TaylorMade 2¢

August 20, 2015
in Events, Lessons Learned, TaylorMade Best Practices

Whether you’re a corporation or a non-profit organization, annual events are a key component to your company’s success. Before we dive into the importance of why you need to have annual events, let’s talk about the why they need to happen annually. While we understand an event takes time, energy, and resources, it is vital to have one at least once a year—especially for non-profits. Here’s why: You want to stay in front of your customers and donors.  If you hold bi-annual events, you run the risk of donors or customers forgetting...

July 21, 2015
in Culture, The TME Team

When I was young, I knew that one day I wanted to have my own business, be my own boss, make my mark on the world. I had absolutely no idea that I would build a company that my clients love and appreciate and my employees enjoy working for. Here’s how I did it - and how we continue to do it: Do work you love My entire career has been spent in the event industry, and I could not imagine doing any other work. I am a people-person, and I thrive in...

July 8, 2015
in Lessons Learned

Golden Rolodex: noun A magical list of names that results in immediate and large donations to your cause. See also: gold-filled pots at the end of rainbows and geese that lay golden eggs. First, the bad news: I am very sorry, but it’s true. The Golden Rolodex is a myth. During our years managing the fundraising process and conducting outreach on behalf of our nonprofit clients, we have yet to meet anyone who has a list of names they can call and immediately gather millions of dollars in pledges. Now, the good...

March 13, 2015
in Events, Lessons Learned

Planning red carpet events usually comes with an extra level of stress. Since you are working with VIPs and celebrities your job ends up seeming like a very precarious balancing act, trying to keep things orderly, flowing and on time. We know it's not easy so we came up with some tips to keep in mind. 1. Make two separate lines. The key is to keep the red carpet clear and free. Make a separate line for non-VIPs to go directly into the rest of the event. This way photographers and media can...

February 3, 2015
in Events, TaylorMade Best Practices

1. Who are you? Description of organization and fund use. This is key for new prospects but is also a good reminder to your existing donor base. To both new and current contacts, this description answers the “Why?” question – why should I support this organization? This is your opportunity to share your mission, key programs, and the anticipated use of funds received as a result of your fundraising efforts. This is also your chance to use logic or if you’re a non-profit an emotional appeal to pull on the heart strings...

September 23, 2014
in TaylorMade Best Practices, The TME Team

Hello Everyone! My name is Mary Iafelice (pronounced “Eye-Fell-Eese” in English, “Ya-Fell-E-Chay” in Italian), and I am pleased to introduce myself to you as a TaylorMade Experience Event Coordinator! Better late than never, right? (Enjoying some Cava in Barcelona, Spain) How is it that a philosophy major with her roots in New England ended up in Events Management in the D.C. area? Well, I will admit that back in college I was dead-set on staying in academia for my whole career. But life, as it is known to do, threw me a curveball...

September 17, 2014
in Culture, Lessons Learned, TaylorMade Best Practices

The summer sadly has come to an end; all of us are back into our routines. Regardless of whether or not you have kids, you were once a kid. The practice, preparation, and simultaneous joy and anticipation associated with back to school can be translated into the following lessons that can be applied at work, both within corporations and nonprofit organizations. Jump back in with both feet – All major cities tend to have a lull in the summer; business slows and vacations are in full effect. Just like being a...

August 29, 2014
in The TME Team

Hi everyone! I’m Jessica Wessinger, and I’m excited to join the TaylorMade Experience team again as an Event Coordinator.  I say again, because I interned with TME in 2011 and found my way back 3 years later after graduation from Virginia Tech and positions with the Washington Capitals and American University. It’s been impressive to watch TME’s growth from afar over the last few years, and I’m excited at what the future has in store for us. Growing up, I never considered a career in events. I was always interested in business...

August 11, 2014
in Events, Lessons Learned, TaylorMade Best Practices

Are you getting a lackluster performance out of your board or event committee? Are you not producing the results you had desired? Are you rallying the teams and just not getting anyone to bite? We feel your pain! Effective boards and event committees are essential in creating outreach lists for invitations, sponsorships, and cultivating new donors, so their lack of involvement can be a significant problem to your bottom line. Whether your board or event committee is uninvolved, hard to engage and excite, or just totally unresponsive, there are several ways...

August 5, 2014
in Events, Social Media, TaylorMade Best Practices

Our previous post on social media for events took us through the “5 W’s” – who, what, when, where, and why. This follow-up post will expand on the much-related “how” of social media for events. Now that you have answered your “W” questions, the how includes the all-important action items needed to maximize your social media integration efforts. Here are a few of TME’s best practices: Persevere. Many organizations utilize social media for their general mission and organization, but quite a few do not carry this over to their events, creating a...