Simply Mumtaz Events wishes you a Happy New Year!

Simply Mumtaz Events, Inc. wishes you a Happy New Year! It's been an amazing year. A lot of events, changes and new clients. 2011 will be all about hard work and discipline - we want to reap the rewards of the seeds we lay now. We hope that you will join us in the coming months as we produce new events, attend industry conferences, give back to the community and grow personally, professionally and spiritually. It has been my honor to be a part of your on-line experiences and we hope that our future postings will be just as informational and inspire you with your events and conference. We will continue to invite amazing Guest Bloggers and hope that you enjoy those posts just as much as we do.

Here's to a wonderful 2011! Happy New Year!

Joella Hopkins, CSEP, CMP/ President, Simply Mumtaz Events, Inc.

Simply Mumtaz presents Guest Blogger: Rhonda Couchigian from Raye C Marketing

Hey everybody! We hope this blog post finds you well. It's been an amazing year and we've had some terrific guest bloggers. Our next guest is no exception... I met Rhonda Couchigian when she was getting me to rent Chameleon Chairs, she literally converted me from Chivairi's to Chameleon's. She has a unique ability to sell and market her products - she knows what you need - all with a very gracious way. It's no wonder she's made headlines with Raye C Marketing. It's my pleasure to introduce her guest blog.

Happy Holidays, everyone! The team at Raye C Marketing is ready to celebrate our second Holiday season. We’re filled with gratitude for all of the successes of 2010. Now that the holiday season is in full swing, we’re hoping you have some quality family time planned and have also set aside some time to plan for 2011! We take the last two weeks of the year to reflect back on the things that really worked for our clients. We like to focus on the tasks that created results! Then we create a wish list for next year. We’re big on planning and thought we’d share some of our favorite tips.

When we sat down and looked at it, strategic social media plans, blogging for profits, and guest speaking appearances (AKA creating experts) were the big hits here!

Take a moment, sit down and do the same. Give it some thought.

Everything that worked in 2010 will get another shot in 2011!

And then: What were the good ideas that didn’t get off the ground this year or the fresh ideas for the new year?

Did you get all of your “Self Promotion Projects” complete? Did you think of any?

Did that Special Events Gala entry just not make it into the mail?

Do you have something to say, some expertise to share with the industry but get too busy with the business of business to submit your presentation to Special Events?

Perhaps the new blog is not published on the web or you haven’t even had the time to write it?

Have you started a Facebook Fan Page but you still only have 50 fans?

Do you have an event that deserves to be published but just don’t have the time or know
how to get in front of the right editor?

Twitter?

Ugh...Powerpoint?

It can be challenging to stay on top of all of these things while running a successful, growing business. Once you’ve taken a look at what worked, what didn’t and what you still want to do, we suggest creating a PR calendar giving yourself specific deadlines for completion of the projects you want to undertake.

One per month. For Example...

January: Update your Bio and head shot so you’re ready when you get that call to speak at ISES or MPI.

February: Update your editorial contacts and check in on their deadlines and leads for the year.

March…

Got it? Get to it! Stumped? Give us a call.

Rhonda Couchigian’s new venture Raye C Marketing is a Boutique Marketing Firm representing products and services in the Special Event Industry. 20 years cumulative experience in design and sales-marketing allows this new venture to produce impressive results for its clients.

Raye C Marketing’s extensive network and personal relationships with the Special Event Industry’s top Social and Corporate planners allow her to provide an in-depth level of service and exposure. We offer introductions, social media, web based outreach and new business development.

We really know who’s who in the industry and keep tabs on all of the up and coming planners and designers. A 20 year career in the industry has allowed us to enjoy relationships with top planners in all of the major metropolitan cities.

Simply Mumtaz Events provides 3 Micro Loans to Women Entrepreneurs in Developing Countries

Simply Mumtaz Events is proud to support World Vision by giving back this holiday season with 3 micro-loans to help women and children in under-developed countries. As a woman owned business it is an honor to provide and encourage women all over the world with the entrepreneurial spirit to build wonderful futures for themselves! World Vision uses monetary donations to help women all over the world who have businesses, or would like to start a business, that help educate, feed, and clothe children in their communities. These donations and gifts are dispersed among various groups of children, providing basic needs and care for an allotted period of time.

We will keep you posted on any advancements and updates on this organization and provide news about progressions made in all of their programs and facilities. We look forward to being a part of making changes and seeing progress for those in need and helping to provide for the children of our future.

If you would like to make a donation, please click on this link - World Vision Online Donations

Producing an Association Monthly Membership Meeting at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel

Simply Mumtaz Events, Inc. was at the Millennium Biltmore this past month producing a monthly meeting for one of our association clients. This monthly meeting was an Architect's Panel and Exhibit. The panel featured five of Los Angeles' top architects and showcased 15 different firms for the exhibit relating to the architecture community.

With keeping the budget in mind, we present a "U" shaped headtable on stage for our panelists. This helped them to see each other when they were presenting their power points and answering discussion questions from the audience.

Special thanks to the team at the Biltmore - Kathy, Sara and Mohammed! They are always fantastic!

Photos taken by Gary Leonard.

Simply Mumtaz featured in Best Events Magazine!

We are very excited that one of our events was featured in Best Events California Magazine Winter 2011!

Check it out below! LInk will be up on our Simply Mumtaz Events facebook page soon too...

Simply Mumtaz produces 5th Annual Hospital Hero Awards at Millennium Biltmore Hotel

Southern California hospital are always in the news. We are constantly reminded of the impact hospitals have on our communities. Healthcare is a critical part of our infrastructure and effects every person, at every level in our community. The luncheon event honors the outstanding commitments and achievements of healthcare professionals; the women and men who work tirelessly to ensure the needs of our communities are met. Hospitals are the front line of care within our society and are committed to providing life-savings services to millions people of every day. The Hospital Hero Awards honors these outstanding achievements and share with the public these extraordinary events.

Take a look! It was a fabulous day! Ric Romero from ABC7 was our master of ceremonies and did a fantastic job! We look forward to having him back out next year.

Congratulations to all of our hospital hero nominees and winners. You all are amazing! Photos taken by Dmitry - Photography by Alexander. Special thanks goes out to the Simply Mumtaz Events team for doing a fantastic job, again!

Los Angeles Trade Tech's Annual Dinner Fundraiser!

Simply Mumtaz Events, Inc. had the pleasure of producing the Los Angeles Trade Tech College Foundation's Annual Dinner event. It was a great experience we were able to help the Foundation raise funds for the school. We were able to use one of the two special event tents they have on campus for the affair. A few of our major challenges for the event were that we literally had no power to source as well creating a high caliber event with a restricted budget. The inspiration for the event design and decor was the Pegasus. HACER, an alumnus from LATTC turned fine artists sculpted the amazing piece which was installed on the campus - "Education gives you Wings" was the essence of the inspiring the piece. We incorporated elements and the story of HACER into various aspects of the complete event from the Tribute Journal to the lighting...

As guests arrived they drove past the Pegasus and then were welcomed by Valet and a wash of the abstract color patterns until they arrived on the red carpet. The photos below detail the event set-up. We had a silent auction and reception in the first portion of the tent... then the second half was set up with our very clean table tops with only accents of the red /orange of the Pegasus. The lighting on the ceiling changed throughout the evening, moved and grew from barely there to WOW! A special touch accent was the origami cranes - our alumnus HACER was inspired by the delicate art of origami and his metal work looks / gives you the impression of origami in metal... The menu cards detailed the why each guest was given a special origami crane.

Above are the one-of-a kind abstract award pieces that were given to the honorees. HACER was kind enough to create these amazing works as wings to the Pegasus for each honoree. Then, as guests departed they were greeted good-bye by the event logo as a gobo.

We literally pulled this event together in 2 weeks! It was a fantastic whirlwind and couldn't have done it without the help of our strategic vendor team members... You all were so gracious under the timelines. A special thanks go out to our client! Thank you for the opportunity and we look forward to many more... Photos Courtesy of Dmitry Morozov / Photography by Alexander and Nick Carranza.

Simply Mumtaz produces Half-Day Symposium - Downtown 2020: Continuing the Renaissance

Simply Mumtaz was very excited to present the Downtown 2020: Continuing the Downtown Renaissance this October at the Downtown Los Angeles Marriott Hotel. It featured three amazing sessions from Land Use, Transportation, Real Estate and forecasting future developments by Downtown's Movers & Shakers.
In the session below the Titans of LA discussed the vision of Downtown LA in 2020... Tom Gilmore, Gilmore Associates; Eli Broad, The Broad Foundations; Tim Leiweke, AEG; Nelson Rising, MPG Office Trust; Jim Thomas, Thomas Properties Group.

We also had over 25 table top exhibitors showcasing their wares... The vendor below is J Lounge Restaurant - awesome place if you haven't been!

As always - thanks to the team for producing a great event. Photos taken by Gary Leonard.

Simply Mumtaz produces - Surfacing the Solutions 2010 Water Luncheon

Simply Mumtaz Events, Inc. has the pleasure of working with Coro Southern California and presenting their Surfacing the Solutions Water Luncheon... The event addressed California's environmental and engineering challenges facing the Delta.

In the picture above was our keynotes, panelists and Coro President & COO plus our Event Chair. Phil Isenberg, Chair of the Delta Strwardship Council; Craig Wilson, Sacramento Delta Watermaster; Rich Atwater, Southern California Water Committee; Charles Wilson, Southern California Edison & SoCal Water Committee; Robb Whitaker, Water Replenishment District; Phil Anthony, Orange County Water District; The Honorable Grace Napolitano, 38th Congressional District; Gloria Gray, Chair West Basin Water District; Don Pierro, Coro; John Greenwood, Coro and Ken Willis, Chino Basin Watermaster Board and Event Chair. Plus, Ric Romero, our Master of Ceremonies from ABC7.

Jennifer got a great shot with Ric Romero from ABC7 and The Honorable Grace Napilotano form the 38th Congressional District...

We look forward to producing this event again next year. It was great working with the folks at Coro and we had a great Simply Mumtaz team putting it together. Special thanks go out to Flor Cruz from the Marriott - appreciate all of the great team work. Photos taken by Dmity - Photography by Alexander.

Simply Mumtaz Welcomes Guest Blogger Gerry Rothschild

We are very excited to present our next guest blogger - Gerry Rothschild from Gerry Rothschild Band. He will be presenting a unique look into the world of a musician and entertainer. For our planners out there - this is a really good insight on how to work with your live entertainers. Enjoy!

Hello, my name is Gerry Rothschild, singer and musician for The Gerry Rothschild Band. When it comes to recommending music to clients and event planners there are two main choices: live or recorded. I recommend the former, and here's why:

The Joys of Live Music
Think about the last time you went to a concert. You were excited. You had heard the music thousands of times, but this was different. This was a live performance, and because you were there, you were a part of it. That's how clients feel with a live band. For the guest of honor, or the bride and groom, their event is even more special because of the live performance, and it was designed and presented especially for them.

Guests, too, greatly appreciate the ambiance of live music. It allows them to feel free and safe to dance, listen, or even sit in with the band, which is becoming increasingly popular. This, of course, has to be arranged before the event. If there is someone in the clients family or on the company staff who is a singer or musician, and the client wants this person to perform, with the help of a pre-party rehearsal, a good band can accommodate any guest artist

Bands also allow guests to use new lyrics for popular tunes. In this scenario, friends of the bride and groom or corporate staff members, develop and sing "new" lyrics to old songs to "roast" the guest of honor.

Musicians can also deal with the unexpected. We were playing a wedding recently, when all of a sudden, the bride's grandfather, strolls up, grabs the mic, and starts to sing "Sunrise, Sunset." The band found his key, provided accompaniment, and created a sweet and unforgettable moment.

Communication with the Event Coordinator

When I am contacted by an event coordinator, I am usually asked about cost and availability first. I provide a price list of costs for bands of various sizes. I then ask for a meeting with the client so I can understand how they envision the wedding or party. It's great when the event coordinator can attend this meeting, but if that's not possible, I make it a point to keep the planner in the loop. I want to know how the client sees his/her event and the music they want to accompany it. I can help the client choose the right size band to play the music they want to hear.

A relationship with the event coordinator is crucial and a two way street. Regarding special songs, a couple's first dance as husband and wife, or a memorable tune to celebrate a landmark anniversary, I will make sure I report back to the event coordinator what songs are chosen and when they are wanted to be performed. Whether its the party time line, games I will lead, performers I will accompany, or announcements and introductions I will make, getting information out in a timely manner will make the event go more smoothly. Of course things don't always go according to plan, as a schedule of events can change in a heartbeat. Clear instruction from the coordinator can help these changes happen seamlessly.

The Event

The tables are set. The linens are draped perfectly. The flowers are gorgeous and the guests begin to arrive. I cue the band and its at that moment the event begins. You can feel it. Live music is the engine moving the event forward.

For a list of amazing award winning artists I have been blessed to work with and Emmy winning shows I have won awards for and composed for, please visit our website. The Gerry Rothschild Band. Thank you.

Simply Mumtaz Spring 2010 - Video!

Check out Simply Mumtaz Events' Spring 2010 Video!

SME donates Wedding Coordination for Breast Cancer Survivor

On August, 28, 2010, Simply Mumtaz Events was proud to partner with The Spiraled Stem for the wedding of Binh Phan, the winner of The Say ‘I Do’ With a Big ‘Do Contest. This contest was for women who lost their hair to breast cancer treatment. The winning prize was a wedding day package worth over $16,000! Her wedding was held on August 28, 2010 at the San Pedro Doubletree Hotel. The Spiraled Stem Floral Design provided VeriFlora Certified Sustainably Grown Flowers valued at over $2,000. They were absolutely stunning! Breast cancer survivor Binh Phan of Garden Grove, had no family history of breast cancer and was unexpectedly diagnosed in 2008 at the tender age of 21. She was facing rounds of harsh treatments that would surely result in hair loss and other unpleasant side effects. Boyfriend, Dean Blanton not only stood by her, he asked her to be his wife and spend their lives together, through sickness and in health. “Winning this contest means the world to me,” says Binh. I want my husband to see me on our wedding day as the most beautiful woman he has ever laid eyes on, and for the world to see that I have fought, overcome, and am a survivor that won’t be defeated.” Beautiful Linens donated by Wildflower Linens, valued at $1500.


Eco-friendly seeded paper menu cards and place cards; guests were able to plant the entire menu card after the event and grow native wildflowers in pots or their garden, they are 100% compostable and provided by Petalos di Pauli, valued at $700.


Photo Booth provided by J & M Entertainment & Event Production, valued at $2,000, the hit of the reception! The beautiful Bride and her Mom taking a photo that they will never forget!

Ceremony music provided by Me & AJ, valued at $500.

Spectacular photography provided by Luminaire Images, valued at $2,500. Molly and Matt did a phenomenal job! They had a slide show ready of photos from the day's events for guests to watch as they were going back and forth from the bar, photo booth and dinner.

The following are a list of vendors who contributed their time and business to the wedding, complimentary to Binh and Dean!

A personalized bra fitting and wedding day lingerie set by The Sculpted Silhouette, including the bra pocket, valued at $100; Foot Petals Runaway Bride Gift Set, valued at $45; Chivari Chair Rentals, valued at $1,200.

Thank you again to all of the vendors for helping create this special day for a couple who were very deserving!

Congratulations to the happy Bride & Groom!

Simply Mumtaz President - Joella Hopkins recognized as a Featured Member of the National Latina Business Women Association's Los Angeles Chapter

Great news! Simply Mumtaz' president, Joella Hopkins, CSEP, CMP, is a featured member of the National Latina Business Women Association's Los Angeles Chapter. Please check out their homepage and see her highlight! Also, on FaceBook!

Simply Mumtaz proudly presents a very special guest blogger: Brooke Bonder

Simply Mumtaz Events has had the pleasure of knowing Brooke Bonder for many years and we are so proud to see her hard work manifest into the very successful The Event Nut. We all wish her continued success in this industry. Please read her fascinating guest blog!

Everyone has a story. Stories give us the opportunity to get to know someone. Once we feel we know them, we begin to trust them and look forward to our paths crossing more often in the future. My job is to help bring these stories out of people. It’s what I love to do.

THE EVENT NUT is an entertainment news web series and customized video advertorial service. In a nutshell, pun intended, I started this company as a way for venues and vendors in the events industry to promote their products and services. Whether there is an event taking place or not, it is their chance to share their story, to let us know what they’re all about.

Check out this link with their recent Bar210 feature...

Here's another quick sample...

In the midst of the recession, the events industry felt the impact very heavily. In the Los Angeles market, many friends and colleagues of mine were being laid off or in danger of losing their businesses, simply because they could not match low rates from competitors of lesser quality. After being laid off myself, I brought together my two passions: entertainment and events. I created a company serving valuable resource to many, alerting planners who and what was at their disposal and giving vendors and venues the platform to showcase what it is they do best. That is the foundation on which The Event Nut began and within a year we've grown to receiving thousands of hits weekly within the LA area (roughly 82% come from the events industry). But the additional advertising on our site is simply an added bonus of what we offer, with the video “articles”, as the primary focus.

Why is Video so important for the Events Industry?
The events industry is a relationship-based business. If you’re considering buying or renting something in particular, an event space, for example, and you have three venues in the running, all at the same cost, which will you choose? Each one offers a gorgeous facility with the exact amenities you’re looking for. They have a preferred vendor list, but will also allow you to bring in your own lists and contacts if you’d like. The loading docks are spacious and accommodating, the food is exquisite, parking is abundant, and the locales are easy and convenient to those coming from any part of town. What will set these venues apart from each other? Personality. And this comes directly from your personality too! I guarantee you’re going to prefer the venue that allows you to feel comfortable throughout the process with a staff warm and friendly staff.

Video gives the opportunity for a company’s personality to shine through, unlike still photos or the written word. Video shows just how service-oriented, competent and professional your company is, rather than simply tell a prospect this. At the end of the day, this can help convert someone who is on the fence with their decision into a client.

The Proof Is In the Pudding:
The top reasons to use video to market your business live in the statistics. -According to the Wharton School of Business and Vaughn Communications, video boosts comprehension and retention by more than 50 %.
-Video expedites buying decisions by 72 % versus print.
-6 times as many people prefer to watch video as to looking at printed information
-Video marketing helps increase sales of a service or product being promoted by more than 70%. That’s astounding!

How You Can Use It:
Video is instant. You can put it on your website, e-mail to a client, share it via social networking sites, show to prospects in sales presentations and give out as marketing collateral. A well-made video saves clients travel and on-site time. Having a high-quality video about your product or service, means you can reach out to more clients all over the world. You have the opportunity to make a personal connection, before the client ever even meets you. Additionally, video is a great deal more affordable than an entire marketing kit and as a bonus, its green!

Professional vs. Do-It-Yourself:
With technology being more prominent than ever, anyone can use a flip camera and make a video. But is it telling your story in the best way possible? Our main product is the videos themselves, complete with an on-air host allowing interviewees to feel comfortable, thus bringing out their true personalities in front of the camera. Remember, since people do business with people they like, this is important. We also use state-of-the-art camera, lighting, sound and editing equipment, so you're guaranteed a wonderful looking and sounding marketing tool. We like to keep our videos vibrant and upbeat, giving the viewer no reason to turn them off. With an events background, we know what questions to ask and with the entertainment background, we know how to keep the piece engaging.

In today’s incredibly fast-paced, web-based world, when deciding your marketing efforts, this is an easy decision. The benefits are immense and the experience is extremely fun and memorable. You will look back knowing you spent the time creating your story. Now it’s time to share it!

Brooke Bonder, THE EVENT NUT creator and president Brooke Bonder has always had a love for questions and a great desire to get to know people, which led her down the path of entertainment at an early age. The Philadelphia native performed in musical theatre, film, television, improvisation and sketch comedy both nationally and internationally for several years while freelance writing, reporting and hosting as well. In 2010, THE EVENT NUT received the International Special Events Society Award for Best Event Entertainment Concept and Execution.

Simply Mumtaz offers many NEW services!

Simply Mumtaz Events, Inc. is very proud to announce that we now offer many new services! We have expanded our company and are now able to service technical needs to include:

Technical Production

Audio

Visual

Lighting

Staging & Decor

Entertainment

DJ's & Host MCs

Bands & Musicians

Video Production

Casinos

We'd love to place a bid for you on these services in addition to our event management services. Please give us a call if you have any questions - 818.433.7555 or email us at info@simplymumtaz.com.

A formal introduction... Jennifer Minzey, Event Coordinator

So, I was reviewing our blog and noticed that Jennifer Minzey, Event Coordinator here at Simply Mumtaz Events, Inc. has never been formally introduced to you all. But, more importantly has earned this special post. Jennifer has been with the team now for over a year now. She started with us part-time and now is an official member of the Mumtaz'tic team. She has made outstanding contributions and is also currently working towards her CSEP designation. She is a current member of the ISES LA Programs and Communications committee. She brings with her a wealth of Pasadena Food Bowl experience which attracts more than 25,000 attendees. We are proud to have her on board and look forward to many more events, successes and laughs.

Jennifer Minzey, Event Coordinator

jennifer@simplymumtaz.com

The Simply Mumtaz team at Dodger Stadium

Simply Mumtaz Events had the pleasure to return to Dodger Stadium this past week for an event... As always, you can't go wrong with planning your event around a Dodger game! We had a small board meeting for about 45 people in the Hall of Fame Conference Room immediately before the Dodgers versus San Diego Padres! It was gearing up to be a great event and post meeting we escorted all of our guests to the Owner's Suite for Game Time and Dodger Dogs! We also had a second suite for overflow... it was a wonderful spread and the team at the Dodgers was terrific! A special shout out to Lorraine for making so perfect! You can also use this link to contact Levy to book your events at Dodger Stadium!

Two pics of us in the suites before the guests arrive... gotta get those cool pics in, right?

Guest Blogger - Mark Iles / Printing it Right!

It's with great pleasure that we introduce you to our August's Guest Blogger - Mr. Mark Iles from Mark Anthony Printing Services. Mark has been on preferred printer for at least 4 - 5 years and we've been working with other for over 10 years. He's an amazing printer and a wonderful partner of our team. He understands the big picture and thinks about what your job is all about and how it fits into the big picture... he doesn't just get the file and print. He notices small details that could cost you to reprint the job! Plus, he prints Green too! You name it, he can do it for you. With that... Here's Mark's gust blog.

Ten Things to Consider when selecting a

Printing Company

RELATIONSHIP
KNOW WHAT IS IMPORTANT
SIMPLE
FLEXIBLE
PROFITABLE
PARTNERSHIP
UNIQUE
CHARACTERISTIC
LOCATION
MANAGEABLE

The RELATIONSHIP between the Planner, Printer and Designer is critical and should be given time, energy and a high value should be placed on this area of your work. The products of this unit often serves has a snap shot into your company’s standards and quality of work. How many times have you gotten a new account based on someone simply viewing a printed piece associated with one of your events. Planners should never consider the three separate components, rather, they should be viewed as one unit. We are all in business to make money. I have twenty-seven years of professional experience and I am convinced that you must KNOW WHAT IS IMPORTANT keep things SIMPLE, and remain FLEXIBLE. You now have a strong foundation for developing a PROFITABLE PARTNERSHIP.

You should require your DESIGNER and PRINTER to know your business. An understanding of how and why you do the things you do can assist in eliminating mistakes before they happen. More important, insight into your business will allow both the Designer and the Printer once a mistake has surfaced to respond quickly. Lets face it! Mistakes will happen. Often a quick response to a mistake creates an opportunity and leads to improvements that allow everyone in this unit to display their UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS.

LOCATION is said to be a cornerstone for business success. Today the business environment is changing so rapidly that this consideration may not carry the weight it once did. Nonetheless, it is worth your time to stop and give some thought to where both your Designer and your Printer are located. Will their location help or hinder your work? You should consider this from the perspective of responding to a crisis. When things are going well it all works, what happens when things go wrong? Location could be a MANAGEABLE factor. Mark Anthony Iles, Mark Anthony Printing
manthonyps@hotmail.com

As you know word of mouth is everything for advertising and if you need a printer - please contact Mark at 213.610.8845!

Simply Mumtaz nominated for 3 ISES LA SEA Awards!

Hey all! Simply Mumtaz Events, Inc. has been nominated for three ISES LA Special Event Awards. Special thanks to our team members for helping us get there.

We are nominated for: Best Achievement in Logistics and Best Event Produced for a Non-Profit Organization for our Grand Opening / 20th Anniversary event for the Skid Row Housing Trust.

And for Best Event Design for our 15th Annual Treasures of Los Angeles Awards Luncheon.

Wish us luck! We hope to post our winnings on July 20th or see you that evening at the ISES LA Awards & Installation Dinner at the Sunset Luxe Hotel.