Beth Follmer, UMKC Bloch School director of events, answers The Pitch‘s questionnaire
Name: Beth Follmer
Occupation: UMKC Bloch School director of events and freelance event consultant
Hometown: Independence, Kansas (yes, Kansas, not Missouri)
Current neighborhood: Armour Hills
What I do (in 140 characters): Events — big, small, cool, swanky, corporate, cozy. You get an invite? I make it happen.
What’s your game? When I worked for Sundance, we had a great bar trivia team. We won first place a lot. Our team names were Redford films (e.g., The Naturals).
What’s your drink? One pot of coffee. Per day. Every day.
Where’s dinner? I’m typically snacking on an hors d’oeuvre at work during the dinner hour. The best hors d’oeuvre in Kansas City is Delish Catering’s tuna tartare on wonton crisp. (And I’ve tried them all — trust me!)
What’s on your KC postcard? This is my nerdiest obsession. I’m a member of a postcard exchange group (postcrossing.com) and take it very seriously. I am mostly in it for the postmark. So send me any vintage downtown KC hotel postcard … but mail them to me from a place I’ve never been … yet.
Finish this sentence: “Kansas City got it right when …” They successfully supported alcohol service in the open-air pavilion of Power & Light. The excitement of watching the World Cup and great concerts, and the vibrant atmosphere are even better with an adult beverage in hand.
“Kansas City screwed up when …” They have not invested in user-friendly transit to and from MCI. We are a world-class destination, and it would enhance the tourist experience in our amazing city.
“Kansas City needs …” To put the KC Film Festival on their calendar now. I’m on the board, and it is one of our city’s unheralded treats. Every April, Kansas City gets the chance to screen incredible films affordably and conveniently.
“I’ve been known to binge-watch …” Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.
The best advice I ever got: “People are people” — it is my favorite event saying. No matter who you are — honored guest, invitee or waitstaff — the best events anticipate needs of the people.
Worst advice: “Just go with whatever is cheapest.” When hosting a memorable event, the bottom line isn’t always the bottom line.
My sidekick: A black Sharpie! No event planner should leave home without it. I have one in the car, my makeup bag … and don’t even think about borrowing it.
My dating triumph/tragedy: I married someone who encourages all of my adventures. We relocated to Chicago for my hospitality career with Marriott. He encouraged my short-term career move to Salt Lake City for the 2013 Sundance Film Festival, and he’s a consummate companion for research jaunts to New York for inspiration (and a little fine dining and shopping, of course). We make a great team.
My brush with fame: Working Planet Comicon this year. Scene: the VIP room. William Shatner was hangry for some KC barbecue, so I served him some Crown Prime Beef Ribs from Jack Stack. While his mouth was full, I chatted up my childhood Reading Rainbow crush, LeVar Burton.
My 140-character soapbox: KC needs more restaurant delivery. I’d eagerly support any business that brings veggie korma to my front door … and I tip very well!
What was the last thing you had to apologize for? Library fines. Not sorry I got them; sorry I had to pay them. Sometimes a quality book takes more than 10 days to enjoy.
My recent triumph: The grand-opening celebrations for the fabulous UMKC Henry W. Bloch Executive Hall for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. It is an honor to commemorate Mr. Bloch’s legacy, and very exciting to plan events in a space that still required hard hats until so close to the big day!
