Getting The "Regular Old Normal" Back

It's a wonderful thing to hear that live events are on the return. The ability to start actually making plans to return to event spaces is just about the greatest news I've heard in a very long time. The chatter is picking up, the calls are coming in, and emails are starting to populate.

As I speak to vendors, planners, and venues alike I have discovered something that is really helping me identify the next steps with them, to assure a quality transition back into event spaces, and keep the creative side working.

I have discovered that keeping on task with the ideas of the future are far more invigorating than discussing all the injury that 2020 caused. Yes, it was a nightmare, yes, there was so much direct and collateral damage to us all in this sector. What we must do collectively is focus through the pain and suffering of the "bad relationship" we had with the pandemic and shape our next steps to create the "regular old normal" again.

My friend and colleague Armando Palomino gave me an excellent way to open the conversation of the Covid-19 impact without digging too deeply into what we have all suffered. He taught me to ask how the pandemic has changed their business and what steps they were going to take going forward.

What a brilliant way to touch on the issue, and still keep lifting our spirits up beyond the year plus of shelter-in-place fatigue.

Armando went on to explain to me that he is finding out some great ways companies are protecting themselves and creating innovation to keep the "open" sign on long into the future. That is a valuable insight I'm now using to help ease the pain of rehashing 2020:

Take a look at what you are doing (or have already implemented) to help give you some more security in the event field. Is it adding a hybrid and streaming option to your shows? Are you raising your price point to help rebuild? Have you discovered after pivoting your business that you may be better suited for a new service to offer? Out of chaos comes necessity, and out of that need can be true ingenuity.

Sadly, there are many professionals and businesses that were not able to make it through 2020, who couldn't find a way to keep the doors open, and worst of all had to send home employees. Our hearts and minds go out to those who lost it all, and we hope that you are able to find some help in your rebound. Your stories are the ones we must listen to and learn from. I would never discount that in any way, but I am very interested in putting 2020 in the filing cabinet and closing it.

Let's get back to work and find our own blueprint to success again. Stay safe, work hard, and I hope to see everyone back in action sooner than later.