Organising an event at the Fabrique
One organise an event is one of goMICE's specialisms. For instance, we received the wonderful commission to organise an event on Friday 17 March. For months, we worked on designing the annual gala for one of our regular clients and making it truly over the top! In this blog, you can read how we arranged this: Organising an event at the Fabrique.
The task was to link a location and a theme to the gala. At goMICE, we used our client's TV commercial as our starting point. After a brainstorming session, this led us to: “Boarding pass to the future”. This theme was very well received by our client!
Watch the aftermovie right below, and then read on quickly and view all the photos!
The event at the Fabrique in Utrecht
On 17 March, all the effort of months of work came together. We had left nothing to chance. Together with 2 colleagues from goMICE, we set off early in the day towards the venue in Utrecht. With our schedule as our ‘best friend’, we were on-site at 12:15. The first guests were due to arrive around 16:30, so there was work to be done! The event was to take place at the Fabrique in Utrecht.
We began going through the run sheet with the floor manager of the Fabrique. A fantastic venue to organise an event! At 13:00, our client's contact persons joined and we were able to go through various matters with the technical crew.
Organising an event at the Fabrique
For this event, we had four large spaces in use:
- one room for the cloakroom and registration;
- one space for reception and a snack/drink;
- one room for the official plenary part and the awards show
- one room for a cracking party
This meant that we would be clocking up a lot of miles that evening to supervise and manage everything. When organising an event, we always work with various suppliers. First up were the Make-up Artists from Make-up Your Event: Joyce van Dam and her colleague were present. They ran a make-up stand that evening where the ladies and gentlemen could have a futuristic make-up look applied. We saw stunning eyes, lips and eyebrows go by. And later in the evening, even a few men came by to visit the ladies!
From the ‘olden days’ to the ‘modern era’
In the main hall, we were going to create an effect by travelling from the ‘olden days’ to the ‘modern day’. Voice actor Niek Boes was going to guide this journey.
The final preparations for the event
We have been working with the same photographer and videographer for a long time, so after a good briefing, they knew enough to capture everything perfectly on camera. The “Magic Mirror” supplier had also arrived by then. A mirror that talks to you and takes photos fitted the theme perfectly. And it was indeed a huge hit!
In the function room, our regular supplier C.A.S techniek had gone all out when it came to lighting and sound, and especially the special effects. Especially for this evening, they had also built a special DJ booth, where our favourite DJ Ferre Santos could let loose later in the evening. The technicians of Niek Boes (voice actor) had also arrived by then, and Niek himself followed soon after. What an artist that man is. Explaining what he does is impossible, you just have to experience his show.
While I was doing all the checks, my 2 colleagues were filling all 350 good bags and displaying the LED wristbands.
All set for the event
Around 16:00 we were ready and by 16:15 the first guests were already arriving with the shuttle bus from the hotel. We were good to go! We welcomed the guests with snacks, served in a playful way that suited the theme. At 17:30 the official part could begin. Presentations and videos followed one another, followed by a dazzling awards show. The lucky winners were able to accept their awards while Niek Boes supported the awards show in his own unique way.
At the end of the awards ceremony, it was time to reveal the destination. In May, for the sixth consecutive year, we are going on a four-day trip with this client. Two groups of 55 people will be able to go along again as a reward for their performance in 2016. We had a spectacular video made by our preferred supplier with wonderful imagery of the city of Seville. Loud applause followed when the unveiling of the destination appeared on screen.
Dining and the Niek Boes show
Afterwards, the guests could have dinner, which was brought inside using mobile scaffolding.
The chips and ice cream were served via belly trays and we saw that the people were enjoying themselves!
Niek Boes's show followed. He is capable of entertaining the entire audience from start to finish and sometimes you simply cannot believe what he can do with his voice.
And then it was time to transform the people into the ‘new era’. Niek ended his show and led all the guests through an airlock of smoke, along the way test tubes were handed out by the hostesses we hired in gorgeous futuristic costumes. Ferre Santos had already got into his stride by then and the party could begin in the stunning warehouse of De Fabrique. The roof could and certainly did come off!
Ferre Santos brings a venue like that to life and you have to dance whether you want to or not. Some waited a little longer and visited the laboratory bar, but eventually they too had to give in and hit the dance floor.
Officially, the party was supposed to last until 23:00. At around 22:45, I checked in with our client. What I already suspected happened. They really wanted to keep going until 00:00. So we immediately liaised with the floor manager, Ferre Santos, security, and the shuttle bus driver. Everything was arranged to keep going for an extra hour!
The end of a great event
And so at midnight everyone left this spectacular evening. We handed out the final little bags and caught our breath once the last guest had departed. Once again we could look back on a fantastic and successful event. We had already received many enthusiastic reactions and compliments during the evening. It always overwhelms me when, in the car on my way home, I am already able to receive many thanks and compliments via WhatsApp. It makes me happy every single time! Happy that we get to do such wonderful things, happy that we can make people so happy, and also happy that we have succeeded once again!
I received the following WhatsApp message on Saturday morning: “What a gala, what a party, what an organisation…….! goMICE, thank you once again so much for everything you have done once more. We don’t go without you! :)”
Have one too have an event organised in De Fabrique or another fantastic venue at home or abroad? Then please feel free Contact Meet us!