Exclusive Party Planner Guide To Memorable Meetings

Bronson van Wyck knows all about first world problems. As party planner to the rich and famous - starting out with infamous socialite and Winston Churchill's daughter-in-law when American ambassador to Paris - you'd be forgiven for thinking such elite circles have little to do with us mere hoi polloi.

You'd be wrong.

I realised issues he goes into the minutest of detail with can apply across social divides, and all communal gatherings.

Take this quote on hosting an event from the publicity trail of his memoir;

"Of course, if you huffed and puffed and blew hard enough you could blow the whole thing down. We are only there for five hours. Then it disappears. All that remains is a feeling that the people who were there experienced. The primary thing we do is help people express love. That, and an element of surprise."

Swap out 'five hours' for our typical meeting duration. Likewise 'love' for say, excitement. Of the personal and professional kind. Suddenly you're slap-bang in our world.

One crucial thread to bear in mind, is that whether in direct competition or not, our job as solution salespeople is in large part to ensure meetings with us are the most looked forward to and enjoyed by those who attend.

Our job is to make other people feel good. That they'll get a significant win beyond any available elsewhere for themselves and others they may care about from dealing with us. It will be stimulating, challenging and rewarding.

There's so many other universal 'meeting' truths that flow throughout his chat They ought also underpin meetings we hold with prospects.

One intriguing pillar is with reference to corporate events. His belief that if your focus is more (or solely) on what you want to get from it, then you absolutely need what he terms "a course correction". Sage advice indeed.

Here with another chockful quote. This time from book launch feature in Vogue;

No matter the size, “A party is about the interaction. Don’t forget the human touch; don’t forget, also, that something always goes wrong—for big parties, for small parties—but you can always turn it around with a smile, another drink, or a dose of humor. And, everyone who’s coming to your party is on your side.”

Note 'interaction'. That's dialogue. Two-way. Bidirectional. Genuine conversation.

Something don't 'arf 'always go wrong'. Our ways of turning it 'round may be different. But we can prepare nonetheless for those moments which we and they then remember most.

Yet not everyone there will necessarily be 'on our side'. But we already know that. And can plan for it as well.

He also reminds us that 'social energy that is the nectar of a great time'. In which spirit, there's this cunning 'interaction' tip;

"Pick out the biggest loser in the room, the one no-one’s talking to, and spend five minutes making their night better."

How many a meeting has attendees you might mistake for the dreaded 'room meat'? Yet might be simply too timid, unsure or intimidated to use their voice.

Give them their 'five minutes'. Let them shine.

A theme of 'care and thoughtfulness' goes a long way.

Pay all participants the 'big compliment' of knowing you've been thinking about them. With proper preparation. Mapped the meet all out so they feel appreciated. It astounds me when I all too often see a salesperson just rock up and wing it. Don't be that stain on our profession.

He also likes the signature touch. In his case, a personal favourite being 'spicy cucumber margaritas'. Yet we too could bring flavour from such (non-alcohol) styling too.

Imagine you bring something original and sparking to each presentation for instance. You can even state your side-aim is say, to show a slide idea new to them each deck, that they can remix for their own needs to look good.

Overall, he impresses upon us that it is the underlying feelings - from your welcome, engagement, the tacit care for your guests, their needs genuinely addressed - is the only focus that matters;

"The rest is just semantics. The tablecloths and flatware and vases and whatever. [Although] semantics do matter [in their own way but to a lesser extent]."

As a footnote, I couldn't resist noting how he shows himself from his zoomscape.

The strong bookcase game, with most in horizontal piles, and pleasingly 'natural'. That mic. The eyeline. The framing. The choice of shirt, even.