It all started back in grade school… Since my birthday lands in the summer I never got to have a birthday party at school with cupcakes and the likes that most kids got. So, because I never had a party I always wanted to help plan the parties. In fact, my 6th grade my teacher once said to me “If there’s ever a party on the moon, I know who will be organizing it!” Of course I laughed it off because I had bigger aspirations at that time – I wanted to be the first woman President of the United States. Well, as you can see that certainly didn’t become reality so I think it’s a good thing I went in the direction of event planning!
I think I haphazardly fell into the world of events. While I went to college for fashion merchandising and business I was an event planner at heart and knew that one day I would have my own company. Back in the 80’s and 90’s I worked tirelessly in the events field and paid my dues – sometimes at the expense of my health. I remember 2 events in particular – Networld+Interop, a trade show, I had strep throat but I pushed through before, during, and after the event. The second was a multi-city road show for Intel Corporation and I came down with walking pneumonia several days before I was to leave. I actually convinced my manager that I was fine and I ended up traveling for the show. I’d like to think I’m older and wiser now and wouldn’t push myself that hard!
Over the years I have worked with some incredible individuals who have helped me hone my planning skills and have given me the tools I needed to succeed in business. For the first 5 years of owning RealTime Productions, I had a wonderful business partner, Kim Pratt. Kim and I fit well together as we both brought such different talents to the table. During the first several years after forming RealTime Productions we both put in 80+ hour work weeks and did every job imaginable from creating an unforgettable 7-day Millennium cruise for 2 CEO’s and 120 of their closest family and friends, to organizing charity auctions, to cleaning toilets at a local celebrity’s house (definitely not my proudest moment!).
The one piece of advice I always give people is to make sure that you not only have the passion and drive for this business but that you surround yourself with great people. I am eternally grateful for all of the staff that has been a part of the RealTime Productions team over the years. I have learned so much from my staff – past and present. Not only do I get to work with a past boss and a close colleague, I continue to love my job, the people that work for me, and our wonderful clients. While it’s not all ‘champagne wishes and caviar dreams,’ I wouldn’t trade any of my experiences for the world!
Jeanne Berry, Founder and Principal
Monday, February 25, 2008
Monday, February 18, 2008
Something Bigger Than Ourselves
As a hiring manager, I’ve had my fair share of interviews with starry-eyed folks who really want to work in our industry. And as someone who has been in the trenches and managed logistics for many years, I sometimes forget that I, too, once had that passion to be a meeting professional. I now have a much dimmed perspective, and I try not to dampen the enthusiasm of the folks who come to talk with me, but when faced with someone whose interviews answers include “I want to travel”, “I love people”, “It looks like so much fun”, then I find myself prone to de-glamorizing the picture substantially.
If by what you mean when you say “I love to travel” is that you love to rush to the airport after working 80+ hours per week in the weeks leading up to your flight, that you love the last minute fire drills you have to deal with from one airport or another, that you love to see the inside of the same hotel/convention center for days on end, not seeing daylight and then find yourself back at the airport (there’s no sightseeing in logistics management!), then you are probably cut out for this job.
If by “I love people” you mean that you love having to call, email, negotiate, cajole, threaten, give in, do what you are told even if you know it’s the wrong thing only to have to do what you knew was right all along to fix the problem that would never had been a problem if only someone took you seriously, then you are probably a great candidate for this job.
And if you mean by “it looks like so much fun” you really are salivating at the chance to spend 8-10 hours every day and much of your weekend in front of your laptop going through the slogs of email generated by people who have no business sending mails that just clog up your inbox, then be my guest and come on down.
And just in case you are one of the lucky ones to be in our industry, then you will have the incredible opportunity to be a part of some magical things. Just this year alone, our team has already been a part of CES (The Consumer Electronics Show), the world’s largest consumer electronics tradeshow, and the Sundance Film Festival - dedicated year-round to the development of artists of independent vision and to the exhibition of their new work. This month we’ll be assisting a client in their participation in TED (THE exclusive Technology, Entertainment and Design conference) where some of the most talented, inventive and connected people on the planet grant world-changing wishes (for more go to ted.com).
And that is why, after over 20 years in this industry, I am at times simultaneously jaded and in awe of what we do every day. We get to be a part of things that are bigger than ourselves. While we don‘t actually walk on the moon, out there somewhere is a meeting planner who helped get the right people together, in an environment conducive to dreaming that dream and made sure that someone else got the credit.If you are experienced in corporate meeting logistics management and would like to be a part of our incredible team, please email your resume to jobs@rtpevents.com.
If by what you mean when you say “I love to travel” is that you love to rush to the airport after working 80+ hours per week in the weeks leading up to your flight, that you love the last minute fire drills you have to deal with from one airport or another, that you love to see the inside of the same hotel/convention center for days on end, not seeing daylight and then find yourself back at the airport (there’s no sightseeing in logistics management!), then you are probably cut out for this job.
If by “I love people” you mean that you love having to call, email, negotiate, cajole, threaten, give in, do what you are told even if you know it’s the wrong thing only to have to do what you knew was right all along to fix the problem that would never had been a problem if only someone took you seriously, then you are probably a great candidate for this job.
And if you mean by “it looks like so much fun” you really are salivating at the chance to spend 8-10 hours every day and much of your weekend in front of your laptop going through the slogs of email generated by people who have no business sending mails that just clog up your inbox, then be my guest and come on down.
And just in case you are one of the lucky ones to be in our industry, then you will have the incredible opportunity to be a part of some magical things. Just this year alone, our team has already been a part of CES (The Consumer Electronics Show), the world’s largest consumer electronics tradeshow, and the Sundance Film Festival - dedicated year-round to the development of artists of independent vision and to the exhibition of their new work. This month we’ll be assisting a client in their participation in TED (THE exclusive Technology, Entertainment and Design conference) where some of the most talented, inventive and connected people on the planet grant world-changing wishes (for more go to ted.com).
And that is why, after over 20 years in this industry, I am at times simultaneously jaded and in awe of what we do every day. We get to be a part of things that are bigger than ourselves. While we don‘t actually walk on the moon, out there somewhere is a meeting planner who helped get the right people together, in an environment conducive to dreaming that dream and made sure that someone else got the credit.If you are experienced in corporate meeting logistics management and would like to be a part of our incredible team, please email your resume to jobs@rtpevents.com.
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