Draping course schedule for May, June and July 2013

Join us in our next draping courses in South Africa!

Dates of our next courses in Johannesburg

Draping Foundation              20-21 + 25 May 2013                       2 evenings and 1 day

Draping Advance                  22 – 25 May 2013                             3 evenings and 1 day

Dates of our next courses in Pretoria

Kids Party Planning              11 - 13 July 2013                              3 Day classes

Draping Foundation              9 – 10 July 2013                                2 day classes

Dates of our next courses Durban

Draping Foundation              24 – 25 + 29 June 2013                   2 evenings and 1 day

Draping Advance                  26 – 29 June 2013                            3 evenings and 1 day

Are you the best in the Events Industry?

Being the best in the Events Industry

I believe Kenya has not yet even touched the basics of the multi million Ksh business of the events industry. With all the large companies opening their businesses up in Kenya it is a Gold Mine that is waiting for the events coordinators in Kenya to be mined.

But… not everyone that starts out in the events industry will succeed. What do I need to not only succeed but also to excel in the industry?

With looming deadlines, fires that need putting out, the strain of constant travel and all the little details that need to be taken care of are just a few reasons why working in the meetings industry is so challenging.  

A few point that any prospective events coordinator needs to know:

·                    Understand the basics of the business around you and always be curious about it. It is important to be an expert in your field but it is also important to know about all the different events genres – things like the use of Lights, the use of soft décor – draping, the right materials, the use of the 5 senses to make an event successful etc.

·                    Stay current! Are you following the trends of the wedding and events industry in Kenya or are you setting the trends in Kenya?

·                    Stick with what you do best and become a master at it BUT see to it that you get yourself more than one stream of income! It is good to organize events but there is nothing wrong to do some of the décor for the event as well and in the quite times you can even organize kid’s parties for an extra income.

·                    Aim higher… Dream bigger. People want to experience something new and meaningful if they attend an event. Can you produce that?

·                    Michelle Bergstein Fontanez said once: Do this well and your event audience will no longer budgets for you – they invest in you!

·                    You need to differentiate yourself in the events industry – anticipate the trends, issues and challenges that will continue to reshape the events industry.

·                    NEVER STOP LEARNING! By leaving yourself open to new ideas, new knowledge you will be a more valuable team player and more creative: Great ideas breeds even greater ideas

·                    Take the opportunity NOW to enroll in our Practical Skills courses and become the best in the Events Industry in Kenya!

Levi year end function

Loreal Paris Product launch

Sanral Year end function

Dates of our next Practical Events Courses at Divine Schools Africa - Kenya:

Event Draping – Day classes

Dates:                         6^th – 17^th May 2013

Time:                          8:30 to 13:00

Extra:                          Manual to buy

Event Draping Evening Classes

Dates:                         6^th – 17^th May 2013

Time:                          18:00 – 21:00

Extra:                          Manual to buy

Centre pieces course

Date:                           25^th May 2013

Time:                          8:00 – 16:00

Extra:                          Manual to buy

                                    Students will receive a list of things that they need to bring to the course.

Kids Party Planning

Dates:                         20^th – 31^st May 2013

Time:                          8:30 to 13:00

Practical exam:         Children’s party – each student needs to bring one child to the party

Extra:                          Manual to buy

                                    Students will receive a list of things that they need to bring to the course

Country style buttonhole - DIY

ECTA Creative Solutions have just release another Wedding Buttonhole tutorial.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPYrFQTr7G4

This one we will show you how to put together a beautiful country inspired buttonhole. It's simple, rustic and yet seems complicated all at once. We love these rough textures in the buttonhole, setting it apart from the stiff everyday traditional buttonholes we find so often.

I decided to go and have a look at where the tradition from a buttonhole and an corsage comes from. According to eHow  - A corsage is worn by a woman, either on the left side of the dress or on the wrist, and the boutonniere is worn by the man on his left lapel. The colors and designs of the flowers either match or accent each other and unify the couple for the occasion.

Read more: The Difference Between a Corsage & Boutonniere | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/about_6658993_difference-between-corsage-boutonniere.html#ixzz2PbEKRWko

Buttonholes must normally not be bigger than a golf ball. If it is – it will tend to drop down during the wedding and that can really look very sloppy. Another thing to remember when you are making your own buttonholes is that it is normally better to use on big flower with some smaller ones to fill it up – if you want to use more than one flower it is best to use an unequal amount of flowers. Three flowers is normally a good number.

When you are making a “Country feel” buttonhole – it is best to use flowers that almost look as if it was pick in a garden or a while walking in the country side. Flowers like lavender, sticks, pods etc can be used for this type of buttonhole.

One of the biggest differences between a corsage and a buttonhole is the fact that when you pin the buttonhole to a man’s suit jacket the flowers must face upwards. If you pin the same flowers to a woman’s dress the flowers must face downwards.

Here are a few other samples of country style buttonholes. The last two photo's are from the following website: http://thenaturalweddingcompany.co.uk/blog/2010/06/beautiful-buttonholes-part-two/

www.ectaint.com For more info on our courses.

10 Universal Laws For Success

Last night I went to my son’s graduation ceremony. I was absolutely inspired by the speaker Seton Bailey – FILMSA – www.filmsa.co.za. Seton is very much part of the film industry of SA but also heads up the Non Profit organization F.I.L.M.

His speech was about the film industry and newcomers (like this young graduates) to the film industry but while he was talking I just saw all the faces of our young students before me. Students with dreams to become a Wedding Planner or an Events Planner.

Just like the film industry – the events/wedding industry is extremely competitive, and extremely difficult for a newcomer to make a success in. BUT – all things are possible for him who believes!

In the next few blogs I’m going to start going into more detail on each of the points that he gave us that evening. Seton called it:

10 Universal Laws you may choose to use – or lose – in the real world.

1.                  Flexibility and adaptability are absolutely key out there in the real world.

2.                  Work from the inside out

3.                  Take small achievable steps

4.                  Don’t reinvent the wheel

5.                  Look, Listen and Learn

6.                  Talk is cheap

7.                  The decisions and choices you make along the way will break or make your future and your product

8.                  Never, ever forget the foundation stones or if you like – the four pillars:

a.       Professionalism

b.      Attitude

c.       Creativity

d.      Entrepreneurial or business savvy

9                    Don’t give up… ever. Try and try again – nothing is impossible – impossible just takes longer to achieve

10                Believe in yourself and your vision and mission in life – if you don’t nobody else will.

SO WHAT’S STOPPING YOU? THERE’S NO PLACE FOR EXCUSES IN THE REAL WORLD. THEY JUST GET IN THE WAY OF ACTION!

JUST DO IT!

GO OUT THERE AND MAKE IT HAPPEN!