I just got back from a trip to India.  Being there was beyond my imagination.  It was a trip of extremes, that ended up being the most emotional vacation I have ever had.

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.

Since Jeff is traveling, he asked me (Angela Stassi) to jump in as a guest blogger for this week’s Series of Events.

Like most of you probably are… I’m a member of various groups on LinkedIn.  So, I see the questions that colleagues, competitors and clients put out into the cyber universe.

Recently, a question was posed on LinkedIn asking for ideas on what to do to draw traffic to a tradeshow booth.

The perfunctory suggestions were given:  cupcakes, massages, and cocktails.  Trust me, I like a good cupcake just like anyone else, but those are things that never sat well with me as ways to really connect with a potential client or partner.

So, I thought I’d share what we had done at BKA for an industry tradeshow that shook things up.  Perhaps it can inspire you to think outside of the 10×10 box for your own tradeshow booth or that of your client.

During the frenzy of the Presidential election, we mailed an invitation to attendees with a simple graphic, an iconic campaign button promoting “FREE CREATIVE”.  It was the start of a movement to free creative in their minds (and to get some free advice from a team of creative experts.)

We followed up to schedule appointments.  Attending a tradeshow and getting something of value was compelling to the recipients and they signed up, in advance!

Onsite, we brought guests into our booth which we designed as “The Studio” where they met with our Creative Directors and Designers. The space was full of color, designs… and that’s where we had the chocolate!  White boards, sketchpads, and colored pencils were on the table encouraging participation.  Plexi panels separated the studio from the tradeshow aisle, creating privacy but also allowing passersby to view the action where ideas were happening!

Participants couldn’t believe how creative, relevant and fun it was.

Through this experience, we were able to connect on a much deeper level than typical at a tradeshow.  At the end, participants received their schwag, a set of colored pencils that read “I GOT CREATIVE.”

But did this lead to business is what you probably are asking?

And the answer is YES; we booked business as a result.  And, over the course of about 5 hours, we spent 20 solid minutes connecting with 10 relevant potential clients offering real solutions for their real needs.  It beats rifling through a bunch of business cards of people who just stopped by because of their sweet tooth.

Would love to hear about creative solutions you’ve implemented to boost qualified traffic at your booths.

I just got back from working on a Global Meeting for one of our top clients.  We spent a considerable amount of time at the hotel — both in advance of the project and of course, during the actual program dates.  We pushed the hotel hard.  As is the trend these days, our lead time was short and many details came together right at the last minute.  We really needed the hotel to deliver for us — and they did.

We like to speak directly to the wait staff at our events — and always request the opportunity to be part of the briefing the banquet manager and captains have with the staff before they go out on the floor and serve our guests.  I believe it is important for the staff to know what makes this particular special event, special. Who are they serving, why are our guests gathered in the first place, what are our particular requirements for service?  And, we want to get the staff excited about the level of service we are asking them to provide for us.  We typically end the talk with “Shine and sparkle!”

Sometimes during the pep talk I wonder what the staff really is thinking, “Why is this guy trying to pump us up, when it’s just another banquet to us?”  ”I don’t care who these people are, I just want to get through this.”  ”I know how to do my job, why are they telling me how to do it?”   I never really know what is going on in their heads, but I still hold on to the idea that bringing people together and giving them information, building excitement (and adding some humor to the talk) will have a positive impact.

After this past gala night, I thanked the captains and sat down and had a bite to eat in a corner of the ballroom as the waiters finished their strike.   I was content that all went well and watched the hotel staff scurrying to head home.   One of the waiters came over to me and asked if I was happy with the way things went.  I told him I was and thanked him for his work.  He smiled broadly and said, “We just wanted to impress you.”   His sincerity really touched me.  And, I was glad that our pre-event gathering had an impression on him.  I loved that he was so invested in the outcome of the event.

Thank you to the Embassy Suites in Cary, NC for being our partners in delivering an impressive experience to our clients. And thanks Doug (our exuberant member of the banquet team) for proving that while life is a series of events, each special event really can be made special.

My friend, Elizabeth Beskin posted a great blog about Valentine’s Day (http://www.albumboutique.com/blog/valentines-day-means/) and it reminded me about enduring relationships. The best marriage I’ve ever seen was definitely my beloved parents. If they were both still alive today they would have been married for 70 years!

I always marveled at the way they always seemed in sync with each other. My Mom doted on my Dad, cooked his favorite foods, kept an immaculate home and always let him know that she loved him very much. They would leave notes for each other, hold hands as they would walk to mail a letter at the corner mailbox, and they would always kiss each other hello and goodbye.

Every so often they would dance in our living room. And that’s when you would see that they really were perfectly in sync with each other. They always made each other smile. And no matter what, they always seemed to put the other person first. In doing so, their time together was filled with gratitude, respect and love. Their life wasn’t always easy. They faced many tragedies and hardships, but they did it together.

When my mom passed away — we watched my father’s heart break into a million pieces. And the last few years of his life without his love — though filled with family and friends — weren’t ever the same.

I hope that you get to dance with the one you love at many events — or maybe even just around the living room.

Happy Belated Valentine’s Day.

He was my first boss.

Fresh out of college he gave me a job in his PR firm.  I showed up for my interview in shorts and a T shirt.  What was I thinking?!  Yet, he gave me a chance.

I learned about deadlines, client changes, customer service.  I learned that while there is no such thing as bad PR, there is such a thing as a great PR person.  He was the consummate professional and the consummate gentleman.  He bought me my first business suit.

Over time, he decided to move to the west coast.  He kept me on a retainer and put me in charge of the New York business.  I ran the office out of my apartment.  I had a copy machine in my closet to crank out the press releases.  Fast forward — I went into Special Events.  Then started my own events company.

He retired.  He got older — quickly.  We stayed in touch — mostly through his incredible letters, whenever possible — with visits.  He let me know when more of his friends died. His physical health declined.   He had no funds left — and no family. No one.  He appointed me his Power of Attorney.  He moved to an assisted living center in DC.  Then his mind started to go.

We moved him to a nursing home twenty minutes away so we could be closer.   My mentor, my friend helped me become an adult.  Now it was my turn to help him through old age.   He was always so busy working that he never really planned for his future. And when he stopped working, he tried to live in the moment and not worry about the next day.

Life is a series of events.  As event producers, we try to plan everything.  But how many of us have planned for our future?  Or are we just busy planning the next event?

Set aside time to really look at what lies ahead.  For you, for your family and for your loved ones.   It’s easier to have the difficult conversations early.  And while plans can change, it’s comforting to know that at least you have a plan.  You would never go on site without a running order for the event — why would you want to go through life that way?

We get to work with many of the top pharma companies and being part of their meetings has exposed me to fascinating scientific information. Much of it I don’t understand. But sitting in those meetings has inspired me to develop my own theory of genetics.

I’m talking about the event gene. Like all genes, you are either born with it or not. You might be able to surround yourself with people who have the gene and then acquire some of the behaviors of those people (nature vs. nurture theory, etc.), but I’m sticking to my premise that you either got it or you ain’t.

I believe the event gene creates the following attributes:

* freakish passion for details

* overwhelming desire to serve people

* uncontrollable urges to wow groups of other humans

* an obsessive devotion to list making

* a joyous willingness to schlep things

* a physical anomaly that allows you to be on your feet for days on end

If you have the gene, consider yourself blessed. You’ll find yourself at the top of your industry. It is your natural progression. You don’t have a choice. You were born for this. Others in your industry will envy you — because while they are working hard to try to have that “thing” that makes you great — you will just be you.

Life is a series of events. And our genes help us fit in where we belong. I hope your genes provide a good “fit” for you.

My favorite event is usually the one I’m working on at the moment. We’ve had a very busy January — here are some highlights:

We launched extremely cool, Samsung LED TVs at the CES show in Las Vegas. These screens are less than the width of a pencil! The week after we designed and produced the LG Mobile Worldcup in New York City, a competition that had 26 contestants from 13 countries vying to be the fastest texters in the world.  And the week after that…we helped one of our top clients launch their new brand across 9 global sites… simultaneously!

Teams from 13 countries compete to become the world's fastest texters.

So, needless to say, we’ve covered a lot of territory in this whirlwind kick off to 2010. I’m grateful for that, especially when I think back to just a year ago when we were making tough decisions about weathering the storm of 2009.   Thanks to our incredible clients for trusting BKA with these events.

Last night, in typical BKA fashion, the entire team gathered to celebrate January with frosty margaritas and Mexican food.

Special thanks to our friends at BizBash for the great coverage of these events. Click here to check out the stories and see some more images:

LG Mobile Worldcup

Samsung CES 2010 Press Conference

He had a smile that lit up a room, an impeccable wardrobe, an infectious laugh. He was well traveled, hard working and incredibly charming.

When I heard that he was 50 — I was stunned. He looked much younger and had the energy of someone half his age.

When I heard of his sudden passing — I was even more stunned.

I had just seen him. We caught up at a wonderful industry event that Doyle Hotels hosted. Thomas was there — lighting up the room, charming his colleagues, letting us hear his magical laugh.

We talked about getting together. We wanted to find a weekend where we both weren’t working so that he could come visit us upstate.

But being perpetually busy New Yorkers with hectic travel schedules — it didn’t happen.

I will miss his Swedish accent and the way I could make him laugh with my extremely limited Swedish vocabulary.

I was honored that we got to work together.

I wish I got to know him better.

Life is a series of events and for those of us that plan them, we end up with few free evenings and weekends for social time. If you are reading this blog, please take a moment to plan an “event” with someone you’d like to spend more time with. Get a date in the calendar.

Let them hear your laughter and see your smile.

Good night Thomas Gran.

On Project Runway (yes, I’m a reality show fan), host Tim Gunn says, “Make it work!” I love that mentality. Do the job — just figure it out — get it done.

But how about making it fun along the way?

More than ever, making it fun shouldn’t be a nice to have. It should be a requirement of any work environment.

When you are under pressure, don’t you naturally seek out the people who make you smile at work? “I need a good laugh,” is a common request of anyone who has had a tough day at the office.

I’ve been writing lots of recommendations lately — for past interns, employees, colleagues on Linked In — and it’s so much easier to write a recommendation for someone who makes the work experience fun. These are also the people who get better results. There’s a lot to be said for a good attitude.

Years back, I asked a treasured client of mine who is an expert in performance evaluation for some tips on putting together reviews for our staff at BKA. He said, “you can have all the measures you want, but in the end, you can sum up any person’s review by checking off two boxes. Are you good at what you do? And, were you enjoyable to be around when you were doing it?”

Life is a series of events. I hope your events are flawlessly executed by people who make it fun.

I’m writing today’s blog while flying from Orlando to Newark on board Continental airline. Flight Attendant Jennifer Jackson just got us all greeted, seated, informed and ready to “sit back, relax and enjoy the flight.”  I’m already enjoying the flight more because of her. I’m sitting in seat 1F (got a complimentary upgrade) so I got to see each person pass by as they board.

And, I got to hear Ms. Jackson interact with every single guest.  ”Good morning, Madame. Hello young lady.   What a sharp outfit you have on. Heading to Newark?”

When she caught a glimpse of a passenger’s boarding pass, she added their last name to her greeting…. “So nice to have you with us today Mr. Bradford.”  ”Ah, I have the Collins family traveling.”  Every person was treated as an individual.  And every greeting was sincere and specific.

The result — every person that proceeded down the aisle had a smile on their face.  (Ok, 2 terminally cranky guys on the cell phones didn’t seem to realize they were in the presence of greatness — but every one else got it.)   That’s a full flight of people who are already won over by this professional, genuine, charming individual.  Mind you, our flight had been held on the ground for an hour prior to boarding.  And, with all that’s going on with flying right now, winning over passengers is a huge challenge.

Ms. Jackson, just by being herself, shifted the experience with one quick interaction.   And, she also seemed to have a similar affect on her co-workers — who were all following her lead.

A big disclaimer — traveling on Continental isn’t always a joy ride for me.   But today’s experience is a great reminder that we all just want to be treated with a degree of care and we all love good service provided by someone who excels at their job.

Life is a series of events, and for many of us a series of travel experiences. I wish you all safe travel experiences and hope that you get to fly with Ms Jackson soon.