The Fruits:

This Summer, the Wilsonwest team worked to launch a music program at Gateway High School: a distinguished San Francisco public charter school. Through community outreach, we outfitted the music room with drums, keyboards, a guitar, a sound system, music stands, and more. During a time when school funding is being slashed, it was exciting to add a great jazz program to the electives at Gateway. We were thrilled to receive word this week with an update on the new program:

“I am happy to report that I got to hear the Gateway jazz band on Friday morning along with my colleagues, all faculty, and staff. They were awesome! What a wonderful class – thanks to you and your hard work to lift this off the ground. Now they are being courted to play everywhere and at everything.”

- Tina McGovern, Director of Development at Gateway High School

Special thanks to Daniel Swan of Swan Entertainment, Dawn Richardson (Drummer extraordinaire), and Nick Rossi for your donations of equipment and instruments for the program.

We hope you will consider making a donation to this amazing school via their website.

The Flowers:

And, thanks to our client Cisco, we spread a little cheer in Southern California as well:

“Thanks so much for the October 22, 2009 flower donation following your Four Seasons San Diego event! As a result of your donation, we were able to deliver 18 arrangements and 12 succulent wreaths to the VA San Diego Medical Center. We were also able to use the loose flowers to create 3 centerpieces and to supplement another donation which was delivered to the UCSD Medical Center. The staff at both facilities were thrilled to accept such a lovely donation and told us the flowers are a wonderful treat for the patients!”

I love this organization! Got flowers? Call Blooms from the Heart to share flowers from your event.

And last, but definitely not least…

The Vegetables:

Our team spent an afternoon at the San Francisco Food Bank this week sorting through 15,800 lbs. of cucumbers. Our hosts at the Food Bank advised us that every pound of food connects to a meal for four people. Meaning, our efforts effectively touched the lives of over 50,000 San Franciscans. Donating your time at the Food Bank offers both immediate gratification and a great opportunity for casual conversation with your colleagues. It’s a great (and free) team-building event with immediate results!

admin The Wilsonwest Way Add new tag, culture, food, green

When producing an event, you rely heavily on time-lines, production schedules, and endless checklists.  It’s all in the details. These tools are logical, built on research and with precision, and are the foundation of a successful event.

Long before the “doors open”, I rely on my most trusted adviser: I take on the role as an imaginary event guest.   In character, I leave behind the checklists and follow my nose.  I imagine myself departing from home and arriving via car, public transportation, or on foot.  From here, I walk through every moment of what I might experience as a guest – from the mundane, like the location of coat check and bathrooms, to the exquisite – the lighting, mood, scents, and vibe.

How does the event feel, taste, look, delight, surprise and unfold?  Who will I meet and where will I dine?

Try it.  Choose a character, step into their shoes, and attend your next event all from the comfort of your home or office.  You will most certainly discover a detail or two that was left off the checklist.

admin The Wilsonwest Way Add new tag, events