Memorable Events and Adventurous Journeys
Year 7 of 24 – In 1994 we coordinated one of the top five events of my entire 24 year career. This production changed the way I looked at event coordination. I learnt a secret to events that have a lasting impact.
Seventeen years later and I still remember it like yesterday. Why? Because this was a “journey event” — taking our guests on both a physical and fantasy journey. Since this event, I have produced dozens of similar events with the power to affect guests physically and emotionally.
The client was Benndorf Verster, now known as IKON. The company wanted to take their employees and families on a full day of adventure.
Our task was to create an event that would keep all guests (adults and children) engaged for 10 hours; from 9:00am until 7:00pm. We decided to take all 320 guests on a Pirate Adventure!
It started with a themed breakfast including Peter Pan and Tinker Bell at Granville Island. After breakfast, we boarded the MV Malibu Princess and were on our way to Treasure Island.
Halfway to our destination, our boat was surrounded by pirates. They boarded the ship with one goal in mind. Capture Peter Pan! They found the hero of Neverland, took him off the ship, and sped away in their boat.
In hot pursuit, we chased the boat to Treasure Island, where over 300 people went on a search for Peter Pan and the buried treasure. We had actually buried a treasure chest filled with chocolate gold coins so that when the guests uncovered it, they could share the wealth!
The boat ride back to Vancouver included a Pirate Revue for the “big kids” and a Pirate Storyteller for the little kids. When we got home, enormous smiles were plastered on every face and a bag full of Pirate booty was every guests’ share of the treasure. Arrrrr…. It was a great day laddie!
We coordinated many other boat cruises this year. A memorable event for TetraPak included a Dixieland band, pig ice sculpture, chocolate logo and fireworks.
Throughout the summer of 1994 we produced all sorts of corporate events, ranging from Corporate Barbecues to Company Picnics to Corporate Anniversary Celebrations.
By the close of 1994, I was feeling really good about the course the company was taking. We were coordinating themed corporate events and becoming known in Vancouver for our creativity, innovations, and execution of memorable productions. Bright Ideas was heading in the right direction!
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