When I was a little girl, I had a shirt that read, “Roll out the red carpet, here comes the princess.” It was my favorite shirt for a lot of different reasons, but the most important ones were that it was pink and sparkly and it quite literally reflected my love for the glamourous side of life. So, it only seems natural that now as a budding young woman striving to find her status in the professional world, I am still drawn to the glitz and glam associated with red carpet events. This past week I had the opportunity to help out at American Ballet Theatre’s Fall Gala, a major fundraising and social event celebrating a new season of challenging and exciting repertoire along with the continued artistry and outreach of America’s nationally recognized ballet company. The attire was black tie, the décor was sophisticated, and the list of things to do to make it a success was unsurprisingly long. There is so much work that goes into an event like this and so many people who make it all possible that I felt very lucky to be considered a part of the team. While I only played a small role in the grand scheme of things, here are the four things I learned working my first major special event.
1. Stay organized
Things can get pretty busy pretty fast on the day of an event. Make sure you keep any relevant paperwork in a folder or binder to make sure you have quick, easy access to it at any moment.
2. Dress the part
You know the style game is going to be strong if there is a red carpet involved. If the dress code is black tie, make sure you plan ahead for the occasion. Rent the Runway is a great and affordable option for when you need a fancy look for only a night.
3. Names, names, names
Like I mentioned before, a lot of people are involved in an event. From the staff to the guests, make sure you are familiar with everyone involved in the evening. Plus, you never want to miss out on a potential networking opportunity and by having an idea of who’s going to be there, you will have a much easier time placing faces with names and making connections with guests and staff alike.
4. Have fun!
This sounds cliché but it is a party after all!