Late Friday afternoon we were thrilled to get the call from Small Business BC to let us know we had made it to the final round for the Small Business BC Successful You Awards. A huge honour for us as Community is at the heart of the work we do at Amuse “we bring people together” is not just a tag line for us, it’s a philosophy and a way of working we hold dear.

The big gala is on Feb 28th and we are thrilled to celebrate with all the other amazing nominees the fabulous work that occurs here in BC by small business owners and their teams. If you’d like to join us please contact Marc Smith @ 604-687-6335 by Feb 2nd as I have a block of tickets available at $49 each a $10 savings from the current price of $59. Let’s celebrate!

How we got here:

Stage #1 – get nominated

Stage #2 – Collect enough votes from the public to be make it to the Top 10

Stage #3 – Fill out the long form application and include 3 letters of support from your peers/community in support of the nomination.

Stage #4 – A panel of judges review the long form applications and score each one. The 5 nominees with the highest scoring applications move on to…

Stage #5 – in front of the panel of judges we make a 5 to 10 minute presentation followed by a Q&A session

Stage #6 – on Feb 28th the award for Best Community Impact is announced!

Amuse Consulting is pleased to announce that it has been chosen as the event planner for two amazing charities providing services to residents of BC.

The Canadian Red Cross Western Zone has asked Amuse Consulting to plan it’s new signature Gala to take place in Oct 2012. The Canadian Red Cross supports our community with Disaster Management support, Migrant & Refugee Services & RespectED: Violence Prevention services just to name a few.

QMUNITY was the 2011 charity of choice for Amuse Consulting and that relationship is continuing into 2012 with Amuse producing a Donor Reception, the International Day Against Homophobia breakfast & the signature event Stack the Rack. A 4th event is also in planning with details soon to follow.

Amuse is please to be working with such amazing organizations and is looking forward to building a stronger community which we can all benefit from.

For more information on these organizations or about Amuse Consulting please don’t hesitate to call us 604-687-6335 email us marc@amuseconsulting.ca or tweet us https://twitter.com/#!/Amuse_events

Check out the First Annual Stack the Rack! An event I’m proud have created and produced. It’s on track to be an amazing night and success.

Amuse Consulting + Vancity present the 1st annual STACK the RACK benefit for QMUNITY in partnership with Marquis Wine Cellars & ensemble Restaurant & Bar on Monday, October 3, 2011 (6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.).

This isn’t your Mother’s wine tasting event. Gather with other food and wine aficionados at the esteemed ensemble restaurant at 850 Thurlow Street and sample food sensations created by Top Chef Canada winner Chef Dale MacKay paired with the exquisite wines selected by Marquis Wine Cellars. Sure to be holiday entertaining successes!

STACK the RACK is your opportunity to try some new and exciting wines while stocking your wine rack for the upcoming Thanksgiving & holiday seasons. Take care of all your wine needs in one night for the whole season. Did I mention Marquis Wine Cellars delivers?

Only 70 tickets are left for this exquisite evening at $125 each (before Sept. 21st, then the price goes up to $165).  Your ticket includes:

• An exclusive gift bag stuffed with treats from Masc & featuring a $50 gift certificate to Marquis Wine Cellars (gift certificate can be used at STACK the RACK or at the Marquis store on Davie Street)
• $75 charitable tax receipt from QMUNITY
• 13 amazing auction packages & experiences that you won’t find anywhere else
• unique Food & Wine pairings throughout the evening
• Meet some of the most fabulous people in town

Thanks to all of our amazing sponsors who helped make tonight happen:

Presenting Sponsors:

Gold Sponsors:

Hosts:

Gift Bags:

Media:

When I founded Amuse Consulting in 2004 I knew I could create outstanding events for my clients. What I didn’t realize was how much else I had to know how to do and do well. How do I create a Facebook Fan Page that engages? How do I find time for Twitter? What is a marketing plan? Do I need to worry about Google+? If you are experiencing that pain & marketing yourself & your business is a daunting task, this is a must attend event for you.

I’ve put together some of Vancouver’s leading experts to share their secrets with you. Best of all they all understand the limited time and resources available to business owners like you. Everyone will get something out of this day. The speakers are committed to providing you with inspiration, executable strategies and tools for you to start using first thing Monday morning.

Are ready to take your business marketing to the next level? Sign up now! Tickets are limited and the early bird price of $199 + HST is only good until September 16th.
Here’s your speakers and check out the schedule & topics they will cover below.

Here’s an overview of the day:

• 8:30am registration begins
• 9:00am George Moen Keynote presentation “Businesses today need affordable, traditional & new media solutions to take the friction out of the sales process”
• 9:30am  Derek McCallum “How to maximize your marketing efforts. Key questions to ask about your business to better understand your product offerings & your key target audience”
• 10:30am coffee break
• 10:45am  Matt Astifan “The Social Science of Facebook Marketing”
• 11:45am Lunch and networking
• 12:45pm Kemp Edmonds “Hootsuite & how you can use Twitter to develop key sales connections & business intelligence on your industry & clients”
• 1:45pm  Donna Willon “LinkedIn, the largest Business to Business online networking platform & the power of your profile”
• 2:45pm coffee break
• 3:00pm Bonnie Sainsbury “Google + what is it & how can you utilize the power of Google to propel my business in rankings and search”
• 4:00pm – 5:00pm All the presenters will be back for a Q&A panel session from the audience

It is true what they say about the entertainment at any event, it is one of the key components to a great time. It is no secret that the market is saturated with DJs, so how do you hire the right DJ for your budget?

The process of narrowing it down: DO NOT make price the deciding factor. Compile a list of DJs you have seen in the past, ask friends for referrals, and ask for “preferred DJs” and opinions from your other event vendors. Then narrow your selection down to 3 professional DJ services. Look for a DJ Service that stands out from the rest.

Make contact: Book your DJ at least 6 months in advance. Although email inquiries are increasing in popularity, nothing beats talking with your DJ service over the phone. How they conduct themselves over the phone is a great indication of how professional they are and how they perform in public. Things to listen for… Are they confident? Can they offer you a professional and easy to read website to refer to? Did they answer their phone when you contacted them? Was there a quick turn around time when responding to your inquires? Or do you have to wait days for a reply back? All of these are indications of whether you are considering a full time professional DJ service. Do not be fooled into thinking that all-inclusive packages are the only options for your entertainment. A professional DJ service will spend the time getting to know you first and talk about pricing last.

The consultation: Whenever possible, ask to meet with the DJ or DJ Service at their office/residence. A professional DJ service will be proud of their environment, and will welcome the opportunity to display their equipment. This consultation is a great opportunity for you to meet with them in person, and start to build a relationship. This consultation will give you an idea of how they will treat your wedding/event and make your day a memorable one.

The full package: For your special event you need the full package. This includes a professional DJ, high quality equipment and lighting, and the right songs for your party. Some DJ companies emphasize the need to have a music library in the tens of thousands. Ironically, only 60-70 songs will be played, but if they are not the right songs then your celebration will not be memorable. An experienced DJ can help with this. Determine a general play list in advance and provide your DJ with a “do and don’t” play list. Get their input on your evening. Will they be interactive? Can they help with the cake cutting ceremony and the first dance? What are their suggestions?

Get it in writing: A professional DJ service will send you a contract. Make sure you discuss payment options and cancellation policies prior to signing. This is the time to determine additional items like: whether dinner for the DJ needs to be provided, music request list policies, exterior arrival times, lighting packages, and determining your assigned DJ. And let’s not forget pricing and extra charges.

Don’t just take their word for it: Ask to see the DJ service’s references and then qualify them by calling. Make sure to contact a previous client that has used the DJ that is assigned to your function. A professional DJ service will be honoured and proud to provide you with at least 3 recent contacts.

Pricing: Price is one thing – quality is another. All DJs are not created equally. A DJ’s rates can vary from a low $500 to a high $1500 in most Canadian cities. Anyone below $500 should be scrutinized to ensure quality of service, equipment, and track record.” Chances are, they are not a professional full time DJ, and they may lack experience, and most likely don’t have a license or carry liability insurance. Most good DJs should be priced in the $700-1000 range, depending on experience. Book the DJ you can afford and NEVER EVER book the cheapest (unless you are receiving a discount or there is a valid reason that they are the lowest price). Trust your gut feeling for the DJ you like and go with them. Remember, with hiring a professional, comes peace of mind.

Key questions to ask:

1. What type of sound system do they use?
2. Do they have a business license?
3. Do they carry liability insurance?
4. Do they use AVLA licensed music?
5. Are they members of the Better Business Bureau (BBB)?

Ozzie Kipnes is co-owner of Hot Wax Mobile Music and is a preferred Amuse Supplier. How Wax has been in the DJ business for over 24 years. Look for more music and entertainment tips to come from Ozzie in the coming months.

Thanks again to all who came out to show their support and of course a huge thank you to all my suppliers and sponsors. Lonsdale Rentals Mobiry Seven 25 Design & Typography House of Q Michi Sushi Road 13 Mozart Bakery & Cafe Hot Wax Mobile Music & Tattoos For Now

The rest of the great photos taken by Cole & Jakob from Nordica Photography can be found here http://www.flickr.com/photos/amuseconsulting/

Now you may wonder why I’m getting nervous after all I’ve planned over 100+ events since starting Amuse Consulting in 2005 and 6 years of events I planned at all Vancouver Capers Community Market stores. Well the answer is simple, this is a huge milestone both for me personally and for my company and so I’ve really put it all out there.

I’ve lined up a fantastic array of suppliers doing their best work and some neat and nifty surprises that are sure to please and get people talking. It’s an event with a Marc/Amuse twist. To find out some of the special treats in store for you check out an earlier blog from last week.

Something I have not shared yet with  most folks is how truly thankful I am for the amazing support I have received from clients, friends, colleagues, and the fantastic social media world that I dipped my toes into last year. So here is my public thank you in the largest voice I can muster THANK YOU for an amazing 5 years. I really look forward to the next 5 years and beyond.

For those sitting on the fence yes there are a few tickets left. $20 gets you a great evening of fun, of course my thanks, and the knowledge that the money is going to charity. Two in fact Kids Up Front Vancouver & A Loving Spoonful. Buy your ticket here http://amuse5year.eventbrite.com/

So here’s to seeing you on Wednesday May 19th at the Harrison Galleries, at 6pm. I’ll be the one smiling from ear to ear.

I’m super stoked about the event and want to share with you some of the cool sponsors and services that will be on display for your enjoyment. Oh there are still a few tickets left so click on the poster and register yourself.

1. To start with I’m showcasing some cool neat technology courtesy of Mobiry. I’m not going give too much of that away as it’s kind of cool and I like the surprise factor.
2. For food well have we a treat for you. To start with we have the award winning House of Q serving up real southern BBQ Pulled Pork Sliders with Southern coleslaw! Then we have the unique and super tasty Michi Sushi serving up their innovative and easy to eat sushi rolls. To further delight your taste buds and to be honest a meal isn’t over till you’ve had dessert we have… Mozart Bakery & Cafe doing up Sweet Potato Pie & Lemon Tartlets. Yummy Yummy Yummy!
3. Now that we’ve taken care of your taste buds how about your other senses? Spinning some tunes that will have all our toes tapping will be DJ’s courtesy of Hot Wax Mobile Music.
4. For you sight we’ve even got that covered! Tattoos For Now will be creating a special piece of body art that will be on display plus they will be offering airbrush tattoos for all in attendance. Maybe you’ve been wanting one on a certain spot bust just didn’t know how it would look well now you’ve no excuse Ted Couling will also be on had as a crowd favourite to create some lasting memories with his caricatures.
5. Did you think I’d forgotten about what you are drinking? Not to worry this is going to blow you away. Irene will be sampling some beautifully aged rum and Lambic beers that I’m sure you’ll enjoy + the surprise guest is Michael Bartier the winemaker of Road 13 will be pouring wines all night and will be hosting a very special and exclusive mini event in our party at approx 7:30ish.
6. Think I’m done? nope but you’ll just have to be there to find out what else I have in store for you. Plus you have to be there to win 1of the 8 door prizes valued at over $3500!

So I really hope to see you on the 19th. It’ll be a great event and the crowd is looking fabulous. Don’t leave your ticket purchase till the end they are selling fast and I have put a cap on number of tickets available.

Thanks again to sponsors that have come on board at the last minute and didn’t make the poster designed by Isabelle and the team at Seven25 Design & Typography.

To celebrate our “birthday” we are throwing an exclusive event and you are invited. Please see below for more details and click on the poster to be taken to the registration page. Proceeds from the event are being donated to A Loving Spoonful and Kids Up Front. Both are new Amuse Clients.

Thanks to the fantastic sponsors I’ve got quite the line up of events happening + over $3500.00 in door prizes. Thanks to Road 13, House of Q, Michi Sushi, Mobiry, Seven25 Design & Typography & Mozart Bakery & Cafe

Only 125 tickets are available and they are selling fast so please make sure to get yours right away   Click on the poster below to be directed to the registration page with all the details.

click here for party registration

I believe in this book so much Amuse Consulting signed up as the first sponsor for the upcoming launch of the book. Click below to order a copy of yours today. If you’d like to attend the launch event (Jan 28th at V in Yaletown) and meet Shane and Stephen in person please click here to register.