Daily Cookie

This is a perfect story seeing I am interviewing two potential hires tomorrow and everyone always seems to know someone who wants to get into event planning.  I can’t tell you how many times I have been asked what I do and then that immediate chaser.  Yes, as an event producer I enjoy many perks, have met some dynamic people,  make it onto many invite lists and get to travel.  But its not always that glamorous.  Tonight for example, I found myself lost and with no gas.

This afternoon my client/friend (I would have put friend first but she informed me tonight that she no longer reads my blog – hence the juxtaposition) set out to mark both a 25 mile and a 50 mile bike route on the North Shore of Massachusetts.  We are planning a cycling fundraiser for this September and decided to “ride” (yeah right) the route ourselves to determine where we need directional signage. I thought great fun roadtrip and we can stop for a snack at this way cool barge in Marblehead for a burger or trek over to Woodman’s for some fried clams. Sidenote – both never happened and I ended up consuming half a box of Hot Tamales and chicken tenders and fries from McDonalds.  Sorry, she had to pee and I am totally PMS.  Can you just sense all the excitement and glamour?

It might help to tell you that she is blonde and I should be.  This was a classic case of the blonde leading the blind.  I told her to print directions and I would supply the treats for the trip.   We had plenty of water and sweets but no directions.  

Our three hour tour up the coastline started in rush hour traffic.  Her excuse was a meeting with her boss.  Okay one benefit – I am my own boss.  We had planned to leave at 4pm and be back about 7pm.  It was 6pm when we realized we missed the first exit, were off track and no where near our route starting place.  Then the little orange gas light came on.  Now this is a light I am very familiar with.  I think I ran out of gas just about every other week when I was in high school.  Just never seemed to do anything about the light.  I also seized the engine in my car one trip coming home from producing an event in NYC, but thats another story and another ignored light. 

We finally found a gas station and thats where things literally picked up.  I was now the driver and she was left to navigate the maps.  Thank god, I get car sick if I read in the car and inherited a challenged sense of direction from my Mom.  Trying to read a map in a car would have forced me to fire a client.    

I also inherited a heavy foot from my Dad.  We missed many turns and I almost catapulted us into the harbor a few times.  Hey, they will be on bikes and not at my speed.  Finally, after many turn arounds, do overs and backing in and out of people’s driveways, we got to our destination.  Our turning point was well worth the drive.  That and the many stops along the way were amazing.  There are some truly beautiful places on the North Shore and the scenic route should not be missed; just go slow.

The same pertains to event production, pay attention to the details and go at your own pace.  I promise you will never be lost without gas.