It’s Fashion Week in Austin and we’re delighted to be the Official Rental Provider for Fashion Week 2011. Tonight’s Driskill show starts at 8 PM and features Jewelry. Wednesday evening is Swim and Resort wear and Thursday is Edgy and Electric. When you’re there, be sure to stop by Premiere’s Hospitality Suite in the Austin Room on
the Mezzanine level. Our Creative Director, Ken Sharples, will receiving
Premiere’s guests this evening, tomorrow and Thursday . . . stop by for a
visit. There’s something for everyone in this week’s programming, so pick your
evening and enjoy the show !

We’re fortunate to receive many thank you notes from
satisfied customers. It’s always gratifying to know that your work is
appreciated and that folks with whom you do business care enough to take the
time and tell you so. This week our VP of Operations (that’s Rick . . . the
staff member who handles all the delivery staff and manages our tent division
as well) received a note from a distinguished member of the Event Planning
Community. Her note says, in part, “your experience is invaluable to me ! I
truly appreciate all you do to help me with my events. It’s the Personal
Attention that makes me so loyal to PPC (Premiere Party Central).”

What a welcome sentiment. This is, after all, a relationship
business. Positive Relationships, personal and professional, are based on
mutual trust and respect. They’re built through cumulative positive experience
and strengthened through consistent performance. Caring and consideration,
demonstrated over time and in a variety of circumstances, generate a powerful,
positive emotional response.  We
gravitate toward the people, and the companies we can rely on. If, and when we
can, we avoid those who are unreliable, inconsistent and inconsiderate.

Premiere has been talking about a lot appreciation lately . .
. and about expressing appreciation when warranted. So I think I’ll take a few
posts to do just that . . . express my appreciation to key members of the
Premiere team whom I have grown to trust, respect and appreciate. You might
enjoy following this series and learning a little more about the people who
make Premiere special.

This post completes the “Chef Jeff” series of blog posts derived from Chef Jeff Henderson’s, Author of “Cooked”, opening address at the 2011 NACE Educational Conference. This series of posts has described 5 steps toward becoming the person (or company / organization) you were meant to be – – – the very best you that you can be.

Chef Jeff concluded his list of 5 key personal traits with the quality of Resilience. Resiliency is toughness . . . hardness . . . buoyancy . . . the trait that enables us to bounce back when we’re down – – – to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. It also connotes flexibility and pliability . . . the ability to adapt and respond to the circumstances in which we find ourselves or the environment in which we operate.

I think resilience is a key element in achieving personal and professional success. The opposite of resilience is defeatism – the acceptance of adversity as failure or refusal to try unless success is assured. Success is rarely the guaranteed result of effort. There are so few certainties in life that we’d never do anything at all if we waited for the opportunity, job or relationship that “couldn’t” fail.

The one thing we know, with one-hundred percent assurance, is that we will not succeed if the effort is not made. Successful people learn as much or more from their failures (or setbacks) as they do from their successes. Resilience allows us to put “failure” in perspective and regard results that falls short of our goals as a bump in, not the end of, the road. The only time we truly fail is the LAST time we try.  Never give in ! Never give up !

That’s my personal philosophy . . . quitters never win and winners never quit. That’s also the “Premiere philosophy”. Building a career, or a company, in the events industry isn’t easy. It’s difficult, demanding and sometimes, even daunting. Only the most resilient can endure in this field of endeavor. Only the strong survive, and the most resilient thrive. In the famous words of Lance Armstrong, “LIVE STRONG”.

Delores Crum, CERP
President, Premiere Party Central

Know Your Strengths – – – that’s another key that Chef
Jeff Henderson, author of “Cooked”, suggests is essential to becoming the
person, or organization, that you want and dream to be. And the second part of
the “know your strengths” equation . . . knowing
your weaknesses, is arguably as important.

Most of us seem to enjoy doing what we’re good (strengths) at.
We avoid completing tasks or activities we’re not as comfortable doing or as
skilled per-forming (weaknesses). Writing, for example, is something I really
enjoy. Am I “good” at it because I enjoy it or do I enjoy it because I’m a
relatively skilled writer? I’m not talking about composing fiction or penning a
novel. But when it comes to business communication, I think I’m fairly adept.

I leverage that strength in our business. I’m primarily
responsible for “the written word” at Premiere, and am currently updating the
Premiere Management Handbook. I compose our formal contracts, document our
informal agreements . . . and send out countless emails each and every day.

I’m not as good at adopting the latest technologies or
effectively utilizing the newest electronic tools. I remember, before I had
one, wondering what all the I-Phone fuss was about. Then I got one, and learned
to use it as an effective and convenient communications and management tool. Now
I love it . . . and feel lost without it !

I rely heavily on Premiere’s technical experts for
technological support and assistance. And that’s what success as an
organization or a company is all about. We’re all good at something but none of
us is good at everything. We succeed, individually and collectively, by surrounding
ourselves with people who can compensate for weaknesses. If we’re fortunate, we
put ourselves in situations where we can use our strengths to excel. At
Premiere, we strive to discover every team member’s talents and utilize them to
the fullest ! Knowing our strengths . . . and our weaknesses has helped us
become the company we want to be and will continue to help us achieve our
dreams.

Delores Crum, CERP
President, Premiere Party Central

This is the 3^rd installment in our exploration of Chef Jeff Henderson’s NACE Experience address in Reno. We’ve already talked about Henderson’s first two steps on the road to becoming the person (or business) you want to be. The first step was “Build Your Brand” and the second was “Be Extraordinary”. The third step, and the one discussed in this post, is “Attend to the Detail”.

Attending to the details comes naturally to me. As the quintessential Virgo, I’m naturally detail oriented . . . so much so that I don’t always see the forest for the trees. Fortunately, I’m partnered with a wonderful husband (a prototypical Gemini) who always has his eyes on the prize and is a “big picture” kind of guy.

In my view, attention to detail is an important part of doing a job well. While I’m confident that’s true of any role or profession, I’m especially certain it’s true of designing, planning or executing all or any part of an event. Over the years, I’ve heard successful event professionals from all disciplines (catering, photography, planning, light and sound, etc.) talk about no detail being too small . . . no aspect too inconsequential, no facet too meaningless to be overlooked when planning or preparing for a special event. This is especially true when the event involves a milestone for the customer or client . . . you simply won’t get a second change to make things right if you don’t attend to the details in the first place.

At Premiere, we’re dedicated to the details. We recognize that “it” needs to be right the first time and every time. We have systems, policies and procedures in place (that are well-known to every Premiere staff member) for accurately completing the paperwork and properly filling the rental orders placed by our customers. We’re careful and conscientious in executing our day-to-day activities. We’re responsible communicators, and ask for our clients and customers help in reviewing every order to ensure thoroughness and accuracy. We also ask for your feedback when there are problems or issues . . . so that we can take immediate and effective corrective action.

Remember, even though “the devils in the details”, at Premiere, your details are handled with “angelic attention” ! Thanks for reading.

Delores Crum, CERP
President, Premiere Party Central

Here’s the second installment of our blog discussion surrounding Cooked, My Journey From the Streets to the Stove, by Jeff Henderson. We’re talking about the 5 ways to maximize your potential and position yourself (or your company or organization) for success. The principle we discussed last week was Building Your Brand, and we described how Premiere’s brand has changed and evolved over time, and what the foreseeable future holds for Premiere.

Chef Jeff made four other key points in his NACE Experience opening address. The first was BE EXTRAORDINARY . . . and that’s how I had him inscribe my copy of Cooked ! Other adjectives that suggest extraordinary include astonishing, surprising, amazing, special, exceptional, remarkable, great and wonderful. These are the attributes that set us apart, individually, from the crowd and as a company or organization, from the “herd”.

Extraordinary performance is outside of the norm . . . over and above . . . beyond expectations. Extraordinary performance, in life and in work, requires exceptional effort, special care and concern, remarkable service. These are the qualities and characteristics, individually and collectively, that we strive to demonstrate at Premiere. We’ve built Premiere on these traits, and will continue to demonstrate extraordinary performance as we continue to grow and prosper. We thank all of our extraordinary customers for their amazing support and wonderful relationships.

Delores Crum, CERP
President, Premiere Party Central

Text from Rental Pulse Magazine. To view the original article, please click here.

Premiere Party Central shows the heart of Texas giving

Note: This is the latest in a series of ARA Foundation spotlights on the philanthropic efforts of those within the rental industry. If you have a story about how you give your time and talents to help others, please send an email to Jenni Venema, ARA Foundation director of development, at jennifer.venema@ararental.org. Please include details on how you, your company and your employees volunteer in your community as well as any available photos.

Premiere Party Central in Austin, Texas, knows how to open its hearts to others. In the past nine months, it has partnered with no less than eight major philanthropic fundraising events. This year is not an exception. Every year, this party and event rental company assists organizations and causes that support children, breast cancer and animals.

For instance, in December 2010, Premiere Party Central was approached to partner with “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” an ABC television network series. Owner Delores Crum, CERP, and her staff members were given one week’s notice to prepare for the show. The recipient was a soldier from Fort Hood who had been wounded in the base shootings. He had been hospitalized for 10 months. His fiancée was at his side the entire time, encouraging and supporting him. This episode of the show was to be their home and wedding makeover. Premiere Party Central stepped up to the cause, making this a successful event. “This was an extraordinary event for us to partner with ‘Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,’ Crum says. “It truly touched our hearts.”

Other events the company has supported through significant donations of rental equipment and/or time include:

• Safe Place’s holiday event benefit that supports its domestic violence shelter. Gifts were collected for the mothers and children.
• Bandana Ball that benefits the Ronald McDonald House. This contribution also included extensive rental support for the silent and live auctions and dinner gala event.
• Will Ferrell Golf Classic, which provides scholarships for children who have battled cancer and are preparing to go to college. A sponsorship and donation of rental equipment allowed the Premiere Party Central staff members to meet Will Ferrell.
• Brides against Breast Cancer event in which local bridal stores donate gowns to be purchased by brides. Proceeds benefit breast cancer research.
• Daniel Curtis benefit for industry peer who was paralyzed in an accident. Substantial rental help was supplied for this event.
• Benefit for local fire victims who lost homes. Funds raised were given for rebuilding efforts.
• Seton Hayes Medical Center Foundation gala event that will be held in September to support the foundation’s philanthropic work .

For Premiere Party Central, giving back to the community through equipment rental discounts, donations, time and financial support is part of the company’s corporate culture. “We are so blessed to be able to do this type of philanthropic giving,” Crum says. “We want to help where we can be of benefit to our community.”

Everyone get excited! NACE Austin’s annual fundraiser, Eat The Heat is less than a week away! Don’t forget to get your tickets in advance! Proceeds benefit The Smile Never Fades, so it’s for a really good cause!