He Can Definitely Top That!
A behind-the-scenes look at how the event pros of Catersource + The Special Event pulled together when disaster struck By Scott Frankel
Editor's Note: When Scott Frankel led the session "I Can Top That" at the 2024 Catersource + The Special Event Leadership Lunch—which covered stories from those who have experienced event disasters but overcame and learned from them— he couldn't have foreseen this nerve- wracking story in his future. W hen attendees walked into Hall A and saw the Main Stage for the Opening General Session at February’s Catersource + The Special Event, they saw glitz, glamour, and everything as grand as the months of planning would want you to see and feel. What they didn’t know was that just 48 hours prior to load-in, I had received a call in the middle of the night that our semi, full of gear heading to Fort Lauderdale, was involved in a horrible accident on a Mississippi highway. The result? Millions of dollars of video, audio, computers, and lighting equipment spread all over the road. I've been producing events for over three decades. In those 30 years, I cannot remember having my stomach in such knots. Aside from the obvious concern for the driver who survived the accident—with some broken ribs and a broken
leg that needed surgery—the thought of such a large-scale show being put in jeopardy had my full attention. A ticking clock Aside from the size of this general session, thoughts of the months of planning, and the incorporation of our videos and graphics on uniquely shaped screens and aspect ratios—was the pressure of who this audience is. Thousands of event professionals, the most critical audience you could think of, were going to be in those chairs watching a production with Animatic Media’s name all over it. The clock was ticking. Like most “Type-A” personality thinkers, my mind immediately began to go through checklists, priorities, contingency plans, etc. What seemed like a 20-minute conversation in my own head was probably no longer than 30 seconds. It was surreal. As a matter of fact, it was not just this event that was put in jeopardy. Two days after CS+TSE was to end, we were traveling to Orlando to produce another conference using a lot of the same gear. I must also mention that, at this time, I was also thinking about how this same event was honoring me with the Special Events Lifetime Achievement award—which of
If you surround yourself with good people, it is amazing what can be accomplished and overcome.
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SPECIAL EVENTS SPRING 2025
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