Photo of the Week July 19
R&D Events at the Hard Rock Cafe
R&D Events was recently blessed with the opportunity to partner with our good friends from Hello Las Vegas! to produce a Minute to Win It inspired event for one of our clients. The event was a huge success and the venue at the Hard Rock Cafe on the Las Vegas Strip was the perfect match for this type of activity. Truly an over-the-top event and one that we know will be part of the R&D Events repertoire for years to come!
Mission: San Diego Now Available
Mission San Diego Team Building
R&D Events is pleased to announce their expansion into the San Diego market with their newest event, Mission: San Diego. Heading-up the San Diego office will be long-time R&D Events employee, and San Diego resident, Josh Krier. Josh is a world renowned entertainer who spent nearly a decade refining his craft at Club Med Resorts throughout the world. He has the unique ability of being able to enthusiastically engage everyone in the room and get them to have fun while working towards their intended goal. We are excited to have Josh lead this expansion effort and even more excited to begin designing new and unique events for our clients!
Building a Cohesive Team
R&D Events on the Summit of Mt Rainier
On June 26, 2011, under blue bird skies and nearly no wind, members of the R&D Events staff climbed one of the lower 48’s most coveted peaks; Mt Rainier. At 14,411 feet, Mt Rainier is a beast of mountain whose slopes are covered in massive glaciers and exposed rock. This was our second attempt in as many years at the mountains summit and being self-guided, it was up to the team as a whole to push ourselves to the top. You can watch our video HERE.
In mountaineering, the goal is clear; reach the summit and come back alive. But what I think some people overlook is that although the mountain itself can be physically and mentally challenging what keeps most teams from reaching the summit is their inability to work together as a cohesive unit. Just like in the workplace, good team chemistry starts with selecting the right people. Here is my recommendation for anyone planning on building a team for their next summit attempt or for their next board room:
SAVING PRIVATE RYAN:
A lot of the characteristics that make-up a great team can be found in the characters from the Emmy Award Winning film, Saving Private Ryan. To help offer some clear points of reference, I have linked the team characteristics with the character from the movie to help drive home the point (this will make a lot more sense if you have seen the movie).
Which Role are You?
TEAM CHARACTERISTICS:
The Leader and his Lieutenant
Leader: Without question this needs to be the strongest member of your team. The best leaders are those that are driven and focused, yet attentive to the needs and struggles of other team members. Personally I find myself gravitating towards charismatic leaders who exude confidence and are not afraid to express their views should a problem arise. Although, silent leaders are just as effective as long as they are able to tackle any issues head-on and that they are able to think on their feet and not be afraid to take criticism should their plan fail or back fire. Tom Hanks’ character, Captain John Miller, is the prototypical strong, silent leader. His ability to control and lead his team under variable and stressful circumstances makes him one of the great movie leaders of all-time.
Lieutenant: This is your second in command and the person who you will want your team to rally around should your leader step away. This individual should possess similar qualities to your leader, yet serve as their right-hand-man on all issues. Tom Sizemore’s character, Sgt. Mike Horvath, is the perfect example of someone serving in a lieutenant’s role.
Dependable Work Horse: This is your go-to team member. If you need to get something done you call on your work horse (aka. Jack-of-all-trades) to get it completed. When assembling my team I usually pick this person first and then build my team around them since this one individual (or several individuals) will most likely interact with everyone on your team. They are vital to the overall success of your team and need to treated with the upmost appreciation. Barry Pepper’s character, Pvt. Daniel Jackson, is the teams work horse in Saving Private Ryan. This guy was able to serve in a multitude of roles and could always be counted on by his superiors to get the job done.
It's All About the Details
Detailed and Logical Thinker: Although this type of personality can slow down forward progress at times, selecting someone who possesses the ability to methodically think through a tough issue or who is able to handle the day-to-day minutia can be vital to your success. I have always found that the overall success of my team’s have comes down to the details. You need to have someone that is able to deliver on your day-to-day promises and is not thinking of the “big picture”. As far a character that fits this role, I think Giovanni Ribisi’s role as the team medic is someone who is constantly reviewing the team’s health and firmly focused on the details to help drive the team to their ultimate goal.
Comedian and Free-thinker: This is tough a role to fill on any team. Generally the person that best fits this persona also carries with them the baggage of being lazy and at times disruptive. However, all work and no play means that your team will eventually burn themselves out and a little comic relief now and then never hurt anybody. On every trip I take I always try and find someone that has a jovial attitude and free spirit to help keep the team relaxed during stressed moments. At the very least, they always make for some fun camp fires. I had a tough time selecting a character that best fit this role in Saving Private Ryan. I want to select Vin Diesel’s character, Caparzo, but we have so little to go on since his part was tragically cut short. I am tempted to go with Ed Burns’ character, Pvt. Reiben, but his role on the team was more of a “radical free-thinker” and one that I categorize as poison. So for now, I would have to leave this one blank.
In the end, your team is an extension of you. You need to surround yourself with the best persons you can find based on the talents and roles that you believe will make you successful. If you will be serving as the leader of your team, I would recommend reviewing my other blog post Keys to Leading a Great Team as well.
If you are interested in learning more about what makes a great team or if you want R&D Events to execute an award-winning teambuilding event for your next outing to Las Vegas, you can always reach the Director of Fun here.
Photo of the Week May 30, 2011
I Knight The, King of the Bellman
R&D Events recently partnered with our good friends at CLI Groups, Inc to produce a Mission: Las Vegas event that pitted employees from eight of the biggest hotels on the Las Vegas Strip against each other to see who would reign supreme! What we found is that everyone had a great time and that Mission: Las Vegas is the perfect Las Vegas teambuilding event, even if you live here!
In this particular shot, teams were directed to locate this knight and snap a photo with everyone on their team down on one knee as if they were being knighted by the King of England. Our friends at the Hard Rock Hotel were so focused on the task at hand that they snagged this shot, even with the Bellman in it.
To view all the photos from this infamous event you can check out the link here: MISSION LV PHOTOS
Minute to Win It
- Minute to Win It has Arrived
In 2010 NBC released a relatively basic concept for a new game show called Minute to Win It and it quickly became one of the most talked about shows on TV. The general premise is that participants would use a variety of random everyday items to complete a series of tasks that if accomplished, would earn them a shot at one million dollars. Games such as Hanky Panky, Card Ninja and Nervous Nelly became household names overnight and people across the country began rummaging through their “junk” drawers in order to try it for themselves.
Over the past few months R&D Events has been bombarded with inquiries from companies headed to Las Vegas, eager to produce their own version of Minute to Win It. After conducting several “test” events with our friends (guinea pigs) at The Loews Lake Las Vegas, we finally designed an event that is both fun to play and fun to watch.
We started by creating “play-in” games featuring challenges from the actual show. If participants are able to successfully complete a game within 60 seconds, their name will be entered into our database and sorted based on their overall time in that particular game. Once the play-in time is up, we will review all of the scores for each game and announce the overall winners from each game. These winner’s will then move on to the Finals.
Once in the finals, all of the participants will make their way up on stage where they will compete simultaneously in 5 different head-to-head games. At the end of each game, the top participants will move on until only two participants remain. The last game will feature the top two participants going head-to-head in a monumental dual with pride and the potential for BIG prizes on the line.
This is truly one of the most entertaining events you will ever hold and one that all of your attendees will surely be talking about for years to come! If you are headed to the Las Vegas Valley and you are looking to produce and award winning teambuilding event, then be sure to contact the team at R&D Events.
Minute to Win It: VIDEO LINK
Days of Thunder
R&D Events Newest Team Building Event
R&D Events has just unveiled it’s newest and hottest teambuilding event; Days of Thunder. Perfect for any size group, Days of Thunder has taken the Las Vegas team building market by storm and is quickly becoming one of the most talked about events in our repertoire. In this event teams work together to construct a full size “soap box” car and drive it into the pits where you will use real impact wrenches to change all four tires before racing to victory lane. This is the newest and most over-the-top event available from the country’s leader in unique and fun team building events; R&D Events.
You can check out the promo video HERE.
Creative Team Work
Who Knew Iceland had a Sense of Humor
Iceland is cold. With the average temperature hovering around 44° F it can be tough to get fans to show-up for an outdoor football match; unless of course you are the fans of Starjan FC. The players on this squad have found a way to help build team camaraderie while putting on a humorous display for their fans. Following every goal the team works together to orchestrate a variety of different vignettes including some of my favorites entitled “The Salmon”, “The Birth” and “The Toilet”. Although their excessive celebrations may cause some opponents to take offense, the coach of Starjan FC says their team unity could not be stronger. See, you can have fun while working together as a team. It looks like R&D Events may have to create a new team building event; we can call it Celebrate This!
To see all of the Starjan FC celebrations you can check out this link HERE.
Photo of the Week May 23, 2011
Getting Impatient at the Palms
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
The Photo of the Week for May 23rd was taken during a recent Amazing Race themed event that we custom designed for our friends at SkyMall. Every one of their challenges were custom designed to feature the unique products found in their catalog. Of course, we couldn’t do an event without throwing in a few new “Say Cheese” photos; like this new one entitled “Getting Impatient”.
GETTING IMPATIENT
Once you find a pay phone, snap a photo with one member of your team holding the receiver and acting as if they were in a deep conversation with a loved one. The remaining members of your team need to be standing in a straight line behind your first team member and acting as if they have been standing in line for an excessively long time and getting very impatient. Make sure that the pay phone and every member of your team are clearly visible in your photo.
Photo of the Week May 15, 2011
Mission: Maui Mutiny
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
The Photo of the Week for May 15th was taken by our good friends at Fujitsu during a recent Mission: Maui event while staying at the Westin in beautiful Ka’anapali. We love going to Maui and this event is quickly becoming one of the most coveted team building events in all of Hawaii. The above image is one of our favorite photos taken inside the historic Pioneer Inn in downtown Lahaina.
MUTINY
It was not uncommon for the captains of ships charting through the Hawaiian Islands to be over thrown by rowdy deck hands. In fact the captain’s wheel pictured here was rescued from the SS Westside Story. Reenact the scene that took place when the captain and his loyal mates went up against a barrage of misfit deck hands by having half of your group stand on the left side of the captain’s wheel and the other half stand on the right side of the wheel. Both sides should be in fighting stance and have an angry look on their faces. Be sure that every member of your team and this captain’s wheel are clearly visible in your photo.
Photo of the Week May 9, 2011
R&D Events' Poker Run Event
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
The Photo of the Week for May 9th was taken by our good friends at InvestTech Systems Consulting during a recent Poker Run event out at the beautiful Loews Lake Las Vegas. This unique Las Vegas based team building event featured teams in rental cars traveling throughout Southern Nevada and into the historical town of Boulder City as they competed in a variety of different challenges. One of our favorite challenges was to track down a big rig and snap a group photo depicting a scene out of the 1987 iconic film, Over the Top.
OVER THE TOP:
In 1987 Sylvester Stallone played a down and out trucker named Lincoln Hawk who enters the World Arm Wrestling Championships in hope of winning the grand prize, a new big rig! Of course in true Hollywood fashion Hawk took home first place and a brand new shiny Peterbilt truck. To honor Hawk’s historic win snap a photo with two members of your team reenacting the “Over the Top” pose as shown on the last page of your notebook. The remaining members of your team need to be standing in the back ground jumping up and down as if they were cheering on the arm wrestlers. To receive full credit all but one member of your team and a Big Rig need to be present in your photo.