SEE HOW WE CAN WORK TOGETHER
In addition to freelancing for some of the world's most iconic events and working close to VIPs, I help event freelancers book them as well. Whether you are an event freelancer who wants to add 1-2 VIP events to your portfolio while doing other kinds of events or an event freelancer who wants to make VIP events your career, I have a program for each of you.
This training will help you if:
- You are an event freelancer and have zero ideas of how to break into the VIP event industry so you don’t even try to find a gig at one
- You worked at maybe one VIP event gig you got by chance or through a previous full time employer but the opportunities weren’t consistent after that
- You feel like an imposter who couldn’t possibly work at a VIP event or even dare to try because you don’t have enough experience or credentials
Find the VIP event opportunities and know what they are looking for
Craft your impactful image, brand, marketing plan and network while staying top of mind
Get ready to be face to face with VIPs and smash it onsite
Your VIP loving event planner, business bestie, accountability partner, and coach all wrapped into one!
Want to know the very first thing I do when I work at a VIP event? Find out now by clicking here.
Want to know the first thing I do when I want to work at a VIP event? Find out now by clicking here.
Hey there, event freelancer!
If we haven’t met yet, I’m Laura Yarbrough-Lloyd. I coach, consult and mentor event freelancers to get jobs at VIP events.
And I make it fun and easy.
Your VIP loving event planner, business bestie, accountability partner, and coach all wrapped into one
pedestal dreams
scrappiness
tunnel network
You put your dreams on a pedestal, making them out of reach, while waiting for time, seeking perfectionism and fearing rejection. You dream instead of do, giving you time to develop limiting beliefs that make you question your purpose, strengths and achievements.
You say yes to every opportunity thinking the experience will eventually land you a VIP event instead of taking the time to research VIP events, build an image and marketing plan, and find the right opportunities. You seek CV boosters like awards and credentials to stick out.
You suffer from tunnel vision with your network and only nurture your current contacts in the event industry, missing out on 66% of potential opportunities. You don't know who to contact to get involved in VIP events. You spend a lot of time going to industry events.
YOU THINK THAT SHOWING WILLINGNESS, BOOSTING YOUR CV, NETWORKING A TON WITH OTHER EVENT PROS AND PUTTING YOUR DREAMS ON A PEDESTAL WILL MANIFEST A VIP EVENT IN REAL LIFE, BUT...
SET YOUR GOAL AND RESEARCH 1-2 VIP EVENTS YOU WANT TO WORK AT
CREATE YOUR NEXT LEVEL NETWORKING PLAN & DEVELOP NEW RELATIONSHIPS
DEVELOP YOUR MARKETING STRATEGY, AREA OF FOCUS & PLAN YOUR IMAGe + BRAND
CREATE A ROADMAP FOR LEVERAGING THE OPPORTUNITY & LEARN ABOUT VIP SCENARIOS
Learn the foundations of VIP events including the types of events, who works in the background of them, what they are looking for when they hire, and what to expect at these events. Based on our foundational knowledge, we get super specific and tangible with your goals - no vague ideas here. We pick three events we want to work and work backwards to see what you need to do to book it.
Learn about the BTS of VIP events that you can't find on LinkedIn including the difference in VIPs and a VIP experience, types of roles you can work, when different events hire and how, and traits needed to work with VIPs.
Set three specific goals using my Pumpkin Carriage method by identifying the events to target and work backwards to see what is needed to get there so that you are proactive rather than reactive.
Review time and money management for freelancers, learn how to go from freelancer to CEO of your business, and make sure your business practices behind the scenes don’t negatively impact your performance at a VIP event.
Break down your contacts into Business, Professional, and Personal networks and track them in your newly created People Relationship Manager (PRM) so that you triple the power of your network and don’t always rely on your event industry contacts to get event gigs.
Revive old contacts in your current networks so that you can make those dormant contacts alive again in a non-creepy way because it reminds people what you do and may unearth hidden opportunities.
Start organising what you learn about event hiring practices and opportunities into a task management system like Asana so you can understand the timeline you need to operate on and anything you need to do to prepare to apply or reach out to your network.
Audit and tweak your social media profiles, website, and portfolio using my Shop Window exercise so that people online will want to know you more and see the image and brand behind your shop window.
Strategise what value you will provide others and what method you deliver that value by creating a Personal Marketing Plan because generosity draws people into your shop.
Learn about Mere Exposure effect and strategise not just Top of Mind Awareness (TOMA) but also Top of Mind Preference (TOMP) so that people are automatically aware of you and actually prefer you - this is what’s behind your referral engine.
Lay the foundation of your niche, positioning, image and brand using my Luxury Hotel exercise so that you attract higher paying VIP clients and become the solution to their problem.
Learn proper protocol and etiquette to use around VIPs and when networking with my Etiquette Edge Workshop so that you don’t stick out like a sore thumb when working onsite and so that you always follow the proper event protocol for different event guest types.
Create a memorable visual image and a 6-piece capsule event wardrobe that makes you professionally stand out and be THE person that a VIP will lean on and remember.
Practice rehearsing for the inevitable interview like the Hollywood stars you may be seeing at your events to make sure you tick the boxes of what event hiring managers look for.
Run through my Take3 role play exercise so you nail interactions with VIPs and don’t “fangirl" because let’s face it, it can be intimidating when VIPs expect the impossible (and we are all secretly fans, aren’t we?).
Learn my 5 Secrets of VIPs and get your virtual AAA pass - Congratulations! We are now in each other’s networks and you are ready to book a VIP event!
Start with leveraging what you have now, your current network, because we want you to come out of the gates with a potential win - a contact that is a potential key relationship. You will build the relationship with that contact and revive dormant contacts all with the help of your People Relationship Manager. This is followed by looking up the events you pinpointed in Step 1 - you are going to become BFFs with Google and LinkedIn to start getting behind the scenes of your three events and finding out when they hire, what the process is, and even people that already work at those events.
Market and advertise yourself with my Window Shopping exercise. You make sure your Shop Window - social profiles, portfolio, etc - is in line with what’s inside your luxury shop and create consistent messaging that makes you top of mind of everyone. We want everyone to think of you even when they aren’t on your professional profiles. But we take it one step further - we make you TOMP - a marketing technique called Top of Mind Preference via your Personal Marketing Plan that starts to build your referral engine.
Develop your brand using my Luxury Hotel exercise - your brand is like your luxury hotel or luxury shop - it attracts and invites VIP clients that have higher standards and pay higher rates. It’s important to work on the inside of your hotel or shop before working on the outside “Shop Window” which is why when we implement the phases, we do this before you advertise and market yourself. We will go through my 6-steps to a professional brand and image and niche down your speciality to make positioning and selling your brand easier. Think of this as building what’s in the ballroom so that when guests walk through the doors, they are wowed by you.
While you are continue to build a strong network, an opportunity may be around the corner so you need to be VIP event ready - you could have an interview tomorrow and a VIP event in a month. It’s time to rehearse for the interview and event itself. We go through scenarios and what to expect at the event. By this point, you got your foot in the door, sealed the deal, and your strong network and performance onsite is what keeps these event gigs consistent and predictable year after year.
How do I know this is the answer to your problem?
I used to be in your shoes - I always dreamed of working at a VIP event like the Olympics, a Royal wedding, or awards shows. But I didn’t know where to start, and I was too introverted and reserved to ask for help. My first gig actually landed in my lap because I was in the right place at the right time, but I felt way out of my league. I got through it. Just.
After that event, I took several steps back and thought, “No way can I do that again until I get more experience.” I had experience, though. The things I didn’t have? A strategy, professional image, professional brand, marketing plan, or any knowledge of VIPs themselves.
Eventually, I figured it out - I didn’t have to Google “how to work at xx event” - those search results don’t even exist anyways (trust me, I used to try). I became one of the go-to VIP event professionals.
I took it a step further and trained in etiquette and VIP protocol from the world’s best trainers to polish my image and brand because I was working in prestigious environments and wanted to blend in with the VIPs themselves to be taken seriously.
This whole journey has taken me from The Olympics, film festivals and press conferences with celebrities to being one of the key team members at the Wimbledon Championships and the VIP consultant of the Laver Cup. The projects I have coming up are just as prestigious. I’ve been around hundreds of VIPs, laughed with Hollywood celebrities who respect me because I know how and what to do, and been face to face with the world’s most famous athletes who know me by name now.
I want all of this for you - these event opportunities aren’t scarce. They are abundant, but no one knows exactly how to book their first one. I created the program so that you don’t have to be like me - sitting around wondering and waiting for it or prematurely and suddenly thrown in the thick of it so deep that your confidence is shattered and you don’t get another gig. You don’t have to experience it the way I did because I’ve made the process easier. Join me in A Flair for VIP Events - I’m ready to cheer you on during the 12 weeks and forever after that!
xo,
Laura
Still have questions?