'Debs are like mini weddings, and that's how we like to treat them'
WEDNESDAY
It is the morning of one of our last events of a very busy year, and there is a great buzz in the office.
After lunch I go to the venue to set up and ensure everything is ready. This is standard procedure, but when I get to the venue I get a call from the band to say that they have been in an accident: nothing major, but it means they can’t play tonight.
You can’t just choose any old band for a debs: a good cover band that plays more current songs (and less Beatles) always goes down well. So I spend about an hour calling all the bands we use. Finally, one of them says they can play. This is a huge relief and just goes to show we can never expect anything to run smoothly.
These things happen in the event business, but thankfully the whole night is a huge success, with all students and teachers dancing the night away.
THURSDAY
The morning begins with the company sitting down to review the event that took place last night.
This is something we do for all of our events. As you can imagine with what had happened with the band, there was plenty to discuss with the rest of the team.
Once the meeting is finished I prepare myself for my second meeting of the week with my accountant to discuss a new budgetary system. It’s not all one big party.
After work I see the Bond movie Skyfall, which definitely lives up to its expectations.
FRIDAY
We got two inquiries during the week from a nightclub in Meath and a hotel in Cavan requesting to partner with us. Daniel, my colleague, goes to meet the Meath hotel; I drive to Cavan to meet the nightclub owners.
Once I arrive at the venue I am excited by its potential and can see the benefit of working with the general manager and his team. We take great care when partnering with third-party establishments, making sure that they put the same emphasis on safety that we do. We work closely with Drinkaware on this front. My debs was a ship-’em-in-ship-’em-out affair. There was mediocre food, a crappy band and a cold dry rasher in a bun at the end of the night.
As the market grows here, so do the students’ expectations of the debs. “When America sneezes, the rest of the world catches a cold” is an especially relevant expression within the debs industry. Now 18-year-olds here have seen many of the TV shows, such as Glee and Super Sweet Sixteen, that have popularised US teen culture.
After a long week Friday finished, like most Fridays should, with a pint of Guinness and a packet of bacon fries.
This week I was . . .
Watching
Breaking Bad
Listening to
Alt-J, Mogwai and Mumford & Sons (below)
Online
