Sarah Fejfar (00:01.342)
Have you ever been to an event that opened and closed with a bang? Well, if so, you know the power of bookends and setting the tone and leaving an lasting impact. And today we're going to dive into event openings and closings, those moments that really set the stage for the impact your event will make. And also really the emotional journey that guests take. I know it's Christmas, but.
This has been on my mind lately because I've been doing a lot of yoga. We joined a new club back in August. And ever since then, I've been just all going gangbusters on the group fitness and got back into yoga. It's really weird. I did yoga when I was pregnant and years ago, and I thought it was like because it was presented to me as
prenatal yoga, and I did the yoga and it the prenatal yoga and it felt amazing. And I thought it was like, just like this unique thing to pregnancy. I know that was crazy. It didn't occur to me that I could just keep doing the yoga. And I would still continue to feel amazing.
And so, you know, fast forward several years, and now I've like reconnected with this old friend and found it's amazing. And what really interests me is that the yoga class starts with this really intentional kind of grounding exercise, it seems like every class, the instructor has us get on the mat and
maybe do a child's pose or some slow stretches that are guided and it's really this like quiet, slow, peaceful time to just they call it arrive on your mat. And sometimes I'm not really like in love with the yogi type language it seems a little floo woo to me but
Sarah Fejfar (02:14.974)
I think essentially what's happening is it's creating this little bubble because I'm usually running in from something else from doing work stuff and my head is in a million places plus thinking mom things and you know family things and then we get there and there's this time to just switch that off and turn on being here being present.
in this moment doing this thing. And I've noticed when I've, there's been a couple times that I've run late and I've either gotten into that time like halfway through or missed it completely. And the class feels totally different to me because I haven't arrived and to use their language. And wow, it really, it really caught me off guard and
interested me and got me thinking about how that applies to events. And then before we move on to that, like the end has basically the same thing with that Shavasana period, where you're lying on the mat and you know, finish the slow stretching business and then just kind of basically do a short meditation, just like turn off the brain, don't move. And
it is the perfect bookend to end that time and then signal, okay, now we're going to go do like, back to real life again. And it just makes me think of all the times during events where the event host has intentionally crafted those bookends and it's made a big difference.
Sarah Fejfar (04:13.686)
And so I thought we would have a quick chat about that. I know it's Christmas and we've got like a bajillion other things to do, or maybe you don't and you cleared your schedule and you're free to just like take a walk and listen. Regardless, I'll make this quick. What I wanted to say was those. Those bookends of an event significantly influenced guests' memories and how they perceive the event as a whole. It's.
it's an emotional experience that we get to create in those bookends. And I think the way that event opens and closes often becomes the most memorable aspect and it shapes that, you know, the overall perception of the event's success. Let's start with openings. I think...
The opening sets the tone, it engages the guests right from the beginning. I think that's key. So many people come to me saying, Sarah, how can I make my event more engaging? This is, this is a way. It's the first impression. I want you to think about a dinner party. What happens? Like a product of Ina Garten. I like madly in love with her cooking shows and reading her cookbooks. And if you read her cookbooks, she's always talking about
like setting that tone from the very moment. So she's always got the music on and something to hand someone to put something like a drink to give them so that they have something in their hand. It makes people feel more comfortable. They have a purpose. And then if you see if it's a climate where there's coats offering to take those and like, I think a great dinner party has that type of an intro. Think of a spa.
You go in, they give you a cozy robe. They show you to the fancy spa water, comfy chairs, music, right? Think of a hotel. I'm instantly transported to our honeymoon. We went to the Ritz Carlton, Kapalua, and Maui. There's a grand Port of Cher. I'm just, my heart flutters for a really nice Port of Cher. They put a lei over our necks. There's a...
Sarah Fejfar (06:34.482)
epic view as soon as you walk into the lobby. There's fancy flavored water that they give you. There's a similarity in that there's a very intentional crafted experience. I've been to a lot of personal development conferences. And a common theme is like the
really amazing epic hype music that starts it out kind of gets everyone's like heart-feeding and unison and like smiles on people's faces that reaches their eyes and they're like I don't know what's going to come next but I'm excited. So we're think about like we're creating a state at the opening people are often their state the way the way they're coming into
most events is eager and excited and curious, especially when it's a coaching event and that a captivating start can really harness that positive energy and setting that really vibrant exciting atmosphere can really draw your guests into the event's purpose and kind of hold them there.
And I think that well-crafted opening really like perks up people's interest and captures their intention and encourages them to participate and because they're feeling good, they want to. And I think we're talking about emotional investment right from the outset.
I think that's what we're able to ensure. And I think that's exciting and a really awesome opportunity. Now, let's talk about closings for a little bit. So the closing, it's a moment that leaves a lasting impression. And I think, yes, emotions at the end are heightened. I've seen there's a lot of excitement over what's happened.
Sarah Fejfar (09:01.074)
and that's all kind of swirling inside of them. And it's almost to the point where they don't know what to do with it all because there's so much, there's like so much joy, so much information, so much excitement over new connections they've made. And
their sense of either fulfillment or disappointment can really impact the overall takeaway they have from the event. And we have that opportunity at the end, kind of shape what that looks like. And I think a closing bookend that's impactful really reinforces the key messages, leaves a lasting...
emotional, oh, what's the right word, like resonance, if you will. And it really kind of boosts the purpose of the event, the takeaways. Think about fireworks, you know, at the end, there's the grand finale. That's what we remember, right? The even a dinner with a great dessert.
or a party favor on the way out the door, or even a concert with a big finale. I always think about going to U2 at an outdoor football stadium in Minneapolis, and at the end it was pouring and they came out for an encore. And I just, it's that is just burned in my brain, it's a core memory.
and walking out at this just high. So, that was what's on my heart to share today is I think it warrants intentionality and kind of like an extra, like put a pin in that as something that next time you meet with your team to brainstorm your event, let's put some extra care and attention into how we're gonna open and close this thing.
Sarah Fejfar (11:16.834)
because it matters. You know me, the details matter and this is one of them for sure. Okay, thank you for hanging out with me on Christmas of all things to talk about Bookends today. Remember an event's opening and closing really does hold immense power in shaping guests' emotional experiences and overall event perception and
Taking the time to craft these moments with care can significantly up-level the event's impact and leave a lasting impression on your guests. I appreciate you hanging out with me today. Make it an outstanding rest of the week. Take care.
