COVID-19: EXPECTATIONS VS REALITY

1. Expectation vs Reality

(Bronte) 

I personally expected it to be quiet due to the disruption of Covid. Having researched Chab’s portfolio of events prior to joining, I saw that our strong suit was definitely in the creative elements of physical events with all sorts of out of the box concepts. Within my first month of joining, I was exposed to so many digital events and an extremely packed schedule – from building a 10m cube on the F1 track and filming a product launch video, to live streaming town halls and leadership forums in studios. Every event is a new experience working at Chab and it’s very heartening to witness an agency adapt to its strong suit in creativity and still bring out the best despite the circumstances.

(Lijah) 

Having executed many successful live events pre-Covid, I witnessed how Covid had disrupted the industry, with many of my pre-planned live events being cancelled in 2020. Coming into Chab Events, I was really excited to see how I could contribute and execute a digital event. I realised that even though digital events are different from live events, that does not mean it pales in comparison. You could interact with people from all over the world and with all the integrated platforms we have now, the interactivity between attendees is almost similar to live events. With the rise of hybrid events as well, I’m excited to be able to join the good parts of both live events and digital events and create a memorable experience for everyone!

(Angie) 

Covid 19 has definitely brought about a large change to the events industry. The events I have been involved in prior to joining Chab have mostly been physical events.  There were lots of new things I had to get used to while organising digital and hybrid events. Since joining Chab I have gained so much knowledge on digital event solutions and I am impressed at how our company has mastered the craft of executing digital events. 

2. Dynamics of Virtual

(Bronte) 

Having recently executed a hybrid event at the National Gallery, I’m excited for the possibilities of more to come as we gradually open up and meet people face to face! However, I also know that virtual events are here to stay, not only because of the uncertainty surrounding covid, but also because of how digital events allow us to gather people from all around the world and feature so many exciting new virtual platforms.

(Lijah) 

Having recently executed a live event in April 2021, it gave me a glimmer of hope that maybe live events will slowly but surely come back. Of course with stringent Safe Management Measures in place. And while everyone is excited about live events coming back, as Bronte mentioned, virtual events are definitely here to stay. With many successful digital events already being executed, now clients are less afraid of exploring digital events, unlike in the initial phases of Covid. Many are eager to jump on board the train and dive into digital events that can link people all over the world together.

(Angie) 

I anticipate that virtual events will continue to be the default event type events as many countries still impose strict border control measures. As much as virtual events have their advantages, it is hard to replicate the experience of physical interaction virtually. With the development of vaccines and the sophistication of safe-distancing measures, I envision that many companies will pivot to organising hybrid events.

3. COVID Impact

(Bronte) 

I graduated with a degree in Hospitality Business in 2020 at the absolute peak of Covid. As everything seemed to be going downhill in the MICE industry, it was only then that I first considered a switch in career paths to something different. Thankfully, I was able to land a full-time position to work with Chab.  Although working in an agency is not something I was familiar with at that time and the learning curve for digital events was and is extremely steep, I’m glad I took on the challenge and got the chance to work with the amazing people here, and learn a lot on the exciting projects that we take on!

(Lijah) 

All my career plans were thwarted and I had no idea what to do and if I could continue working in this industry, one that I very much loved. After a short stint in doing video production, I chanced upon Chab Events and since then, I never looked back. Going back into events, which I love, Chab gave me the confidence that, one day, my career plan would work out.  Before Covid, Chab was doing amazing live events and when Covid happened, these were the same people who started learning and pivoting their expertise into the digital events sphere. These are the people I get to work with and I’m super inspired by them everyday.

(Angie) 

When the events industry in Singapore came to a halt due to the lockdown, it felt like my events career ended even before it started. It was demoralising to not hear back from the numerous job applications I sent out. Thankfully, the events industry was revitalised as businesses pivoted towards virtual and hybrid events. Agencies were starting to hire again.  I’m grateful that I can do a job I’m passionate about and work with a team of highly dedicated and like-minded people at Chab.  

4. What was the same vs what actually happened?

(Bronte) 

I also thought that producing a digital event would be somewhat similar to a physical event and maybe even easier since I assumed that there would be less detail to take into consideration since everything was done via 1 platform. After executing a few digital events, I learnt that they are actually much more complex, with so many fine details to look after that could significantly impact the event.

(Lijah) 

I thought that working at Chab would be similar to my previous experiences with other agencies and in the corporate world, with a very clear and strict hierarchy. However, when I arrived, the big bosses were friendly and would communicate with me. And I was surprised that they were also very much involved with each project.

(Angie) 

I initially thought that organising a virtual event was similar to organising physical events. In reality, virtual events are more technically complex compared to physical events and it demands a high level of attention to details. 

5. Life as a film

(Bronte) 

Jumanji! Never ending levels of challenges, sometimes feel like I could get eaten by a hippo because of the unexpected issues that catch me by surprise. Always get a second chance if you make any mistakes (experience is painful – you have to drop from the sky), but eventually, always a happy ending.

(Lijah) 

Uncut Gems – life is full of twists and turns and there is so much potential in everyone.

(Angie) 

Inside out – being an events planner is like riding a roller coaster. There are many unpredictable twists and turns that can draw out different emotions.