The Most Underrated Skill in Event Production: It's Not What You Think

When disaster strikes at a major event, what's your first instinct? Maybe you reach for the contingency plan, speed-dial your vendor network, or dive into crisis management mode. But after 15 years in the event industry and longer producing events, I've discovered there's a secret weapon that trumps them all. It's not what you'd expect. In fact, it seems almost counterintuitive in our data-driven, technology-obsessed world.

I learned about this hidden superpower during a recent interview with Brooksie Hughes , the logistical mastermind behind NYC's Bryant Park Holiday Market.?

Picture this: It's 2002, and she's standing in a monsoon, with just six weeks to launch what would become one of New York's most beloved holiday traditions. Her client wants European-style chalets that take months to manufacture. She needs 100 Christmas trees four days before Thanksgiving. And Mother Nature decides to throw both a torrential downpour and a snowstorm her way.

Most producers would crumble. But Brooksie? She laughed.

That's right. The most underrated skill in event production isn't technical expertise, vendor relationships, or even crisis management prowess. It's joy.

Before you dismiss this as feel-good fluff, consider the science: Research published in Psychological Science shows that positive emotions actually broaden our awareness and encourage innovative thinking. The "broaden-and-build" theory proves that joy doesn't just make us feel better – it literally expands our problem-solving capabilities. But in event production, it goes even deeper.

Here's why joy is your secret weapon:

1. It Transforms Crisis into Opportunity

When Brooksie's team faced that monsoon during load-in, they didn't just endure it – they embraced it. "If somebody was watching this on TV," she told me, "they would be laughing their butts off." This perspective shift turned a potential morale-killer into a team-building moment.

2. It Creates Contagious Energy

"If I'm not having fun," Brooksie explained, "then how can I expect what radiates from what I'm creating to be fun for the guests?" Your team's energy directly impacts every aspect of the event, from vendor interactions to guest experience.

3. It Enables Better Problem-Solving

When you're not paralyzed by stress, your brain functions better. That's how Brooksie's team managed to solve seemingly impossible challenges on the fly, from last-minute infrastructure changes to unexpected staffing needs.

But how do you actually maintain joy when everything's falling apart? Here are three practical strategies:

The Sitcom Mindset

Train yourself to view crises as future great stories. When things go wrong, imagine it as a scene in your favorite comedy series. This mental shift helps maintain perspective without diminishing the seriousness of finding solutions.

The "Never Again" List

Instead of viewing mistakes as failures, treat them as valuable additions to your "list of things not to do again." This transforms setbacks into assets and keeps the mood light while building institutional knowledge.

The Future Story Framework

Ask yourself: "How will I tell this story a year from now?" This future-focused perspective helps maintain composure in the moment and often reveals the humor in challenging situations.

The Impact

Twenty years later, Bryant Park's Holiday Market stands as a testament to this approach. What started in a monsoon has become a New York institution. But more importantly, it demonstrates how maintaining joy under pressure can transform impossible challenges into lasting legacies.

Why This Matters Now

In today's event landscape, where timelines are shorter and expectations higher than ever, technical skills alone aren't enough. The ability to maintain joy under pressure isn't just nice to have – it's essential for survival and success.

Your Next Steps

Next time you face an "impossible" deadline or unexpected crisis, try this: Before diving into solutions, take a moment to find the joy. Look for the future story. Share a laugh with your team. You might discover that joy isn't just an emotional state – it's your most powerful tool for turning chaos into magic.

After all, as Brooksie's story proves, sometimes the best response to a monsoon isn't a better umbrella – it's a better mindset.

What's your take? Has maintaining joy ever helped you navigate a professional crisis? Share your story in the comments below.

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