Letting the Dark Side Win Sometimes is Good?

Categories: uncategorized

Date: 17 March 2005 12:43:56

Ever come into contact with those people that are the eye of the storm. I had one as a client last week. Everyone else around her was in a complete and utter maelstrom. But the client herself was just so nice and sweet and never knew the impact of her lack of decisions cost everyone else. Like the stand builders who only got final requirements the night before. Or the surly truck drivers who arrived with the mobile cold room that no one knew about. By the way it was too big for the lift that fits cars. It also was quite heavy but we managed to find other solutions to get it up the two levels of building it needed to go up. The exhibitors also did not know what was going on and decided that 7 am the day before was the time to settle in. The stands were not scheduled to be finished till 1pm. The client did not turn up till 11.30am. I knew she would need some good old fashioned Chops TLC. I sat her down and talked her through the bump in day and the actual show day and bump out. Just so we were all on the same page and no little suprises popped up. Well we managed to catch two while still had time to wheel the ship around the incoming icebergs.

It was at this point that she realised she had no catering for her 200 exhibitors who were expecting catering. This did not even cause me and 'The pick' (F&B guy) to raise a sweat She also had a major demonstration stage prepared but the guest Chef had a death in the family and was unable to do the demo's. The Food and Bev guy 'The Pick' said sometimes our chefs do demo's in sushi. I jokingly called it the Schools Sushi Spectacular. The client thought this was a great idea and went for it. By the way if you could not tell it was gig that revolved aorund schools and food. Once again we saved the day and the client got great feedback from her guests making it look like the sushi thing was all part of some master stroke she had planned months ago and not just the day before. Apart from exhibitors still turning up 10 minutes before the show opened and exhibitors stock going missing cause the delivery guys delivered to our kitchen dock instead. It ended up being a very successful show for all involved. As always we save the day. The dark side of me wishes for the day when it goes completely pear shaped but it is not my fault. Just once or twice would satisfy the dark side of the force.

Til next time let the dark side win sometimes,

Chops