London continues to be one of my favorite cities and spending time looking at all the incredible venue possibilities for events was great fun.  On my first day, I previewed a dozen venues in advance of my clients, so that I could show them the best of the best the following day, making good use of their precious time on the ground.  I like to move quickly during a site.

One of the advantages of having long term clients is that you really are able to get into their heads and show them things that you know are going to be solid options for them.  Therefore, I can pretty much tell in the first 5 minutes of a visit if a venue is going to work.  The next day, with clients in tow, we moved at a fast pace seeing the options I had screened, taking photos, notes, etc. and discussing the possibilities.

The site went well and as we said our goodbyes, we knew that we had several options for a successful program in London.

I had one more night in London prior to heading on to India, so I got a chance to go to dinner and theatre with one of my colleagues.

I had heard the buzz around the latest offering from the Menier Chocolate Factory — the little theatre near London Bridge that has been pumping out quality work — (most notably the scaled back version of “La Cage aux Folles,” that found its way to Broadway).

Currently on the bill is their new take on the Stephen Schwartz, musical, “Pippin”.  (He’s the composer best known for “Godspell” and “Wicked”.)  I still remember the original cast album of “Pippin,” which had its Broadway debut in 1972.  My brother and I played that record constantly and sitting in the Menier Theatre, I pretty much knew every lyric to every song.

Even as often as I’ve gone to the theatre this season, not many things have left a lasting impression on me.  Yet, I vividly remember the original 1970′s production of “Pippin” that featured brilliant Bob Fosse staging and performances by luminaries Ben Vereen, John Rubinstein, and Jill Clayburgh.

Coming to the theatre with that much baggage isn’t always a good thing. But, my guest wasn’t familiar with “Pippin” — so I limited sharing too much of my love for the original production until we got to compare notes after the show.

This production of “Pippin” updates the show by setting it inside the world of a video game.  It’s a bold concept and one that is fully embraced by the creative team and cast.  It doesn’t always land, but it is definitely a great example of a strong vision at work.  At times, the concept overwhelms the material and I felt unmoved.  And, while there’s plenty of Fosse choreography, it’s not executed with the precision of Fosse trained dancers and the cold video character styled costumes don’t help.  Yet, there is something compelling about seeing the show re-interpreted.  The use of projection, lighting and again, that commitment to the vision of the director, definitely kept me intrigued.

When you love an original cast so much, it’s hard to stop comparing performances while you’re watching the show.  And filling the shoes of the likes of Ben Vereen… not easy.

The standouts for me in this cast were Caroline Quentin as Berthe (at intermission my friend remarked — “I just love the grandmother!”…I did too) and Carly Bawden as Catherine… watching her flip from video game character on stage to video game player on screen was great.  And it was fun to see Frances Ruffelle (the original Eponine from “Les Miserables”) tackle the role of Fastrada.

I’m curious to see what happens with this production of “Pippin”.  There’s buzz that it will come to Broadway and I think with more development — it could work.  The score is one delight after the next and while it’s remarkable to see the technical achievements in the tiny Chocolate Factory theatre, I can only imagine the innovation that a Broadway production could bring to the concept.

Harry Hepple (Pippin) and Carly Bawden (Catherine) (c)Tristam Kenton

And, regardless of what’s on tap, I’ll return to the Menier Chocolate Factory during my next trip to London.  There are several great restaurants in walking distance – (we had a fantastic dinner at Roast and the theatre itself houses a funky restaurant in the building).  And, after two days of visiting venues and imagining how they can be transformed for events — it was inspiring to see how the creative team of “Pippin” transformed the Menier.

The combination of friends and family gathering to show appreciation while enjoying a big meal…priceless.

A tradition at our office is the Annual BKA Thanksgiving Potluck lunch. Everyone brings something to the table and we all savor each other’s culinary talents. The word “potluck” comes from the practice of throwing leftovers in a pot – with luck determining how good things will taste. There is way more skill displayed at this feast than luck. Though this wonderful office event is yet another reminder to me how lucky and grateful I am to get to work with such a remarkable group of people.

I asked the BKA team to share with me the reasons why they are grateful. Here are some of the things they had to say:

“I’m grateful for my niece, Noelle; and for having a job that fulfills me, stimulates my mind to think differently every day, and let’s me see the vast world outside my everyday life.” – Adam Suellentrop, Manager, Production Services

“I’m grateful for the four seasons. Visually, they are each beautiful and I look forward to sharing the little traditions and simple experiences with my daughter that make each season special.” -Angela Stassi, Marketing Director

“There are so many things I’m thankful for. But firstly, life and family.” – Sowbagya Gokulrum, Production Assistant

“I am extremely thankful for the support and humor of my colleagues. We might not always agree and we have different styles of working, but they always have my back and keep me going when times gets challenging.” –Kate Boyer, Producer

“I am grateful for my wonderful family and that they are happy and healthy (and a bit crazy) and for great friends and co-workers because you literally can’t get through the week without them.” – Susan Belsky, Meeting Planner

“I’m grateful for the fact that the alarm clock on my iPhone has been replaced by a little girl calling out “daddy.” – Andre Shahrdar, VP Business Development

I’m thankful for working remotely, breathing, and the ability to see my parents daily.” –LaKeisha Williams, Bookkeeper

“I’m grateful for the love and support I get from my family and friends on a daily basis.” –Joyce Clement, Producer

“On this upcoming thanksgiving day, I am certainly grateful for turkey, duck, chicken and the wonderful result that occurs when then they are sewn together and baked throughout.” – Andrew Litz, Creative Development Coordinator

“I am grateful for coworkers with a sense of humor ” –Lilit Kalachyan, Designer

“I’m thankful for smiles.” – Ted Kelso, Business Development Coordinator

“For being able to work with my best friend ” –Jennifer Kauf, Creative Director

“I am grateful for being able to watch my daughter grow, for the unconditional love of my family and friends and for the end of every day and when I wake every morning.” – Frank Pascrell, Technical Director

“I am grateful for the flexibility that BKA allows me so I can actively participate in my children’s lives, whether it’s being the Mommy Taxi, sitting in honor assembly watching my daughter accept her awards or when my son hits the home run and I see the pride on his face.” – Kim Fields, Senior Meeting Planner

“I am grateful for the discovery and virtual sharing of ideas and inspiration.” – Laura Peña, Designer

“I am grateful for the feet that support me and allow me to walk and move and dance through this glorious life.” –Lynnette Barkley, Vice President

“I’m thankful for my healthy family and my loyal friends.” – Sasha Zonsius, Production Assistant

“I’m thankful for my BKA family.” – Ryan Guerra, Production Assistant

PS: A few years back, we asked friends, family and colleagues to share their thoughts on why they were grateful.” We were so inspired, we created a video. When I watched it today, I realized it’s timeless. Check it out when you have a moment.

www.bka.net/thegratefulsaid

Happy Thanksgiving!

We were welcomed into this beautiful country by wonderful, warm people. Especially Reaksmay, our guide. As we spent more time with Reaksmay we couldn’t get past his incredible optimism and perennial smile. He is passionate about his life in Phnom Penh. Incredibly hospitable, warm, funny and genuine with vast knowledge of history, architecture, culture and customs, it was a joy to spend time with him learning about his country.

Through his story we learned about Cambodia, its history and how the people who have been through so much still manage to have a spirit that is indisputable. After all, Reaksmay, his mother and sister all survived the war — a war that wiped out 20% of the Cambodian population.

Reaksmay led us on our tour of S21 and the Killing Fields, two areas where the Khmer Rouge performed acts of torture and ultimately the genocide of its own people during the war.

These visits were made more vivid for us as we learned Reaksmay’s personal story. He was just 1 month old when his country was invaded. His parents fled. His mother taking Reaksmay and his 2 year old sister, his father realizing that his family was more in danger if he stayed with them ventured into the jungle area to hide.

30 days on foot, 19 without food, his mother found refuge. His father reunited with his family briefly, only to die from an illness borne during his time in hiding. Reaksmay never knew his father, who during better times held a government position. His mother, realizing that any evidence of her connection to a government employee was dangerous, burned any evidence of her husband’s existence. Clothes, papers and sadly, all photographs — all connections to Reaksmay’s father were gone.

After leaving S21 and the killing fields with a sinking feeling, I finally had to ask him how he functions on a day-to-day basis. How was it possible for him to tour such sad sites and relive stories of devastation?

“Forgiveness,” Reaksmay told us. “As a child I wanted revenge, but as an adult, I learned that forgiveness allowed me to be free of the burden of pain.” I was stunned by his answer. I felt it was almost superhuman that he could even set out to forgive those who caused such pain for him let alone sincerely living that way.

I thought of the things that I’ve been unable to forgive over the years. And, although I can’t say I’m at the point where Reaskmay is, I am incredibly humbled and honored to have met him and learned from him. Reaksmay’s name translates to “Sunshine” in English. Not only was his mother a survivor, but she also had a knack for naming her son.

At the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh

I’m tempted by every cute outfit and soft plush toy. But, knowing that kids outgrow clothes and you can only play with so many toys at a time… I’ve decided that I’m going to be giving the gift of travel to my little ray of sunshine.

She has her suitcase — Mom and Dad made sure of that from a very early age — and now my job is to make sure she gets to take it with her and see the world.

We’ve started her travel fund, savings allocated for future trips so she can plot her course and choose her adventures. She’s just starting to walk now — so she’s got some time before she raids the piggy bank.

So, in the meantime, I’ve been sending her postcards from all the places I get to go. Sometimes she holds them, sometimes she eats them, but mostly her Mom collects them for her. One day, she’ll read them herself and start to get the idea that the world is bigger than her neighborhood.

For me, the postcard routine gives me a chance to stop and think of her while I’m on the road. I’m generally glued to my keyboard. So taking a moment to actually write something down feels good. And to think that my cute little imp is one day going to get to visit many of the places I have been makes me happy.

Travel has been a great gift to me. And, I’m appreciative of everywhere I get to go…. even if I miss my connection or get stuck in the middle seat.

Life is a series of events, I wish you safe travels and hope you get to travel with someone who approaches the journey with the wide-eyed wonder of a child.

“Hitting the Pause Button”

I got myself back to a much needed yoga class and as is often the case, I left the studio feeling balanced both physically and mentally.

This was due to the very interesting analogy that Mindy, our instructor, put forth.

She tasked us with pausing.

She spoke about a Hindu goddess named Bagalamukhi. This morning I did some research and there are different interpretations about this goddess, but the overall gist Mindy gave us about her was correct and more importantly, the point she made that we could transfer to our everyday lives is impactful.

Mindy started by saying that Bagalamukhi is known as the “crane faced” goddess with a long neck. The long neck symbolizes the time it takes for when your heart sets an intention to the time that it is realized in your actions and words. It was such an interesting analogy and it made a lot of sense… to me. I actually think it also works in the reverse… where as sometimes you say that you are going to do something (like get back to yoga) but until your heart is really in it you’re stuck in the same place… on your sofa, watching “Glee.”

But, here comes the practical part. She asked us to pause. To take a moment to pause before we speak, move, act until we do so with our heart’s intention. She spoke about the fact that there are times where she’s walked away from a conversation saying “I wish I hadn’t said that/ done that, “ Or, “that got me nowhere.”

It’s a simple concept. To pause. But not always easy to do.

We rush to get replies back to clients, to request items from our vendors, and even when communicating with our colleagues. As a result, we may have to send additional emails, or make additional phone calls to clarify what we really meant/ needed. If we paused. For a moment. We would find that taking a little more time to think before we hit the “reply” button ultimately benefits everyone.

Life is a series of events, and you gain a little clarity when you pause “Glee” and watch it after your yoga class.

We’re certainly driven and energized by the work, but also driven and energized by our team.

I’m thrilled that two of our team members, Michael Reese and Adam Suellentrop have been recognized for their hard work by being named finalists for the BizBash Readers Choice Awards.

Michael, a finalist for Event Designer of the Year, has been with BKA for the last seven years. He’s the VP of our design + multimedia department – supervising all production design as well as video and graphic design. There’s rarely an event we produce that doesn’t involve Michael in one way or another. Combined with his vast theatrical background, he’s a prolific and award-winning scenic and lighting designer.

Adam, a finalist for Event Producer of the Year, joined the BKA team 5 years ago and in that time he’s become the head of our Production team. Clients are thrilled with Adam in the lead. He immerses himself into their brands and knows that even the littlest details in execution make or break the big picture objectives.

So, please join in my excitement and cast your vote for Michael and Adam.

Click here to VOTE

BKA also has events that are finalists for Best PR/ Marketing Initiative, Best Scenic Design and Best Fresh Idea. We’re keeping our fingers crossed when the winners are announced on October 27th.

Life is a series of events and being recognized for the work you do is an honor.

Every summer, we gather our entire team for a couple of days outside of the office (and outside of the city) to communicate our strategy and illustrate the big picture on where we are as a company, where we are going, and most importantly– how we are going to get there.  The agenda is chock full, but we also make sure there is some time for us to relax and enjoy each other’s company (and check our emails, of course.)

My favorite part of the meeting, by far, is when we announce the recipient of the Dramatically Different Award.  The Dramatically Different Award recognizes and honors the BKA employee who has best embodied our values during the past year.  It’s our chance to acknowledge the person whose diligence and good humor make the work we do that much easier and that much more enjoyable.  They always seem to put others before themselves.  Their positive attitude, kind spirit and generous nature shape who we are as a company and who we would like to be as individuals.

The best part is that the staff determines who will win the award.  A ballot is sent to everyone with open-ended questions about the candidate of their choice and the winner is kept secret until the presentation.

This year, we invited past winners to help present the award by sharing their thoughts about the current winner.  And, with genuine appreciation and grace, Laura Peña, from our design team, accepted the award.  Congratulations again, Laura.  You help make us who we are.

Life is a series of events, and I’m grateful that I have dramatically different individuals surrounding me for mine.

Laura accepting her well deserved award.

“What about meetings, incentives or entertainment?” Lynnette asked, “or should we just keep it simple?”

“How about your last name, my last name and another word for anyone else we’ll get to work with. And…your last name sounds better before my last name….so let’s go with that.” I suggested, “Barkley Kalpak Associates.”

“I think we sound like a law firm but maybe it will just sound professional and it will allow us to be flexible. We can always explain what we do,” Lynnette added.

“What ARE we doing anyway??” we both wondered.

Good question.

20 years ago, my friend Lynnette Barkley and I marched ourselves down to the Hall of Records and registered the name Barkley Kalpak Associates. Next, we went to the bank and with a $5 bill, opened a checking account. That was the beginning. We were theatre people — creative types who thought we could bring something new and different to the meetings, incentives and event industry. BKA was going to be a side job, an endeavor to support us in between our directing careers.

Our first job lead to the next….and the next. Some great press (thank you Successful Meetings Magazine!), word of mouth and referrals kept bringing us more business. Before we knew it, we were BKA-ing more and more. The opportunities presented themselves and we seized them eagerly and appreciatively. The part-time side job was transitioning into a fulltime business.

Back then, it was just the two of us doing everything ourselves. We worked out of Lynnette’s living room, then my bedroom and then sometime later, a real office. We were writing, directing, casting, costuming, booking travel, carrying props, climbing on ladders, calling the shows…whatever it took to get the job done right.

Today BKA has evolved into a full team of the most fantastic people I could ever imagine working with. We have an impressive list of clients. And people actually know that we aren’t a law firm.

We turned 20 this year. And without much fanfare we’ve found ourselves in an industry that has changed faster than you can say experiential marketing.  We’ve grown up in this industry. We’re proud of being a part of it. Thrilled that we were so welcomed by it 20 years ago and honored that clients still want to have the BKA experience today.

You never really know where your life is going to take you. I had no idea that the $5 investment we made back in 1990 would bring us this successful company.

Life is a series of events and if you stay flexible, you may just end up producing a lot of them…

Our Very First Event

]]> http://www.bka.net/blog/events-industry/turning-twenty/feed 2 http://www.bka.net/blog/uncategorized/the-cycle-of-change http://www.bka.net/blog/uncategorized/the-cycle-of-change#comments Thu, 01 Jul 2010 16:04:36 +0000 Lynnette Barkley http://www.bka.net/blog/?p=296 Change. I’ve been thinking about it… a lot. On an everyday level, I look at the world we live in now and how quickly things are changing around us. On a personal level, I am watching my parents, now in their mid-eighties, having to leave their home of 50-odd years to move into an assisted living facility. Everything around them is changing their health, their environment, their friends. And, as I find us reversing roles -me the parent, they the children- I have been thinking about what it means to accept change.

Human beings by nature resist change. Remember the first day of summer camp -terrified, calling in tears, begging your parents to bring you home? But of course, two days later, as you sit happy and prune-ey fingered in the swimming pool with your newly found BFFs, you don’t even think to call home at all.

Why is going from the known to the unknown so frightening to us? It shouldn’t be. The truth is we are changing minute-by-minute with each breath, each movement, each thought. Who we are today is not who we were yesterday and certainly not who were last year or ten years ago. The cycle of change is part of the cycle of life.

Easy to say, but harder to accept when potential life changes are staring you in the face! There will always be an element of sadness. But, if we can take a moment, meditate on the situation, step away from the knee jerk reaction and genuinely listen to our heart and our collective experiences with change, we can learn to see it as something positive.

Life is a series of events. And embracing change will ultimately allow us to experience these events with more joy, more grace and more peace. And, just as important, it will allow us to see the possibilities in each situation so that we can make the best choices as we face life’s challenges. I don’t recall who said it, but I think this may be my new philosophy . . .

“Change is the essence of life. Be willing to surrender what is for what could be.”

Oh, by the way, I’m told that my parents, after a week of disorientation and asking when they could “go home,” are at the moment sitting happily with their newly found friends, participating in a sing-a-long. Just like the days of being a kid who’s having a blast at camp, my dad didn’t even think to call…

This week’s post is by guest blogger, Lynnette Barkley.

I found myself in tears at 3 different points of the journey, for 3 different reasons.

I fought back the tears after we left a tiny village en route to Jaipur from Agra.  It’s impossible to avoid the poverty that pervades many areas of the country.  We were told that one way to give back was to offer supplies such as pens, pencils, crayons and markers to school children.  We asked our driver, Santosh, to take us to a school where we could give out the 200 some odd writing implements we brought from home.  He knew of a small village school that was in need.  I was humbled by the children’s excitement, awestruck by their beautiful faces and shattered by the reminder that we have so much more than we need.  I got to hand out the pens to each of the students.  We got back in the car and the tears flowed.

I teared up for a different reason when we arrived at the Taj Lake Palace Hotel in Udaipur.  Quite simply, the finest hotel experience I have ever had.  The beauty of the place took my breath away.  I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.  It actually got me choked up when we were escorted to our suite and I saw the splendor of this magnificent property.  And, the service we encountered the next five days was even more stunning.

I lost it one last time on the way to the airport in Mumbai to get on the plane to come home.  I called our ground agent, Saleem, from India Travel Promotions Ltd., to thank him for the incredible arrangements he made for us.  We had postponed our trip twice due to ever changing work schedules — Saleem had to rebook our full itinerary three different sets of dates. The entire time leading up to the trip I was blown away by his kindness and patience.   And, once in India, we felt cared for even more.   Every member of Saleem’s staff was more impressive than the next — from the efficient airport greeters, to the intrepid drivers, to the passionate tour guides.  I wanted Saleem to know how much we appreciated everyone.  After I thanked him, in true Indian fashion, the call ended with him thanking me.  ”Thank you for the honor of allowing us to show you our country.”   I hung up the phone, and wiped away more tears in realizing my two weeks in India was coming to a close.

I fell in love with India — the difficult things to witness, the dazzling things to see and the people throughout the country who touched us in a profound way.  I urge you to visit.  I will happily point you in the direction of great experiences.  No photo or movie or blog entry can capture its essence.

I leave you with this thought…

“The use of traveling is to regulate imagination by reality, and instead of thinking how things may be, to see them as they are.” –Samuel Johnson

The funny thing is, when you return from a trip where you have witnessed the way things are, rather than regulated, your imagination is unleashed.