A quick note–thanks so much for all your help in making the 2008 Cigar PEG the success it was. And, before all the ideas for improvement are lost, please help me to capture those Ideas that we kicked around in New York. Below are some of my thoughts for improving the TPE “Total Party Experience,” please add yours ASAP:
> Need full-time dedicated DJ to cue music correctly; pre-auction, and post-auction music mix. Also to have a prearranged contingency if an attendee comes on stage and grabs the mic (like Mark did). DJ to kill the mic sound after 60 seconds if the attendee does not return the mic to the emcee.
> Better control of lighting
> It would have been okay to have had the food available earlier, I heard.
> How valuable is the first hour of no-charge booze?
> Keep to the Schedule!!! No impromptu auctions, no last minute adding of talent. The program (auction and comedy) must not last longer than 90 minutes. After 90 minutes, we are stealing time from the attendees, which I feel is unacceptable.
> Where in the program should the “eddie” award be given? What are your arguments for at the end, or other parts of the program?
> A casual “attendee engagement” activity should be planned for the time prior to the formal program
> No selling of shirts at the party–that sure worked out well.
> Any thoughts of who to ask to be auctioned celebrities for next year?
> Any thoughts or comments on BureauMatch?
> Any thoughts on the suite?
> What else can we “cost effectively” do to make the Benefactors feel even more special?
> How can we enroll sponsors?
Please forward your ideas and feedback and I’ll place your ideas in my 2009 party planning notebook–we did quite well, and I know we can do even better.
-Ed Rigsbee
