London Social Events Blog

Dear Friends,

I feel very fortunate that I am one of the lucky people that really loves what they do for a living. Event/wedding planning is my dream job and I couldn’t imagine anything I would love to do more. No matter how long the hours are, how challenging the days can be, I always get home with a sense of achievement, pride and exhilaration.

I hold a number of events masterclasses and private consultations for events students or those considering a career change and I am really pleased to say that each client has found it valuable and I can’t wait to hear about all of their achievements.

One of the interesting things I have learnt is that students are increasingly missing some of the very simple and easy ways to gain knowledge, get ideas and learn from experts. So here are a few of my Top Tips on getting ahead in the events industry:

Read Magazines

And not just ones about ‘events’. Read fashion magazines, style magazines, weddings, crafts and flowers. These magazines contain a wealth of ideas and inspiration.

Keep a Scrapbook

All those wonderful magazines you’ve been reading have to be put to good use. So keep a scrapbook of images and articles themed into sections eg. colours, artists, flower types, seasons, etc. You will immediately have creative points of reference without having to search through months of glossy mags!

Visit Your Local Bookshop

There are plenty of books written for and by events industry experts. Read them. You may not agree with everything in every book – that is great. Form your own opinions. Carve out your own style and approach. Learning from others will save you a whole lot of time instead of re-inventing the wheel!

RSS Feeds and newsletters

Sign up to RSS Feeds or to receive newsletters from your favourite blogs, events planners, planning companies, caterers etc. This will keep you bang up to date on all the latest trends, offers and ideas. This is essential if you want to keep current.

Join Associations and Attend Meetings

Search out networks for the events industry and sign yourself up. Try to attend any planned networking sessions, events or seminars etc regularly. Your network is your greatest weapon and no-one will get to know you by hiding in your house. Get out there and meet people!

I understand that this can be quite daunting but if you are truly passionate and excited by the events industry then you just have to go for it!

If you would like some more advice, guidance or a little shove in the right direction then I would be very pleased to have a free 15 minute phone consultation with you to help you make your next move.

Kind regards

Kim Rix

The SaVVy Club^®

Tags: Become an Event Planner, Career in the Event Industry, Careers in Event Planning, Event Career Advice, Event Jobs, Event Management, Event Management Careers

Dear friends,

Have you heard? Barclays is hosting a competition designed to find the country’s hottest dance acts, and it’s coming to Leicester Square, London on Saturday 31 July.  

The competition is open to anyone who thinks they’ve got what it takes to become Britain’s next dancing superstar, be it as an individual, duo, group or troupe. 

The top ten entries will be put through to the live auditions, which will take place on Saturday 31 July on a stage at Leicester Square. These contestants will perform in front of a celebrity panel of judges that includes Strictly Come Dancing’s Brendan Cole, as well as an audience made up of the great people of London!   

The top five acts will then be subject to a public vote to decide the winner via the Barclays Live website www.barclayslive.co.uk.

The winning act will be waltzing away with a pair of VIP tickets to see Brendan Cole in action as well as dancing all the way to the bank with a cool £1,000!

To enter visit www.barclayslive.co.uk or send us a link to a YouTube video showing us your moves or email us directly at info@barclayslive.co.uk along with your dance clip, name, phone number and postcode before Sunday 25 July.

The Barclays Live auditions will form part of a day-long programme of events, including a dance master class by Brendan Cole and performances by a variety of fantastic dance acts.

Brendan Cole says “If you haven’t entered the competition already, make it the very next thing you do, and I’d like to invite anyone in the area on Saturday 31st July to pop down to Leicester Square to join me for a whole host of dancing fun.”

So come on you movers & shakers, what are you waiting for?

The SaVVy Club

Where every member is a VIP

Tags: Dance Masterclass, Dancing Event Competition, London Event, Strictly Come Dancing

Dear Friends

I don’t need an excuse to pop open a bottle of bubbly – I am partial to a Champagne cocktail on a warm summer’s evening! When celebrating, visiting friends or attending dinner parties I would usually like to take a good bottle of Champagne to share but in the past I had found it difficult to select one without a considerable amount of help or recommendation.

I have to be honest and say that the only real way to find out what Champagnes you like is to taste them – oh, what a shame! Most good wine shops have regular tastings or will hold an event on request and this would definitely be my first suggestion to you. If you have a healthy budget for your investigations then I would definitely suggest booking a short break in the Champagne region of France and visiting as many vineyards as possible.

When tasting Champagne there are a few things which you should definitely look out for;

The glass should be tall, spotless and not filled right to the top.

There needs to be enough room for the bubbles to move around and the aromas to develop. You also do not want any dust or detergent damaging the quality of the Champagne.

The Champagne should be between 6 – 10 degrees C.

This is the ideal drinking temperature. Too cold and it will lose some of the marvelous flavours.

The bubbles should be small and fine

The smaller the bubbles the finer the Champagne. If it has bubbles the size of those in soda water it will not be as pleasant.

Champagne should have a yeasty smell

Through this you will then smell all the individual qualities of each champagne.

You should swirl the Champagne around your tongue

This will allow you to taste fully all the wonderful flavours it contains by letting it cover every inch of your taste buds. The taste should also linger a while after taking a sip.

These are only a few thoughts when delving into the world of Champagne. There are of course many varieties and qualities that you should be looking out for. If you are looking to learn more about Champagne then I would recommend purchasing a guide to help you on your journey.

I recommend ‘The Insider’s Guide to Champagne’ which taught me so much. It is an easy, informative and insightful guide which really does teach you everything you need to know about Champagne. Please look for the link on the right hand side of the The SaVVy Club homepage to learn more about this fantastic resource.

Kind regards

Kim Rix

The SaVVy Club^® 

Tags: Champagne Tasting, Guide to Champagne

Dear friends,

When the sun shines, I love nothing more than a delicious lunch al fresco! There is something delightful and continental about dining outside and all the more rewarding if it precedes or concludes a pleasant stroll.

Why not combine your leisurely stroll with a sampling of exquisite gourmet offerings and sprinklings of history by taking a private gourmet walking tour. In London one of the best women for the job is Ann – ex BBC journalist and foodie extraordinaire!

You might not think that a walking tour is your idea of fun but being able to explore the city with new sites and smells is a completely different experience. If you arrange your own private tour rather than tagging along to a pre-arranged group you can really get the most out of it. You can ask to be led to places with food of particular interest and you can joke, converse and have fun with your friends or colleagues on the way.

The great thing about taking a private tour with Ann is you get the benefit of her network! She can arrange special tastings or demonstrations and even organize a little time for Q&As with stall holders and experts.

As well as getting to try everything from meats to sweets you will also learn about history, food traditions and customs, preparation and neat tips on enjoying your fresh produce. And you don’t have to feel guilty about sampling all the delights on the way as that little bit of light exercise walking between areas will help keep some of the calories at bay!

So if you would like a more informal way of getting to know the city, satisfying your stomach and gaining a great deal of knowledge from a lady who is truly passionate about her food then I suggest you book yourself a ‘Foodies Walk!

For lots more information on Ann, the Foodies Walk and other great London adventures have a look at:

http://www.walks.com/London_Walks_Home/Food_Walks/default.aspx

Kind regards,

Kim Rix

The SaVVy Club

Where Every Member Is A VIP

Tags: Culinary Experiences in London, Explore London, Private Walking Tours of London, Walking Experiences in London, Walking Tours of London

Dear Friends,

The nights are longer, the days are warmer and with the summer comes a plethora of social opportunities. I thought I should write about my top 5 picks for summer events to attend in London this summer.

My hot tip for a music event would be Seasick Steve (Steven Gene Wold) who plays the Royal Festival Hall on 26th June. He is a true American blues man who is selling out venues across the globe. I first saw him Jools Holland’s Hootenanny in 2006 – which I later found out was his first UK tv appearance – and was hooked. He is a real character and an amazing performer. Catch him if you can!

Normally I would say that Wimbledon is unmissable, but we have a rather important sporting event this summer…The World Cup! I don’t think you were expecting that from me, but its true! Have a look at my previous blog on historical pubs and pick a nice cosy one to gather with friends and enjoy a cool pint (or Pimms!) and enjoy the atmosphere!

My hot ticket to the theatre would by ‘Enron’ at the Noel Coward Theatre (transferred from the Royal Court). It runs until 14th August and stars Tim Pigott Smith, Samuel West and Amanda Drew. It has received many excellent four star reviews and is not to be missed.

The August bank holiday each year bring the Notting Hill Carnival. It is the largest celebration of its kind in Europe and is an explosion of colour, music and excitement.  Go along and enjoy the party atmosphere.

My top pick gourmet event this summer is in Harrod’s Wine Shop on 10th June. They are holding a ‘Captivating Cocktails Masterclass’ at which their expert mixologists will teach you how to mix your own perfect summer cocktails. The cocktail masterclass is part of their month long Spirit of Summer celebration so keep your eyes peeled for other events, special tastings and tempting offers!

Kind regards

Kim Rix

The SaVVy Club^®- where every member is a VIP

Tags: Cocktail Masterclass, Gourmet Events, Music Events, Sporting Events, Summer Events London, Theatre Events