SCE ‘s Jason Jani, struck a nerve with a lot of the attendees when he said that “75% of the people on this earth aren’t doing what they love everyday… That sucks.”  “Don’t just chase the dollar, chase the dream…  Don’t settle…”  It was clear why artists like Jay Z and Kanye West call on Jani when they are on tour.  His passion for “doing cool things for cool people” is currently unmatched in the mobile entertainment and event production field.  I loved the way his question, “Are you making excuses or are you all in?” came up in conversation and on twitter the rest of the day.  As I said on my Twitter… “I’m all in JJ!”

EPMEN 2012 Inspired by Instagram.... From Top Left- Glenn Roush, Strato Doumanis, Jay Thomson, Vincent Velasquez, Sean McKee, Erik Kent. From Bottom Left- Marcello Pedalino, Jayne Hallock, Mike Walter, Jason Jani

Lorenzo Araneo, host of Rockstar Podcast and devout Twitter fan, shared some heart-felt personal stories about why he and his family are loyal to particular brands in his Art of Social Marketing presentation.  After he and a few others in the audience got a little choked up, his points were easily made and accepted.  I really liked how Lorenzo wasn’t shy about sharing his affection and respect for his Italian heritage.  Araneo tells it like it is.

Always a crowd favorite, Elite’s Mike Walter, brought his usual dose of well-prepared wit and wisdom in a seminar called, 10 Things You Can Do To Have A Better Day.  In addition to stressing the importance of waking up early, exercising and eliminating distractions… he earned a tweet-worthy moment with “Health and fitness IS a time management solution.” Amen Michael!  Neen James would be proud.

After a post-EPMEN steak dinner, we did our best Reservoir Dogs impression. Strato Doumanis, Vincent Velasquez, Tony Tee Neto, Marcello Pedalino, Glenn Roush, Jeffrey Scott Gould, Mike Walter, Jason Jani

Many of us got to meet WedLock’s Jayne Hallock for the first time and picked up a few nuggets from her seminar on Blogging.  One in particular was the Yoast SEO Plugin recommendation for Word Press users.  Another was how to use Pinterest as a source for content and inspiration.  Jane also had some heads nodding when she said, “Your website is your business card; your blog is your personality.” And, when you are blogging, “sometimes about 100 words is enough.”     (-maybe next time. )  Hallock and seemingly everyone else in the entire world except me was dialed-in to Instagram too.  (Some of the cool filters that app offers was the inspiration for this entry’s photos).

Up and coming stars of the photography and cinematography world, Vanessa Joy and Rob Adams, offered some great tips for capturing event footage and testimonials with the latest DSLR equipment, software and technology.  Since MMP still uses a video camera from 1997 to record comments from our clients at the end of events, this seminar was extremely informative and timely.  We’ll be taking their advice soon and  upgrading to a DSLR camera with a 50mm 1.4 lens and a manfrotto 561bhdv-monopod.  Rob and Vanessa also shared ways to offer instant gratification to your clients.  This dynamic duo is making quite an impression on the workshop circuit.

If you were interested in Creating an Exceptional Customer Experience before the actual sale, Alan Berg had you covered.   Alan has a remarkable ability to take anything you do or say and within 5 minutes advise you how to do it and say it 10 times better.  On top of that, he knows how to take whatever you are currently doing for your prospects and rethink everything-  from the way you contact them initially to the way you respond to them when they call you back after shopping around.  Mr. Berg has some serious skills.

EPMEN 2012 B.I (Before Instagram) From Top Left- Glenn Roush, Strato Doumanis, Jay Thomson, Vincent Velasquez, Sean McKee, Erik Kent. From Bottom Left- Marcello Pedalino, Jayne Hallock, Mike Walter, Jason Jani

The country’s most lovable Emcee, Sean “Big Daddy” Mckee, took a day out of his ‘8 gigs a week’ schedule to host the festivities.   Show producer, Adam Skuba, deserves major kudos for the caliber of Monday’s line up and the over-all production;  especially considering that this was only his sophomore effort.  Special thanks to Adam, the EPMEN team, and all the sponsors (NJ Wedding, Bride Live, Elegant Bridal, Hurricane Productions, Screaming Lunatic, NJDJN, Sherman Specialty, NAME and ADJA) for their hospitality and support.

See ya next year!

My group at the Zappos tour. Treat others like royalty, feel like family. I could live with that.

After reading Gary Vaynerchuk’s, The Thank You Economy, I was inspired to read Tony Hsieh’s, Delivering Happiness…  After learning about Tony and how his extraordinary company, Zappos.com, offered friendly tours of the corporate headquarters in Las Vegas, Nevada, I knew a field trip was on the horizon.

As a result of some logistical good fortune, I was in Vegas last month with a group of dear friends from the special events, entertainment and production industry who also wanted to see this Zappos Culture that we heard and read so much about, in person.    Zappos turned out be the real deal and left our many of our heads spinning with traces of wonderment and unequivocal WOW.

Zappos Culture Book

In the Culture book that each guest receives at the end the tour, Thich Nhat Hanh writes, “The amount of happiness you have depends of the amount of freedom you have in your heart.”  To me, this quote encapsulates the Zappos.com mojo that fuels its uncharacteristically happy employees, appreciative customers and ridiculous numbers.  The Zappos team is given the freedom to make their workplace as comfortable as their living room, to be a little weird, to obsess over the customer- in a healthy way, to be inspired- not intimidated by the success of others, and to contribute beyond self through philanthropy and mentorship.  All of these core values, among many others, translate into daily WOW on a scale that was tough for a few of us to wrap our aspirational minds around.

Did you know it was possible to generate 12 million dollars in sales in one day?  Me neither.  Did you know that there’s a company out there that intentionally makes less profit each year so they can make the lives of their employees better instead?  Me neither.    And did you know that you can get paid to train for a job at Zappos and then get paid even more to quit if you don’t gel with the positive culture DNA that their looking for?  I did, because I read the book… but it was still impressive to hear it again nonetheless.

I'm not kidding, most of the employees looked this happy. It was so strange and beautiful at the same time.

I’ve learned a lot about branding over the past few years.  Zappos used to be known as a shoe company. Now, even though they still sell a gazillion shoes, they are known for their exemplary company culture and their laudable level customer service.  How does this happen?  When your employees feel like this… Here’s a Culture book excerpt from Stacy H., a six year Zappos veteran;

“Coming to work at Zappos is like going to visit Grandma’s house as a kid.  You are spoiled, you have fun and get fed.  At Zappos, we get fed so much that I am convinced that I will not lose any serious weight until the day I leave.  It makes me think about the letters people write when they have to leave.  Usually it is due to moving out of state, because, well, why else would you leave Zappos?  The e-mails are sent out to the entire floor to say goodbye to their work-family.  We typically throw a mini-happy hour for the person who is leaving and demand to see them back for visits.

This can't be right.

Our Zappos culture is more than just 10 ideas to live by, or a fun environment, or even happy customers.  It’s looking at those around you, those you will never see but hear their voice on the phone, or read their words in an e-mail, as family.  When you can see the world in this caring light, you become a better person and the joy spreads.  The Zappos culture is paying it forward to everyone that comes in contact with us.  Our vendors, our employees, our customers, and even our tours get joy out of the experience that is Zappos.  Thank God for Grandmas and Zappos!”

If you have a trip planned to Vegas and like the idea of going home with more than you came with-  do yourself, your team and your organization a favor and set up a tour.

Special thanks to Jodi Harris and Andy Ebon for setting up a day filled with joyful experiences.

As Tony likes to say, “Live in The WOW!”

Encore Gallery:

The Aussie Hostess with The Mostess: Neen James with Rachel Gordon and friends.

You know it’s going to be a great party when the hostess greets you at the door and offers you a beverage and a tattoo.

Super-Productivity expert and social media darling, Neen James, along with her Master of the Barbie and technology aficionado husband, Andy, held their annual Celebrate Australia soiree at their lovely home in Bucks County, Pa.

What makes a party fabulous?   First and foremost, it’s your guest list.  As I mentioned in the last post, 10 Tips for Celebratory Success, when you invite the people you care about and the people who care about you, the rest will fall into place. 

Neen & Andy (with a slice of homemade Pavlova Cake) Fresh fruit, meringue, cream and a crispy crust.. Bonzer!

Neen and Andy are connected to an eclectic group of cool people and thought leaders from all over the world.  The house was buzzing with teachers, lawyers, publicists, professional speakers, realtors, media specialists, marketing managers, designers, make-up artists, yoga studio owners, tech experts, and even one special event entrepreneur who got a golden e-ticket this year.

The vibe was ultra-friendly and positive.   Laughter was a constant-  as was a nice mix of aspirational conversation, trips down memory lane and a sprinkle of networking for potential collaborations… Just right for a festively-chic night out.

Neen tweeted her guests earlier in the week reminding them to “bring your appetite.”   I’m glad I took her advice and also ran an extra 3 miles in the morning.  The constant service of delectable Aussie-inspired appetizers featured; prawns on the barbie,  meat pies, sausage rolls, lamb chops and specialty quiches. The aromas were as delightful as the flavors.

Beké Beau showing her love for Neen and the Pavlova

Neen Knows:  If you’re planning a party and want to create an intimate affair but don’t want the potential stuffiness and conversational limitations that can result from a sit-down dinner, opt for a heavy menu of passed hors d’oeuvres instead.   When paired up with the right mixology offerings, this ‘freedom to mingle alternative’ to being a seating chart slave can really enhance your guest’s experience.

Neen and Andy also came through in what I call the “little things” department.  They decorated the house with Aussie flags, played some cool Aussie beats in the pool room, offered everyone temporary Aussie tattoos, and had an awesome ‘Best of Australia’ photo montage playing on their huge living room plasma screen.   The images were stunning! All of these elements combine to spark fun and interactive exchanges among your newly-introduced friends.

It was a pleasure meeting everyone in the fabulous network of Neen.  No matter who I encountered, everyone agreed that her ability to ignite people’s productivity on both a personal and professional level is uber-impressive.  If you think you can keep up, fasten your seat belt and follow her on twitter. @NeenJames

Special thanks to Neen and Andy for their generous hospitality and friendship.

Continued health, happiness and success!

Encore Gallery:

Murphy Grant preps his Boot Camp

Yesterday, Team Hyrdroworx re-visited the Y to film a promo for their X80 underwater treadmill and underwater Boot Camp.  We were treated to the instruction and inspiration of the University of  Kansas  Head Football Athletic Trainer and Director of Sports Medicine, Murphy Grant.  Murphy has a self-admitted reserved way about him until it’s time to kick your butt.  When his workouts begin, he expects nothing less than total focus and effort.  I loved it.

Grant  directed a series of underwater stations that featured various plyometric challenges, agility routines and strength circuits  with equipment specifically designed to get wet and complement the hydro-static resistance.  Participants also rode underwater recumbent bikes and ran on the X80 treadmill.

Nick Berra heats up the track

Speaking of the X80, runner extraordinaire Nick Berra made a special guest cameo as well at the video shoot.  I found out that Nick recently ran a 4:24 mile.  For those of you that don’t know just how freekin fast and impressive that is… just trust me.  It’s freekin fast and impressive!   When he’s not inspiring other runners to train harder and making them laugh, he makes a living as a professional pilot. Berra’s got that typical pilot cool swagger to ‘em.   The kind that makes you feel comfortable.  I could picture him calling back to the passengers on the radio and saying, “Hi, this is your captain speaking… it’s just a little lightning, thunder and severe turbulence..  Don’t worry about a thing.  I got this… I’m gonna get us there safely- just sit back and relax.”

Melissa Grosenstein, Marcello Pedalino and Nick Berra

Nick gave me and Melissa Grosenstein, a competitive triathlete who works for the Y, a few new interval workouts to try on the treadmill.  One in particular that stood out was in the style of Tabata.  In case you’re unfamiliar, Tabata training is 4 minutes of the highest, high intensity interval training for humans who seek out such things.  For this Tabata, Nick cranked up the hydro-jet frontal resistance and  then cranked up the speed dial to 10 out of 10.  The interval went like this;

1) 10 seconds of leaps  on your right foot

2) 10 seconds of leaps on your left foot

3) 10 seconds of sprinting to rest

** yes, you read that correctly!  Your rest is running as fast as the machine goes.

4) Repeat 7 more times for a total of 4 of the toughest, most exhilarating and most rewarding minutes of your life.

Team HyrdoWorx and Team Y (and a Tebow)

Of course, Nick did this and barely broke a sweat.  He was still able to make commentary for the camera throughout the shoot.  We were definitely in awe, but also annoyed… sorta-like when you see the Kenyans at mile 23 of the New York City Marathon seemingly un-phased by their own ridiculous output of energy and athleticism.

When it was time for Melissa and I to give it try, we gave it everything that we had.  By round 3, I was as fatigued as I thought I’d be for impersonating a gazelle trotting on the African plains.  By round 5, I felt like Apollo Creed when he tried to fight Drago.  By round 6, I was praying that they would yell “cut” for any reason whatsoever.  By round 7, I noticed that Melissa was still kickin’ ass and I refused to be beat by a girl.. no matter how great of a person or athlete she is.   By round 8, I had a Forest Gump-like  epiphany when he ran across the country and said to myself… ” I made it this far, I made as well keep on going.”

We both did, we both finished.  It was awesome!

Our heart rates were maxed out somewhere near 190-something! Melissa and I had just enough energy left for some high fives and a cool-down massage.  I’ll post the video when it comes out.

Special thanks to Bill Lamia, The Y’s CEO,  Kathy Fisher, The Y’s Aquatic Director, and Team HydroWorx for inviting me to participate in the promotion.

Continued health, happiness & success!

Michelle Lo Conte- Owner,Pink Comb Salon

Don’t you love it when you meet a person who loves their job?  Ok, for some folks, it’s annoying, but for many of us, we welcome the  contagious enthusiasm that oozes from their soul.

I present to you Exhibit A,  my long-time friend, Michelle Lo Conte.  Michelle’s father, Carmello, cut the hair of almost every guy who went to Indian Hills Hill School in the 80′s and 90′s.  Not only did Michelle follow in her father’s footsteps, she blazed her own trail and has become one of the wedding industry’s most sought-after beautification specialists.  

As many of you know, I like to feature both up and coming wedding professionals as well as established A-listers in the special event industry here on the MMP blog so we can all help each other provide or have the best of the best when the time comes.    After reading one of Michelle’s recent blog entries where she catered to a bride who sought Romance, Subtlety, and Simplicity, I knew exactly who this month’s spotlight would be on.

A recent Pink Comb bride, Jessica- Gorgeous!! photo by LoRusso Studios

*Check out Michelle’s bio:

“I have the coolest job ever: I get to make you feel like the most beautiful woman in the world on the most important day of your life. Weekend after weekend, My job allows me to travel all over the tri-state area visiting fabulous hotels, stunning reception venues and cozy homes, where I get to use my talents and skills to create something beautiful. It’s not just a profession, it’s my passion.

Since 2001, with a simple ad on craigslist, I have been providing onsite hair and makeup services for brides and bridesmaids throughout the tri-state area (www.idohairandmake-up.com) my parents met in cosmetology school, so I guess you can say the beauty business is “in my blood.” I knew how to French braid hair before I learned how to ride a bike! Hair styling and makeup artistry were two things that always came natural to me, so in conjunction with my fascination of the wedding industry; I have customized the career of my dreams!

I studied Hair, skincare, nails and make-up at Christine Valmy International in Pine Brook NJ and am a licensed Cosmetologist in the State of NJ and I also hold my BS in Journalism from St. John’s University.

Michelle in action on Jen & Chris' Wedding Day! Photo by: Neil van Niekerk

My salon, Pink Comb, which was built on the concept of the “pampered experience” that my clients experience on their wedding day, is conveniently located in Nutley, NJ.

I invite you all to come and visit me there and check out my bridal boutique fully stocked with gorgeous jewelry and headpieces as well as other wedding goodies! Check it out at www.pinkcombsalon.com

If there is anything I can help you with, please feel free to call me at 973 975 7070 or shoot me an email at michelleloconte@yahoo.com”

Best wishes and continued success Michelle!

The Grace Ormonde Weddings Collection

Above and beyond the inspirational artistry displayed on the pages of her new book, Grace Ormonde Weddings- “being in love never goes out of style,” it’s easy to see why people were lining up to pay $125 for her gorgeous coffee table collection piece last night when it also contains personal quotes like this…

“Ultimately, our ability to dream is what motivates us, and our ability to love is what sustains us.” – Grace Ormonde

After 10 years of documenting extraordinary weddings, producing bridal expositions and being the Editor-in-Chief of Wedding Style, (a seasonal magazine that features the luxurious sources for fashion, jewelry, lifestyle etc.), Ormonde designed a comprehensive work of art that includes her greatest hits and personal favorites within its pages.

From our little chat, Grace struck me as a kind soul who truly appreciates limitless possibilities with regard to aesthetics and the entrepreneurial spirit.  It didn’t surprise me when I learned later on that Grace’s family grew up in a modest home on the island of Terceria where the nearby ocean view supplied her with a lifetime of inspiration to draw from.

Grace Ormonde and Marcello Pedalino

People with a genuine love and appreciation for the positive energy and therapeutic qualities that the ocean offers seem to be kindred spirits.    Add a  little international, Latin or European flair to the mix and life is really good.  Order the book  .Follow Grace on Twitter

It was great to see some of New Jersey’s wedding and special event glitterati last night and  meet a few new rising stars who also came out for Grace’s signing;  Wedding Cinematographer Rob Adams,  Photographer Vanessa Joy, the owners of Bride Live- Jay Thomson & Mike Hernadez,  Photographer Ellen Marc, the design team for CW&I Andrea Daly & Kristin Badolato, Wedding Photo Journalist Jessica Lark, & Matthew & Kim Findlay from Crest Florist (the father and daughter team who had my favorite table design of the night.)

Special thanks to Allan Janoff, Nella, Jason & Marco from The Crystal Plaza for their continued support and gracious hospitality.  I’m delighted that MMP’s 2012  event calender has us returning for another exceptional collaboration.

Encore Gallery:

Colin Cowie delivers an impressive keynote and delights the masses at Biz Bash 2011

I’ve seen his impressive work on T.V and in magazines.  I’ve heard Oprah Winfrey sing his praises.  Now, thanks to the Biz Bash team, I’ve had the opportunity to catch Colin Cowie’s latest keynote presentation at this year’s expo in Manhattan.  One word…  WOW!

Not only is his portfolio uber-spectacular, he’s got the whole James Bond accent and personality-thing goin’ for him too.  This is especially notable when Cowie describes all of his favorite things with the textbook pronunciation of things like “Du Jour.”  For my fellow fashionistas out there, you’ll be happy to know that he dresses the part as well.  Like my friend, Michael Cerbelli, he represents the total package.

Whether or not you share my man-crush, there’s no denying the quality of the content and wisdom that Colin shared with the packed house.   These were a few of his tweetable moments…

Gi Gi plays along with Usher on electric violin. A sensual and elegant JDM (Jaw Dropping Moment)

“Fun, Style and Glamour rule my life.”

“If there is anybody who fuels the party, other than the DJ, it’s the mixologist.  “

“Bring value back through customer service.”

“Deliver Proactive service vs. Reactive service.   Always be thinking what they could be thinking.”

“Nothing happens without great teamwork and communication.”

‘Set one another up for success.”

“Passion is the fuel that helps us stand out from everybody else.”

Colin has launched a new empire called Colin Cowie Weddings.  If you are in the special events industry, you probably want to keep it on your radar, twitter feed and speed dial.

Maneesh Goyal & Robin Hall present the Big Idea Workshop to kick off the expo's educational programming

Rewinding to the first seminar of the day… Maneesh Goyal, President and Founder of MKG and Robin Hall, Vice President of Macy’s Parade kicked things off with “The Big Idea Workshop.”  They focused on brand building via ideation, propagation, amplification and ‘finessing the message’ once it’s out of your hands.  Maneesh, who was noticeably articulate and polished in his delivery, mentioned how he’ll sometimes just simply hop on youtube for inspiration.  If you heard some of his ideas, like a philanthropic take on My Super Sweet 16 or his Times Square Fashion Show, you went home after the expo and put “watch more youtube” on your daily to-do list.  Maneesh, like my friend, Jason Jani from SCE Event Group, stressed the importance of event capture so your brand can “live beyond” the actual event.

An incredible display of strength, balance and Wow from Traces opened the main stage

Robin Hall, who offered a healthy dose of laughter throughout his conversational contributions, gave our group of early risers a fascinating behind-the-scenes look into the world famous Macy’s Day Parade. Just the weather-related logistics, police and sanitation management, city permits, and dealing with the Mayor’s special event committee alone would be enough to scare away most producers… But the fact that Hall doesn’t really have to work with a budget while producing this event (which is pretty much unheard of), he keeps coming back to put together a magical day for the world to enjoy.

You’d think that Macy’s would be the gig that he enjoys the most or finds the most rewarding.  When in fact, Hall told us an endearing anecdote regarding a 100 year-old pipe organ from Philadelphia that he says is the “most gratifying” and “culturally significant” project he’s involved with.  Check out the Knight Foundation or Random Acts of Culture and you’ll know why.

A few tweetable moments from Maneesh and Robin…

“Newness is a requirement.”

Hall of Fame inductee- Cathi Culbertson from Forbes Media, with Biz Bash Editor in Chief- Chad Kaydo & Event Planner Extraordinaire, Marcy Blum

“You have to be in touch with what’s next in technology.”

“Be authentic, be humble, produce results and make it happen.”

Marcy Blum was definitely my favorite femme-power presenter of the day.  Her wit and wisdom shined through in the next seminar which highlighted the 10 Essential Characteristics of the Successful Hybrid Planner.  They included a proficiency in Sales, Customer Service, Concept Development, Scheduling, Staffing, Training, Marketing, Entertainment, Protocol, & Technical  Experience. Blum’s subject matter is what MMP’s success is based on… The versatility and diversification to produce and provide the entertainment for both social and corporate events.

A cool way to let your guests know that the reception has begun from Bongar Biz

Blum shared how her hybrid resume enables her to cater to a bride, bat mitzvah mother and corporate CEO all in the same week.  Although each client demands a specific skill set, many of the paramount variables cross over.  Things like, “thinking things through from beginning to end,” knowing how to design an effective “run of show,” and the importance of investing in your own team.  “They are your ambassadors.”

Marcy also mentioned a cool color detection app called LUPE.  Kinda-like Shazam, which is when you hold up your phone when a song is playing to get the name and artist… LUPE gives you the ability to record and identify a color that inspires you.  (Marcy shared how she saw an orange on a passing F-Train that she thought had some potential for a future event).

As a fellow ‘run of show’ creator and production time-line producer, I love the clause that Blum puts on her event agendas…  “This is just an approximate time line, this event will take on a life of its own and we’ll deal with it.”  Love it!

Book and Viewing Recommendations from Marcy…

-The Mind Map Book- by Barry Buzan

-The Little Big Things: 163 Ways to Pursue Excellence- by Thomas Peters

Scott Heifferman from Meetup.com encourages the audience to get "social." Literally.

-Enchantment: The Art of Changing Hearts, Minds, and Actions- by Guy Kawasaki

-The Thank You Economy- by Gary Vee (featured here on the MMP Blog earlier this year)

-The T.E.D Conference: Ideas Worth Spreading-  (plenty of quality clips are available on youtube)

Rockin’ skinny jeans, kicks and a hoodie, Scott Heifferman, from Meetup.com, began his presentation by doing something very unique.  He actually got everyone to stand up, put their iPads and smartphones down, and talk to each for 2 minutes.  It was pretty funny.  Some people enjoyed the stretch, some people enjoyed the impromptu conversation, and some people actually froze up when they remembered the harsh reality that you can’t hide behind your screen forever… you need to be “social” to succeed in life.  And not just in the ‘media’ sense of the terminology.

Give your guests something to talk about during the cocktail reception. A stunning beauty from Bongar

Scott’s site connects a gazillion people interested in the same thing.  Everybody from the Occupy Wall Street folks, to new moms, to anyone looking to stir up some community vibes.  He showed us a live feed of people posting and it looked like the national debt clock in New York City.  The posts just kept coming and coming and the number of users kept rising and rising.  You could really feel the energy of all that potential power whizzing by.

Tweetable moments from Heifferman…

“There’s something about face-to-face that’s really powerful.”

“In the 20^th century, we over-industrialized and de-personalized.  In the 21^st century, people are turning to each other.”

“The days of 1 guy talking to a bunch of people the whole time are over.  People are hungry.  They want to talk to each other. Think circles instead of rows.”

The Iceman cometh. Make your bar cooler than cool. Incredible detail from Mr. Ceido at Ice Sculpture Designs.

The expo floor was once again chock-full of display booths featuring some intriguing concepts and trends to share with your clients.  Some of my favorites are featured below in the encore gallery.  *Since MMP  has  such a dog-loving clientele, I want to give special mention to a handsome Yorkie, Schmitty the Weather Dog, who I met and fell in love with.   He has an upcoming fashion show at the New Yorker Hotel on February 10, 2012 to benefit the Angel On A Leash Foundation. 

It was great to reconnect with colleagues and ‘meet up’ with some new potential co-collaborators.   It was a pleasure seeing Cathi Culbertson from Forbes, Chenoa Johnson from The Patron Spirits Company, Tina Volz Bongar from Bongar Biz, Tammy Polatsek from Carmona New York & Co., Marc Posnock from Pink Inc. Design, Annette Naif from Annette Naif Events, Dyann Klein, Louis Sanders and Harian Silverstein from PropsnSpoon, Anabel Felix & Amanda Uhlein from Grosh, Alice Conway from Stratford University, Christina Berrios from Event Details, Inc., Alexandra Garvey from NYU, Dominic Francia, William Adams and Daniel McGurk from Classic Sportswear, Ivan Cordero from Heartland Brewery, Nick Saava from Dazian, Rob Necegra and Dennis Finnegan from Nice Uplights, Maher Salem, Salaheddine Benyoussef, Yousesef Alaoui & Zineb Atouani from Moroccan Prestige, Kerri Galaton and Kellie Brielmair from The National Constitution Center, Richard Liebert and Craig Alexander from Atlantis, Caryn Oberstein from Wizard Studios,

Meteorologist Ron Trotta with Schmitty The Weather Dog & Marcello Pedalino

Mr. Ceido from Ice Sculpture Designs, Jigs from The London Candy Group, Alexis Ufland from Sparty, and finally, my study buddy for the day, Zi-Yun Ding- a former opera singer Taiwan here studying event management here at NYU.

Special thanks to Richard Aaron, President of Biz Bash Media, and David Adler, Founder and CEO of Biz Bash Media, for their hospitality.  They provided me with press access and accommodations in one of the Javitz Center’s green rooms.    The whole day the V.I.P’s were talking about how important it is to make sure your guests are comfortable and happy… kudos to the Biz Bash team for doing just that.  See you next year,

Encore Gallery:

Wedding Painter, Sam Day, captures WMBA'11 on canvas

After presenting at last year’s Wedding MBA conference and seeing the amount of content and connections assembled under one roof, returning this year to the Las Vegas Convention Center as an attendee hungry for more was a no-brainer.   (Already bought my pass for 2012.)

The 2011 Wedding Merchant Business Academy, produced by the Hegarty family, once again featured the A-listers of the wedding professional community.

Seminars were presented and private events were hosted by industry notables like Carley Roney, co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Knot;  Sonny Ganguly, SMO of WeddingWire; Tammy Elliot, President of The Perfect Wedding Guide, Sasha Souza, celebrity wedding planner and founder of Wish Upon A Wedding;  Amy Wilkens, publisher of Martha Stewart Weddings; Peter Merry, author of The Best Wedding Reception Ever and director of the The W.E.D Guild; Susan Southerland, celebrity wedding planner and author of The Susan Southerland Secret; Andy Ebon, The Wedding Marketing Authority; Alan Berg, producer of the Wedding Industry Leaders Conference; and Kathy Ireland, CEO and chief designer from Weddings by 2be and Kathy Ireland Worldwide.

Carley Roney- Co-Founder & EIC of The Knot

Among the 10 new wedding trends that Carley Roney revealed was “a return to luxury and classic elegance.” She sees a lot more black-tie events on the horizon but was quick to add that “formal can still have personality.” Roney said that brides are seeking “pure, unadulterated exuberance” on their wedding day.  They want pleasant “surprises” and “ways to wow” their guests like a having bakery-styled food truck outside the venue so family and friends can enjoy a late-night snack on the way home from the reception or an early treat with the morning paper the next day. Another trend that Carley mentioned was something my wife and I did for our Wedding back in 2005.  For the non-traditional couples who don’t mind seeing each other before the ceremony, Roney presented the option of taking your portraits and family photos before the ceremony.  This allows newlyweds to enjoy and not miss any of the cocktail hour festivities (typically one of the best parts of the entire celebration due the abundance of cuisine and mixology, visiting opportunities and relaxed atmosphere).  As a Wedding Entertainment Director and Event Producer, I can help facilitate the timing of this desirable alternative with the planner, executive chef, venue principal, photographer, cinematographer and of course, your preferred sources of entertainment.

Andy Ebon, in his usual forthright-reality check-way reminded everyone that “just because you are unique, it doesn’t mean that you are useful.” And, “Don’t idolize, become inspired.”  And,  “You need to have 360 degree awareness.” He also reminded business owners that in a complimentary fashion to facebook and twitter, “blogging is still one of the most important things you can do for your business” to allow clients to discover the ‘online soul’ of your product or service.   Ebon, who helped me create the MMP Blog back in 2008, featured  photographer Jazmine Star and Marilla Cupcakes as stellar blogs.  He subscribes to the same philosophy of Sonny Ganguly who said that “social media allows you to humanize your business.” Speaking of Sonny, I really loved what he had to say in reference to Wayne Gretsky’s famous quote about being “where the puck is.” He said, “I’m not a huge fan of hockey, but I am a huge fan of greatness.” Well said, sir.  As always, the Wedding Wire guys entertained the crowd and encouraged us to go further with mobile technology.  They even offered a free QR code for their clients.

The Susan Sutherland Secret

Susan Southerland, who is one of the most dialed-in wedding professionals I know, shared her knowledge about how to manage client expectations of the personality-driven bride and how to deliver an experience that goes above and beyond simply helping a couple’s fairytale come true.  After interviewing numerous brides and asking how things went before their big day, Susan determined that wedding professionals who were great listeners, solution-oriented, respectful, humble and genuinely excited about their client’s celebration were swiftly chosen over their equally qualified  contemporary.  The classic staples like work quality and professionalism were mentioned as well.

Southerland is the Wedding Expert for Tammy Elliot’s firm, The Perfect Wedding Guide. Tammy did a great job of making all the attendees identify their current strengths and weaknesses as well as future opportunities.  Elliot also discussed the goal of being “consciously competent,” being able to duplicate your success at will. It was pretty deep and definitely made the gears start spinning.

The Knot offered up a few tech and social nuggets that had people checking their Klout score, looking into Qwiki and Uber- and then considering a Facebook business page view upgrade with Flipboard… which was just mentioned in Vanity Fair magazine.    The Knot also recognized a few companies in their annual “Best Of” awards which recognizes excellence in marketing, branding and social media.  The honorees included; Amy Zaroff, Michael Will Photography, The McNamara Alumni Center and Desiree Spinner. (I love her little messages: laugh. play. celebrate and dream. love. wed.)

Marcello Pedalino and Kathy Ireland, Wedding MBA 2011

Like many high school kids back in the day, The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue was a highly anticipated annual highlight.   One of my favorite supermodels was Kathy Ireland.  Over the years, as my company progressed and I kept tabs on anyone who had a contagious entrepreneurial spirit, Ireland always stayed on my professional radar because the ability to utilize her brains and spirited work ethic as well as her stunning beauty became more and more apparent. Fast forward to 2011 at the Wedding MBA in Las Vegas… Ireland took a few hours out of her busy schedule to make a special guest appearance and share her journey from running a paper route as a little girl to running a 1.4 billion dollar enterprise. The 2000+ attendees, among whom included business owners from all over the U.S, Canada, Brazil, and New Zealand, were treated to personal stories of character building, photos of recently-launched Kathy Ireland 2be designs, (check out the gorgeous shots below) and some impressive video clips of her philanthropic efforts.

When I had the chance to chat with Kathy after her presentation, I told her that she had some of the most tweet-worthy moments of the conference yet when she said things like, “Its never been done- doesn’t mean it can’t be done” and “I never had a family business, but now I have a business family,” and “When it comes to someone’s wedding day, it’s got to be the best… you can’t mess it up.” That last one really hit home because it accurately describes the tremendous pressure we experience every time we’re given the honor and responsibility of playing a major role in someone’s wedding day.

Editor’s Note: I’m sure you can tell from the photo that, yes,… Ireland is still stunning.  *One of the funniest moments of the conference was when Ireland gave out her phone number so attendees could contact her for professional guidance, inspiration or business collaboration opportunities.  I’ve never seen men find a pen and paper so quickly to write something down!  Including me….  ‘cuz I don’t know about you, but having a supermodel giving out her number isn’t exactly a common occurrence.

Having breakfast for dinner with friends at the Blueberry Diner in Las Vegas. Life is Good.

It was a pleasure connecting with fabulous professionals and making some new friends this year:  Jane & Patrick Kelly from iDoAppointments, Keri Macana from TPC Las Vegas, Jennifer Fox from Perfect Planning, Gabrielle Lennartz from Black Swan, Charese Feliciano from CFD Floral, Chandra, Dawn and Bea from Mira Bridal Couture,  Christy Schimpf from Bride and Groom Planner, Barbie Howard from Rocky Mountain Bridal Show, Sheila Dunn from Wedding Guide Bridal Extravaganza, artist extraordinaire- Sam Day & my mate from New Zealand, Nick Logan.

Special thanks to Jodi Harris and her husband Pat, from Sight and Sound, for always making me feel so welcome when I’m in Vegas.  On the last night before returning home, they took me and my good friend, Ron Brown, to the Blueberry Hill Diner for what they said were the best pancakes in the country. I won’t argue that.  They were pretty awesome.  I’ll keep working out just so I can treat myself to meals like this every now and then.

See you next year!  -mp

Jamie Broderick- Network Now Founder

Their tag line is, “It’s Who You Know.”  Fitting, because, the reason I was at the 4th annual Network Now meeting was because I knew Michael Port. After a nice lunch last month with Michael and Neen James, I was invited to join this year’s event.  Speaking of Neen and who you know, I dropped her name when I met Cindy Po, owner of Serenity Fit, and her face lit up like a bride on her wedding day.   Turns out, Neen, a global productivity expert, is one of Cindy’s mentors and has had a tremendous impact on her life.  And speaking of ‘tremendous impact,’ the founder of Network Now, Jamie Broderick, seems to have touched the lives of all the grateful members in this impressive organization.

You couldn’t talk to anyone who wasn’t helped, empowered or inspired by Jamie in some way.  It was an awesome vibe.  Way beyond a bunch of complacent women gathered together to gossip or talk  about the Kardashians and the NJ Housewives…. Network Now is a professional organization that is made up of driven women with an entrepreneurial spirit that genuinely care about each other’s unique journey and how they can assist in their quest for success.

Network Now Logo

The theme of the night was offered up by the host, Mr. Port.    After a few of the special guests spoke briefly about their companies and offered up a few toasts of appreciation for Jamie and the network, Michael added some pretty deep fodder for introspection.    The gist of his message was, ‘be someone- that other people want to help.’ I think the take-away from his mini 4 minute sermon was to be ethical, be supportive, and be the best ‘you’ that you can be for others so you’ll have the power of many vs. the power of one.   As a fan of Karma and paying it forward, this sentiment was right up my alley.

I knew these warm fuzzies were legit when I met Sabine Hayes, from Phase Five Interiors.   After exchanging initial pleasantries with her and Kimberly Hallman, from Devine Powers, Sabine simply asked… “how can I help you and your business.” And she meant it.  Very cool.

4th Annual Network Now Event- Petra Kolber, Michael Port, Ellen Marie Cox, Jamie Broderick, Marcello Pedalino, Lynn Doyle

The event was filled with some of the best and brightest in the Bucks County area.  It was a pleasure to meet everyone.  These were some of the future Fortune 500 CEOs that I had the chance to connect with; Lynn Doyle from It’s Your Call, Darlene Centanni from Centennial Blueprint, Susan Rovello from Creative Solutions, Ellen Marie Cox from Mary Kay, Michelle Spatz from Fabric Goddess, and Laura Pedrick from Pedrick Photography who was kind enough to take and share this photo with us.

Special thanks to Michael Breslin and his partners, Gene Agnew and Martin Hoegar, from Bitter Green Catering, who provided the delectable cuisine for the evening.  Among many, my culinary favorites were the crab appetizer and scallops wrapped in bacon. Phenomenal!

And of course, to the host and hostess with mostess, Michael Port and the lovely Petra Kolber, thank you for your generous hospitality and friendship.

Continued success!  -mp

Michael Port

Neen James

Marcello Pedalino

You know you’re out to lunch with the right people when the waitress comes by three times and you still haven’t looked at your menus yet.

That kind of organic conversation and camaraderie combined with delightful weather and a gorgeous view makes you stop and say,   “I’m very grateful to be here…  life is good today.”

I took a nice top-down ride out to New Hope, Pennsylvania, last week to dine with New York Times bestselling author, Michal Port and renowned productivity expert, Neen James. Topics of discussion varied from world travel, staying fit,  and intellectual property to Harley Davidsons, concierge services, and cool apps for your iPad.

When you surround yourself with successful thought leaders, it’s impossible for some of their mojo not to rub off on ya at some point.  If you haven’t read any of Michael or Neen’s books or had the chance to hear them speak, I highly recommend it.

… p.s  When we met at Michael’s home, it was really fun to check out everyone’s license plate.  See if you can guess whose is whose.   Neen’s should be fairly easy.    

If you or a friend has a cool plate you’d like to show off, share it on the MMP Facebook wall for the world to see! -mp