Make your event a success in 3 steps

1. Be attractive to guests:
* Offer them specials, something they can’t have somewhere else.
* Choose a well-known venue based on users reviews.
* Give personalised and original goody bags

2. Communication as a priority:
* Mobilize all your social networks.
* Don’t forget the influence of Facebook.
* Use social media for better coordination.
* Let them know everything about what is happening and who is coming.

3. Make your event special:
* Insist on the first and the last impression.
* Energy, Surprise, Spontaneity, Emotion.
* Discussion and contact between people is a priority.

9 advices to be the best at negotiating

1. Educate, educate
Before you walk into any negotiation do your homework, arm yourself with information, research the going prices and features then decide what you’re willing to spend. The more information you have the better bargainer you’ll be.

2. Act in a way your opponent feels comfortable with you
People like doing business with people they like. They’ll concede a point or two if they feel the other is honest and friendly. So set a pleasant and cooperative tone and your opponent will usually respond in kind. Start off slowly, banish the harsh sounding word NO, and find common interests.

3. Keep your cool
And put on your poker face when you walk in the door.

4. Find your opponent’s emotional needs and make use of them
Use a bit of psychology!

5. Trust yourself
Don’t diminish your credibility. Be polite but don’t back down. You’re your opponent in the eyes. Don’t pause and look away before answering.

6. Use silence
Silence almost always works in your favour. Hmmmm, I don’t know… and silence. Silence creates the impression of confidence and breaks the rhythm of negotiations.

7. Be direct about what you both want
Reveal your budget. Many people you deal with don’t like playing the negotiating game and would rather just make a quick and simple deal. All prices are negotiable; you just have to find the right person who can do the deal – and the courage to ask! A good line to use: “You’re entitled to make a profit, but if your competitors can do it for less, you guys probably can too.”

8. Ask and get the more information you can
And listen carefully to the answers. Watch the body language that accompanies the answers. Listening will also prevent you from revealing important and possibly damaging information of your own.

9. Control your feelings and be sure you leave in good terms
If you do make a deal, never let your opponent know what a good deal you received. And make sure your opponent feels good at the close of negotiations if you ever hope to deal with him again.

Chef’s Challenge for a Cure

Bobby Flay is no stranger to culinary showdowns. This November, however, he’ll be hosting a culinary challenge in the name of ovarian cancer research at Mount Sinai Hospital.

We were lucky enough to attend the press conference for the second annual Chef’s Challenge last Wednesday and boy did our stomachs thank us. Each celebrity chefs came with a special hors-d’ouevre and everything was simply delicious! Whoever end up getting to work with these chefs is in for a real treat.

Chefs present included David Rocco, host of La Dolce Vita, Massimo Capra, host of Restaurant Makeover and Mark McEwan, head judge on Top Chef Canada and host of The Heat with Mark McEwan.

Though we’re not huge chefs ourselves, the event looks so exciting and goes towards such a great cause that it had us thinking we’d want to participate too! The actual Challenge will be hosted on November 26, 2011 and will feature six (one more than last year) celebrity chefs from The Food Network who will each lead a team of 10 top fundraisers and self-proclaimed foodies to create the best-tasting five-course meal, as judged by a panel of celebrity judges. Last year, the Challenge raised $1.1 million for ovarian cancer research. This year, they plan to do even better!

Should be great! Can’t wait to see the culinary rivalry heat things up!

Ps. The Sub-Zero Wolf showroom is spectacular. It could not be more gorgeously designed. Great venue.

Liberty Social Hour – Le Bel Été.

inLibertyVillage.com and CityEvents invite you to a series of socializing and networking events. Each Thursday will be hosted on a beautiful summer evening in various locations throughout Liberty Village. We present to you the “Liberty Social Hour: Le Bel Été.”

Liberty Village is the creative centre of Toronto, highlighting everything that is artistic, urban and chic. Liberty Social Hour will give Liberty Village residents a chance to experience the venues, and potential of Liberty Village while meeting your neighbours or collaborating with a local technology company.

Join us on the following Thursdays and create some valuable relationships within your community, Liberty Village:
July 7 – Barista Espresso Bar, 171 East Liberty St
July 14 – Merci Mon Ami, 171 East Liberty St
July 28 – Locus 144, www.locus144.com, 171 East Liberty St
August 11 – Mildred Temple, 85 Hanna Avenue
August 18 – Liberty Noodle 171 East Liberty St.
Sampler sushi appitizers
1/2 price sake cocktails
Sake tasting

From 5:30PM to 8:30PM, socialize, mingle, network, and experience your community.

And if that isn’t enough of a reason to experience this series, think of the free swag bags we’ll be giving out! We will be announcing a great drink or food special each week.

For more information visit www.torontocityevents.ca, www.deblewis.ca or www.inlibertyvillage.com and supported by www.mercadonews.com

Here are some photos from the first thursday at Barista Espresso Bar: Link

Merci Mon Ami: Link

Locus 144 :Link

Mildred : Link

Liberty Noodle : Link

Andrew Designs Night – Secreto de Verano

Andrew Richard Designs presented its Annual Industry Night Summer Secret last Wednesday. It was a great event and showcased some amazing talent for the event-planning industry. We were lucky enough to make guest list and got to sample a variety of food and drinks all night thanks to partners like Moët & Chandon, Belvedere Vodka as well as many other terrific catering companies in Toronto like 10tation catering, Encore Catering or Malbec Restaurant. Everything was delicious!

From decadent ice creams provided by Origin and Colborne Lane to sliders, ravioli and salmon, everything was delicious and perfected complemented. I particularly enjoyed the wines from Wines of Argentina, Chateau La Garde and Andre Lurton and the champagne from Moët & Chandon was absolutely delicious! The rest of my friends had a great night drinking beers and sipping on Belvedere Vodka cocktails made by the fabulous bartenders of R.E.D.

All this, coupled with sensual Argentinean tango and Brasilian samba, topped with an impressive show of Brazillian martial arts, it made for a riveting event!

Apart from the standout food, beverage and entertainment, the evening did a wonderful job at showcasing the venue. It was beautifully decorated and the atmosphere was perfect. It can definitely be adapted to

suit a variety of different themes and functions. The two storeys and patio create distinctly different spaces but has enough flow and cohesion to make for one great party! Definitely a terrific place to host an event if you have more than 400 attendees. The possibilities are endless!

« Previous Page — Next Page »