Campesina Radio - Cinco de Mayo event

This is my first event that I am by myself with all the responsibility. I was involved in the planning, setting, coordinating and pick up for this event. I was on site all day Friday for the set up. The event was Saturday and Sunday, I had staffing during the event which I coordinated during the event. Monday I made sure all of our equipment was picked up and follow up with the client.

It was 4 long days but the event was a success, the client was happy and I prove to myself that I am ready to take on the event manager position offered with this internship.

Wedding- April 25

I shadowed an event manager on a wedding up in Cibola Vista Resort. It was very private and small wedding. PROEM provided power and 4 halo lights. Our entertainment services crew were busy that weekend and we (the event manager and myself) decided to set up the halo lights ourselves. It was difficult due to the wind but we got it done and they looked nice. The wedding ended up moving indoors due to the wind getting stronger throughout the day. It was a great experience for me to learn to set up halo lights.

Before 5 de Mayo events

I have been getting ready for the 5 de Mayo events. One of the biggest event this weekend is the Campesina Radio on Saturday and Sunday. As I met with the client this week, one of their biggest concern is the swine flu. Most of the groups are coming from Mexico and might cancel last minute due to the spread of the flu. As of today none of the bands have confirmed and this will make the event. Also depending on how the spread is in Arizona, the entire event might get cancelled. If we stay on track and the event is happening I will be out on site Friday all day for set up and Saturday and Sunday during event.

We are also doing some of the local bars and parties around the valley for this weekend celebration.

Salsa Challenge - Tempe Beach Park

I was helping with the set up for the Salsa Challenge on Friday at Tempe Beach Park. It was a challenge because the client was a little nervous due to the past event manager no longer being with us. He was the main contact with the company and had done the event every year. We took care of what she needed us to be done but it was not easy. We needed to make sure we gained the trust of the client.
It was a great learning experience and I got to use my customer skills :) with the client. The event is today, I had to do a set for another job and could not be there for the actual event. I made sure I left a trusty substitute and the client was comfortable with our event coordinator.

the set ran smoothly and last time I checked the event is running smoothly aswell and the client is happy, which is the main thing.

Back to "Event Manager Role"

The operations manager of the equipment services is back and now I can concentrate on training as an Event Manager. Pride Event is one of the biggest events we provide equipment for. I was involved in the planning and setting for that event. The event was on Saturday and Sunday. We started setting up on Tuesday. It was very time consuming and a great learning experience. I enjoyed working along with our best crew out on site. I was very impressed by how we all came together and made this event possible. The event was a success and I am proud to say that I was part of that event.

Operations Manager - Equipment Services

Our operations manager got married this past weekend and I was asked to fill in for him while he was gone. He left on Tuesday 7th and will be back on the 24th of this month. At first I was unsure to take this responsibility due to all of my other duties. I try to take this opportunities and get the most out of them. I took the challenge and yes it is more work but I am learning the most I can. The operations manager for the equipment services is in charge of the equipment and operation associates. Basically our sales excecutives sale the job, our event coordinators/event managers get with our operations managers of each service involved and make sure the equipment needed is scheduele for delivery and set. The operations managers route the jobs and takes care of scheduling associates and making sure the equipment is delivered where it needs to go. It's a challenge because I still have to go to events as an event coordinator and make sure I still supervise the Customer Service Representatives for equipment and ecology services plus this new responsibility. I know it sounds crazy but I am enjoying every bit of it. I am learning so much and I only think that this knowalage will make me much more stronger in the field as an event coordinator.

I will be very busy the next couple of weeks but it will only help me learn so much more :)

Bike Week- Kick off party

Wed 25 and Thurs 26 I was at the set for the Harley Davison Bike Week kickoff party that will happen today (Friday). PROEM provided tents, tables/chairs, small stages. It was a two day set, on Wed we set most of the tents and Thursday was the rest of the equipment. It was challenging due to the high wind. We had to move some equipment around and the wind made it very difficult for us. I will be going out of town and will not get to be at the actual party to make sure the client is happy and doesnt need anything else from us. One of the best parts I think is; seing how an event is "born". We start with a simple parking lot, you wouldnt think you can fit most equipment in there, but that's were we come in. Once the event is rolling you dont event notice that you are standing in a "simple" parking lot. I think I am in the right business, because standing there in the middle of the craziness and seeing everything finish and in action, gives me joy and I forget that I was out there standing in the sun for two long days, tierd and sunburned. :)

F1 Racing - Rockabilly Festival

March 19 - 22 I got to work at the F1 Racing - Rockabilly Festival. It was a 2 day set up, Thursday all day and first half of Friday. The event was Friday night, Saturday and Sunday all day. PROEM did everthing out there; tents, tables/chairs, fence, porta johns, audio and video, stages, power and security. It was the client's first event at that facility, so we did run into some challenges.. We had to constantly change around equipment due to all 4 people in charge did not agree. Finally the event manager and myself went to the owner and went with his decisions instead of trying to please all 4 of them. The set was impressive, I have done other events when we have all equipment out there, but I always get impressed on how fast and detailed our associates set the equipment. It's hot out there and I know I would not be able to do it, or will probably give up. So I have much respect for out associates and try to help as much as I can. Once the event started, the client did not get as many attendees as expected, it was dead all weekend. Which as a new client doing their first event, it's not bad that it wasnt a great success. It is difficult going to the client to get payment when you know that they did not make enough money to at least break even on their event, and over order equipment. The good thing is that they now know what they did wrong and will probably not need as much equipment for the next time they have one of this types of events. Part of our job is to communicate with the client and help out with our inpunt on what equipment and how much to get, but if the client has their own ideas and do not take our suggestions, we are not going to argue with them. "Client First Philosophy"

St. Patricks Day

On St Patricks day I was at Westgate for their event. PROEM did everything out there that day, fence, stage, tables/chairs, audio (for stage), power and security. I was shadowing one of the Event Managers assigned for this job from start to finish. It was a long day but I had the opportunity to see how all the pieces of an event come together. We did had some chalenges. Some of our staffing was there late and the event manger and myself had to figure out what to do while standing on post and switching out from time to time. It is very different to work with people as to work with equipment. Overall, the client was happy and the event was a success.

State Cheer

This past weekend I worked at the state cheer at the state fair grounds. I was there on Friday from 9 am to 10:30 pm and on Saturday at 7 am to 10 pm. 2 long days, my job was to help sell videos. Our entertainment department did all of the Audio and Video for the event. I got to see how the entertainment side works. It was interesting and I got to talk to alot of people about what we do as a company. It was also my first time ever going to an event like this, I was impressed with the cheers/dance and stunts the high school teams performed. Overall, I learned and enjoyed at the same time.

Spring Training

On Sunday I work at the opening game for spring training at the new stadium on Camelback and 117ave. It was a long day but I learned alot. I had to be there early (7am) to make sure all of our equipment was staged correctly. We had some special requests from the client and we were able to get them done. Once the gates were open for parking, I was out there with our staffing helping them park cars. It was a challenge since everyone wanted to get in and out of their cars as soon as possible. This is not my first time parking cars at an event, I've learn that people arent as patient as we think :). Once the game started and everyone was in the stadium, I had to do an inventory of all of the equipment we had out there. We had alot of additions and we need to make sure we bill the client correctly. I also helped stage the egress plan to get cars out of the parking lots. Egress is easier than Ingress, so it went by faster. Once we got all the cars out we had to pick up our equipment and release our staff. It was a long day, but personally that's how I learn the best, by being out there in the middle of all the action....

take a quick break!!!!

Since the beginning of my internship I have been very busy and have not been able to take a break. I am still a "Client Support Representative - Manager" for the equipment services and in training to be an Event Coordinatior/Event Manager. Basically as I mentioned at the beginning of my internship. My company has merged with 3 other event companies. This means growth and other opportunities. Before the merge - as a Manager of the Client Support Representative, I was responsible for the equipment services and had 2 individuals I overseed. Now, I am transitioning to be an Event Coordinator/Event Manager and that places me outside of the office and on the field. Is more hands on and at the events. I still have to take care of my responsibilities as an CSR Manager for equipment until all of the companies are unified and everyone is on the same page. To make it short, I am getting more that I asked for. I am learning alot and at the same time enjoying what I do. I spend half of the day at the office and the other half out at events. It's great that I get to experience the event industy to its fullest being involved on the administrative side as well on the action side!!!!
It's slowing down a bit due to the recent economy, which gives me somewhat of a breather. My goal for the next month is to fully trained the Client Support Representative Manager on the equipment side of it and get more involved with the Event Coordinating part of it. I will be busy and learning from different services while getting trained, that it will help me grow with the company.