Creating events in my life: a story about passion

To paraphrase the popular saying “Event organisers are not born, they are made”, I only partly agree. True, nobody is born one – it’s physically impossible, there’s nowhere to clip a radio or hold a script – but the first shoots of an event organiser’s calling started sprouting from me back in the distant 90s.

A serious event plan was drawn up for every birthday, complete with decorations, hosting and, of course, one-of-a-kind side activities to give guests both moments of surprise and a “wow” effect. At Christmas, in the big family circle, a concert programme was compulsory – with all the Christmas songs, poems and games, thoroughly rehearsed by singing at every event in our small town, from school and music school concerts to the musical part of the pensioners’ evening and the music at the Christmas Eve church service. And of course, there’s one event that simply can’t be left out of this introduction: the Oskara Kalpaka Street Grand Concert in the little park by our house. It involved serious preparation, inviting the neighbours, making costumes, a few creative differences along the way (artistic minds were under real pressure), but it all ended with a grand concert, a standing ovation and flowers for the performers. In short – each of us has an inner drive, a small “click”, that makes us do things at an early age that truly excite us and bring satisfaction.

The next milestone that rekindled this spark for organising events was Jānis Stabiņš, owner of the Business Management College, who trusted me to organise a Christmas party for the staff. At the time I worked at the college as a student coordinator – a job where everything was orderly, predictable and, to be honest, a little too quiet for my nature. And then the excitement came back, the adrenaline and the feeling that I was finally in my element, doing what I truly love.

After that experience I knew – in my next job search I had to make sure that organising events was one of my responsibilities. And I was lucky – ELKO Group gave me that opportunity. There I could turn every occasion into an adventure and a celebration. With every year and every event I grew and developed. I wanted more and more to create something new, never seen before and truly memorable. We made International Women’s Day greetings with the “Elko Band”, featuring ELKO’s musical guys. We filmed Midsummer song music videos. We supported a colleague in a competition, with all the ladies coming to work in red dresses. We ran across the roof of the ELKO building in bunny costumes, filming an Easter video. And more, and more. Until I realised – this side of my personality had to be given room to grow.

So I applied for a position with the powerful and talented event organiser Sindija Vilde. I made it through a selection of more than 600 candidates and became one of the event architects at the agency “Bordo”. That’s where a whole new level began – a different pace, a different view of the events industry. My first event, where I was thrown in almost unprepared (together with another girl who was also applying for the job), was the opening of a new car showroom featuring Pauls Jonass. My “post” during the event was next to him – to give the green light at exactly the right moment for him to ride in on his motorcycle, in sync with the fireworks. Needless to say, the stress level was high, with ten different processes running over the radio at the same time. But apparently I did something right, because I got the job.

That was the start of my journey at “Bordo” and of a working relationship that over time grew into a friendship with Sindija. Alongside grand corporate events, birthdays and weddings, we also travelled to a world-class wedding planners’ congress in Mexico – a true wow. It opened up completely new horizons. And talking freely with representatives of world-class agencies, I was reminded once again – they’re only human too. Fantastic, charismatic, yet at the same time very warm and open.

Like everyone who is truly passionate about what they do, there came a moment when it all became too much. When the pace is so fast and the pressure so constant that at some point you just want to stop, breathe and say – enough. Time for myself, for peace, for rest… namaste. But in truth… you can’t run away from yourself. That inner drive never disappears – it comes back and quietly reminds you how much you miss those emotions, that tension, that adrenaline which, admittedly, is even a little addictive. And you realise – you miss it. Not only the beautiful moments, but also the chaos, the responsibility, the tiredness and that moment after it all, when you can finally breathe out and feel – yes, it was worth it. And you come back. In a different format, with your own vision and at your own pace – but you come back.

To create celebrations. To celebrate life. And every time a client is truly happy, to give myself a quiet pat on the back with a smile and know – it’s worth it. Because creating celebrations is not just a job – it’s a mix of joy and adrenaline that becomes an inseparable part of you.