Behind the Scenes-Revealed!

A friend and fellow CMP (Certified Meeting Professional) recently shared one of her previous event experiences with me. I thought I’ve had a variety of adventures in event planning in my days, but this was a new one for me. She was asked to plan an eighth-grade graduation party. A surprise party from one of the classmates to her friends. No big deal here…except that she was planning the entire event from conception to execution on television.

As part of a TV show on the Food Network^(TM), Joanne Dennison, CMP, was asked to be the planner for an eighth grade girl named Nora, who was new to the school. She wanted to thank her new friends for making her feel so welcomed and accepted by throwing the entire class a surprise graduation party. It’s been a few years since this show aired, but it was great to see the planning process unfold before our very eyes. I actually think this type of show needs to be done annually so people can see the evolving nature of events; the technology, planning tools, and attendee demands to say the least.

I’m sure many of the details that went into planning this party were lost on the watchers. The narrator did an ok job of pointing out some of them, however, there were things I noticed that I’m sure very few others would appreciate. To select the theme for the party, Joanne spent time speaking with Nora to capture the essence of their class, things they liked, and what they were doing at the time. She chose a groovy, retro, brightly-colored theme. Joanne rocked the menu by selecting age-appropriate, single-serving fun foods that were separated into stations. Activities were planned to keep high-energy teenagers busy and engaged throughout the event. The class was surprised and everyone seemed to have a really good time.

The show followed Joanne as she visited a lighting supply company to see what types of lights would create the best party atmosphere. She shopped at thrift stores to find retro party supplies and decorations for the room. Joanne went to a local bakery to discuss what type of cake should be served for the occasion, and she also consulted with a chef to create a fun, unique activation where the students would build their own stir fry dish that they’d receive in cute Chinese to-go boxes with chop sticks.

Besides what was shown on TV, there had to be a visit to a party rental company for pipe & drape, tables, and chairs. Disposable plates, plasticware, and drinkware along with party favors, decorations, tablecloths, and game supplies all had to be purchased. Waitstaff, a caterer, a photographer, and other event staff had to be engaged. You know there were multiple emails and phone calls, options to present, and decisions to be made. And, all of this had to be coordinated in a small town while trying to keep it under wraps from 40 eighth graders and their families. Oh, and a camera crew followed Joanne everywhere.

I would have loved to have been at the party. Joanne transformed a basement middle school cafeteria into a retro dance club. The room was surrounded in lime colored pipe & drape and the stations looked like they came straight from the 60’s with their brightly-colored fabrics and beads. Students ate whimsical hotdogs, hamburgers, chicken fingers, and mozzarella sticks in fun cups and containers. They played games, wrote graduation notes to each other, and danced for hours.

Whoever thought of showing the planning of an event on television from beginning to end must have been an event professional at some point. Brilliant to show a glimpse of what goes on “behind the curtain” to bring events to fruition. And who better to show the world how to do it than Joanne.

Have you had the chance to showcase your planning skills to others like this? Share your story here or send me an email. I’d love to hear it!

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