New video: JAPAN

How I Packed for a Three Month World Trip

June 8th, 2015

Update August 9, 2015: I’m back! I’ve updated the following post with a few more details, images and tips gleaned from my travels. Also, here’s a wishlist with all of the mentioned items that are available on Amazon.

I had a few free weeks to prepare for my three month round the world trip. My eyes were set on a backpack: the Patagonia Black Hole 35L pack. I thought it’d be just the right size, water-resistant and carry-on appropriate. When I stopped by the Soho Patagonia store, a friendly fellow named Kyle greeted me. Kyle worked on a boat and spent the off-season working retail as well as doling out welcome advice to newbies like me. When I asked him if he had any packing tips, he paused and chose his next three words very carefully, “moisture wicking underwear.”

I knew I wanted to pack light because my travels involved only a few days in most cities. I’d be on the move through almost two dozen cities. That said, I also needed to prepare for both warm and cold climates since I’d be hitting the Northern and Southern hemispheres. After a few days of research and a few hours of shopping, I whittled down my gear to the 9.2kg (20.5lb) you see above. Here’s what I packed.

By the way, this post contains a handful of affiliate links. I was in the middle of writing when I realized I could get rich if hundreds of thousands of people purchased moisture wicking underwear using my links. Learn more.

 

Clothing

“If you can’t get more than two wears out of it, don’t bring it.”
—Guy at Patagonia Store in Soho

 

Electronics & Accessories

Kevin in Buenos Aires

That green Hikpro collapsible backpack is the business. Photo taken in Buenos Aires by my friend, Ema.

 

Toiletries

 

A few bonus packing tips

Did I miss anything?

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Airport Shuffle

April 23rd, 2015

I had a few hours to kill at Denver International Airport before my flight back to New York. Usually, I’m the guy that falls asleep the moment his head hits the seat, especially on a red-eye. Something about sharing a mode of transportation with other people—train, plane, automobile—is like a sweet lullaby.

Nevertheless, I recently nabbed a new point and shoot camera (a refurbished PowerShot S110 chosen solely based on Casey Neistat’s recommendation) to record video footage on my upcoming travel sabbatical (travatical?).

Here’s the result when you combine an early trip to the airport, a sprinkle of boredom and a couple of hours in the air. Enjoy.

Music: Rihanna – Stay (Branchez Bootleg)

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Tomorrow is my last day at CreativeMornings

March 19th, 2015

Kevin Huynh onstage with a microphone

Barking orders at the CreativeMornings Summit in Brooklyn, October 1, 2014.

The first CreativeMornings I attended was on April 22, 2011. Craig Mod spoke in San Francisco, CA, and I remember getting chills as he described flying into Japan immediately after the 2011 earthquake.

As I sat there, I had no idea that I’d soon move to New York as employee #1 at CreativeMornings Headquarters and spend most of my waking moments thinking about what this organization could become.

Kevin at CreativeMornings SF in 2011

Me at my first event, April 2011 at Typekit in San Francisco.

I’m a problem solver at heart. I chose to start my career this way because I wanted to dig in to my work, hands-on, in-the-trenches, truly invested in each decision. As Tina’s #2, I got to do that. I got to do all of that. Creatively, I was trusted far beyond my expectations.

Together over three and a half years, we nurtured the community from four to 109 cities. We launched a successful Kickstarter, assembled a passionate full-time HQ, rebuilt creativemornings.com, joined forces with Official Partners and hosted the first global Summit. We built a box and amazing people in almost 50 countries filled it with hours of dedication and thoughtfulness. What we’re left with is this bursting network of creative people who care about their cities and—lucky for the rest of us—are brave enough to do something about it.

CreativeMornings 2011 vs 2015

Everyone has the capacity to be creative. I love the definition of creativity supplied by the Kelley Brothers at IDEO. It’s simple: “using your imagination to create something new.” But what we have to keep in mind is that any creative process demands courage. Putting your ideas into the world is an inherently vulnerable act and doing it over and over again can be a very lonely endeavor. To me, that’s part of why CreativeMornings took on a life of its own. A safe, accessible space to get inspired, discuss challenges, and entertain the “what ifs” alongside others eases that incredibly worthwhile pursuit.

Late last year I sensed it was time for a new chapter in my own creative pursuit, and quickly Tina and the team provided their full support. I love this organization and the people that it convenes, but I found myself ready for a change, a new environment with new stimuli. The months of transition have led up to tomorrow, CreativeMornings with Paula Scher at MoMA which will be not only my final event as an organizer but also my last day as COO of the CreativeMornings mothership.

“The more creative you are, the more trouble you’re in.” — George Lois

Thank you Tina for your unmatchable compassion and trust in me. Thank you Craig for the ongoing mentorship and final nudge to move to New York. Thank you Sally for being my CM rock. Thanks to everyone who contributed to CM/HQ and every single organizer, speaker, partner, venue and barista that helped push CreativeMornings forward. CM has incredible plans and an incredible team to take them through 2015 and beyond. It was an honor to help lay the groundwork.

Organizers at the CM Summit

Organizers from around the world at the MoMA, October 3, 2014.

As far as what’s next, I’ve kept it open. After three years working full steam ahead, I’ve decided to stop and think. I anticipate travel, a few personal projects and many conversations. So for now I’ll just say, best of luck in your own creative endeavors. I’ll see you along the way.

 

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If I Lived On A Plane

January 17th, 2015

A plane's trail in the sky
If I lived on a plane,
I hope I don’t sit in front of an exit row.
A seat that can’t recline would give my neck a strain.

If I lived on a plane,
I may have to splurge for first class, for
Fashioning tools with plastic cutlery would sure be a pain.

If I lived on a plane,
I’d turn one bathroom into a shower.
Load up on hand soap and use the toilet as a drain.

If I lived on a plane,
I’d do shuttle runs up and down the aisle,
Pull-ups from the exit signs—whatever it takes to train.

If I lived on a plane,
I’d stash every blanket in two overhead bins,
My own secret fort bed to break through the mundane.

If I lived on a plane,
I’d experiment with food options.
Mini-OREO-and-Goldfish-cracker-cereal? Fuel for my brain.

If I lived on a plane,
Things may get a bit crazy. I might shred safety cards
And string’em together with floss—a lion’s mane.

If I lived on a plane,
I’d make a collage of SkyMall products,
Dedicating a mural in the cockpit to The Rock, Johnson comma Dwayne.

If I lived on a plane,
I’d tune every radio to the same station,
Crank the volume, and bust out the Tito’s: a party in the cabin so insane.

If I lived on a plane,
I’d be sure to catch the sunrise each morning.
Kick back to that view from 30,000 feet? Can’t complain.

If I lived on a plane,
It may actually get pretty comfortable.
Lots of new friends and all that…recycled air. On second thought, let’s refrain.

 

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‘The Ultimate Action Movie’

December 6th, 2014

Regal Cinemas

You settle into your plush stadium seat, dead center, fourth row up. Arm rests down, there’s a half-cherry-half-Coke Icee with two straws in the cupholder to your left and a $6 box of Junior Mints to your right. The pre-movie featurettes rotate onscreen, your cue to start dipping those pretzel bites into their atomic-yellow cheese sauce. Nothing naturally occurring on Earth is that yellow, but hell, it’s part of the experience.

Minutes disappear—along with two thirds of your extraterrestrial snack food—and then, the lights dim. The crowd quiets as you take a long, double-barrel draw on your Cherry Coke slush.

Trailers.

Trailers, trailers, trailers.

Anticipation builds.

Trailers, trailers. Is this the last one?

Trailers. Nope.

Trailers, trailers. When will this end?

Trailers, trailers, trailers. Just kidding, I like trailers.

Trailers, trailers.

Right as you feel the moment may never come, the room goes dark. Black curtains slowly glide apart to reveal the widescreen.

Silence falls across the audience, only interrupted by a faint crunch of popcorn and a few comical slurps of soda. You can taste the excitement in the air.

Welcome to “The Ultimate Action Movie.”

If I made The Ultimate Action Movie…

You know it’d come out the gate with a high impact opening scene. A dozen movie trailers have hypnotized your audience into a calm steady state at this point. They’ve likely finished $13.50 worth of snacks and nestled into whatever preconceived notion of what the upcoming 126 minutes will entail. Translation: it’s the perfect time to knock’em off their block. I’m talking “Fast & Furious” (the fourth in the series). Vin Diesel stomps on the accelerator, gunning a 1987 Buick GNX beneath a flaming oil tanker as it flips through the air, preserving just inches of clearance.

Fast & Furious (2009)

Mission Impossible III (2006)

I’m talking the first fight scene of “Haywire.” In a split second, friendly diner banter transforms into Gina Carano utterly dismantling Channing Tatum. Two words: arm bar. And who could forget “Mission Impossible III?” Fade in from black. Tom Cruise is strapped into a chair amidst an interrogation. Captors threaten his wife with a gun. “Where is it? Where the hell is it?!” barks Phillip Seymour Hoffman (RIP). Oh you don’t know, Tom? Say goodbye to your ladyfriend. Gun shot. “NOOoo…” [cue opening credits]

Obviously, acting in “The Ultimate Action Movie” would be top notch. Remember that scene in “Gladiator” where Russel Crowe takes off his mask in the coliseum?

[removes helmet and turns around to face Commodus]

“My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions and loyal servant to the TRUE emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next.”

[Commodus trembles in disbelief]

–Maximus, “Gladiator” (2000)

Bottle that sh*t up and multiply it by a thousand. We’d win numerous Academy Awards. Audience members will lose their minds over the sheer number of A-list actors sharing screen time. (Think “The Departed” not “The Expendables”). Christian Bale would deliver the highest Bale-caliber acting (minus the Batman voice). Tom Hardy would serve up a “Bronson”-level performance. Denzel would captivate moviegoers with his best showing since “Training Day.”

Gladiator (2000)

X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)

Actors would get Hugh Jackman jacked, lose extreme weight a la “Sixth Sense” Donnie Wahlberg, and spend months method acting characters. The audience would laugh, cry, shutter, gasp, heave, faint, twitch, implode, you name it.

If I made “The Ultimate Action Movie,” the story would be mind-bending. If “Inception” had layers, this movie would have layers on layers. It’d be an onion of Inceptions, a matryoshka doll of cinematic surprises, the turducken of plot twists.

Inception (2010)

The Matrix (1999)

I revisited “The Matrix” for the first time in years, and as the opening credits flashed across the screen, a feeling of concern washed over me. Would this movie hold up? Is it still the film that middle school Kevin watched 11 times on the plane during his first family trip to Asia?

“I know Kung Fu.”

–Neo, “The Matrix” (1999)

The Matrix (1999)

Just as fear was about to get the best of me, Trinity rose up like a marvelous, hell-bent crane in the opening sequence and all was right in the world. “The Matrix” unequivocally held up. All of it—the characters, the plot, the suspense. Who knows, “The Ultimate Action Movie” may even be adapted from an immeasurably kickass novel. Great stories are hard to come by, but if we’re making a book into a movie, you know damn well we’re going to be “The Lord Of The Rings,” not an “Ender’s Game.” Regardless, “The Ultimate Action Movie” is built on a story that has lasting power. It has longevity. It stands the test of time.

And the action in “The Ultimate Action Movie?” You’ll have to see it to believe it. We’ll trade in the Michael Bay “Transformers” explosions for good ol’ fashioned stunts. Real stunts. Close your eyes and relive that feeling when you witnessed Jackie Chan actually leap off of a building onto an adjacent fire escape in “Rumble in The Bronx.”

Rumble In The Bronx (1995)

The Fast and the Furious (2001)

Parkour? No-brainer. Sprinkle in a James Bond “Casino Royale” Madagascar chase sequence with a little “Bourne Ultimatum” rooftop scamper. And, let’s not even get started with the fight scenes. Dear Lord, we all knew you were waiting for that Dwayne Johnson Vinny D. face-off in “Fast Five.” Well, picture that, then blow it out of the water after we add some impeccable martial arts wire work, paying homage to the likes of “Iron Monkey” or Jet Li’s “Once Upon a Time in China.”

If I made “The Ultimate Action Movie,” the soundtrack would light your brain on fire. I’d do what Pharrell did for “Despicable Me” but in a film that replaces all of those yellow mini monsters with ass kicking. Have you listened to the “Drive” soundtrack? The music alone is reason enough to see Ryan Gosling take names in that sweet jacket. We’d go “TRON” on this project.

Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

Partner up with a Daft Punk equivalent (if one such band exists) to deliver an unprecedented original score. Even if we can’t throw down tracks from scratch, we can at least establish a killer movie mix. “Guardians of the Galaxy” boasts the first soundtrack at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 100 to only be composed of previously released songs. That’s what I call good taste.

“The Ultimate Action Movie” is hilarious, like a classic buddy-cop flick. If I could replicate 2% of the onscreen chemistry shared by Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker in “Rush Hour 2,” we’d be in good shape. Hell, “The Ultimate Action Movie” probably has Jackie Chan and Christ Tucker in it. The 1997 cult classic, “The Fifth Element,” may however be the true holy grail of action-comedy. Bruce Willis and Chris Tucker are untouchable.

Rush Hour (1998)

The Fifth Element (1997)

What could be better than a former major in the special forces turned flying cab driver in 2263 coming out of retirement to team up with a futuristic talk show host that has a bleached fro in the shape of a microphone in order to save the world from a giant ball of evil black fire. Do we even need to mention how the costume design was done by Jean Paul Gaultier? What?!

Villains in “The Ultimate Action Movie” would be unforgettable. The late Heath Ledger as “The Joker” in The Dark Knight epitomizes movie evil. For such an outrageous character set in a comic book world, the performance was so convincing, hence even more frightening. I prefer my bad guys ruthless, surprising, and efficient. Sprinkle in a little silver fox Tom Cruise from “Collateral,” a relentlessly efficient hitman. Take a slice of the quietly haunting retired Thai cop slash killing machine played by Vitaya Pansringarm in “Only God Forgives.”

The Dark Knight (2008)

Jot down a few notes from Ben Foster’s sinister role as a kidnapper in the 2005 B. Willis flick, “Hostage.” The best villains take you on a chilling ride, holding you at the edge of your plush cinema seat until the last moment.

The ending of “The Ultimate Action Movie,” boy the ending, what can I say? The ending would be like nothing ever seen. Do you remember what it felt like to fixate your eyes on the spinning top duing the final scene of “Inception” for the first time? Did you recover all of the remaining brain shards after your mind exploded at the end of “The Prestige?”

Inception (2010)

Have you ever seen anything more satisfying than a restrained “Live Free or Die Hard” Bruce Willis killing the bad guy by shooting a gun through the bullet wound in his own shoulder? The ending of “The Ultimate Action Movie” will turn you upside down and shake you senseless, leaving you as a parched mass of brain mush thirsty for more.

Most importantly, “The Ultimate Action Movie” is unapologetically what it’s meant to be, an action movie. “The Rock” solidifies itself among the action movie elite because it has no disillusions with regards to its cinematic identity: a no frills, Bay Area based, cheesy-quote-slinging quirky duo action flick. Sean Connery delivers as a badass spy game retiree and Nicolas Cage pretty much plays himself. End of story.

Commander Anderson: Have you ever been in a combat situation?

Goodspeed: Define combat, sir.

Commander Anderson: Shep?

LT Shepherd: An incursion underwater to re-take an impregnable fortress held by an elite team of US Marines in possession of 81 hostages and 15 guided rockets armed with VX poison gas.

Goodspeed: Oh. In that case, no, sir.

–“The Rock” (1996)

It doesn’t matter that it received a 66% on Rotten Tomatoes. “The Rock” doesn’t care because “The Rock” is true to itself. Likewise, “The Ultimate Action Movie” stands tall in the face of scrutiny.

Independence Day (1996)

Gladiator (2000)

A Blockbuster beacon of action, it scoffs at the try-to-hards and the wannabes. “The Ultimate Action Movie” expands with all of the “Transporter”-car-chasing–“Pitch Black”-monster-slaying–“Book of Eli”-machete-wielding–“True Lies”-horseback-riding–“Independence Day”-alien-punching–“Equilibrium”-double-gun-toting–“Captain America”-shield-throwing–“300”-hole-kicking creamy goodness movie magic has to offer and jams it into a neatly packaged, easily digestible 126 minute hurricane presented for you–in your triple plush reclinable stadium seat, equipped with two arm rests and a XL Icee–to sit back, relax and enjoy.

The End.

[Cue post credits movie sequel teaser]

Movie mentions (in order of reference):

  1. “Fast & Furious” (2009)
  2. “Haywire” (2011)
  3. “Mission Impossible III” (2006)
  4. “Gladiator” (2000)
  5. “The Departed” (2006)
  6. “The Expendables” (2010)
  7. “Batman Begins” (2005)
  8. “Bronson” (2008)
  9. “Training Day” (2001)
  10. “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” (2009)
  11. “The Sixth Sense” (1999)*
  12. “Inception” (2010)
  13. “The Matrix” (1999)
  14. “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” (2001)
  15. “Ender’s Game” (2013)
  16. “Transformers” (2007)
  17. “Rumble in the Bronx” (1995)
  18. “Casino Royale” (2006)
  19. “Bourne Ultimatum” (2007)
  20. “Fast Five” (2011)
  21. “Iron Monkey” (1993)
  22. “Once Upon A Time In China” (1991)
  23. “Despicable Me” (2010)*
  24. “Drive” (2011)
  25. “TRON: Legacy” (2010)
  26. “Guardians of the Galaxy” (2014)
  27. “Rush Hour 2” (2001)
  28. “The Fifth Element” (1997)
  29. “The Dark Knight” (2008)
  30. “Collateral” (2004)
  31. “Only God Forgives” (2013)
  32. “Hostage” (2005)
  33. “The Prestige” (2006)*
  34. “Live Free or Die Hard” (2007)
  35. “The Rock” (1996)
  36. “The Transporter” (2002)
  37. “Pitch Black” (2000)
  38. “The Book of Eli” (2010)
  39. “True Lies” (1994)
  40. “Independence Day” (1996)
  41. “Equilibrium” (2002)
  42. “Captain America: The First Avenger” (2011)
  43. “300” (2006)

*Technically not what I would consider an action movie.

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In One Room: Reflecting on the first CreativeMornings Summit

November 5th, 2014

The CreativeMornings team


CreativeMornings Summit 2014, The Invisible Dog Art Center in Brooklyn, NY (Photo by Jérémie Fontana)

“If you laugh, you think, and you cry, that’s a full day. That’s a heck of a day. You do that seven days a week, you’re going to have something special.”

– Jimmy Valvano

This month, CreativeMornings plans to celebrate its 100th city. Somewhere, a group of volunteers will be granted with the license to start a “chapter,” and eventually that team will wake up bright and early to setup breakfast and open the doors to their first morning lecture.

I became the first employee of CreativeMornings Headquarters when there were monthly events in four cities: NYC, Zurich, LA and SF, with a charge to expand the organization. Today, volunteers in 42 countries host these mini-conferences for their local creative communities free of charge.

This work really came to a head for me last month when my team brought 200 of these event organizers to Brooklyn. Finally gathered in one room were the individuals that represent CM from Bogotá to Berlin. The Summit was filling, electric, and unforgettable. I laughed, cried, and–for the first time in a healthy bit–contemplated what this experience has amounted to.

The blur of those two and a half days was more jarring than I expected (in the best of ways). I still struggle to describe its personal significance. Bottom line, bringing these people together was an incredible reminder of what it means to connect face to face.

 

Here are my favorite moments that were captured at the 2014 CreativeMornings Summit by a variety of talented photographers: Bekka Palmer, Ace Boothby, Kait Ebinger, Jérémie Fontana, and Heriberto Noguera. Videos by Bas Berkhout and Ben Derico.

If you’re interested in learning more about this year’s Summit, read the official recap on the CM blog or check out Jérémie Fontana’s wonderful summary here.

 

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Less Obvious Lessons From The Last 50 Events I’ve Organized

October 18th, 2014

I’ve always found myself organizing events. From planning the dance to helping with concerts in college to the dozens of CreativeMornings lectures in the past few years, I gravitate towards the magic of the live show.

I landed in New York on July 4th, 2011. Based on a hasty calculation, I’ve had a hand in 50 events for about 15,000 attendees since my arrival, of course with the help and guidance of many fine folks. These events were mostly talks, a couple multi-day conferences, and a sprinkling of parties, with anywhere between 150-600 participants each.

Here are a few (potentially) less obvious lessons I’ve learned that have helped me keep my head on straight, survive the stress, and make the most of the experience.

The types of events I've worked on

Some of my favorite shots: (1) Hosting the “Rebel” CM at New York Public Library Feb. 2014, (2) “Color” event Sep. 2014, (3) David Kelley at The New School May 2014, (4) Kelli Anderson at XO Group Jul. 2012, (5) CM Summit After Party at Pioneer Works Oct. 2014, (6) Emilie Baltz at Galapagos Art Space Jun. 2013

 

1. Eat beforehand

When I’m hungry, I’m irritable. When I’m busy, I forget to eat. Poor combo. Do yourself a favor and make time beforehand to grab a bite. For the morning events, I wake up early to make breakfast. If you’re running late, I suggest assigning a friend the single responsibility of making sure you eat amidst the chaos.

A pro-tip I learned from Ryan who produces events at BAM: pack apple juice. Those slow, sugary calories will keep you standing.

People that aren't me enjoying delicious catered food.

People that aren’t me enjoying delicious catered food.

 

2. If something’s wrong on the stage, fix it

Speaker not holding the mic to his mouth? Say something. Confusion about how to use the clicker? Get up there and demonstrate. Weird object obstructing the camera’s view? Get that sh*t out of there. You don’t get any points for timidly sitting by, hoping a situation will remedy itself.

Nobody wants to see you cautiously approaching the stage in a moment of need. The audience would rather watch you quickly and confidently fix the issue. You must never hesitate. I learned that from Nickey who runs Preview Events and has handled over five years of production at the Times Center. She had no fear when it came to addressing a problem. Even if a speaker is mid-soliloquy, I say get up there and fix the lapel mic. The audience is begging for you to save the day.

 

3. Test the media. Test all of it.

I don’t care if every animated gif, Keynote sparkle animation and This Is Spinal Tap movie clip worked last night. This’ll be the best six minutes you spend before showtime. If there’s some sort of presentation or media involved, test all of it once the tech is setup. Better yet, test it with the speaker watching too.

Trust me, fumbling through your email in front of an audience while searching for that original .mov file is no fun.

A desperate Kevin in front of 200 people, hopelessly searching for missing video files that he imported improperly. CreativeMornings/NYC with Jamer Hunt, Sep. 2011. Issue was not resolved. Sigh.

A desperate Kevin in front of 200 people, hopelessly searching for missing video files that he imported improperly. CreativeMornings/NYC with Jamer Hunt, Sep. 2011. Issue was not resolved. Sigh.

 

4. If you forget someone’s name, own up to it.

You’re going to meet a lot of people, and you’re going to forget some names. That’s okay. Unless it’s a VIP (you should have done your homework), I say own up to it. “I’m so sorry, I’m blanking on your name,” is a great go-to. There are plenty of other tricks including the classic I’ll-intro-you-to-someone-else-and-listen-closely play but if all else fails, just be honest. In my experience, people will actually respect you if you’re genuine about it.

On the flip side, when approaching someone you’ve met a few times, make it easy for them. My boss loves it when people kick off a convo with their name and company (e.g. “Hey! I’m so-and-so from where-and-where”).

 

5. Dress up

“We’ve been working long nights for months all leading up to the next three days. There’s no way we’re gonna look like crap.”

Those were Devin’s poignant words when we were producing The Feast Conference in 2012. Dress up, buy new shoes, wear your favorite shirt. Whatever makes you feel unbeatable. Part of holding everything together is making sure you’re put together. You don’t want to be running around on game day looking ragged. You’ve worked so hard, make the moment count.

In my case, Devin literally took me shopping. I have to say, we looked great…even if we wore the same clothes two days in a row because we slept in the venue.

 

6. The best thing you can do at your event is participate

It’s not always possible, but if you can muster the free time, I believe a perfectly executed event means you’ve distributed responsibilities well enough to allow you (or whoever is heading the show) to meet, mingle, and participate in what’s going on. Ask questions to attendees, welcome sponsors, and nurture new relationships. That was something Bonnie, who’s produced TED and more, said when we worked together in 2012 that always stuck with me. Doesn’t that sound better than freaking out about every little detail until the room is empty again?

I like to think about the planning process like an asymptote. No matter how hard you work, you can never achieve “complete preparedness.” Eventually, further preparation leads to diminishing returns. You’re better off getting a good night’s rest to stock up some brain resources for the big day.

Event Planning Asymptote

The event planning asymptote: you’ll never be 100% ready.

 

7. Make a habit of celebrating with your team

Honestly, I’m not a great celebrator. When I’m left to my devices, it ends up being work work work work work. However, I’ve learned a bit about the importance of celebrating a job well done. A team deserves to decompress, debrief, and enjoy each other’s company outside of a stressful showtime environment. It doesn’t have to be fancy. Maybe just start with a regular meal or drinks following an event. Together, you’ve completed a goal. Mark that moment, and make some time to be proud of what was accomplished.

Events can get a bit hectic, no doubt. But that’s part of the thrill. There will always be a crunch time and eventually it will be all over. Finished, fineto, cold stop.

Work your tail off, get some sleep, and enjoy the ride. If all else fails, at least you’ll learn some valuables lessons along the way.

 

Credit: Event photos by Bekka Palmer, Erin Sparling, Julia Robbs & Ace Boothby

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👋 I'm Kevin Huynh, Head of Services at Substack,
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