Event Planner's Guide on Catering

Here's a quick event planning reference I wanted to share. Yesterday I was talking about how companies are trying to save money on their holiday event planning. Well this morning I just came across a book on how to save money on catering costs for meetings and events. It's called A Meeting Planner's Guide to Catered Events.

Here's a quote from the book description:

Food and beverage is the largest portion of a meeting budget, but most meeting and event planners have no formal background in purchasing and managing this expense. This guide helps event, meeting, and convention planners save money, negotiate contracts, deal with catering managers, and successfully manage the food and beverage aspect of their event. Covering everything from styles of service to on-premise and off-premise considerations to food and beverage contract negotiation, this book is a comprehensive and accessible reference for event planners and students.

And here's the link to the book on Amazon.

Good luck, and don't hesitate to contact me if you have entertainment questions for your holiday party planning!

The Ho, Ho, Holidays Approach!

My holiday season is about to launch. I'm performing at my first holiday party this weekend. Seems like some of the people are planning things late this year though, and waiting 'til the last minute in many cases. Have you made your plans for company or private events yet?

I've been seeing lots of information on creative ways to save on planning costs this year. With the economic worries, many companies are cutting back. But many event facilities and other service providers are also offering special pricing and other incentives, to make up for the lag in business.

My own season is looking pretty decent, though I do still have a few open dates left. Normally I always recommend booking early, since the best dates generally fill well ahead of time. But if you've been waiting to see where you are financially, you can sometimes find bargains as dates get closer. As we move into December, I generally will offer any remaining dates that people inquire about at my regular pricing, rather than the normal "holiday" pricing, just so I can fill the dates without having to devote any extra time and energy to it during my busiest time of year.

Even if you're not planning on using my services this year, if you'd like to get a free consultation and discuss ideas on how to save money and still have a great party, feel free to give me a call; 309-647-3692.

Hey, a special thanks to Lee Maki, Ronna and Jerry James, and the First English Lutheran Church in Peoria. Lee purchased my Deluxe Entertainment Package on this year's "On-air Auction" on WTVP, and I performed for the church this past weekend. I had a great time, and enjoyed meeting everyone there.

Cooperative Passion

I'm putting the final touches today on a corporate speaking engagement I'm doing tomorrow. It got me thinking about the current financial situation.

The company I'm presenting for has had a certain amount of uncertainty amongst it's employees, so they're giving them a fun day out, and have hired me to entertain and inspire them with a sense of vision and teamwork.

I struck me that that's what we all are needing right now. In the current climate of economic uncertainty, we need to know that we're all in this together, and that with a little imagination, some vision, and some teamwork, we can solve the problems at hand. There are plenty of good ideas out there. We just need to work together to make them a reality.

Greed and cutthroat competition have led to our current problems. It's time to try a different approach. It's time to leave behind the climate of fear. It's time to try cooperation.

There's true magic in working with others for a common vision. I realize some would say that it's competition that drives us to excel. But I disagree. I think people confuse competition with passion. It's really not competition that drives high achievers, it's their passion for what they do. And passion is much more powerful when it's shared, rather than being used to "divide and conquer". Shared passion becomes contagious and spreads to those working for that common vision, and returns again and again to each individual sharing it.

I suggest that we would be well served to spend some time considering the power of shared, cooperative passion, for a common, inspiring vision. That's magic indeed!

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One quick announcement before I sign off: I'm going to be appearing on the Morning Show on WEEK-TV (25) on Thursday, October 23, probably sometime around 6 AM. If you're in the Peoria area and tend to get up early enough, tune in and check it out!

Welcome!

Hello to all my customers, friends, and anyone else who has found their way here.

This is my new blog, The Magic Word, where I'll be sharing thoughts on magic, business, marketing, event planning, and anything else that happens to pop into my mind.

Make sure you check back often to keep updated on my activities, thoughts, and where I've been.