SPRING IS UPON US! Time to put up those Ugg boots and paint your toenails because its sandal and tank top season!

This weather has the Epic Events team in the mood for a sweet drink and I have the PERFECT recipe to go along with this PERFECT weather! I like to call it Epic Punch. I brought it to a party and it made me a celebrity. Seriously. Everybody was raving over it…and me for making it.

So if you’re up for running from paparazzi and feeling like a celeb, here’s the recipe:

-1 cup frozen concentrated lemonade (thawed)
-6 oz frozen concentrated orange juice (thawed)
-2 cups cranberry juice
-3 cups water
-¼ cup super fine sugar (I used normal sugar and it worked just fine)
-2 liters lemon-lime soda, chilled
-Sliced lemons and oranges (optional)
-Ice
-Vodka

All you have to do is get a large punch bowl, add the lemonade, orange juice, cranberry juice, water and sugar and stir it all together until the sugar has dissolved. Next, pour the Lemon-Lime soda into the mix. Last but definitely not least, add 3 shots of vodka (or more if you want to PARTAAAAY!) and stir the mixture around a bit more. Chill the mixture for a couple hours (or until you’re tired of waiting), and when you’re ready to enjoy it, pour it over some ice, and serve!

The only thing left to do is have fun and be sure and Drink Responsibly and Never, Ever, EVER Drink and Drive!!

Love always,

Your Epic Events Intern, Krystal

For some reason, people have this crazy idea that in order to throw an EPIC event; you need to have an EPIC budget. False! It’s totally possible to host an EPIC event without having to empty out your piggy bank, and here’s some tips on how!

GETTING THE WORD OUT
Unless it’s super formal like a wedding or some hoity toity event, you don’t need to send out paper invitations. I don’t know if you’ve heard, but there’s this really cool thing that everybody and their grandma has (literally, people’s grandmas are on there) called Facebook. And email. And Twitter. And you can send all the information about your event to your friends for FREE!

DECORATION
This is the part of planning your event when it really helps to be creative. The best way to save is by DIY decorations! All you have to do is get those creative juices flowing and the dollar/craft store can have everything that you need to make your event look fabulous! I’m a poor college student so trust me on this one; the Dollar Store is everything. Especially if you’re doing a themed event like New Years or the Fourth of July. The dollar store has cute paper pom-poms to hang or even use as centerpieces, colored paper for DIY confetti, balloons, and some stores even have artificial flowers.

Ya’ll, this paper chandelier is so great. And so cheap to make!

FOOD
If your event isn’t too big, making the food yourself is a great way to save. But let’s face it, not everybody is a Betty Crocker. If that’s the case then you can do more of a “potluck” style event and have everybody (or just the people that you know can cook well) bring a dish! Food always tastes better when somebody else has made it anyway.

DRINKS
Alcohol can really be a budget buster when planning an event. Making it “BYOB” (Bring-your-own-bottle, for those not in the know) not only saves you a boatload of money, but also allows your guests to drink whatever they want because they brought it themselves! You can also keep it simple by just offering one “specialty” drink for the night that goes along with the theme of your event. That way, you’re not spending tons of money on every kind of liquor or wine at your fav liquor store.

If you remember nothing else from this blog post, remember this: KEEP THINGS SIMPLE. Planning an event doesn’t have to cost you tons of money! You think your guests are going to remember those humongous centerpieces with 1000 different kinds of flowers? Probs not. What they will remember is the great time they had and memories they made with their friends, and you know what? That’s priceless.

BAM! You can go ahead and quote me on that. It’s brilliant, I know.

How many of you want to put on the most EPIC event but have absolutely no idea where to start? Have no fear! Epic Events intern, Krystal is here to give you some quick tips to help you get the party started!

4 Quick Tips for Planning a Successful Event:

1. What’s your Objective?

Do you want to throw a rockin’ New Year’s Eve party for your close friends to start the year off right? Or are you trying to plan a golf tournament to raise money for a non-profit? Figure out why you’re having this shindig and what you want your guests to get from it!

2. Who’s your Audience?

Who do you want to invite to your event? This is super important because it helps you know how you should promote your event and more importantly, it helps you figure out what will go on during your event.

3. What’s your Message?

This is especially important if you are planning a fundraiser. If you are trying to raise awareness or money for an organization, let everybody know, and let them know ALL THE TIME. For instance, if you’re trying to raise money for an animal shelter, don’t be afraid to get all Sarah McLachlan on people and pluck at their heartstrings…over and over again. You want your guests to remember your message!

And last, but certainly not least…

4. What is your Budget?

I kind of think this is the most important part of planning an event. Make sure you decide how much money you want to raise (if that’s the kind of event you want to have) and plan your budget around that! If you’re not planning a fundraiser, make sure you set a budget and STICK TO IT. If you don’t have an EPIC budget, don’t sweat it, you can still have a fabulous party on a dime!

We’ll talk more about Partying on a Dime next time, so stay tuned and don’t forget to share this info with all your Epic friends!

Most of us will plan an event at some point in our lives. Whether it’s a birthday celebration, holiday gathering, anniversary party, wedding, fundraiser or a company picnic. And of course we want our guests to leave impressed!

So how do you plan an impressive event? The perfect venue, food, décor, activities, party favors and so much more have to be considered for your specific guests.

Working in the event industry, we know of the many upcoming and unique options out there for all the considered categories! Yet, most people seem to stick to the same ole boring stuff when it comes to hosting their own event. Well, Epic Events is putting forth all its efforts to keep you from being a victim of ho hum events.

How are we going to do that, you ask? Well…we’ve created the Party & Event Expo in OKC to connect you with the best resources in the event industry! Here you will find all the resources needed to plan and execute a one-of-a-kind event of your own. This week we have been working hard to secure a variety of exhibitors to connect all you professional and just-for-funsies party planners. These businesses have the creativity we all desperately need to bring to our own events. Leave it to the pros to help bring your vision to life! 

The Party & Event Expo had great success last year and we believe in even bigger and better EPIC things for 2014! So stay connected with us as we keep you updated on the progress of all things Party & Event Expo related!

M: On Memorial Day we remember the men and women who serve our country. We recognize the sacrifices each solider, and their families, makes for our country and we are so thankful for the freedom to live in the country we love and to do what we love at Epic Events.

T: After much time spent with the expert, Victor at Conventions & More, Epic Events has finalized a layout for the Party & Event Expo, taking place in the Travel & Transportation Building on the OKC Fairgrounds. The flow of traffic, electrical outlets, fire marshal requirements for public safety and pipe and drape were all considered to make this event perfect for both our exhibitors and our guests. This event is unlike any other! Party planning ideas, resources questions and solutions can be found within this 64,000 sq. ft. space.

W: We all know the moment a team mascot hits the scene the party can officially start! Sledge from the Tulsa Oiler’s, Volt from the Tulsa Shock and Routie the Roadrunner from the Tulsa 66’ers will be at the DSAT golf tournament fundraiser Monday, June 16^th. This event benefits the Down Syndrome Association of Tulsa and we can’t wait to see the big smiles on the children’s faces when they see the mascots!

R: Everyone always hears about the power of networking in the professional world. Epic Events experienced the benefits of it at the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network’s happy hour last Thursday. Since Epic Events works with many nonprofit organizations across the state, this was such a fun way to meet new people and new organizations!

F: Okay, so we can’t keep it in anymore… Newcastle Education Foundation has joined the Epic family as our latest and greatest client! NEF financially assists students, teachers and administrators through innovation and empowerment in the Newcastle Public Schools to foster excellence in education. Epic Events is honored to be apart of a mission so much bigger than all of us!

Epic Events LLC specializes in corporate event planning, non-profit fundraising events, and social private party planning in Oklahoma City, Tulsa and beyond.

From Initital Concepts to Post-Event Reporting, we experience it all daily. Join us as we share the journey of being Epic Events!

M: Epic Events welcomed the newest member of our family, Tiffany Anderson this week. Tiffany graduated from Oklahoma State University this May with a Strategic Communications degree. She is looking forward to all she has to learn from and offer to Epic Events!

T: Have you ever seen a jet torch cigar lighter? Did you know there were so many varieties to choose from? We had no idea until we stopped by ZT Cigars on Tuesday to shop for gift ideas for our guests for our annual OKC Charity Fight Night event held in January each year. Yes we know it’s only May, and Fight Night is still eight months away, but this event is so EPIC that it takes this long to plan.

W: Epic Events posted the official Save The Date for the Party & Event Expo that’s happening this August 5th at the Travel & Transportation Building on the OKC Fairgrounds! Epic Events created this unique expo for anyone who has an event to plan. From a birthday bash to a non-profit fundraiser and everything in between, you’ll find the resources you need at the Party & Event Expo to make whatever your event, truly unique.

R: In between a morning planning meeting for our upcoming OKC Charity Fight Night 2015 event and an afternoon post-Fandango budget meeting on Thursday, Epic Events stopped by MaMa E’s for lunch to try their famous wings and waffle combo. As an Oklahoma based business we recognize the importance of supporting our local establishments! Always remember to Keep it Local, folks!

F: Epic Events met with the Executive Director of Metropolitan Auto Dealers Association to go over the results of the fundraising golf tournament held on May 5. This event raised over $85,000 toward MADA’s charity, the Car Dealers Care Foundation’s mission to assist individuals in the local auto industry in need of charitable, educational and medical support.

Check in with us next week as we plan a fundraising golf tournament for the Down Syndrome Association of Tulsa held Monday, June 16th!

High five! Your volunteers just did a great job at your event!

So your organization has pulled off an incredible event. Your donors are happy and you’re happy. So how do you give your volunteers the credit and praise they deserve? Here are some easy ways.

● List your volunteers in a newsletter and express your thanks. You could even write articles or salutes on individual volunteers who have made great contributions.

● Give each volunteer a certificate of appreciation. To make the task easy, use a template. Frame it up, design it well and the volunteer will appreciate it.

● Write each volunteer a handwritten, personal note and send it by mail. The handwritten note of thanks is a dying art that most people still greatly appreciate.

● At your next event, give your key volunteers special shirts, corsages or some other small token to be worn so they can be recognized by other attendees.

● Privately tell each volunteer you appreciate him or her every chance you get. Some volunteers will not feel as comfortable as others with publicly expressed gratitude. A reminder in private about how important they are to you and to the cause may be just what they need.

Beware the tempting bowl of candy. Will it help you with customers at your tradeshow?

Here are a few of the mistakes that happen at trade shows that can make an event planner like me – or even someone walking through the show – a little bit crazy

* Bowls of candy are great at a booth, but often they just invite grazers instead of gazers. You want someone interested in your products, not someone who is just hungry.

* A giant booth with too many staffers wearing the same outfit can be intimidating for people attending a show. Stepping into your staff meeting isn’t warming and inviting for a visitor.

* Hand people a specific brochure specific to what they need, instead of setting up a rack of

every brochure you offer. You don’t want to look like a library.

* Nothing is more of a turnoff than seeing someone “working” their booth who clearly has no interest in being there. Is a potential customer really going to stop at your booth if you’re reading a book, playing on your phone and not even attempting to engage them as they walk by? Key phrase being walk by because if you won’t even attempt to make eye contact with them, chances are they won’t be stopping.

* Make sure some of your staff are circulating instead of sitting in the booth the entire day. Don’t miss opportunities to mingle.

Is your event on lockdown? Epic Events can help with all of the issues that go into event planning.

Still wanting to make sure your event goes as perfectly as planned? Here are five more items to make sure you have locked down. Check out Part One here if you missed it.

6. Music. A great band and the best DJ won’t do everything for you. You need to make sure the guests at your event can be heard and the music is appropriate. Don’t let the music send guests running.

7. Lighting. Lighting can make the difference in an intimate event, a party or a serious gathering. Be careful about where the lights are pointed and the mood they evoke.

8. Pacing. There should be a flow to all the segments of a big event, from the welcome to the good-bye. Be prepared for last minute changes. Part of the planner’s job is to make the flow work.

9. Feedback. Checking in regularly with the event’s hosts, guests and key personnel is very important. Check in regularly, and make sure they’re happy and having a good time.

10. Spreading the word. Before your event even opens the door, make sure you have done your best to spread the word. Contacting media, using social media and getting in front of the TV cameras can make a fundraiser a household word before the event starts.