TaylorMade 2¢

May 13, 2021
in TaylorMade Best Practices

Despite the hopeful sign of rapidly expanding COVID-19 vaccinations across the country, hybrid events will continue to be popular for the foreseeable future. The reasons? Experts predict that the pandemic won’t end until mid-2022. With just 35 percent of Americans fully vaccinated, we haven’t reached herd immunity as a nation, and that makes it risky to gather in large numbers. This makes the hybrid meeting model a great alternative.  In addition to eliminating the risk of gathering in person for a live event, there are many other compelling reasons for the...

April 14, 2021
in TaylorMade Best Practices

TME's Vice President of Business Development, Melissa Cather highlights our top 5 tips to give your attendees a wow factor at your virtual event. Anyone who’s ever attended a virtual event can attest that these programs can be dynamic or dreadful. At TME, we’ve managed the gamut of virtual programs – from Zoom presentations to three-day virtual conferences featuring special guests like Trevor Noah, Katie Couric, Dr. Fauci, and Stacey Abrams to name a few. We’ve literally seen it all. We pride ourselves on delivering stellar programs in the ever-changing world of...

March 11, 2021
in Above and Beyond, Lessons Learned, TaylorMade Best Practices

Account Manager, Marianne Johnson, shares valuable guidelines for setting yourself up for success in your workspace. One of our TME mantras is presentation is everything.  Whether meeting with a client or attending a special event, arriving on location as your most poised and professional self has always conveyed an important message.  Despite the shift to virtual meetings and events over the past year, this basic concept still holds true.  After all, Room Raters isn’t just a popular Twitter account - it has inspired a new national pastime, evaluating and critiquing work-from-home...

February 11, 2021
in Culture, Lessons Learned, TaylorMade Best Practices

TME's VP of Talent Acquisition, Jen McNulty, shares key expectations you should have in place when introducing a new manager to your team.  Our Talent Acquisition services have grown and we are here to help you and your team achieve your goals!  There are many ways to ensure the successful onboarding of a new manager, our VP of Talent Acquisition, Jen McNulty, shares five key expectations to set when acclimating a new hire to their position.  1)   Over-communicate. Starting a leadership role within a new organization can be nerve-wracking for you and your...

August 20, 2020
in Events, TaylorMade Best Practices

We can all agree that this has been a year unlike one we’ve ever seen before, and there’s no “back to normal” in sight, so we’re all having to improvise, make changes, find that “new normal.” So what does that mean in the event space?  It means planning can be complicated. And since we’re planners, that can be a little out of our comfort zone - more like completely and utterly out of our comfort zone. But the fact is that until we have a successful vaccine, most people probably aren’t...

June 1, 2020
in Lessons Learned, Social Media, The TME Team, Tips for Nonprofit Fundraising

My name is Marianne Johnson and I am an Account Manager at TaylorMade Experience. Two weeks ago I ran the most miles and raised the most money I ever have, all while in quarantine. During the initial COVID-19 pandemic stay-at-home orders, I created a bit of a routine for myself with a run marking my transition from day-time leggings to night-time leggings. While running provided peace of mind during this period of unknown, I wanted to run with more of a purpose. I signed up for A Wider Circle's Race To...

May 18, 2020
in TaylorMade Best Practices

Finding ways to give back while respecting social distancing guidelines can be a challenge.  But with a little creativity and virtual know-how, you can engage your loyal supporters and their networks to raise funds, right from their own home.   By having them take action, your constituents become a part of the solution.  Every dollar raised translates to a meaningful impact for the constituents you serve.  Below are some helpful tips and tricks along with a step-by-step guide to help get your donors started.  Step 1 - Choose a fun activity that will appeal to your friends and...

May 6, 2020
in TaylorMade Best Practices

Due to COVID-19, nonprofits' ability to offer essential services has been greatly diminished, at least for the short term.  But organizations are more committed than ever to doubling down on efforts and reinvigorating the ethos of their missions during this unprecedented time. To help address the immediate and increasing needs of nonprofit organizations there are many ways to offer creative and engaging solutions to donors today.  So you can’t gather in-person, bring the event to them! 10 TIPS AND TRICKS Engage an external AV/production team to establish a sophisticated and robust platform! Consider them what would have been an...

April 15, 2020
in TaylorMade Best Practices

1. Ask your board for support!  Now is the time to tap their talent, don’t go it alone! A. We are all craving expertise, rely on your Board members that can help with financial planning, understand how to navigate the CARE Act, make sage decisions about staffing. If you find yourself without this kind of expertise, start recruiting new leaders who have experience in multi-facets of governance (Finance, Law, HR). B. Have your outreach to donors be followed by a message from a Board member who also has a relationship with the individual. 2. Stay...

March 20, 2020
in TaylorMade Best Practices

Frequently Asked Questions of Event Planners Should we cancel our event?   This is a question that only you can answer.  However, here are some questions that we recommend you consider before making a final decision: What is the location of your event?Is there any official guidance from the CDC and/or WHO regarding travel to this area?Does it fall within areas where travel has been restricted or alerts have been raised?Are there any local/state/federal government mandates that must be considered? Who will be attending the event? If your attendees, speakers and other program participants cannot make...