Essentially Unlocking the Class of 2020
Keri Miller • Jul 16, 2020
In June 2020, a community rallied to bring hope, joy and closure to graduates and their families.
www.drivethrugrad2020.com
As live event designers and producers
we relish in celebrating life’s greatest moments, creating memories and changing lives through the work that we love. The key to those moments is human to human connection, inspiring people through multiple mediums and creating emotive experiences that can never be repeated. In most milestone celebrations rituals prevail, blowing out the candles, sharing of rings, crossing the stage, slideshows of human history, and the people that have impacted these lives, all brought together.
As COVID enveloped our lives and cancelled live gatherings and events
we felt intense loss, fear and immediately understood that the way we do our business needed to change. Upcoming milestones were canceled or forced to go virtual, the bringing together of people became the one thing the world said was deadly and dangerous. As event professionals we are driven to innovate, to think differently, to advance through crisis and celebrate humanity regardless of the situations thrown at us.
Milestones Matter
My son is part of the Class of 2020, a massive group of youth that have been thrown the biggest curve ball of their lives. Stop, change everything and not only is your future at risk, but your immediate life milestone, one of the most important in life’s transition, has been canceled. Graduating high school is not about the marks, the scores, the school even, it’s about a launch into adulthood, a crossing over from your young self into a new life, a new direction and a big glorious future. There was an instant response form the live events community to want to give them a way to celebrate and for me, I knew that no matter what, my son and his group of friends would have a grad, small or large. He would wear the suit, see his beautiful girlfriend in her formal dress, take pictures, wear the cap and the gown and cross a stage. What that looked like was unknown, but in the end a group of us made it happen. Not just for him but for 1000 Calgary grads over 10 days in June 2020.
I started drawing out on a napkin what I felt a grad could look like if we contained the families in their own units (cars), ensured physical distancing and 'touchless' engagement. I drew options to give them the photos, the moments and the crossing the stage moment that would become their crossing over into a new phase of life. I designed it, timed it and handed it over to our president to see, his son was also graduating. With tenacity and passion he went searching for support from schools, school boards, calling every principle and engaging every student body possible. In the meantime, we started the process of approvals from the multiple levels needed to produce an event of this scale during a pandemic. Four weeks later we were given the go ahead, 15 people total, getting out of cars including all crew, security, volunteers and photographers. We assessed and determined that we could use cars, golf carts and contained units to execute it, always hoping we would reach phase two by opening day.
Community is Everything
Event partners came on, all suffering businesses, willing to invest what they could to ensure we made this happen, in the end, hard costs were covered, no one profited from this, but they were happy to get back to doing what they love.
Community sponsors wanted to help, but they too were unable to provide the funding that we needed. The school boards and faculty could not participate so we used the power of moms and media to get the word out, securing small groups and grads from all over the city, all wanting their moments. A huge team of event professionals came together to rally, to connect parents and grads, to form alliances that the schools would not support. We all came together to divide the intense work over four weeks, creating a brand, website, communications plan, health and safety plan, logistics, site management and also creating a very poignant production and video ceremony.
Honking is the New Applause
What ensued was ten days of moments that we will never forget. Graduates were able to choose to come, to graduate their way, to have a grad like no other. They experienced something they will never forget, secured by a priceless photo of them, in cap and gown, or formal wear, in, on top of, beside and streaming out of their cars, beaming with joy. With them were parents and siblings, dogs and supporters, all proud, crying and incredibly grateful for what we had done. The drive thru and drive in concept was unique, but what resonated more than anything was the spirit and energy felt on the grounds of the parking lot. The human connection, even from two car stalls away, through steel, was earnestly felt and heard through the endless honking and celebrating.
I was lucky enough and honoured to greet each and every car that passed through the event (except my son’s graduation day) congratulating each grad, seeing each proud supporter and telling them they could take their dogs up on stage, they could pop out of their sun roof, and they could have their parents video them from right in front of the stage as they crossed it. My favourite moments were when collectively the hosts, volunteers and crew would form a physically distanced gauntlet and wave good-bye to every car and family as they left. Families blew kisses, thanked us profusely and grads made hearts out of hands and honked until we could hear them no more.
While we went into this thinking that it was our professional responsibility to give the grads their milestone celebration because we felt they needed it, what we came to know and understand is the power of our work, it’s real. We touched lives and in turn we were touched. We all cried and wished we could hug, we were emotionally drained and yet excited for each and every time slot, graduation ceremony and family that came and went.
The Biggest Win!
The words and comments from families have been outstanding and the pride we feel is priceless. We created a physical opportunity for a milestone to happen during this crazy time, but the positive impact on the mental health of young adults, families, our team and partners is being spread throughout our communities, this is our biggest accomplishment. There are no words to describe what happened over the last two weeks of June 2020, but in the words of a parent “It was a gift to our family for our boys to graduate together and truly CELEBRATE their accomplishments. I am floored by the efforts made to create a magical life memory for all of us. Thank you from the bottom of my heart” – A mom.
Celebrating the milestones of life is essential. We as an industry of people that gather humans to educate, celebrate, connect and inspire are essential. The priceless learn from this is that while the world is telling us we can’t gather, we need to and we will, and we can innovate ways to make it happen, even during a pandemic.
Keri Miller's Pink Poodle Theory
How does a volunteer in Edmonton, Alberta impact 26,000 lives in Tanzania, Africa?
I’ve embarked on my fair share of adventures and when I landed in Calgary and met the “e” team, I dove right into the deep end. This journey is not for the faint of heart, but the rewards are boundless. As I reflect on my first three months at e=mc² events, I am filled with a mix of excitement, gratitude, and a newfound sense of accomplishment. The journey has been nothing short of a whirlwind, and I am here to share the exhilarating experience of joining a team that truly embodies the values of honourable, innovative, insightful, and invested. Those values are not just buzzwords at “e”; they are the backbone of everything we do. From cultivating ethical practices to seeking groundbreaking solutions, these values resonate in every corner of the organization. This collective commitment sets the stage for exceptional events that leave a lasting impact. The Work In those first two weeks on the job, it was all about getting the hang of things through orientation and training. Little did I know, I would be catapulted into the heart of the action immediately following. The fast-paced environment demanded a quick adaptation to the ever-changing landscape of event planning. I found myself absorbing information and acquiring new skills at a remarkable pace. The challenge was not only invigorating but also a testament to the team's commitment to continuous growth and excellence. I was pleasantly surprised by the trust placed in me to take ownership of project pieces and decisions. This culture of ownership is a catalyst for growth, as it encourages creativity, resourcefulness, and a deep sense of responsibility. Each challenge has been an opportunity for personal and professional development. I learn something new every day. The Dream Team Coming from a strong and supportive team in my previous job, the transition initially left me a tad apprehensive. However, those concerns quickly dissolved as I realized that the team at “e” was not just welcoming, but also dedicated to nurturing a supportive environment. The ethos of 'honourable' extends beyond interactions with clients to the heart of how colleagues treat one another. The camaraderie and support I found within the team were beyond my expectations. Amidst the whirlwind of activity, their unwavering unity turned colleagues into friends and mentors. It's often said that teamwork makes the dream work, and I couldn't agree more. The “e” team exemplifies this, proving that when a group of passionate individuals come together, exceptional things happen. One of the most awe-inspiring aspects of my role has been the opportunity to learn from the industry's best. Interacting with seasoned professionals who are not just experts but also innovators, has been an unparalleled privilege. Their insights have guided me through complex challenges and opened my eyes to innovative approaches that redefine the boundaries of event management. The first three months have been a whirlwind of learning, growth, and forging bonds with an extraordinary team. As I move forward, I am excited to continue pushing my boundaries, honing my skills, and contributing to the creation of remarkable experiences. I am eager to embrace the challenges that lie ahead.
Emotional intelligence in relation to event and conference planning & production has become a trending topic, but it’s something we’ve been aware of for years. Our founder, Jocelyn, has presented on Emotional Intelligence & Human Centered Design on a number of stages over the last couple of years, but in case you haven’t had the chance to see her in person, we thought we’d break it down for you here! First things first! What is emotional intelligence and why is it important? In short, it is the ability to manage your own emotions as well as understand the emotions of people around you. There are five key elements: social skills, self awareness, self-regulation, empathy, and motivation. Let’s break them down.
My First Impressions
The Official Story of the Rubber Duck
My First Three Months with "e"
Here's to 21 Years, a Cause for Great Celebration!
Through the Years . . . How a Single Word Can Make a Huge Difference At the end of 2017 a small group of my friends pushed me to join them in naming a word of the year. Surprisingly, this was one of the most difficult things I have ever done – and many would say, I’ve done many things over the years. I was never one to have New Year’s resolutions, nor was I really ever good at writing down goals, so I truly found this quite intimidating. How could I choose one word that I truly wanted to define me for an entire year? What word did I want to personify? That is a lot of pressure for one word. And then a lot of pressure for me to “be.” I felt this overwhelming vulnerability when it came time to share this word. I then pulled out my inner Brené Brown, looked vulnerability in the face and took a stab at it. BOLD was the word of that year and in 2018, I needed that. I must admit, as soon as I stated that word I felt it. I lived it. I breathed it and if I ever wavered or got nervous before a client call, all I had to do was look at the handwritten note on my desk and remember to be bold. And surprisingly, it worked! At the end of 2018 it was fun to look back and reflect on the success that BOLDNESS brought to me, and to the company – we had the best year financially since 2007 (during the oil boom), I had a personal best as an event producer and we had incredible events across North America. In 2019, my word was JOY and I lived that every day. I made it a priority to have fun at everything I did. Clients brought me joy, our team was on fire and brought me a lot of joy and I took advantage of no travel restrictions and found joy on and off of planes, meeting new people and visiting friends and family. In 2020, luckily I had the foresight (or blind luck) to choose LOVE as my word. I didn’t know it at the time, but love quickly became a word that was needed desperately in 2020 when COVID hit. Love for my family and friends, love for my team as we together navigated our way through a very challenging year and self-love as I struggled as a leader in this difficult time. Love (together with compassion) went hand in hand and got me through. And on a really personal note, perhaps I should have written this word down years ago. Maybe I wouldn’t have been single for so long. But somehow I also found true love amidst the chaos of COVID. In 2021, ENERGY was my word. By the end of 2020, I felt I was losing energy. I had lots of love, but was drained of energy so I thought if I deemed it as my word in 2021, I could get it back. With this word, I could give more energy to our team, who needed it more than ever after 2020. I must say, I did try. I can’t say I succeeded all that well. Heading into 2021 I was optimistic in thinking that energy would come naturally and we would use that energy to spring back to the “good ol’ days.” I used as much energy as I could to get us through. We had some incredible wins, we broke ground with merging technologies, we played in the broadcast domain and met some great milestone achievements. But it was really hard. My energy definitely waned as the year came to an end. But what if energy hadn’t been my word? If I had even less energy, I’m not sure I would have made it. So once again, I am grateful for that one word that did get me through the year. This year, in 2022, my word came very quickly to me. There was no deliberating. I woke up one morning and had it. DETERMINED . Determined to take back control of our outcome for the year. There are so many things we learned over the past two years that we truly can’t control. But what that doesn’t mean is that we should sit back, hold our hands up in the air and continue to blame COVID for our results. Not anymore. At least I don’t want to. I believe that we can take some control back and I am determined to do so. I am determined to: Lead better Love harder Be bold er Laugh more and live with joy Put my energy to good use Control the outcomes And have a great year! What’s your word this year?
The Power and Humanity of a Digital Event Hi, I'm Janel, Experience Producer at "e". I'm sharing with you my most memorable moments at the reimagined Junos Opening Night Awards from 2021, let's keep our walls down and continue to connect authentically. From Sceptic to Convert Standing in a warehouse in Oakville, Ontario, with 66+ laptops glowing in front of me, I never expected to be a convert to the power and humanity of a digital event. For the 2021 JUNO Opening Night Awards, our team endeavoured to create a live awards show that was not only engaging for audiences across Canada, but a meaningful experience for all the nominated artists. We took on the daunting task of coordinating the live announcement of 37 awards with over 180 artist nominees, virtually. Infrastructure and Experience In the lead up to the event, I was awed by the infrastructure needed to accomplish this goal. With 40 concurrent Zoom calls, 66 laptops, 12 virtual stage managers, 12 dedicated technicians and pages and pages of spreadsheets, not to mention the entire broadcast team and equipment I can’t even begin to itemize, we mapped out each nominee's journey down to the second and rehearsed the flow ad nauseam to ensure we did it right. The technology was impressive - but it was the people that surprised and humbled me the most; Watching our partner teams from across Canada join virtual sessions to support and train each other. Seeing people from different backgrounds stepping in to lead and deferring to experts in other fields, admitting when they didn’t know the answer. Collaboration across live event production, IT integration and television broadcasting. Creating a new vocabulary to describe how we were working together. It was dynamic, challenging and ultimately rewarding.