Five things you need to know about the first generation of Chinese event professionals

1 There is an immense creative capacity in China (no need here to remind us of the countless inventions offered by China to the World)

In the event industry, creativity is not only expressed through event design and artistic programs but also by the way it combines different elements such as technologies and décor, venues and hospitality with brand or product guidelines and messages.

There are many training programmes in China ranging from business to theatre studies, literacy to computer science, but there is not a single training program in China for aspiring event professionals. 

Therefore I have found the talent in our agency coming from extremely diverse areas; and when that diversity is harnessed, it demonstrates fantastic creativity that amazes me every single day. Creativity comes from everywhere, just like event professionals in China.

2 Talents here are “solution minded”

We used to say in Auditoire China “one problem every morning, two solutions at night”. I was warned in the beginning that the local culture was quite risk-averse. Once more - wrong. The work pace, and the forbearance sometimes required to achieve creativity in a production-focused market, pushes China event professionals every day to find new solutions to new problems. The risk taking capacity and the problem-solving ability are as real here as anyway.

3 The local workforce is loyal and passionate, as long as you know how to reward them properly and motivate them to take responsibility

There is a strong sense of hierarchy in Chinese culture, but with tact and sensitive management, it is amazing to see people embrace a vision and a corporate objective, make it their own and work both for the company, as well as or their own satisfaction.

4 Chinese event professionals are business oriented. They have well understood that individuals benefit out of the collective success

This first generation of event professionals finds themselves managing massive investments in a single event and it is sometimes hard to keep a clear mind in the management of budgets, purchases, rentals and deposits. But here again there is ability for negotiation and for buying at the best price for the best quality that is improving everyday.

5 There is a Chinese way of developing brand experiences

Although as with many cultural aspects of China, it is hard to understand and even harder to describe for a foreigner like me. But I have noticed here a capacity to take the best that the world can bring and combine it with a dominant local culture.

As a result, you can witness an ultra expected lion dance tweaked in a futuristic way, or a Chinese décor demonstrating the latest interactive technologies. Add to this a handful of business minds and passion for achieving – and you can see why the business is evolving and growing so fast.

In conclusion, I foresee that very soon, in the coming few years, we will see that foreign brands willing to put together events in China will not anymore call for international pitches but will recruit local teams and talents. 

Dior, Fendi, Chanel and all the others will have their Chinese agencies not only for the small-scale events but also for the international scale ones.  And obviously, when Chinese brands really go global, we will see that local Chinese talents will export their know-how to the world.   I am completely convinced of that.