They may be for mine…

I was blessed again to have a good amount of holiday events this year! But, comparing this year's experience to last year's is like comparing apples to oranges. Both great, but totally different!

Last year, my events were fairly straightforward. There may have been a few randoms thrown in where I did multiple services for a guest inside of one event. But, it was rare. This year, all of that changed! I bottle-painted, leather-painted and engraved, many times, all within the same event for multiple clients.

One of the managers I work with called it a ‘Customization Station’, and it really stuck with me. It’s a challenge to manage multiple services. But, it’s also a creative playground!

Not every event follows a linear path, which is why so many live event artists still get pre-event jitters even years into working live events. This is only my third year, but, I think I always will! Clients arrive with all sorts of unique ideas and requests, and often you have to think on your feet. The need to adapt on the fly makes events adventurous and definitely keeps things spicy! Who doesn’t enjoy a little kick sometimes? Besides, meeting the demand comes with an adrenaline rush that makes up for all the jitters you had going in. 😌

Unique Opportunities

One thing that hasn't changed is the joy of working with both familiar and new brands. For instance, this holiday season I had the pleasure of working with Coty and David Yurman for the first time. I’d love to team up with these brands again in the future—there’s something special about these creative partnerships!

Engraving for Coty was a familiar and still a favorite service. But, leather and jewelry box painting for David Yurman was a new-to-me activation this year. I’m hoping for a few more of those too next year! And, of course. the usual services were thrown in for good measure.

I have a some other events before the holiday season is over with a couple other brands that are new-to-me. I’m already dreaming of working with them on holiday customizations for their guests!

Of course, I’m always ecstatic when a client trusts my services enough to hire me again. By now you know Dior is a favorite brand that I love working with!

One of the things I like most about them, besides how personable they are, is that they make nearly every event a party! And they are always making gifts for each other! Literally, ALWAYS! They include me on these little secret, 007 mission impossibles they go on to personalize something for one of their own right under their noses, and it’s always so much fun! I love seeing a team of people that enjoy working together. It’s great to share that with them for the day! 🥰

Client Interactions

By far, the most memorable interactions so far this year were from the babies! The kids knew exactly what they wanted…and they were vocal about it! From snowflakes with glitter, to a thematic mashup of roses with hollies and berries, the babies challenged my design skills and I loved every minute.

This sweet girl above wanted to tip me with her own shopping money! My favorite part was when she returned to see the gift she had customized for her mother, her eyes grew big as saucers! She said, “How did you do that?!” Between me and you, I shared some trade secrets that I hope she will use one day. 😌

Below, a mother requested a customization to congratulate her daughter who was home awaiting an answer from the college of her choice.

Now to be quite honest, mom came at the eleventh hour. I was all tuckered out and just about ready to make the trip home—and she wanted not one, but two services. I had already fixed my mouth to say, “I’m sorry, but, unfortunately the event is over.” But, after she said who and what the activation was for…you know…I’m trying to stop. Really, I am…But, I am still a sucker for kids. Request granted!

On the back, it says, “UPENN” in marker. She was also given detailed instructions for removing and swapping out with Temple University. if necessary. 🙈

Hoping you get your first choice, Grace! 🙌🏾

Crafting Keepsakes

I definitely enjoy busy events! But, at times, when there is a lull in the traffic, I customize things for the associates. managers, or even my own family (I admit. I don’t get out much 🤷🏽‍♀️).

It’s always a confidence-booster when the associates and other staff ooh and aah over what I do. When there’s time, I ask if they want me to customize things that belong to them or that they might want to get for a loved one.

Of course, sometimes they ask me too. These Dior minis were a hit with Dior associates this year!

Listennnn….These Dior minis are a challenge for forty-something eyes! And putting full names on bottles no bigger than my pinkie? 👀

Actual footage of me trying to engrave these gorgeous, little treasures.

But, the Dior associates positively glow when they get them back. 🥰 And, bonus! It usually snags a customer or two too!

Of course, one of my fave things to do during holiday season is get gifts for my own friends and family at my events. I don’t get out a lot to shop, so I usually just purchase from the brands I work with during the year and spend some of the time there customizing them. It’s a two birds, one stone kind of thing. But, sometimes it changes the activation if I’m not too careful when guests want what I’m doing! 😂

Case in point, these compacts did just that.

I love these!

For context, I was inspired by Yasha, a Canadian Calligrafriend’s multi-colored case (<<—click to see—it’s gorgeous, right? 😍) when I first saw it. For these, I made my own highly simplified version for a colleague’s birthday. I loved the contrast and they got a lot of attention. Then, I got the bright idea to duplicate it for my daughter-in-law. While, it’s not a 1:1 replication (I don’t believe ripping anyone off should be a thing anyway. Ew. 🙅🏾‍♀️), I think colorwise, it captures the spirit of it, and I love that!

At the same time, I was practicing what I learned from Jen Sweeney’s wedge brush class: the infamous bounce and wiggle. Those of you who have had a class with Jen know exactly what that means. 😂 Although I didn’t use a wedge brush for this, I think they wedge brush florals look is definitely there.

Everything you do at an activation is an opportunity to learn or develop emerging skills. I love it all!

Tips for Managing Unexpected Multi-Service Events

If at all possible, always be sure to clarify which services are being offered at your event. If multiple services are requested to be offered from the start, is should be factored into your rate because it is more to manage for you overall. However, if you have the bandwidth for one-offs here and there-or are hired as the artist for the full day, be prepared for additional services that may be requested.

Mini kits. Carry mini kits for each typical services that you can fit in your carry option. For instance, even if engraving is not the service I was hired for, most guests and brand associates assume you are there to engrave. A small bag with an engraver, bur lube, a brush and some gilding wax is easy to carry along. Regardless of what I’m hired for, I have one for calligraphy, one for engraving, one for bottle painting and one for paint markers for various surfaces. Beyond the guests to the event, you never know when you’ll be asked to quickly write out a card on the client’s beautiful stationery, or write on a really quick champagne bottle to congratulate a co-worker, or even create an engraving on-the-spot for the regional manager, etc. Be prepared! Note: I was once asked to foil something for a client on leather and I didn’t have a mini add-on kit for that one. Working on it! 😅
Time estimates. Have a good idea of time estimates for the services you perform. If you have a kit prepped, you can whip it out in no time. But, at times, you may still need to put something aside, set up your kit, and then reset your primary desk to get the job done (as in the case of engraving and then painting a bottle). Factor all of that into the time estimate you quote.
Mind your workflow. Don’t get so flustered by multiple-service requests that you forget the basics and best practices. Go step-by-step. Nobody wants engraving dust in their freshly painted roses.
Communicate. Do try to put away your add-on kit immediately when you’ve completed a project. The goal is not to change the entire activation. But, expect that should other guests see you complete a phenomenal piece with multiple services, they may wish to have the same. Clearly communicate with the team you’ve joined for the day how many pieces you’ll be able to complete should the scope of what you need to do changes for the duration of the event. That’s particularly important for high volume events. But, it may also mean that the cut-off for how many guests you can comfortably complete with the time allotted may change. In the end, you may even need to be approved for additional hours and/or a rate renegotiation, if necessary, to serve more clients—and the earlier those realities are discussed, the better.

Either way, no matter how many services an event may throw at me, the act of crafting a gift is just the funnest and most heartwarming process to be part of. ❤️

I probably have one more post before the year is out. But, if I don’t see you around the socials, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you! 🎉