Lessons from the RSVP Symposium, Make Austin Weird Again
Last week I attended an immersive, mutli-day symposium with some of the most creative minds in the event industry. Hosted by RSVP—a membership and networking community for the global luxury event industry—the symposium featured event professionals at the top of their game sharing lessons and stories with an intimate crowd—other luxury event folks that flew in from around the world. Kudos to Austin’s own Klaine & Co, alongside Brian Worley Productions, who did an outstanding job designing and planning the experience…catering to the best in the biz is a hard job to say the least. We were honored to be a part of the event itself as one of the sponsors and get the chance to meet so many talented peers.
As a local bombarded with lots of “Keep Austin Weird” graphics, I may initially have rolled my eyes when I learned of the overall theme: “Make Austin Weird Again.” But as the day went on, I was won over as each speaker interpreted the concept in different, but impactful ways. One idea camp up over and over was this:
The best creative work usually starts with someone being willing to think a little differently.
Or, as several speakers basically put it… “get a little weird”. Not weird for the sake of being weird, but weird enough to question the obvious answer. Weird enough to follow an idea that makes you pause to consider, “I don’t know…that would be cool!…what if?”
It made me realize how easy it is to default to what’s familiar or what you see others doing or what you think you should do. It’s always tempting to stick with the safe idea, especially when deadlines and/or budgets are tight. But safe ideas rarely leave a lasting impression. Instead they leave you feeling unsatisfied or unsettled because you know you didn’t challenge yourself. And a year later, you can barely remember the project yourself.
At Party at the Moontower, we’ve always loved the projects where a client comes to us with something that’s a little unconventional. Those are usually the ones that push us, make us think, and end up being the opportunity that propels you to the next level… and hopefully becomes everyone’s favorite project by the end.
Here are 3 lessons I’m taking home:
1) Don’t dismiss the “weird” idea too quickly. Sometimes the first reaction of, “That’s kind of crazy,” or “We can’t do that” is exactly why it’s worth exploring.
2) Stay curious a little longer. Instead of jumping to a solution, ask another question…then another. Only through this process will you come across some weird ideas that, if they can’t work themselves, can lead you to the “right” solution.
3) Do genuine work… this is work that is true to the passions, skills and weird quirks that make you, you. Original beats trendy… but if a trend speaks to you, then by all means, ride that train and put your own spin on it. Just keep in mind that work that feels genuine tends to stick around a lot longer and just feels better putting out into the world.
The symposium was a good reminder that creativity isn’t always about coming up with big crazy ideas. Sometimes it’s just about giving yourself the go-ahead to look at the same problem from a different angle—one that is uniquely your own.
xo, Christie
Partners in Party:
- Co-Producer & Designer: @k_laine_co
- Co-Producer: @bworleyproductions
- Host Venue: @thelorenaustin
- Photography: @bonniegillisphotography
- Videography: @shanegrantfilms
- Sweets: @oliveandaries
- Live Fashion Artist: @dashasarty
- Florals: @idamayesfloral
- HMU: @blushnbangs
- Digital Invite Design: @alpinecreativegroup
- Linens: @bbjlatavola
- Logo Design: @dear.margo.designs
- Disco Prop Art: @theglowbs
- Furniture & Backdrop: @moontowerrentals
- Signage: @eventivedesignsatx
- Content Second Shooter: @allgood.moments
- Furniture, Vinyl Wrap, Drapery & Dance Floor/Staging: @peakeventsbykrd
- Lunch Catering: @vestalscatering
- Coffee Cart: @creaturecoffeeco
- Custom Hat Bar: @toppedhats
