I would never forget. Being an inspired event designer really enabled me to experience this day with a different perspective than most and gave me a larger view of large scale production execution!

If you haven’t seen it yet, check out the “We are the World video” that premiered at the 2010 Winter Olympic games opening ceremony.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTaKQDXU81o 

If you want to hear more details from the Oprah show, or just chat in general, you can find me on Facebook or Twitter @CarlyAshR.

Until next time,

Carly (the star struck Intern)

The illuminated bar surrounding the Harry Rosen Runway. Picture taken by: Leib Kopman via www.lk1.ca

I was fortunate enough to start working at 5^th Element Events just as things were starting to come together for AdBall: A Fashion Fetish, sponsored by CTV and Wind Mobile. In the first few weeks of my internship, I had the opportunity to see a large scale corporate event put together and executed with a passionate team of individuals who worked around the clock to ensure our vision came to life. 

The week of January 25^th finally came, and as the many different events were taking place for Advertising Week, the 5^th Element team was working hard to put the finishing touches on AdBall which was the first annual closing gala for Adweek. We had to coordinate with the entertainment, like KAJE, the burlesque dancers from Flirty Girl Fitness and male and female models, hand picked by our team, as well as confirm all deliveries from partnering vendors. Everything used for this event had to be brought in, so making sure everything was ready and organized for the event was a time consuming ordeal, not to mention making final preparations with our tech team for all audiovisual, staging and lighting. 

Arial shot of runway from lighting and sound booth. Picture taken by Lieb Kopman via www.lk1.ca

On Thursday, January 28^th, we began to move everything into Toronto’s gorgeous Distillery District and started transforming the Fermenting Cellar in to “a fashion fetish playground”.  

As soon as we arrived on site, the work began! The 5^th Element crew of technicians immediately started building the runway, LED lit backdrop and two huge crystal chandeliers that sat on either side of the runway. A team of vinyl engineers began laying down pink vinyl floors in the Blo-dry  and DJ Booth waiting for the tech crew to finish the runway so they can white vinyl the entire stage!  

When all the furniture arrived mid day, we began putting the puzzle together, creating the Wind Mobile VIP lounge, the bars surrounding the runway and of course, the chic lounge within the DJ booth. The drawings and floor plans started to come to life, and as the furniture was set, the transformation was beyond words. 

The VIP lounge had a large zebra carpet, pink and black tufted couches, large resin black lamps, mirrored coffee tables and black couches with hot pink pillows bearing a crystal chandelier. The DJ Booth had large baroque black chairs and couches, and a black plexi DJ table with charles bar stools for VIPs to come and hang out with KAJE. The whole décor was sexy, chic and fit the “fashion fetish” theme perfectly. 

Wind Mobile Sponsored VIP Lounge. Pictures taken by Lieb Kopman via www.lk1.ca

The day of the event is always the most chaotic and busy; there was no exception for AdBall. There was so much going on at once and everything was finally starting to come together in our strict timeline. The tech team did an amazing job creating a full runway with bars surrounding the stage – This is the first fashion show where guests can approach the runway to get a beverage! The incredible programmed lighting with moving fixtures and LED panels lit the entire venue in fuscha and illuminated the runway with a glow. White plexi cruisers with black charles bar stools were sporadically placed around the venue with sponsored florals and pin spot lighting. Sponsored logos were projected on the walls and the audio technicians began to patch everything together. At 5pm, we began our rehearsals with recording artist Anjulie, the models and burlesque dancers. 

Once everything was in place and ready to go we opened the doors, seeing the look on people faces as the entered the room, made all the hard work worth it. 

Recording artist Anjulie performs courtesy of Sony ATV Publishing. Picture taken by: Leib Kopman via www.lk1.ca

The event ran smoothly and was a great success; the entertainment was just right, including the Harry Rosen fashion show and opening by the Flirty girl dancers, performance by Anjulie and the music provided by KAJE. 

 

This was the sexiest event of the year, and 5^th Element Events was extremely proud to be part of the first annual campaign! 

Let us know what you think of the AdBall décor via Twitter @5elementevents, @JaredGolberg, @CarlyAshR, @AKthe5th or join our 5^th Element Events Facebook Group. 

You can check out coverage from ADBall from CTV- 

 

and check out BizBash’s article here for more pictures and coverage from ADBall : http://tinyurl.com/ygnto7d 

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts 

Until next time 

Carly (The Intern) 

 Here we go:

I recently finished the Public Relations program at Humber College and that is how I landed this amazing opportunity working with the 5^th Element team. My passion is events; I think that there is no greater feeling then stepping back after a successful event, knowing you helped make it happen.

To me, the whole execution of an event is like an adrenaline rush. It all happens so fast. So much needs to get done in a short amount of time, but at the end of it all, the feeling of accomplishment is all I need. My area of expertise is weddings. I have worked for the past two years as an assistant wedding coordinator. I am glad I started in weddings and had the opportunity to gain experience, however when I was offered the internship at 5^th Element, I thought it would be ideal for me because the events they put together are large galas that provide only the” best of the best” in entertainment, décor, and lighting. I knew I would have the opportunity to learn above and beyond the aspects of private sector events and weddings.

Last night I had the opportunity to join the 5^th Element team on site at a Casino themed event for a very prestigious client. I walked in to the Boiler House in the Distillery District and it looked like any other restaurant or venue. A couple hours later a casino was built before my eyes – it was incredible to see. This was the first event I have been on-site since working for 5^th Element and I can now say that sitting behind my desk, making arrangements, sitting in on meetings is nothing compared to seeing an event come to life.

 Aside from the event aspect of my job, I have learnt that creating a network is so important. This industry is huge and there are so many people to connect, network and build relationships with. I think the next generation of people graduating, who are entering their first roles, need to utilize as many outlets and portals available in order to meet the right people and build a strong network. That’s what all these new social networking mediums are for, right?? Using social media to develop relationships is a great way to build a brand and get your name out there – I’m learning this now!  

5^th Element Events is a company that wants to connect with anyone via Facebook, Twitter or even face-to face meetings over coffee. Building relationships with clients and other vendors is sometimes overlooked in the event industry, but from what I can see, 5^th Element pride’s them selves on building strong relationships with people they do business with. Although 5^th Element is a huge advocate of digital media, they still continue to focus on using old school methods like phone conversations and face to face meetings.  All day I hear Aaron on the phone with potential clients and partners, talking to them not only as business associates and clients, but as friends.  

There are certain things you cannot learn in school. Technical jargon is technical jargon, but being here at 5^th Element Events really opened my eyes and has helped me to see just how important personality, connectivity and relationships are to business – not just events!

I really do love the approach 5^th Element takes and I truly hope I can help them build and expand their network further while I am here – being a part of something special makes this experience memorable!

I would love to hear feedback, advice or comments that you have. You can find me on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/CarlyAshR) and on Facebook (www.facebook.com/carly.ash)

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Carly

Adball is taking place January 29th, 2010 at the Fermenting Cellar in Toronto's gorgeous Distillery District.

Hello Everyone!! As the new intern at  5^th Element Events, I didn’t know what to expect. I was hoping to be a part of some really cool events and see first hand how it all comes together.  I was fortunate to come on board at the perfect time! On January 29^th, 5^th Element Events will be producing and designing the closing gala for Toronto’s Advertising Week.  AdBall 2010: A fashion fetish will be a Harry Rosen sponsored fashion show and let me tell you, it doesn’t get much better than this for a newly hired intern!

If you’re unfamiliar with Advertising Week, it’s a week long series of events, seminars and presentations that celebrate and honour the accomplishments of the Canadian advertising and marketing industries. The event is in support of Dress for Success and Ad women of Toronto mentorship program, and is sponsored by CTV, Wind Mobile, Scotiabank and Wildeboer Dellelce LLP – to name a few. The great thing is that advertising week was created for everyone. Whether you are a student, graduate, CEO or someone in between, most of the events and seminars are open to everyone and it is a great opportunity to network, mingle and possibly even learn something new.

The whole week will be leading up to the most exciting event that will definitely stir up some buzz (well, from what I see from the super sexy chic design – IT WILL!). Hosted by Fashion Televisions Jeanne Beker, a performance by Sony Music recording artist Anjulie, music provided by MUZIK Night Clubs ‘KAJE’ and with the best décor, design and production (compliments of 5^th element of course!!), I promise everyone an experience never forgotten!

The weeks leading up to AdBall have been very busy. I’ve had the pleasure of sitting in on production meetings, conference calls and design diagrams, but I never thought about how much attention to detail and time that goes with producing a big event like this! Everything from scheduling, load ins, dress rehearsals, press, VIPS and the fine tuning of budgeting the whole thing literally changed the way I view this industry!  I have to say though, considering this event is happening in only 2 weeks, Aaron and Jared are always calm. I can tell that’s why they are so successful in this industry. I have worked on events before, and I know first hand that people who remain calm usually put together and execute the best events. I’m truly excited to be on site to see the vision come to life!

But more about the event details, because I am sure that you are all interested to hear more!! The theme is sexy swanky chic with a colour palette of pink, black, white and silver. There will be a DJ lounge set up for KAJE, who has worked with the likes of King Britt, Ivana Santili and is well known for his mix of m1′s Electronic Funk. He is one of Toronto’s most saught after DJs and now resides at Muzik Night Club as the sole DJ and Music Director. As well,  a VIP lounge sponsored by WIND mobile will be right next to an area set up for the hairstylists from the BLO Blow Dry Bar to pamper guests on arrival. The décor will be very visually appealing and is expected to be the sexiest event of the year (that’s all I can give you at this point in time !!)

As time winds down and all the elements start coming together, I’ll be sure to inform you all on our development and be check back in to http://www.5thelementevents.com for pictures and video from Adball 2010!

 If you would like to attend any of the events during Advertising week, check out the schedule via  www.advertisingweek.ca.

You can also follow me on Twitter, or add me on Facebook www.facebook.com/carly.ash. I am always happy to hear anything you have to say and I love keeping the conversation going! @CarlyAshR.

You will be hearing from me soon!!

 Carly

Social Networking in Events:

10 years since the millennium and things have changed so much! We have the first African American President – changing America for the better, 9/11 opened North America’s eyes to rethink security and we experienced the worst recession to happen since the Great Depression. Now, we enter the generation of digital! Calling, faxing, snail mail and email was once the only form of communication.  However,  Music sharing, online TV, online movies, PDA cell phones, MP3 players, laptops, app stores and Social Media have all changed the way we function within our daily lives and most importantly – in business. We’re completely connected through digital social networks. It started with ICQ and MSN messenger (IRC chats), and now? Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, LinkedIN, Bebo, Viddler, Vimeo, Youtube, the list goes on! These networks have allowed individuals and companies to market themselves on a very personal level while also generating new business. Why am I talking Social Media as an EVENT company? Well, it’s starting to change the way we design and execute live events! Events are social, and with the rise of speaker friendly events, there’s now an open ticket for everyone online! Conventions, conferences, fashion shows and galas are all customizing digital content and technology to give ‘NON’ attendees access to the show, while also providing a very unique look and feel to the actual design! Twitter lounges, Youtube channels, live blogging and Tweetchats have provided an outlet for attendees to feed content to non attendees. All in all, clients are incredibly happy for this!!

In 2009, bloggers were incredible guests at events across North America. Why? Bloggers act as journalist and provide great articles as content. Events encourage Bloggers, new media enthusiasts, and entrepreneurs to learn and discuss various aspects of the new media among themselves, while also giving non attendees information they missed. As well, companies want to include bloggers in their events as a helpful hand in promoting the event before, during and after the fact. However, in the New Year companies can expect Twitter followers and Facebook friends to become their target audience. These people are the new link to the social media world, and companies that want to embrace social media need to connect with their twitter followers and Facebook friends to continue the conversation and push content in real time at their events. Social networks are second nature to people now. Executives that were not media savvy in the previous year are currently jumping on board. They are realizing that this is the new way to stay connected and in order to stay on top of what is going on, they must embrace it.

Budgets:

The event industry was hit hard with the changes to the economy over the past year. However, budgets are going to grow again. Events are going to go back to the basics: the focus will now be on creativity, affordability and authenticity. Clients will focus on one big splash – A large lounge as an example instead of spending money to make the full event décor over the top. Clients will be embracing consumer events which are designed to promote product awareness, digital connectivity and guest experience. As budgets start to grow again, décor and style will also move towards a “less is more” feel; however, as the effects of the recession lessen, event design will nevertheless shift in the direction of sophisticated elegance – Going back to the crystal and glitter of high end gala’s and fundraisers, but still focusing on one big splash rather then a full room décor.

Corporate Social Responsibility:

Another big focus that was prominent in 2009 and will continue for 2010 is social responsibility. Going green will no longer be seen as an option or trend, but a duty. Event décor will be more eco-friendly, such as reusable or decomposing centerpieces, garbage free décor and left over food will be decomposed or donated to local safe houses to ensure nothing is wasted. Using Social media for social good causes will continue to prosper in the New Year as a promotional and marketing tool. Events such as Twestival, Tweetathon and Tweetsgiving are examples of social media friendly events that support a good cause and help raise money for the needy and charitable foundations.

This is the generation of ‘Digital’ Media and the only recourse is to embrace it. However, it is of great importance to continue building strong relationships with clients and partners on a more personal level. We should be using technology to leverage new relationships, but continue to develop them in person.

We are looking forward to being a part of what seems to be a very exciting and fast paced new decade. As we continue to grow and design technological friendly events, we urge you all to re-think your marketing and promotional initiatives to ensure you’re not left behind. Embrace the change and use your creativity to get the most out of your event needs!

Happy New Year from everyone here at 5th Element Events!

Written by @CarlyRashR & @JaredGolberg

The last couple weeks really, my team have been burning the candles at both ends.  We have been very busy proposing for varius clients but also executing events for the A.S.A.E conference followed by Incentiveworks, both taking place at the MTCC in Toronto.  We were also charged with the task of producing the highlite event of Incentiveworks for a large hotel chain!  We were invited to attend and it was an amazing night with great people, great atmosphere, great entertainment and great conversation.  I met some cool new people and also saw some clients I had previously worked with….even saw some old business associates. 

In the midst of this run, we have also been very busy forming some amazing new relationships in the social media community.  Both Jared (our community & marketing manager) and myself are enjoying the friendly nature of  Toronto’s tech community and have been regularily attending functions and meeting such interesting people.  We even were involved as a sponsor for the summer version of HoHoTo (www.hohoto.ca) a fundraiser for the Daily Bread Food Bank.  The event raised over 10k in one night and we had a great time! 

After all of this, I have come to a realization.  It’s time for my industry to change!  It’s time to foster new relationships, share ideas and invoke growth.  It’s time for the young members of my community to band together and I am more determined then ever that 5th Element Events needs to stand at the forefront of this change.  This isn’t about rebellion or a ploy to simply get noticed.  This is about ensuring that our industry doesnt get held back by the few people on top who fear change.  No industry can afford to be stagnant.  Creativity is key!

Over the next months, you are going to see a huge change in the look and feel of 5th Element Events….we are inspired!  As of September 1st, we will begin the process of leading the new revolution by cleaning our own closet.  We will aim to become an agency for clients who want to deal with a fun, young & re-energized team of professionals.  Ultimately we want to be the event firm you come to when you want your customized needs answered.  Our doors are always open to collaborations, new friends, clients and partners.  We are easily reached and we implore you to reach out anytime!

As the owner of a company who has produced some of the largest corporate functions in Toronto over the last few years, I am proud that my team is on board for this trailblazing ride while our economy as a whole turns the corner in to recovery…..these are very exciting times here.  I will be travelling to L.A, Montreal, N.Y.C & B.C over the next few months to expand our network of “friends” and to re-introduce old friends and clients to our exciting brand of event design.   We will continue to keep you updated on our happennings and we have an amazing number of surprises in store!  While we make our changes and reach out to our community, it will be business as usual here at 5th Element, just with a refreshed element of enthusiasm and a new vision for the future. :-)  

Leading the charge along with myself will be our marketing guru Jared Golberg.  In addition to his position, he has asked to take charge of our Community Relations and I couldn’t be more excited!  He is an excellent guy and my team is extremely lucky to have him!  With his skills and abilities, I am certain we are making the right moves!  We will also be working with some extremely talented teams in the areas of web design, PR, and networking to help spread the 5th Element brand.  As the newest leader of the young event professionals movement, Jared is always available to meet, chat & hang out! Give him a shout….he likes his coffee black!

As for myself, I have been busy learning & growing as both a designer & business owner.  I have many people to thank and will certainly give everyone their due in future posts.  I have been lucky as of late to be able to mix and mingle with some of  Toronto’s hottest young minds and listening to the stories of people such as Sarah Prevette (www.sprouter.com) & Tara Hunt (www.whuffiefactor.com), I am certain this is the right direction to go in.

Stay tuned folks, it’s gonna be an awesome ride to the top….one thats far overdue!

Thats all for now, check out www.5thelementevents.com and fire us an email anytime…..even if it’s just to say hi!

AK

aaron@5thlementevents.com