Colin Cowie Takes Attendees on World Tour of Über-Events
During the show’s Opening Session, event guru and lifestyle expert Colin Cowie took attendees on an around-the-world tour “at 120 miles per hour” of events he has produced. Tablescapes from events in New England, Australia, South Africa, California and the Middle East — one with $11,000 place settings — sparked new ideas for event design, cocktails, cuisine and service during the standing-room-only session.
A lively speaker, Cowie kept attendees engaged as he showed them video clips and images of one spectacular event after another. “Rats nibble; human beings dine,” he said, drawing laughs, on his attitude toward serving cheese.
Earlier in the day, he gave an exclusive interview to Event Solutions and catersource, discussing his new book, where he gets his inspiration from, and service, which he called “one of the most over-looked issues” in events.
“There’s nothing easy about writing a reference book,” he said about his current project, which has the working title “1,001 Wedding Details.”
Sixty percent of his company’s work is out of the country — providing him with inspiration on a global scale, whether it’s meeting chefs and designers from around the world or scouring souks for ideas.
“I will train waiters for three days to get it right,” he said of his approach to service. “I love the drama of it all.”