Special Events

          This week I got the opportunity to learn more about how the special events department works. With the opening of the first show in Second Stage’s Summer Uptown Season came the opening night reception. I was enlisted to help all of the guests up to the theater on the third floor before the show and then collect tickets at the entrance to the party afterwards. It is important to make sure that only invited guests get into these parties because uninvited guests have the potential to create a disruption that could negatively reflect on the theater. The goal is to make sure that the guests enjoy the night and leave with the desire to stay connected to Second Stage. It is about keeping and creating relationships with friends and donors. Luckily I didn’t have to deal with any party crashers and I got to learn a lot about how to pull off an enjoyable event smoothly.

            I also got to interview Lee Ann Gullie, the manager of events and special projects. We discussed everything from how she got into special events to what her job entails and how to break into the industry. One of the most important things I learned is that there is not one path into event planning. For example, Lee Ann majored in neurobiology and behavior and now she is working in a theatre. While her science major seems very distant from what she does in at Second Stage, she was able to relate the skills she learned, like rote memorization, to the skills required for the job. Because she had to memorize so many formulas and diagrams, she is now very good at memorizing faces. According to Lee Ann, the most important qualities for a person in special events to possess are organization, to be detail-oriented, and to be personable. Fortunately, these traits can be learned from a multitude of majors and extracurricular activities.

            We also spoke extensively about the ups and downs to the job. This seems to be a very rewarding profession because one gets the chance to see one’s work come to fruition on a regular basis. Unlike other jobs, where a project could be in the works for years and never actually happen, event planning always has an end date, when the event will actually take place. Special events is a lot of little details that can only come together at the last minute, and seeing that moment, when the tables and lights are all set right before the guests arrive, is what Lee Ann loves most about her job. She also enjoys having the chance to work with so many interesting people from all different backgrounds, such as the board members. There are some downsides to the job, however. Event planning is definitely not a nine to five job. It entails a lot of late nights and Lee Ann and her assistant are often in the office later than anyone else. There is also the ever-present threat of something going wrong at the event and the blame landing on you. It is important to develop a thick skin and learn to deal with public embarrassment.

For me, the pros definitely seem to outweigh the cons in this profession. Not only does the special events team at Second Stage get to work with many different people and organize exciting events, but they also get the added satisfaction of being directly responsible for bringing in a significant amount of money for the theatre. They are often left with the burden of making up any deficits in fundraising and accomplishing that task is very rewarding because they can directly see how their efforts affect the longevity of the company. Overall, I have had a very rewarding and informative experience with the special events department this past week.