Last time we talked about
vision
and
hearing
and their role in event planning. This time I would like to talk a bit
about other senses: tactile sensations, odours and smells, and taste.
Visual and tactile sensations perform an
interesting role in creating a special atmosphere at an event. On one
side, researchers suggest that the touch does not have a solid link with
human emotions as the vision and hearing. But on another side, it has
tremendous meaning for environmental awareness.
I suggest we talk a little bit about the use of various textures at your
event. The term "texture" is unbreakably connected to the materials, of
which different things are made.
Undoubtedly, each person has own associations originated through touching
materials. However, there are certain common tendencies. For example, the
linen is associated with naturality, closeness to nature and ethnic
motifs; the silk—with the aristocracy; and knitten things—with warmth and
cosiness.
The task of the event planner is to think through how various materials
can be used to emphasise the event atmosphere.
Odours and scents are strongly connected
with human emotions. In 2009, the Oxford journal "Chemical Senses"
published a detailed study. Scientists have thoroughly analysed how
various odours affect the human state. The conclusions were astonishing!
It turned out that odours are able to change the physical state of a human
(the pulse and the blood pressure) and influence on mind and behaviour.
Besides, odours cause the strongest emotional flashbacks. Studies
conducted at Rockefeller University have shown that humans remember 1% of
tactile, 2% of audio, 5% of visual, 15% of taste and 35% of odorous
sensations. Another group of scientists has proven that odours impact on
our mood and our psychological state as well as on how we receive other
people. If a person smells fine to us, then the first impression of them
is going to be pleasant. The entire institutions exist that focus on
studying odours.
Since odours bear such strong emotional feedback, it is greatly important
to use them rightly to create a certain atmosphere at an event. The
approach here is two-fold. Firstly, a professional organiser takes into
account ambient odours at the venue. Wouldn't you agree that obnoxious
odours ruin the impression of the entire happening!? And secondly, one can
tune the event guests to a required wave using suitable odours, for
example, aromatic oils.
And in conclusion, I shall give a little life-hack. If we are about to
take off for your holidays, emotions of which you would like to save in
your memory forever, go buy a unique eau de toilette. You are going to use
it only during your holiday trip. After a while, the odour of that eau de
toilette is going to remind you of the places you have been to and the
emotions you have experienced during your holidays. Checked and approved!
Let us talk a bit about the taste of your
event. Here, we have two pretty interesting questions: can food make your
guests happier and how to create an ideal menu?
Imagine a random guest. They joined an unfamiliar company, they don't feel
comfortable, and the stress slowly approaches. The body begins to actively
generate the hormone cortisol, which awakens a strong feeling of hunger.
Let us help the guest to relax and recover. You can do it fairly simply!
Just put the bowls full of candies or biscuits at accessible places. When
carbohydrates give a splash of energy, the level of stress is going to
lower, and thus, your guest will become happier. The task of the event
organiser is to think through the strategic locations for yummies to make
the guests find them easily.
The topic on the menu is much more complex and requires a unique approach.
One needs to take into account the format of the event, its duration, the
amount of entertainment. Besides, the menu can be composed in different
styles or in accordance with the traditions of different counties and
regions. Rightly selected meals should correspond to the idea and the
concept of the celebration. And most importantly! All food must be
delicious.
In conclusion...
It is very important for me that every element of the event is perfect,
and all the factors piece together. I believe, that unforgettable
atmosphere can be created in every event. The trick is in thoroughly
planned details.
Our emotions are created by senses, by everything that we see, hear, feel,
smell, and taste. I embrace you to think of all the details carefully and
exploit human senses to create unforgettable experience for you and your
guests.
You can read about the event atmosphere and vision in my blog post
here. The
second part about the sound at your event is
here.