High Beam Events

Meet The Beam Team: Scott

2012-02-02T13:40:00.001-08:00

Hey hey hey! It's a special Thursday edition of Meet The Beam Team and if you behave yourself, I'll treat you to another one. What's better than a back to back serving of Meet The Beam Team? Not much...

Today you're invited to meet Mr. (that's right, MR.) Scott Willson. He's a new member to our team and obviously very brave to work with so many girls. We're thrilled that we haven't scared him off because we love having him around. It's nice having someone that can move furniture or reach the top of the dry erase board...

1. Hometown/City?
College Station, Texas. Aggieland, USA!

2. Who is your go to player when you play Mario Kart?
We're talking about MK64 here right? ...Cause that's the only one worth playing! Princess Peach is my go-to. Oh, I know what you're thinking, 'A girl?!' Look! She's fast and has great handling! …wait a second…what are we talking about again?!

3. What did you have for breakfast this morning?
Since I woke up at 9:15 and only had time to make sure I didn't look like a troll next to the lovely ladies of High Beam, my first meal of the day was from the Peached Tortilla Food Truck that just parked outside the SXSW office! BOOM! I had a bahn mi taco, a tofu pad thai taco and shared some sweet potato fries with my generous cubical neighbor, Leza! What a doll!

4. What song is your favorite guilty pleasure? We won't tell…
Hmm..I may or may not know every word to Warren G's 'Regulators' but more recently there are a slew of pop-songs that would likely result in people disregarding my seemingly good taste in music….I'll play it safe and say I'm a pretty big GAGA fan. Can't read my poker face, fools. lolz.

5. What was your middle school AIM name?
HA. 'was?' jk…but seriously it was ACDBRN14 inspired by the movie 'Hackers'. I thought I was the coolest kid ever. EVER. 'Hack the planet!'

6. Emoticons - to use or not to use, that is the question.
They are an essential part of any texters digital vocabulary. Sometimes I write entire paragraphs in emoticons. It's kind of like a lonestar bottle cap. Can you figure it out?! #71 still gives me fits!

7. How many helium balloons would it take to fill the High Beam Office - without the people?
Well, as I have a degree in physics, you'd need to give me a few more parameters but if I had to ballpark it…

If the office is about 9'x12'x24' (H, W, L) that gives us a volume of about 62.26 m^3 subtracting the volume of the desks. We know the density of helium at STP is approximately .178 Kg/M^3, giving us about 11.08 kg for the amount of helium that could fit in the office. If we squeeze that into .2 m diameter balloons, we're talking about 14,872.48 balloons (they're small!)…though we can't have half a balloon and rounding up would exceed out volume limit so I say 14,872 small balloons. ….man I'm nerdy... (If only I had a nerd face emoticon...)

8. What our blog readers might not know is that you're in a band - tell us about it….
I've been writing/ recording music and touring with bands for the last 12 years or so! I've gotten to play all over the country and open up for some pretty big acts (…ever heard of Naughty By Nature? yea…that happened…). My current projects include guitar duties for Alternative/Rock/Soul band Flawless Escape & lead guitar work for up and coming country starlet Kimberly Dunn. I used to be pretty pitted against country but I've gotta say, guitar work in that genre is extremely competitive and technical. It's not just 3 chords and the truth! I wish I could play like these dudes!(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSUpJ6JxyA0) HOLY CRAP!

9. How many tattoos do you have? Any favorites?
I've got 9 Tattoos currently and plans for more but it's hard to find the time to go get them! Not really sure I have a favorite…each one reminds me of a different time in my life, that's for sure. The one's that still brings a smile to my face are scripts on my outer forearms that I got while on tour in San Diego in 2010 from a good friend of mine. We got tattooed amidst 7 shows in 5 days and overnight drives to and from SoCal! That's rock and roll!

10. Despite being the only boy on our team, how much do you love working for High Beam?
It's pretty much one of the coolest jobs I could ever ask for. It's just enough outside of things I've already done that I learn something every day and a whole lot about the professional event planning industry. I couldn't be luckier to be on the team and everyone has been incredibly helpful, hilarious and fun to be around! I <3 the Beam Team!

Peachy Keen

2012-02-02T13:29:00.001-08:00

The Peached Tortilla Food Truck stopped by to serve lunch to all of your favorite hard working event planners here at High Beam Events. It was hard to wait until 1pm for lunch, but it was worth it. Deciding what to order was the hardest part of my day, but after all the second guessing and stress, I was rewarded with the tastiest crab cake slider and side of fries ever! Say it with me now - sriracha mayo. And the banana & nutella stuffed wontons?! Don't even get me started. It was life changing. I loved it so much, that I even wrote a haiku. Enjoy!

A Thursday Lunch Treat
We Adore Food Truck Fusion
Sriracha Mayo

The end.

Meet The Beam Team: Kat

2012-01-27T10:41:00.000-08:00

Hey there! Hi there! Ho there loyal High Beam Blog readers. Happiest of Fridays to you all and man oh man do we have a treat for you - a new edition of Meet The Beam Team. This week you have the pleasure of meeting Miss Kat Schaefer, the newest addition to our quirky little family. Kat is Sam's right hand woman, literally Sam can touch her desk with her right hand. Even better than that, she's a whiz with dry erase boards and is hands down the sweetest person in our office. We couldn't be happier to have her with us!

1. Hometown/City?
I grew up in Houston, and yes, actual Houston (not suburbia). Fun Fact: Went to high school at Lamar, which many have seen in the film, Rushmore. We're the scary public school (both in the movie and real life).
I moved to Austin for school (Concordia University Texas), and have called Austin home for almost five years now.

2. What is your favorite cereal?
Apparently I'm an old person, because my faves are Cheerios, Life, Chex, Special K Fruit & Yogurt..

3. What is your favorite childhood book?
I always really liked Goodnight Moon. Classic.

4. How many traffic lights are there in Manhattan?
Um.. hold on, let me google it.
As of June 2011, there are 2,820 in Manhattan.
(Google has taught me everything I know.)

5. When is your bedtime?
Depends on the night, but it falls anywhere between 10:30pm and midnight. Although, I have come home from work and slept from 6:30pm to 7:20am before. Again, old person.

6. How do you feel about garden gnomes?
Creepy McGee.

7. What did you do last night?
Well, once I did my time in the mopac parking lot, I got home and made my husband and I breakfast for dinner. Then watched some Portlandia (might as well be called Austinia). Then I went couponing.
I recently started couponing after watching Extreme Couponers and instead of being disgusted or shocked, I thought, "hey.. I could do that.." And so it begun. I saved $26 my first trip, $64 my next, and last night $35. We have a nice little stock pile going in our one bedroom apt.

8. Booth or table?
Booth for sure. But always a balanced booth (no one wants to see you making out while they're trying to eat their enchiladas, thanks).

9. If you could take a trip anywhere for 30 days with money not being a consideration, where would you go and what would you do?
I would definitely take a cross-country roadtrip with my husband. We would visit family and friends (California, Portland, Vegas, Colorado, Illinois, Arizona, Missouri, Florida, Georgia, Virginia, New York) and stop at all the local restaurants, major league baseball stadiums, and breweries along the way.

10. You're new to The Beam Team, how are you adjusting to the chaos that is our office? Is it too soon to ask if you loveee working at High Beam Events?
I am new, but I loveee High Beam way more than my previous job. I'm learning a lot and the chaos is entertaining. Plus, free food and tea time every day? I think I'll stay.

LOL. ROFL. LMAO. Etc.

2012-01-20T09:22:00.000-08:00

Couldn't resist sharing this, happy Friday to all!

http://www.myfoxla.com/dpp/good_day_la/la-travel-and-adventure-show-20120113

Meet The Beam Team: Allison

2012-01-20T08:55:00.000-08:00

Happy Friday, everyone! It's a New Year and this edition of Meet The Beam Team is long overdue. This week, you're invited to meet Miss Allison Kerivan!! I have the pleasure of sitting directly across from Allison and picking only 10 questions was really hard...

Hometown/City?
I grew up in North Reading/Andover just North of Boston. But spent the last three years living in the lovely city of Boston. There, I lived in the South End, in a three floor walk up, had no car, and yes, I took public transportation and walked every where. I went to the grocery store every day and only bought what I could carry home! Ahhhh, the days of city living.

You’re new to Texas, how are you adjusting to the culture down here? Has "y’all" worked it's way into your vocabulary yet?
I just moved to Texas over Labor Day weekend and I am still adjusting. I live in Killeen but work in Austin and they are on different ends of the spectrum. I am not cool enough for Austin. I don't have a tattoo, I can't rock Toms, and don't wear hats. I also don't like to wear the colors green and brown so I stick out like a sore thumb in my town. But I am loving warm weather, no snow, and a more relaxed environment.

One thing that our readers might not know is that you have a deep love for fonts. Which one is your favorite?
Well, this is a tough question. I have a love for many fonts, but it depends for what I am using the font. Luckily, next to me I have a flow chart entitled "So You Need A Typeface," it helps when I'm in a pickle. But back to your question, I guess I learned to love ACaslon Regular because it was the official Harvard font and so I was forced to use it for three years at my my previous job. I also love Garamond and Georgia when I want a clean, legible font. However, Calibri and Cambri are my favorite sans serif fonts. Just to name a few.....P.S. I HATE SCRIPT FONT!
(Did anyone else just fall asleep...?)

You're approaching a yellow light in your car, what do you do?
Petal to the metal? -OR- Slam on the brakes?
Mmmmmm usually that means increase speed slightly and look around to make sure I won't get caught. I have only been pulled over once for rolling through a stop sign at the top of a large hill, where I was afraid I would stall.

When drinking coffee, do you prefer a ceramic mug or the provided disposable cup?
Well, if given the choice, I would love to drink anything warm out of a ceramic mug so large that you need two hands to drink out of it. And is the reason why I pour my venti non-fat caramel macchiato with one pump of vanilla from its disposable cup and into a ceramic mug when I am at work. On the go, I don't have that luxury. However, recently I have kicked the habit of buying and drinking coffee unless absolutely necessary.

Is the color grey more black or more white?
Alright, for all of our readers, I must preface this question by saying everyone in the office calls me "black and white" because I always have an opinion and, well, it always seems very black or very white. The color grey is a blend of both colors, and so, is neither more black or more white. (Sounds like another opinion to me...)

Where is your favorite place in the whole entire world?
Hmmm, I would have to say Art Mango in Montpellier, France. It was a restaurant I frequented when I lived there. Montpellier is a medieval city and so there are random side streets that you can get lost down and find hole in the wall places. Art Mango was discovered near a tower, and when you walked into this secret area all of the world around you went quiet. It was a quaint place that I went often and found my love for Pad Thai and Chocolate Milkshakes when I was hungover. I hope to go back there and find it again.

If a movie were made about your life, what actress would play the lead?
We had this question come up during Tea Time one day and I didn't have an answer and I still don't have an answer. However, I am sure the High Beam team will have some lovely comments on who they think should play me.

It’s Friday, what is the most exciting thing you have planned this weekend?
High Beam party tonight, which could be followed by some terrible karaoke. Finally getting my hair cut! And going to the soft opening of Easy Tiger, yum. Plus the Pats are going to smoke the Ravens. So it should be an entire weekend full of excitement. P.S. My life is never typically this exciting.

How much do you love working at High Beam Events?
I absolutely love it! I moved down here not knowing really anyone and fell into a wonderful opportunity. I love coming into work every day because I work with people who make me laugh and who think I am funny! I am also challenged on a daily basis and able to get creative. And despite commuting every day, I like it. High Beam helped me learn Austin quickly and have met some many people through working here. I feel like I have been in Texas for longer than five months.

Back by popular demand!

2012-01-20T08:00:00.000-08:00

My deepest apologies to the blogosphere for temporarily neglecting the creative outlet that is the High Beam Blog. We all deserve second chances, right? Which is why I've made updating the High Beam Blog one of my New Years Resolution. Lucky you!

It's been a while and we've got lots of catching up to do, where to begin? We've expanded the High Beam Family and have welcomed 5 more amazing event planners - can you believe it? At this rate, "Meet The Beam Team" will have to become a bi-weekly post! The office is constantly buzzing and never short of laughter or genius one-liners, which typically result in even more laughter. In this blogger's opinion, the High Beam Office has all the makings for a perfect reality TV show. Goodbye Kardashians, Hello Beam Team!

What else? Oh ya, there's this little conference in Austin every spring that we sometimes help out with. Maybe you've heard of it? It's called SXSW. Psyche! Everyone knows that High Beam Events is the official party planner for SXSW. Don't believe me? Well, I don't enjoy rubbing it in your face, but since you asked ... check out this article on KUT featuring High Beam's President, the one and only, Sam Staples.

P.S. Told you so!!

Meet The Beam Team: Sarah

2011-12-02T08:11:00.000-08:00

Happy Friday, everyone! Hope you're making the most of this rainy day, but in case you're not... We at High Beam have a little bit of sunshine to share with you, Miss Sarah Bennett! That's right, it's time for another edition of Meet The Beam Team. So grab yourself some tea, cozy up and read about High Beam in-house radio & music guru!

Hometown/City?
Fort Worth, Texas – Home of the world’s largest honky tonk, the legendary FTW Stock Show and Rodeo and me. (Random Useless Trivia: Fort Worth also has more donut shops per capita than any other place in the nation.)

Where were you three hours ago?
Well, I wish I could say somewhere awesome, but truth is I was frantically cleaning up the Caramel Brulee latte I spilled all over myself (and my business cards) minutes before a venue walk-through.

What is the last movie you saw in the theater? Popcorn? Snacks? Tell us everything.
I’m not sure why I’m telling you the truth on this one, but alas, I saw The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn. Alone. Small popcorn and a small Coke Zero that I probably had to take a small business loan out to pay for. And yes, I totally cried. I’m a nerd.

If you found a briefcase with $5,000 and a round-trip ticket to anywhere, where would you go? (Hint: Don't say you'd turn it in to the authorities...)
Easy question. I’d go to Ireland. My mom’s maiden name is Mahoney and a few years back I traced our origins and found out all kinds of interesting things. To name a few: We hail from Cork, have pretty much the most killer family crest ever and are not-so-distantly related to Suzanne Somers.

Do you prefer crunchy or soft tacos?
Soft, but only because I’m unable to eat crunchy tacos without spilling the contents all over myself.

How many golf balls will fit inside a school bus?
Full Size bus? I’d say 27,567 standard Pro-Flight Professionals. Give or take.

If you could be in any band, what band would you be in? Lead singer? Drummer?
I’d say I’d want to play guitar in Oasis. Partially because I adore their music but mostly because no matter what I ever did, I’d never be the most obnoxious person in the band thanks to the shenanigans of Liam and Noel Gallagher. Assuming that in this alternate reality I’m not tone deaf and can actually play an instrument.

Last YouTube video you watched? Is it worth sharing with us...?
Wow. Talk about timing. Just this very moment I’m showing Cass and the rest of the Beam Team a video of Ryan Gossling singing on The Mickey Mouse club with Justin Timberlake. It’s pretty much the most amazing thing you’ve probably never seen. Watch and thank me later.

Do you speak a foreign language? If so, which one(s)? If no, what would you like to learn?
I’m pretty adept at American Sign Language. Growing up, my cousin was deaf and I took 2 years of it in high school and 2 years in college. I haven’t retained as much as I should have, but I can definitely hold my own in a conversation.

How much do you love working at High Beam?
More than words can say, but let me give it a shot. The knowledge and experience that I’ve gained in the few short months I’ve been at High Beam are something I know will benefit me immensely for the rest of my career. It’s a joy and a pleasure to come to work everyday and be a part such a positive and talented team. And it also doesn’t hurt when you get to work with such a wonderful and hilarious group of ladies. Beam Team for Life!

On The First Day Of December...

2011-12-01T14:26:00.000-08:00

It’s the first day of December and the High Beam Office is buzzing! We’ve been working on lots of fun holiday parties and the occasional Christmas tune has already been played during our daily afternoon teatime! Daily afternoon teatime you ask? Yep! That will just have to be another post…

So if Black Friday or Cyber Monday didn’t get you into the spirit, then hopefully this blog post will! There are so many wonderful things about the Holidays – décor, recipes, glitzy dresses – it was really hard to focus on just one thing. So sit back, relax and check out a few of our favorite DIY projects.

Click here, to check out how to make these beautiful, and best of all, very simple candles!

Click here, to learn the easy steps for making your own glitzy gift tags! The days of adhesive To:/From: labels are long gone!

Click Here, to add a little jingle to your table! These fun holly leaf napkin ties will delight your dinner guests!

Thanksgiving Centerpiece Ideas

2011-11-23T07:16:00.001-08:00

This past weekend, I had an early Thanksgiving dinner and tried out some new centerpiece ideas that I saw on the one and only PINTEREST! They are candles wrapped in asparagus, green beans and artichokes OR filling candle holders with dried corn. They are super easy and quick to make and looked fabulous, plus all you need to do is buy some extra supplies at the grocery store.

I just bought some extra asparagus and green beans (did not attempt the artichoke because that seemed a little too challenging). Break up the asparagus or green beans to the appropriate height on your candle. Take a rubber band and put it around the candle. Stuff in either the asparagus or green beans, so it completely surrounds the candle. After you finish tie a ribbon around the candle to hide the rubber band. It's great because you can break up the vegetables to fit different sized candles.

I also bought some canned corn. I drained it completely and set it out overnight to dry out. I think just filled some candle holders with it and set tea candles in the center. Quick, easy and looks great when lit.

The best part is you can mix and match with all of these ideas. You can buy white, green or purple asparagus to jazz up your cheap white candles. Or buy different colored ribbons to give each candle a different look. Once they are all set down a long table and lit, it looks fabulous!

Post other fun vegetable ideas that you come across! I'm trying to think of some other fun easy ideas for holiday parties next month, maybe candy canes.......

Meet The Beam Team: Gracie

2011-11-22T12:05:00.000-08:00

Gobble, Gobble High Beam Blog readers! Can you believe it's already Turkey Time? This 80 degree weather sure is getting us in the mood... Since it's a short week, we thought we'd go ahead and surprise you with an early edition of Meet The Beam Team. This week, you're cordially invited to meet Miss Gracie Luna, our lady about town. Seriously though, she knows everyone in Austin!

Hometown/City?
Born and raised in Austin, TX!!

How many ridges are there around a quarter?
Ya know, I've never actually thought about it, but I'm going to take a wild guess and say 103. Am I close?

If you were an animal, what type of animal would you be?
Without a doubt, the honey badger.

How do you prefer to cook your eggs?
I prefer them scrambled, with tortilla strips, chopped onions & peppers, and a little bit of cheese-AKA Migas.

What's your bedtime?
My bedtime varies throughout the week since I'm a slave to the rhythm and cannot resist the urge to go out dance until the DJ plays the last song many nights of the week. I am, however, a huge fan of the Disco Nap - the opportunity I take to rest my mind and body in between work/class and hitting up the club.

Best thing you've ever won on Twitter?
The best thing I've ever won on Twitter would be a "skip the line" pass to see Pee Wee Herman's screening of his HBO special at The Paramount during SXSW 2011. The fact that PeeWee actually replied to my tweet is a prize in itself!! (We agree Gracie, we agree...)

If you were stranded on an island, what three items would you require? (We'll assume that you have food, water & shelter...)
I would require a machete, sunscreen, and Nutella.

What was the last show you went to?
This is so random, but yesterday I went to see Ximena Sariñana (Mexico) perform a free mini concert at Anthropologie. I was absolutely in love with her Spanish language debut album Mediocre, which was released in '08. She has since relocated to the States, and her English language self-titled second release promises a very successful crossover career. Viva Mexico!!

If a movie were made about your life, what actress would play the lead?
Hmm, I don't have the perfect answer to this question, but a random fellow I met recently claimed that Liz Lee of the MTV show My Life as Liz bears a striking resemblance to myself. I resent that statement, although it is nice to finally be able to have an answer to the Who-is-your-celebrity-doppleganger? question.

How much do you love working at High Beam Events?
I know it's pretty corny, but as a twenty-something native Austinite that is absolutely in love with the city and it's scene, I am living the dream. I've never been happier to come to work everyday, and yes, I still pinch myself when I wake up. I am truly blessed.

Mac and Cheese - Don't hold the PEAS!

2011-11-11T13:42:00.000-08:00

There may be a few things that you don't know about our fearless leader, Sam Staples:

1. She has lived in almost every state you've ever visited.

2. She couldn't live without chocolate.

3. Sam brings in a zip lock bag of frozen peas to add to her frozen gourmet macaroni and cheese on a very regular basis.

Now that you know Sam's secret for maintaining her great figure, you should also know that TODAY IS HER BIRTHDAY!!! To put the icing on her birthday cake, it happens to be on 11/11/11. Coincidence? We think not.

To celebrate our lead Noodler's very special occasion on a day that will go down in history, we at High Beam Events fashioned our very own macaroni and green pea necklaces in her honor. Yes folks, we put Jacob "The Jeweler" to shame today at the High Beam headquarters. We also declared on this great 11/11/11 that we will now wear our very stylish gold and emerald jewels at every "tea time" going forward as a further tribute to the lead Mac-Cheezy!

We'd like to wish Sam Peabody a very happy birthday full of macaroni and cheese with peas and leave you with these fun, macaroni-ful photos. Enjoy and next time you partake in the cheese, don't forget the PEAS!

A little Ribbon to Tie up the Party!

2011-11-08T10:27:00.000-08:00

I recently hosted a baby shower for my brother and sister-in-law. The floral center pieces were a fresh, delicate touch to the party. The palm sized coral roses were just reaching their full potential and smelled wonderful. I could not bear to throw them out.

So, I threw some extra bolts of ribbon in my bag before the party. As the event began to wind down, I grabbed a couple of helping hands transform the arrangements into take-home bouquets. We simply cut one-foot strips of ribbon, wrapped the stems of the arrangement a couple times, and secured with a bow. The bouquets were given to guests as they exited the event.

A few days after the shower, I received a note from a guest. It stated that they enjoyed having fresh flowers on their table, and it served as a nice reminder of the baby shower.

And, if you forget to pack ribbon or seeking a green alternative…just use the extra gift-wrapping bows and ribbons from the baby shower gifts!

(Enjoy this little event tip brought to you by High Beamer, Brooke McCombs)

Organization, design and inspiration

2011-11-03T10:09:00.000-07:00

As event planners, I feel like we are constantly designing and acting creatively. Apparently the High Beam Team loves dioramas! And we created one pretty fab Halloween inspired diorama for a Halloween party. But digitally, we are loving Pinterest. It’s a site where you can create online design boards and “pin” things we love. And if you still don’t quite get what I am getting at, Google it!

Recently, I started using it as a way to capture fun event ideas for a VIP/lounge area. It stores all my fun, event inspirations in one location that is easy enough for me to go back and brainstorm through. The best part….others can add their great ideas to my boards!

Other boards I have created are Home Décor ideas and What I wish was in my closet. So for all of you who love DIY projects, collages and surfing the web, check out Pinterest and check out our boards!

Meet The Beam Team: Cass

2011-10-28T07:16:00.000-07:00

Can you already believe that it's Friday? Time for another Meet The Beam Team! Miss Cassandra Grabowski has been kind enough to answer a few questions for us. Cass is a regular here at High Beam and has been for over a year!

Hometown/City?
Good ol' Perry, New York. You most likely haven't heard of it but its located in upstate NY. I think if you look it up on Wikipedia, there's only one sentence. The good news is that it's home of the Silver Lake Sea Serpent Festival (we give loch ness a run for their money). On the down side, there happens to be more dairy cows than people. I think this is where I should stop.

Do you prefer cats or dogs?
Thanks to my mother, I'm not so much a pet person. However I've lately had a puppy fetish. I think Austin tends to have that effect on people because locals bring their pets everywhere! It turns out that my other half wants nothing to do with pets so I took up volunteering to walk dogs at Austin Pets Alive figuring it'd be the best of both worlds. With my busy schedule it didn't last long and every time I went, I almost brought home a new dog. Needless to say I'm not really allowed to go back there without an accompaniment. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm a closet dog lover and not quite ready to come out.

What did you eat for breakfast this morning?
I had greek yogurt and vanilla almond granola. I wish I was eating a poppyseed FLAGEL from NYC. They make my heart sing.

If you had a super power, what would it be?
Hmm...this one stumps me for some reason. I guess I'd like to have some sort of HAPPY POWER!! (Insert cape and POW sign here.) I just want everyone to be happy and to help turn those frowns upside down. And ya know, the world would be a better place! Smile! :)

Last song you sang out loud to?
SUPERBASS! Thanks to little Rosie and Sophie Grace who were recently featured on the Ellen Show, I have a new found love for that song. "I LOVE pink, that's first answer. We also love frilly dresses." I'd say I'd have to agree there...

If you had a time machine, where would you go?
The Roaring 20s all the way. That entire era is so fascinating to me. Prohibition, Gangsters, Flapper Girls, the hair - what's not to love?! I can dig the fringe and sequins and a little ragtime! Plus I have really good Jazz hands!

Favorite Austin meal?
This isn't exactly considered a meal, but when you think about the calories you're consuming, I'd have to say it should suffice. I absolutely love going to Mozart's coffee on the lake and splitting a slice of scrumptious gourmet cheesecake with someone followed by a coffee beverage of some sort. Everything I've had there is to die for and the view is just the icing on the cake!!

How many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie pop?
I was always more of a blow pop fan but I did enjoy searching for the Native American and star on the tootsie pop wrapper in hopes of exchanging it for a free one. It turns out that was an urban myth of some sort so I've pretty much hated them ever since!

If a movie were made about your life, what actress would play the lead?
I don't think I resonate with any one particular actress, but if a character were to play me in my life saga, it would be Carrie Bradshaw. If there were any way to combine her and GLEE where everyone breaks out in song and dance, you would get a great glimpse of my every day life and you'd love my movie. No doubt.

How much do you love working at High Beam?
I LOVE coming to work everyday. I don't know where I'd be without High Beam. There are a million things I could say but I think that says enough in and of itself.

Halloween Treats

2011-10-25T08:20:00.000-07:00

Halloween is right around the corner and man oh man, do we have some cute entertaining ideas. Tired of handing out prepackaged candy and using cliche party store decorations? Us too. Instead, we have been reinventing our favorite treats with a little Halloween love.

Mummy Dogs – A twist on the ever popular pig in a blanket, delicious anytime. Read how, here.

Candy Centerpieces – Colorful, cheerful and easy on your wallet. Most importantly, they work great as a parting gift for guests.

Candy Corn Rice Krispie Treats – Just when you thought they couldn't get any better. Read how, here.

Gingerbread Skeleton Cookies - Turning a holiday favorite into a Halloween favorite. Chances are, you already have cookie cutters in your drawer that will work!

Meet The Beam Team: Brooke

2011-10-21T07:34:00.000-07:00

Every Friday we're going to introduce you to a member of our team. This week, Miss Brooke McCombs was brave enough to go first. She's a seasonal here at High Beam and has been a breathe of fresh air and great ideas. We love having her around!

1. What is your hometown/city?
I was born in good ol' Temple, Texas. This city is best known as the city people pass through on I-35, on their way to somewhere more interesting. My family resides in Belton, TX which is a mere 15 minutes from my birth place. Quite the pioneers.

2. Do you think water has a taste?
Without question. If you have ever tasted well water, then you would agree, it definitely has a taste. I would describe it a robust bouquet of caliche with high notes of sulpher, and an oaky finish.

3. Do you prefer a booth or table?
Booth all the way! But if I get a table, I always like to face the entrance. This way you know who is coming in the door. (Learned that from a Mafia movie). Joking aside, I am a avid people watcher, so the seat facing the door is the best in the house.

4. Where were you 3 hours ago?
I was right here in our office, with a coffee in hand; brainstorming with the Beam Team.

5. Favorite Austin activity?
Tie Breaker! Austin Skee Ball League (My team is proudly not the worst in the league, there is ONE that is worse than us) or Patio Sunday Brunch.

6. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
After, I win the lotto, I plan to have a second home in the Teton Valley, Wyoming. I plan to split seasons, summers in Wyoming and Winters in Texas. You are welcome to vacation at either of my spacious homes. Bring friends, there are plenty of rooms! Dream Big, right! It's always important to have a plan.

7. What's your bedtime?
10:00PM is ideal, if not earlier. I value sleep greatly, and also not embarrassed to say, I like a 5:45PM dinner. I am applying early for my AARP card.

8. What's the last song you listened to?
Sophie Grace's cover of "Super Bass". Leigh Ann "graced" the office with this clip from the Ellen Show. We were all "beaming" with this little girl's moxy (I'm a chronic punner, it's embarrassing).

9. If a movie was made about your life, what actress would play the lead role as you?
Dolly Parton! No question.

10. How much do you love working for High Beam?
High Beam allows me to stretch my creative muscles. I am grateful to work in a environment where new ideas are celebrated and hard work is congratulated. The team has an electric vibe that is contagious.You can find us in a flurry of laughter and wild brainstorming one minute and feverishly typing on our keyboards, focused and in deep concentration the next. That drive and collaborative energy, swirls around, then is perfected, bottled, then poured into each our events. It's why I take so much pride working for High Beam. Uniquely Brilliant.

Super Bass

2011-10-20T09:17:00.000-07:00

The High Beam office is never short of laughs and today is no exception. While this is a bit lengthy, it's totally worth it. Thank you, Ellen.

This first:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odhUPMYXpX4

Then this ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9573kGBtuE

Everyone, QUIET! SAM is speaking!

2011-10-19T13:42:00.001-07:00

The Date: October 20, 2012

The Place: Texas State in San Marcos, TX

The Scoop: The Student Event Planners Association at Texas State has invited our very own Sam Staples to be their guest speaker. Why? Because she's awesome and she'll tell you everything you've ever wanted to know about corporate events and Halloween fun (a future blog post!). She has lots of experience in the event planning industry and as a bonus, she's extremely entertaining. So do yourself - and your future employer - a favor, and be there.

For a little more info on the event/The Student Event Planners Association, please visit their website. http://www.studenteventplanners.webs.com/

And We're Backkk!

2011-10-19T12:58:00.000-07:00

Ladies and gentlemen, after a brief blogging hiatus, the High Beam Events Blog is back and better than ever. Don't believe me? You'll just have to keep checking back to find out if I'm telling you the truth. Spoiler alert, I am.

We have been working really hard the past few months on some big projects and expanding our team. There are so many great things I want to tell you about, where oh where to begin...

Take a seat, relax and see just what we've been up to.

2011-05-27T08:21:00.000-07:00

We're pleased to be working on the annual gala for the Austin chapter of the International Special Events Society! We've got 18 vendors lined up to showcase the latest event technology, and Pink Avocado Catering will prepare a delicious menu. Thanks to Music Lab for providing the use of their rehearsal space!

On board - Amusement Masters, who will be bringing a PlayMotion screen. If you haven't seen this technology before, prepare to be amazed. It offers unique opportunities for clients to brand an event... and attendee response is always over the top!

For updates on the gala, visit our Facebook page.

ROT Rally

2009-12-22T14:00:00.000-08:00

The Date: June 12, 2009

The Place: Downtown Austin

The Scoop: Help ROT Rally’s downtown event grow to include a VIP section specifically for Robbie Knievel’s jump.
We were thrilled to be a part of ROT Rally 2009! Especially since Robbie Knievel was revving to jump 2 Budweiser trucks right in front of the State Capitol to kick off his farewell tour! High Beam helped coordinate the VIP area up close and personal to the jump. With the downtown streets closed to help accommodate the throngs, the event had a huge buildup of excitement that turned into a roar when Robbie’s bike touched down safely on the down ramp. What a night!

35th Birthday Party

2009-11-23T09:52:00.000-08:00

The Date: May 16, 2009

The Place: A stunning home in Westlake Hills, Austin

The Scoop: A gentleman throwing an extravagant but intimate 35th birthday party for his wife.
This birthday party was the type of event that planners dream of. The client did not want your ordinary 60” rounds and white linens type of event. He wanted unique, lush, almost to the point of over-the-top. And the house, an architectural stunner, demanded the same. Nothing traditional would work, and certainly nothing cliché. And boy did we have fun with this one. With a steep angled driveway leading people up to the home in the valet shuttle, the yard along the route was begging for creative lighting – so we set up five 6’ lighted inflatables to instantly wow the guests upon arrival. High Beam handled all of the florals in house as well with purple orchids on every other stair on the stair case, white tulips snaking along a coffee table, and plenty of lilacs, the birthday girls favorite flowers, including in a dramatic arrangement at the entrance to the home. When they first got into the house, they were greeted by a High Beam team member with a Polaroid camera, taking a shot for the guest book. The food, catered by Austin Catering, was nothing ordinary either. Waiters passed skewers nestled into wheat grass squares and the motif was echoed in a long strip of wheat grass on the dining table. Austin Catering set up metal plates warmed by candles for the hot foods and glass shelves for the cold. It was really remarkable to see the guests’ reactions at the presentation. Outside on the patio, Ian Moore and His Lossy Coils, a favorite of the couple, put on a private performance for the guests who mingled by the infinity pool (which had lighted balloons floating in it) and got their drinks from a dramatically lit blue bar. No one had seen a party like this before!

Ritz-Carlton's Corporate Event

2009-11-18T12:08:00.000-08:00

The Date: May 13, 2009

The Place: Palm Door in Austin

The Scoop: The hotel chain hosted an event where sales people from various properties met up with planners in the Austin market.
We love our return clients! We planned this event for the Ritz-Carlton in May of 2008, so we were thrilled to coordinate it again in May of 2009. Never ones to host a boring event, the Ritz-Carlton asked us to coordinate a creative and different activity for their attendees. We ordered six canvases through the Foundation for Hospital Art that, when displayed together, form one picture. The guests painted throughout the afternoon, and the final product was donated to the Children’s Dialysis Clinic. Everyone had a great time at the event, and the result was a beautiful donation to brighten the days of special kids here in Austin.

ASPCA – Go Orange for Animals!

2009-11-17T09:54:00.000-08:00

The Date: April 18, 2009

The Place: Zilker Park Rock Garden in Austin

The Scoop: A family friendly event to raise awareness for the ASPCA and 4 local animal organizations.
A company of animal lovers, High Beam had a blast working on the ASPCA event, taking care of every detail from the small to the huge. Although the day started out on the rainy side, by the time the event got going, the skies had cleared up and the crowds starting coming out with their adorable dogs in tow. The day started out with Mayor Will Wynn himself kicking off the Wag-n-Walk Dog Walk! Everyone, including Kinky Friedman, enjoyed snacking on hot dogs, popcorn, and cotton candy once inside. And don’t think we forgot about the pooches! They were treated to gourmet dog biscuits as well as an oversized dog bone, courtesy of Cardinal Ridge Bakery. We even designed and constructed an obstacle course for the doggies to enjoy! For entertainment, the crowd was rocked by a performance by Delta Spirit. All in all an outstanding event that literally went to the dogs.

A window into our world

2009-11-13T11:59:00.000-08:00

Hello out there - we are High Beam Events!
We’re a full service event planning, design, and production company and have been around for 5 years here in Austin (although if you add up the experience at our office, it would be around 65 years!). We can plan literally ANYTHING. And we love a challenge. This blog will bring you along on the crazy ride of being an event planner here in A-TX, let you in on our aesthetic and what ideas/décor we love, introduce you to our team, and give you an inside look at what we do.
To kick things off, the posts will be taking you through some of our favorite events from the last six months or so.
Enjoy!