The Details Matter

I have lovingly (at least I think) been described as "extra" on more than one occasion. It’s true, I can be excessive, effusive, and ebullient (some might also say obsessive). I love living my life in the details because I believe it's the extra special attention paid to them that conveys a heightened level of mindfulness. Plus, their importance in project management cannot be overstated, so details have always been very important in my work life. I will never apologize for caring so much about them because it's also one of the ways I show love and care for people and things. Let me tell you about a recent project I took on for a very special client and how the details elevated it to something incredibly extra. It all started when she reached out to me and said, “I need you to plan the most amazing, fun, and unforgettable 60th birthday party for my husband!”

Would this client have been satisfied with a classic black and gold theme? Yes, so long as everything was tasteful, and tied together well. But this is me we’re taking about. The. Details. Matter. Besides the year he was born, what else did I know about the birthday boy to draw on for inspiration? He's a classic rock super fan, likes games, and enjoys cycling. Thematically speaking, not the easiest things to tie together but I was determined to incorporate all his favorites into an epic celebration that he’d never forget, and break the notion that birthday parties aren’t that fun once you’re “of a certain age.”

For this project, I was given creative freedom, a budget, and an estimated guest count of 75-100. I opted for a vintage concert theme. The invitation was styled like a 70’s rock concert poster—gritty, yet hyped. I wanted the party vibes to be rebellious, raw, and high-energy. Family and friends were encouraged to show up and show out in their best vintage concert attire and prepare for a night of great music, fun, and food.

Just a few examples of the details that mattered [to me]:

• Vinyl record mobiles: I was able to incorporate his love of cycling by using vintage bicycle spokes as the mobile frames. It definitely would have been easier to source craft hoops but that's not extra. Hanging from the venue's tall ceiling, I doubt anyone would have noticed if they weren’t all classic rock band albums but that didn’t stop me from searching all over to exclusively source 100+ classic rock vinyls.

• Card box: A $10 cardboard box with a slit on top from Amazon could have worked but there's nothing extra about that. I used a thrifted vintage speaker, and after a few cuts with my trusty precision saw—voilà—a one of a kind card box that was way better than anything from a store.

  
  

• Centerpieces: Most people opt for floating candles and/or a floral display. That might work for some but not for me. 2D prints of vintage record players served as the anchors and were accompanied by displays of framed albums from the birthday boy’s favorite band (Led Zeppelin), vintage concert ticket stubs for the table scatter, and an unassuming arrangement of flowers wrapped in sheet music. Would any sheet music have worked? Yes, but say it with me now: that’s not extra! Each table’s arrangement featured sheet music from the album it was displayed next to it.

  
  

• Entertainment: There was plenty of socializing to do, strolls down memory lane, and filling up on the amazing taco bar to keep everyone occupied. Did there need to be more? The answer is yes if you still had games to incorporate, to complete the trifecta of this man’s ultimate party! Enter R-I-N-G-O Bingo, Name That Band, and Classic Rock Trivia. All custom curated games to feature the birthday boy’s favorite bands and rock icons. I also brought in a special guest to emcee these activities and get the crowd hyped for them. Extra for sure!

  
  

• Music: An important element for a rock ‘n’ roll party. Just about every streaming platform has a classic rock channel I could pipe in, easy peasy. But what’s extra about that? Unbeknownst to the guests, the music playing all night was a playlist I created that corresponded to the songs, albums, and musicians featured in all of the games.

  
  

• Signature piece: We could have done a signature cocktail, which is very common for events celebrating an individual or a couple. Keyword: common. Not extra. I wanted something that reflected the birthday boy’s playful personality and would stop everyone in their tracks when they saw it but I had two ideas and couldn't decide between them. Solution: be extra and do both! The first was a KISS head fruit kabob holder. The iconic painted face was immediately recognizable, being mounted to a serving platter was shocking, and seeing how the “hairstyle” evolved through the night as people were pulling the kabobs out was just plain amusing. The second was a life-size guitar made out of candy (the birthday boy is known for his sweet tooth) displayed upright on a guitar stand. All through the night, guests would pick it up, pretending to jam out, and just about everyone wanted to have their picture taken with it.

  
  

• Obligatory birthday party photo board: Typically a random selection of pictures of the honoree throughout their life, featuring significant relationships, milestones, and heartfelt moments. But this was not your average photo board. As I began compiling pictures, I saw a very common trend: band t-shirts. All the way back to his middle school years, they have been a staple of his signature style. There were so many, we had to whittle it down to only the very best of the best to fit the display space we had. Realizing this was such a unique aspect of this individual to expand on, I found a book about vintage rock t-shirts that included background and other facts about many of shirts he’s worn through the years and had it on display for guests to browse through. Then it was presented to the birthday boy at the end of the evening.  

The party was a smashing success and no literal guitar smashing was necessary to accomplish this! It all came together, well first and foremost, because he was surrounded by so many people who love him and were overjoyed to celebrate his 60 years here on this earth, but also because the details set the scene for a one of-a-kind celebration honoring a one-of-a-kind person. In all the pictures from the party, whether he was posing for the camera or just happened to be in the background, the birthday boy can be seen wearing a massive smile or laughing with family and friends. Mission accomplished.

In general, I think the phrase “above and beyond” gets thrown around a bit too loosely, but especially in the service industry. Unless each and every client consistently feels they are receiving extra special attention, a business can't stake that claim. Good service is not going above and beyond, maybe great service isn't either, because it's not just about the quality of work but the impression you've made. To me, it’s the extras that clients wouldn’t even consider a possibility or honestly, even notice if they weren’t pointed out. It’s about anticipating individual needs before they arise and then executing them flawlessly.

Contact Aspire Lifestyle Concierge today for a free consultation and discover what your next event or project could look like if it were infused with some extra.

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