Event Planning Confessions: A Day in the Life of LaMont Johnson

Holley JohnsonAn Event Management CompanyDarrell Gilchrist ~HADM 3410~

Man of the Hour

Name: Lamont Johnson

Company: Holly Johnson (Event Management)

Age of Business: 7 years

Professional Background:Studied (Music composition and business administration ) Ferrum College in Virginia (Private)

Background of IntervieweeJohnson wanted to write music and never thought planning events would be more rewarding. Now a days, his love is making people look good. In 1986, Johnson first started in the tourism industry with the Don Ellington Sound Inc. His first big job was the Olympic Games. He helped manage over 15 different sites.

Present day, Johnson is a shared business owner of a local event planning company. When asked how many hours of week he typically work; he laughs, and states his job is flexible but on average he’s working 60 to 70 hours a week. When you add in the office, the planning, the production, and the event itself, your schedule is pretty much spoken for. Pre and post production work for event is his company’s forte.

Background of Company

Holly Johnson Inc., a North Carolina based company has provided support services throughout the state and the Durham area. No matter the event type, meeting your expectation is the goal of Holley Johnson Inc. Good planning is the key to success.

The company currently maintains a database of over 1500 local/regional talent. Holley Johnson Inc. aims to provide Red Carpet experiences by providing you with all the logistical and support services needed for your event to be a success.

Q&A

What is your educational/professional background?I majored in music composition and business administration 1977 and 1981. Ferrum College in Ferrum Virginia a Private instititution. How did you found your company? We were doing home based events for the Church. Funny story, it was 2004 and I was in Church thinking with my present day partner about what to name the company. The idea came about from customer service management of events at Streets of South point. We wanted to take care of all of the events at the South Point area and later on down the line ventured out over Durham.

Q&A

What are the major job responsibilities? Marketing, sales, planning or organizing the event, planning the customer’s budget analysis. One of Johnson’s major responsibilities is to make sure the customers know what they are getting into and the cost of associating.

Do you think you will retire from the industry? It’s possible but he actually never planned to close it. He states he will always be doing some type of event. It truly a love for what you do. It’s like writing a song, you’re always creating something new. Because he loves what he does he sometimes forgets about the monetary side.

Q&A

What are the main or most important personal characteristics for success in the field? A very patient person, being very analytical, very thought provoking, a peoples person. You have to be visionary in order to succeed in this industry.

What certifications or educational programs are recommended as preparations? Some area of arts and designs, from the technical side communication arts and visual presentation… web design and artistic designs.

Q&AWhat do clients genuinely look for when interested in your services? First, they look for experience. Someone who is going to be able to cope with all the headaches. Someone who is cost conscious. Johnson found that people are not necessarily looking for the cheapest because you get what you pay for. However, there not looking for the most expensive because that’s just unreasonable. Customers are looking for satisfactory prices in return for a good experience.

What is your greatest challenge? Unrealistic expectations and demands from the customer.

What is your greatest rewards? A smiling face walking from the event.

Q&A

What are the demands and frustrations that typically accompany this type of work? There is a big demand on time. A lot of late nights and early mornings. The largest frustration is dealing with a client who is not prepared, not only budget wise but time wise to make his or her event great. Those are the most frustrating.

What other kind of workers frequently interact with your occupation? (Whom might you work alongside with?) Producers, directors, CEO’S of companies, a lot of marketing directors generally the ones who come up with idea’s for events. Security officers, police officers, city official, having to go do a permit for something downtown and most importantly insurance agents.

Q&AWhat are the different settings in which people in this occupation may work? (I.e. educational institutions, large corporations, freelance/private company, MEEC) Any industry we can supply service too.

Is this a rapidly growing field? Is it possible to predict future needs for workers in this field? This is an exciting field and nothing is the same, you should always expect the unexpected. What we’ve notice is that there’s a lot of consolidation. We are an event service planning that covers multiple services. You want to be a part of an industry that can cover all the customers wishes. If event planners meet all needs and serve as a one stop shop, then clients should look no further than there services.

Me & the Man of the Hour

Words of Wisdom

Man invented language to satisfy his deep need to complain.~Lily Tomlin~

Everyone makes mistakes. The trick is to make mistakes when nobody is looking.~Deepak Mahajan~