Meet Karen, our go-to onsite manager at our event space in Chelsea, NYC: Meaux Space! When we say she is an OG…we mean it! She has been with Mustard Lane since 2010 and is the calm, cool, collected face that greets you when entering our space for your next party, event or meeting! With her infinite knowledge of the events industry and experience working as the onsite manager, we thought it would be fun to pick her brain on what makes an event successful for all involved! Keep reading to hear all of Karen’s incredibly helpful insight!
Let’s go from the beginning…how did you start in the events industry?
Long story short, theatre actually brought me to the live events industry! With it being a live event itself… it’s quite fitting! Each event has a pre-production, rehearsal, show, and strike just as theatrical shows do.
Long story long, I was performing in the musical NINE when a fellow friend and castmate, Jesmille Darbouze told me she was working for a company at the time that I might be interested in working some gigs at too (which turned out to be Mustard Lane, my saving grace in the city since 2010!)… and the rest is history!
Through the years, being On the Lane helped broaden my experience with all sorts of live events from promos, brand launches, pop-up shops, corporate seminars, workshops, expos, weddings… the list goes on and on! Combine all that with my theatrical background, & stage management experience… it prepared me greatly to be able to step into the day-of event Manager role. I tend to say I’m a Jill of all trades, so that comes in quite handy on-site!
*As the “day of” onsite manager, how do you help the hosts (who are sometimes newbies to hosting their own event) bring their vision to life?
As day-of manager I’m normally set up pretty nicely with a heads up from our event space booker on all pre-event info- including what questions the client has asked beforehand, what/if they have additional rentals or catering, along with any pertinent info I need for the day to better facilitate the event from start to finish. I’m basically handed that info, and it’s my job to oversee it as it comes to fruition, and reset the space back to its original state afterwards…. Like it never even happened! Magic!
If newbies need a little extra help, I’m there to give suggestions, help arrange, or pull ideas from past set-ups that I know look/work well in the space that they may also love. Teamwork makes the dream work!
*What are some of the reasons you love working at Meaux Space?
Oh this is the easiest question of all to answer! I LOVE MEAUX! (And I say it alllll the time to everyone, hahah.) The vibe is EVERYTHING – cozy, quaint, versatile, intimate…and just an overall comfortable place to be…. And let’s not forget to mention THE VIEWS! Stunning! I’ve heard “This feels like home,” in the best way, more times than I can count. Clients are always saying on their way out, “We’ll be back.” And they DO come back! Seeing people rebook the space for an annual event – or for something entirely different! – is always a great feeling.
*What’s the most unusual or creative event you’ve seen in our space?
We have hosted a variety of immersive art projects at Meaux Space which are always unique and transform the space into a different realm. Hmm… I don’t know that I could pick a fave, but I would say the immersive shows that take place in Meaux Space are standouts for sure. Oh! And my friend (and Meaux Space Manager/Booker) Jillian’s wedding. Such a special memory!
Continuing along with why I love Meaux so much: It is constantly morphing from a floral workshop, to sip & paint, theatrical set, baby shower, wedding, corporate offsite, photoshoot, product demos, interviews, and more! Being a small part of such an array of events and people’s special moments…What’s not to love!
*What’s one feature of Meaux Space that clients tend to overlook but shouldn’t?
Staff! If it’s anywhere in your budget to hire staff… it’s a game changer! You CAN often make things happen on your own, but your event can flourish with ease if you have some additional helping hands. It’ll leave you with extra time to enjoy your rental and be present at the event you’re creating. Meaux Space has amazing professional staff they can provide for your particular needs; just ask!
*What is one of the biggest challenges as an onsite manager of an event space?
The biggest challenges I’d say come from the times where the unexpected occur – the various things that you didn’t/couldn’t plan for in general – but that’s life! So in those instances, rest assured I’m there to swoop in & help assess whatever needs attention, be the level headed problem-solver, and keep the event flowing as seamlessly as possible! Add that to my special skills 😉
*Since you are an absolute expert in managing Meaux Space, what advice would you give to someone planning their first event?
Beforehand: Consolidated Lists are your best friend! Double-check ahead of time the things you are responsible for vs. what the venue provides or what you are renting/outsourcing. This will set you up for success before you even arrive!
Day of: A helpful tip that can be done right before the start of the event is to walk through the event space step-by-step AS the guest who knows none of the plans! Visualize yourself navigating to the space, from arrival, to what you are doing once you enter, the things you may need when you’re there, all the way through exiting. This “rehearsal” will help you have a better idea if your current set-up is going to flow and help you quickly spot anything that needs a small adjustment – signage, lighting, seating, food/beverage stations, placement of staff, etc. ensuring the best overall guest experience as possible; trust me! Things can always shift once the event begins but coming in with your initial vision helps everyone involved! And then…it’s Showtime! Sit back, relax, and enjoy the show!
Well, we just gave all of that away for free?! Just kidding. But really, we’re so lucky to have Karen on our team and as our go-to onsite manager for MeauxSpace! We hope that this was helpful, and – if you’re thinking of hosting an event – that you might consider Meaux as your next venue.
If you need meaux MEAUX(space), see what we’ve done in our beautiful space!
If you’d like to learn more about all those fantastic immersive theatrical experiences, we recently did a Q&A with our nonprofit, Off the Lane!
