Each Year, the mundane world of renowned fashion designers, editors, buyers to fashionistas and A-List celebrities flock to Paris for the most iconic Fashion Week of the Year.
The infamous Paris Runway Show preparations are often planned in less than one week, and it showcases so many parallels as to how we as marketeers gear towards a major project meeting and/or a (sales) pitch.
Here’s what we have gathered as learnings…
1. Set the Goal and go for it.
First and foremost, on any major project, just like an orchestra, there needs to be a conductor who instructs the orchestra to execute the finest possible symphony. What unites the entire team however, is the common shared goal.
2. Profiling is everything.
Having the right team in place, is crucial to deliver the task at hand. Affinity and understanding of let’s say the luxury industry whereby everything is premium and exclusive; attention to details is key to even the presentation style, selected venue/location to dress code and/or seating arrangements.
3. Plan, Re-plan, Re-replan.
Once the goal is defined, the plan is set in motion. Throughout the process, the plan might change even until the very last minute, as long as it ultimately serves the end goal.
4. Tik Tak…
The Plan of Action should be like a Swiss watch; a carefully crafted time schedule whereby everyone involved is clear as to what is expected from them to deliver their best work so far.
5. Emotional Rollercoaster.
At the beginning of each project, two main emotions will surface: excitement and anxiety. Each person involved will need to find ways to amplify the level of excitement and passion throughout the process and aim to reduce anxiety and/or fear of failure via a granular checklist, coupled with a healthy dose of resilience & calmness.
6. Race against time.
Late nights will be part of the game; in fact, most great ideas are generated over late night work when an insight or new idea emerges in the most unplanned manner. That being said, ideas are all great but futile if they don’t tie back to the overall strategy. If not, you just chunk it on the side as nobody is waiting to hear “cool” ideas that have no bandwidth & you surely don’t want to lose more time & energy when time is of the essence.
7. Golden Hour.
The final hour before the deadline will be the most exhilarating to say the least. Efforts are stretched to accommodate last minute changes as every detail matters.
8. Masterpiece.
So, when do you know when you have crafted a project of perfection? That moment of realization when you know that “une pièce d’art” or as they say a “masterpiece” was created magically to make others dream. It is no surprise that the masterpiece should only be revealed at the end of any meeting/presentation to leave a lasting impact.
9. Show’s Over.
A level of sadness and nostalgia takes over with the realization that all has passed so fast…yet, thrilled with excitement for the next challenge.
10. What’s next?
Documenting key project learnings and outputs are essential for future projects to improve existing capabilities and redirect where needed.
Some key pointers we as Nuevo Media always uphold:
- Rehearse multiple times as one team & one last time before it’s show time
- Apply the 10” Rule: everyone presenting should be able to explain in 10″
what they will be talking about. - Always remain humble yet take pride of the work accomplished. Having the
right body language on stage matters. - Mistakes will happen during the presentation and/or actual client meeting,
however, one should always remain focused behind the task at hand and
keep smiling. - Finally, no matter what happens, enjoy the experience to the fullest as a
one-in-a-kind moment of joy and fulfilment. In the end, hard work always pays off, one way or another.