Q: Help--I have tried every imaginable google way to find a unique way to do something totally different with placecards.
I have hung them. Used shells,
Used luggage tags. Used leaves,
Used traditional place cards.
I need something spectacular.
Can you help.
Lorelei Nelson

A: Hi Lorelei,

Thanks for your message...

Such a tricky question! No doubt. Aren't we all just so tired of it! We at Corridan & Company struggle with the same creative block around these printed pieces as well...

First, I want to make sure we've got our language correct. My experience is that printing materials actually exist in three, possibly four, configurations for a reception.

First, there are the escort cards. These cards actually serve the purpose of addressing guests at a pre-reception space and guiding them, or 'escorting' them, to their assigned table at the reception. These cards are often enclosed in an envelope or containment of some kind.

Next, are the actual place cards. These cards occur at the place settings at the tables themselves. Located and displayed in a number of ways, place cards are most familiar located just above the rim of a charger plate or above the upper silverware at the top of the place setting. As guests use their escort cards to find their table - ' Mr & Mrs Scott Corridan... Table 9 ', once they are at Table 9 they can find their place settings ' Scott Corridan ' ' Amy Corridan ' .

Next bit of printed material most common to a full printing treatment for a reception is of course a printed menu. Printed menus are a great way to clearly define the culinary experience planned for guests. More and more I'm seeing [ and employing myself ] the use of menus as placecards with guests' names clearly written at the top of the menu card, which can be tucked into a napkin fold of some sort or attractively displayed on a charger plate.

Finally, a printed piece that rounds out ' the necessities ' is a program of some sort that goes through, in brief preferably, the schedule of events for the reception's program.

Now... on to your question. What you're referring to as ' place cards ' are in fact ' escort cards ' if I understand correctly.

I think its so important to remember above all else, that an escort card is an important utilitarian instructional tool for communicating to your guests where they are seated at your reception. Escort cards need to be easily read, which means boldly contrasted lettering against an easily contrasted backing. Escort cards need to be neatly organized, most often in alphabetical order for ease of locating. And at the end of the day, my personal belief, is to remember that an escort card is an escort card... its not a three ring circus meant to take away or distract from the overall ' message ' or ' style ' of your event... unless of course your event is a three ring circus, in which case I hope its of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey variety, and not the variety that results from confused vendors, upset clients and poorly planned timelines and execution.

So... use escort cards in a fashion that are properly displayed, easy to read, and not distracting from your overall event message and you're sure to come up with clever ideas every time that will have you doing everything from teeing off with machine stamped golf balls, to flying high with embroidered capes for super hero figurines, to monogrammed towlettes for beach party bingos, to 1960's psychadelic rainbowed silk butterfly wings for retro garden tea parties, to die cut snowflakes for a mid-winter's ball, to fortune seashells for an under the sea fete, to white chalk written menu boards for a summer barbeque with waitress's dinner bills written with red lettered names... and then again, you might just end up with a nice, ivory toned paper with a nice black calligraphed name with a simple numerical number...

Anywhere you can properly display, easily read, and feel the message of your event's style, is a place you can call out a guests name with the promise of a great time!

Have fun Lorelei!

Yours in Celebration,
Scott

Q: Scott!
 
Glad you found this situation/plea funny!  When I inquired about art to be exhibited I was stunned when I saw the photo of the "art object".  My first reaction was to roar with laughter and suggest an entertaining 70's segment with a light and sound show blasting the Fifth Dimension's 'Up Up and Away', then hire a John Travolta look a like to start a line dance. Perhaps give the guests favors of glow in the dark sticks too. I offered to rent an airplane hanger at Dulles for the weekend to store it.  Heck, we even considered a contest to guess the square surface area of the red balloon I learned is called the "red butt" by designers!!
 
I need a genius idea worthy of Mel Brooks to pull this ruination of an elegant european wedding out of the modern art garbage can. The primary problem is that the second floor is designated for a cocktail reception. The second floor is dead on face to face with the "art".  It's the pink elephant in the room...err museum now.  I am truly stumped creatively and I have a vivid imagination.  Perhaps you and/or your team would look at the photos and after you finish crying from laughing so hard and change your pants....you can at least suggest what kind of tablecloths to use.  The pre modern art fallout was to use black velvet linens for dramatic impact with an escort card table displaying a huge gold leaf branch piece with a collar of winter greens, then fruits (pomegranates). lol. An exquisite deep strawberry damask was to be added.  The 42" cocktail tables were to be knotted below with cording.  This is an abysmal mess.  The bride hates the christmas red color...and hates the balloon and doesn't want to get married there now.  This is an aesthetic nightmere...it's like an accident I can't take my eyes off of and don't have design CPR for!  BTW, the bride rejected my suggestion of a Wizard of Oz theme and someone to make balloon animals...
 
In the downstairs, I have an idea to 'contain the balloon' to salvage the dining by erecting barriers (not lattice!I read that article you wrote!). 
 
I am the idea man/event inventer and coordinating the final designs for my daughter.  It's horrible, she cried all last week.  Throughout details were chosen to honor and respect art.  I even designed the dance area integrating design elements from Henri Toulouse-Lautrec and custom designed table skirts...dozens of details from art.
 
I'll email the the link to the Corcoran Gallery of Art where you can see the architecture (we rented) before the physical space was altered.  Did I mention this is the largest modern art exhibit they've had since 1869?

BTW-I enjoyed reading the articles and your site. 

Regards,
Irene

A: Irene,

You are so funny! Truly! And I apologize for taking such laughter expense at your obvious red swollen sore, but you are so funny!!

Ok... so I went online to take a peek at the pics for the Corcoran... Gorgeous interiors. Until. You get to the number 7 pic in the corporate and non-profit entertaining slide show... And whoa. Whoa. Is it a bladder bag? Is it a trash funnel for construction on the upper levels? Is there a Seussian child with horizontal pigtails laying on the ground blowing the biggest Bazooka bubblegum bubble recorded in history? Is it a sci-fi prop for a new movie about 'The Blob' where the president and his entourage are frighteningly [and gratefully] consumed by a gelatinous, amorphous Republican consuming mass under the control of the intifada...? Oh dear.

I can't find any other pics of the big red butt. But whoa... Ok, on to the solutions.

I love your 'Up, Up and Away' idea! Hysterical. Love the guessing of the square surface area... Brilliant.

And I hate to say this, but you're really screwed with the second floor scenario for cocktails... I'm trying to guess scale here. Looks to me like the columns are about 18'-20' high? And then it looks like the red butt ascends another 15'-20'? Ho-lee...

Can you just accidentally throw some darts at it? That would solve all the problems. It was just be an accident. And instant explosion from an unknown source of darts the size of animal tranquilizers.... Zzzzzhhhhippp - Pop, Bang, Pop... Phhhhhheeeeewwwww... and there it goes! The artist could collect their insurance money from Lloyds of London and be stoked, because no one in their right foresaken mind would ever give any artist more than the obligatory subway dollar for charity for their woes of opine and 'brilliance'. And then the space would be cleared... whoa.

Truly the only easy idea I have that is easy-in, easy-out would be to erect a trussing box around it... perhaps to the ceiling. That's some height, so be prepared to spend some money. And I can't tell what's below the balloon...? But most trussing will come in five foot sections. If you can clear ten feet under the red butt, you could flat swag the now ceiling space created with a draping fabric to compliment your design outlined below. And then use that same fabric to drape the four column feet at the ground level that we've created and then take that draping all the way, following the truss uprights, to the ceiling, or wherever the truss would naturally finish to cover the balloon. This would solve your second floor problem too.

And then the coolest part of all -- and perhaps the museum will be able to concede this to you since they have so aggregiously f***ed up -- is on the face-outs of the four sides of draping at the second floor level, artwork from the museums collection[s] could be hung on center that is more complimentary, or at least less jarring to humanity, to your wedding reception design ideas. This takes your erection of barriers to another level [without ever using lattice thank-you-very-much!], and allows you at ground level to create a lounge space underneath the big red butt... Oh boy. I'm having really bad visions of the baboons gritting their teeth in the wild animal park in 'The Omen'... Iye.

And you know what? This is one of those things that you truly have to laugh at... Its not like someone found a hair in the salad, or a guest walked onto the dance floor with toilet paper on their shoe, or someone's breast fell out of their evening dress during a toast -- all things that are soon forgotten... and a bit normal in the scope of human activity. This is an aberration. And perhaps a sign... Perhaps consulting some Indian/Zen/Metaphysical/Sci-Fi... Orson Welles... M. Night Shyamalan's 'The Village'... resources for the imagery and symbolism of the big red balloon would be smart. Didn't The Travelers, or some other investment/insurance company, use a big red balloon as their brand for a while during the 70's?... Could be your daughter and future son-in-law will be very wealthy in their lives together... Hmmm... Searching for the upside here. Help me out.

Good luck!! And get ready to spend some money to solve the problem...
And please - PLEASE - send photos of your finished work. We would love to see what you come up with.

All the best...
Yours in Celebration... And Empathy.
Scott.


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Q: Scott,

I have just recently opened a bridal shop. I specialize in the designing of the event and planning. I have no formal training, but I love to design, decorate, paint, and altogether create. I am an artist at heart and a master sketcher and painter. Can you please give me some ideas and advice on how to pick up clientele and make my business grow! ? I would love to visit you and pick up designer tricks of the trade. I truly need help. I'm on the verge of giving up. I am a mother of 1, a step mother of 5 and the guardian of 1 cousin. I am married and live comfortably but my wish is to follow my dream. It's been hard. Please help. I love your work and your flair for details.

Thank you and God bless
Chiquita Tibbs-Washington

A: Chiquita!

Congratulations! You've taken a bold step! An exciting one!

All I can tell you is what I've done. The truest advice, and its just so simple, is stay true to who you are. God gave you a gift -- and that gift is your talent. And the good news is that you don't own it. And the better news is that no one can take it away from you. Its only your responsibility to go out in your world and share it with the people you come across. That's all you have to do. Its that simple.

What we do - wether its designing and orchestrating a wedding, or celebrating a 16th birthday party or 50th wedding anniversary, or laying to peace a deceased family member -- is to simply provide the visual and emotional validation for profound moments in time for the people we have the privilege of serving. When we do our job to the best of our abilities incredible things happen for the people we work with. Together we all begin to see life differently... more wonderfully... more beautifully. And that's why we're here.

So just as you are with your six children and your cousin -- be strong in your confidence. Be true in your talent. And be steadfast in your consistency... No one could take on those responsibilities in life if they weren't up to the task -- I admire you for that! That's huge! And much bigger than anything I've ever done. The rest of what your heart desires as an artist and creator in this medium will truly come in time... And the world is waiting to receive your magic. And those children and your cousin will be your first fans applauding your every success! That's simply the truth.

And any time you find yourself in Santa Barbara or Los Angeles you're more than welcome to stop in... we'd love to see you!

All the Best Chiquita!


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Q: Dear Scott,

Now that I have a break between projects I feel the need to write and say thank you. I want you to know what a remarkable experiene your visit to Utah State was for all of us. You had a profound effect on me, giving me the vision for myself as a designer that I have been searching for. My goal in all my projects is to find a deeper meaning. It isn't enough for me to simply create a beautiful space, it must fulfill a deeper purpose for myself and for my future clients. Your willingness to so freely share your story, and the stories of your clients, was an inspiration. I also have a story that influences everything I do. I have fought a lifelong battle with environmental illness caused by exposure to common chemicals. My purpose as a designer is to keep others from suffering the same way I have by committing myself to sustainable design. But I also have a personal need to infuse a spiritual element into my designs. My work is an evolution, and you have been a part of that. Thanks to your honesty and sensitivity I realize more fully my own purpose. I need to be more open and to share my story more freely. Your work is so full of passion - and compassion. I hope to be able to infuse everything I do with that same energy. The charette, my first, was a growing experience. It taught me to stand up for myself and what I know I can accomplish [I am the one who wrote the fairy tale, much to my group's dismay'].

I am now flipping through my new copy of Paul Smith's 'You Can find Inspiration In Everything', excited for the next chapter of my life. Thank you again for your inspiration.

Sincerely,
Holly Murdock
Utah State University

A: Holly! Thank you so much for this incredible message. I truly believe that its only when we share openly and freely our live's stories that we all begin to help one another rise to a higher place. Love and blessings with every step of your path and fight the good fight to eradicate environmental pollution with the work you will be doing! We need designers like you in our world guided by a higher purpose.

My very best!
Scott


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Q: Scott,

I just left your guest lecture here at USU and wanted to say thanks again. As an undergraduate majoring in chemistry with a focus on new cancer drug discovery and synthesis, your lecture totally renewed my ambition. I applaud your contribution to the fight against cancer. It is my dream that through people working together, as a community of human beings, that we will be able to beat this terrible epidemic. Thanks for opening up and sharing your story. I have a few of my own, so I know it can be hard to talk about. I hope you can make it back to visit us again. Matthew Jorgensen Utah State University

A: Dear Mathew,

Shelly was very dear to me and to my family and she is very much missed.... even now some twenty years later. I hope our efforts are a success with the fund. And I hope your efforts and everything you do in the coming years are a success. You are so right - as a community of human beings... that's how mountains are moved. And cancer is a very big mountain.

Good luck with your endeavors. May life bring you great success. There are people in the world who will need you to be successful. That inspires me!

Best!
Scott


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Q: Its 12:15 Thursday night, here in cold Logan, Utah, and yes we are still up... We just wanted you to know how much we enjoyed you and your inspiration. We are sitting now wishing you were here to share your enthusiasm with us... So we did the next best thing and turned on your 2005 video found on your website. Thanks again... missing you already.

Interior Design Junior Studio
Utah State University

A: With a tear in my eye, I have to tell you it was an incredible two days.


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Q: Dear Scott Corridan,

In [Scott Corridan 2005], you talk about bringing to life what a bride wants for her celebration, and you mention "understanding what you are about, what's moving you..." ultimately creating their fantasy... I've recently dabbled in a couple of events and holiday parties. A wedding, Christmas 2002, a garden reception last summer for my parent's 50th anniversary. This was the best time ever for me. A lot of work... but none the less... too much fun just watching everything come together. I must say, I feel a lot more motivated having seen your movie.

I don't know how to go about getting started in this professionally, what my first move should be or how to really make this dream come to fruition. I'm very interested in learning the steps you took to develop your talents from all ends. If you have any words of wisdom, helpful hints, suggestions I would greatly appreciate them.

Thank you for the inspiration.

Patrick Alvarez
Tucson, Arizona

A: Patrick!

Its been one hell of a ride for the almost twelve years I've been at this. This past year has been incredible and the next one promises to surpass it all. If anything, I've never lost sight of the fact that the gift I've been given is just that -- its a gift. It came from God, and my only responsibility is to steward it to the best of my ability and show up and do the work that needs to be done to insure that I handle this 'gift' correctly to the greatest ends for everyone. That's where my passions come from, and that's where I've been the freest to create, evolve and work intimately with the clients I've been privileged over the years to call friends. It's been my experience through it all, that when sharing the gift you've been given in a stewarding capacity -- doing your best without restrictions, keeping your focus squarely on the people who have asked you to share your vision -- that everything else falls into place. And a lot of prayer and a tremendous faith make me confident and secure in my decisions and actions.

The rest truly falls into place...

Patrick, just stay true to all that you are and listen very closely and honestly to the truths your heart shares with you when you're quiet and looking for direction. Be wise in how you spend your money on your client's behalf and always charge what you're worth and don't let anyone diminish your value... As artists, we don't fit into the 'normal mold' that's out there. And the outside world, while they embrace what we see, doesn't often make it easy for us to share our visions. You'll have ups and you'll have downs on this path. They're all precious, necessary and important experiences to growing -- as an artist and as an individual...

Sending You all my best!