Do you recognize this logo for Wish Upon A Wedding?  If not yet, you soon will.

First, a story.  I’m usually an upbeat fellow, but sometimes life happens, and I temporarily lose heart.  At these times I ask my friends how they stay motivated, and most people I know tell me they guide themselves with a few energizing words or sentences throughout the day.  Words to live by.  Does this work for you, too?

Call it “self-talk” if you like, several of these motivational aphorisms are running through my mind these days.  Here are two: “You make a living by what you get, and you make a life by what you give” and “Give first — it creates the pathway for receiving.”  Compassion and generosity are important attitudes for me, and I find “self-talk” like this keeps me focused.  You might try it, too, if you don’t already indulge.

Now, I’ve noticed that people’s attitudes about generosity seem to range from “I gave at the office” all to way to “It’s the best reason for being alive”, and Wish Upon A Wedding stands near the latter.  It’s a new organization, like the “Make A Wish Foundation”, but dedicated to fulfilling wedding dreams of people struggling with terminal illnesses.  Launched in 2010 by event coordinator Liz Guthrie, Wish Upon a Wedding celebrates the courage, determination and spirit of these couples by granting their dream wedding wishes.  The goal is having the chosen recipients inspire other couples facing similar situations to find hope and strength.

Plans are moving quickly, and currently twenty chapters are operating in the United States (Northern California, Orlando, Los Angeles/Orange County, New York, Seattle, Indianapolis, Philadelphia, Washington DC, the Carolinas, Houston, Tennessee, Atlanta, Chicago, and more), and international chapters are already “in the works”.

The wish-granting process is simple.  People in need apply to be considered, and all the services and products for their weddings are donated generously by top professionals in their fields, who apply to become donors.  Ceremonies will be scheduled across the country.

I’m SO proud to be a founding board member and National PR/Media liaison.  If you’re interested in helping Wish Upon A Wedding, please click here to learn more.  Please, please participate generously every way you can.

On another note (a little musician humor there), my most valuable asset is TIME, and I try to budget carefully.  Whenever I’m not entertaining somewhere, I’m often enjoying a networking event with my colleagues in the special event biz — whether at a casual mixer, or a professional business association meeting, or collaborating on a special project like Wish Upon A Wedding.

The Magnolia Jazz Band entertains somewhere nearly every day, and I’m always on the lookout for our next opportunity. If we can help you, please call us at 408-245-9120.  Visit MagnoliaJazz.com for our schedule, and catch us at a public event soon.  Our next public appearance is this Friday, March 5, 6-8pm, in the annual benefit reception for the Alzheimer’s Association at the Computer History Museum, in Mountain View.  See details on our website.

Thanks for reading my blog.  Please take a moment to share this post, subscribe, and send me a comment.

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Do you “network”?  I do.  All the time.  Every week, the SF Bay Area boasts dozens of events where people meet to socialize and develop good working relationships.

I try to stay abreast of all the get-togethers involving people in the special events biz.  I know about enough of these meetings to keep me busy, but I’m sure I know only a slender slice of all the local activity.

I know about professional associations (like the National Association of Catering Executives – Silicon Valley, San Francisco NACE, the International Special Event Society – Napa/Sonoma, ISES-Northern California, Meeting Professionals International); groups organized around a particular field (like South Bay Photographers & Wedding Professionals Get Together, Bay Area Wedding Network); small groups of colleagues who meet to socialize and exchange ideas (like The Fab 5); and numerous special events to celebrate Grand Openings, Launch Parties, and Open Houses.  There are more — please tell me about all the events I’m missing.

This is such an exciting time!  Just this week I attended two inaugural get-togethers in the South Bay — “The 411”, organized by Nicole Lisanne, and “South Bay Photographers & Wedding Professionals Get Together”, organized by Orbie Pullen and Andy Mark.  Recently I attended the Wish Upon A Wedding launch party at the Villa Montalvo, in Saratoga, and tonight I’m swinging by the IZZY Magazine launch party there.

I look forward to the day when Bay Area special events professionals can choose among several of these events every day they’re not already working somewhere. Wouldn’t you like that?  I think it would be a delightful, hassle-free way to stay fresh, meet new colleagues, and keep existing friendships strong.  And it looks like that day may be closer than you think.

On their website, Silicon Valley NACE is keeping a master calendar of all these Bay Area networking events.  Would you please contact us to add any we’ve missed.

Between my music and my networking, one way or another I go to a party nearly every day.  The band’s next public appearance will be this Sunday, February 28, 11am-4pm, in the annual wedding showcase at the Crowne Plaza Cabana, in Palo Alto.

Here are two photos from last Thursday.  We entertained at the Doubletree Hotel, in San Jose, for the annual banquet of the Silicon Valley Engineering Council.  These guys keep Silicon Valley growing, and we’re always glad to help celebrate their success.  Thanks for your photos, Michael Wright and DJCline .

I’m always on the lookout for our next opportunity, and if we can help you, please call us at 408-245-9120.  Visit MagnoliaJazz.com for our schedule, and catch us at a public event soon.

Thanks for reading my blog.  Please take a moment to share this post, subscribe, and send me a comment.

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1. Making Your Weddings and Parties Unique
2. Fundraiser Jazz Band, not just for Weddings and Parties
3. Getting Fresh Ideas for Weddings and Parties