So, I needed a calculator to work it out but it’s a scary number. It has been 616 days since the Melbourne Grand Prix was cancelled on the 13th March 2020 to last week’s announcement where we Victorian’s are basically back to what we do best – vertical consumption and dancing at the same time!
Sounds like a flashback to an 80s themed party and surely the term vertical consumption has to be the event industries gold medal winning word of the COVID period.
Yes, there have been a few moments of sunshine in those 616 days but basically, it’s been a wipe out for many industries of which events of all shapes and sizes have been at the top of the tree.
Like all of us, I’ve learnt heaps and seen the good, the bad and the ugly in our industry which one day might make a good book! Thank heavens there was more good than bad and ugly combined.
However, I’m not dwelling on the past as we can’t change anything. It’s now a matter of what happens next and how we are best suited to deal with it.
Quick comment in relation to the proposed insurance scheme here in Victoria – let’s wait and see the fine print and take up before we herald it a saviour for everyone. Hopefully it will help those who need it most but it won’t work for every event. Interesting to hear that its unlikely to be national as it seems the politics is again a driving issue.
Three comments this week that sum up the critical issues that could make or break us
- From a leading caterer “PJ we are getting slammed before Christmas and can’t keep up with the demand”
- From a leading hirer “We can’t take any more work on now in March next year as we don’t have enough staff to rely on”
- From a leading hotel “know of anyone who wants to be a wedding coordinator and can start tomorrow. We are simply knocking back weddings as we have no staff”
I can relate to this as even I’m having to pull the old jumper on just to get us through the next four weeks. Not sure I’m match fit but too late now to worry!! I’ve never seen so many ads for event related positions at all levels so hopefully they can all be filled. Remember, please keep in mind the opportunity to go and employ an event management student as we are going to need to get them into the industry.
Whilst the demand is there now pre-Christmas, it’s only going to explode next year when confidence continues to grow, particularly in relation to business and public events. So how do we continue to meet the demand when majority of us have and will still have staff issues well into the new year.
The easy answer is to go and get more staff, but it’s not as simple as that. Issues of training, availability and is there enough confirmed business to go back to the full time model we all had 18 months ago. I’m kind of at the point of let’s walk before we can run, but I have to be able to run when I need to. I’m also dealing with the issue of which suppliers can hit the ground running as we can’t do it without them.
I’ll be interested to hear what others are doing to address these issues and what else is hindering the biggest comeback since the last John Farnham tour!
I must say though, it’s given me a new sense of energy that’s been lacking for a while. I hope you’re all feeling the same and now I need to find out if I can still fit into my old events jumper.
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