Last month, I took a break from the campaign trail, endless cups of coffee, and too many Zoom calls to count to try my hand at something a little more…Minnesotan. Ice fishing.
While it’s a way of life in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, this southern boy who gets scared of snow flurries and wears a buff when it gets under 50 degrees had no idea what he was in for. While it was an amazing weekend and an experience filled with Walleye, Swedish fish-themed cocktails, and chicken wild rice soup, what stuck out to me the most was K2’s rockstar events team. Here were my takeaways after spending a weekend as an honorary (emphasis on honorary) part of the crew:
Communication is king. I saw firsthand how our events team are master jugglers, handling dozens of balls in the air at once and making sure that everyone has a seamless experience. Dozens of facetimes, phone calls, and in-person check- ins are part of the constant communication that ensures that no single ball hits the ground.
Sweat the small things. The details of an event matter. It’s not just hotel blocks, heated, high-tech igloos, and nice dinners. From making sure that there is enough tonic water, transportation, or microphones, sweating the small stuff matters.
Adapt. Similar to campaigns, it’s a fact-of-life that something will go wrong. It was hard to believe, given how our events team stacked bottles of liquor, chips, suitcases, and equipment like a game of tetris into multiple SUVs, but it’s important to be able to adapt. One important note – you can never have too many.
Beware of the Squirrels. Minnesota wildlife is bold. And prone to cause chaos. If you see Kristen, Cassie, or me anytime soon, ask us about the squirrels. Trust me.
Smile. I had an amazing time in northern Minnesota and was blessed to experience a little bit of what makes K2 events so exceptional. With all that said, I’m so glad I work in communications. Our events team are our MVP’s and unsung heroes.
-Noah Events, Communications Director
