Prize Winning Display:
Toilets can be pretty too
“Dining Spaces” was a competition started by the International Special Event Society – an organization for professional event planners – as a way to celebrate and reward creative talent. Entrants are given a table, ten chairs and free rein to design and decorate a themed table for the evening’s gala.
go big or go home
The Mr. John Company had just started marketing high-end toilets and executive toilet trailers for upscale events, so I decided to “go big” and jump in with something memorable.
My creation was a toilet-themed dining table. I used actual toilets (with satin cushions) for seating, designed a centerpiece using toilet brushes and plungers, salt and pepper shakers from hot and cold knobs and printed the menus on toilet paper. Everything was tastefully decorated with satin and “tidy bowl blue” tulle flowing across the table from the plumbing pipe candle holders. The title of the table was “toilets can be pretty too.”
My goal was to make ourselves known to the special event world as well as to show that temporary restrooms can lend flair to an event rather than just be present as a necessity.
what have i done?
I was nervous, thinking the reaction could go either way. I actually hid in the ladies’ room while I waited for the reception to start. It was there that I realized what kind of impression I made – everyone was talking about it! To my relief, they all loved it. After I ventured out of the ladies’ room, I even overheard one of the judges, Mitch Pennell from the CBS reality show “Wickedly Perfect” discussing my creative genius with his entourage.
Later that evening, I was awarded for my design, hugged by Mitch Pennell, and Mr. John received priceless recognition from the special events community. We became well-known in the industry through our participation in this event and established many successful relationships with industry professionals.