4 minute read
Far from Typical
Karen May of Scottsdale Private Event Venues has worked in the event planning industry most of her
life. (Photo courtesy of Karen May)
Karen May takes a blank slate and makes it special
By Laura Latzko
special entertainer, helicopter ride, classic car or out-ofthe-box theme can make events stand out. As an Airpark event planner, Karen May gives her clients memorable, oncein-a-lifetime experiences.
The owner of Scottsdale Private Event Venues and Scottsdale Hangar Parties, May brings character to parties, often hosting them on ranches, in amphitheaters and in the desert.
Her clients read like a who’s who of corporate and private clients — many of whom she cannot name. She’s also lent a hand to the Super Bowl, Final Four, Fiesta Bowl and Major League Baseball.
She has collaborated with or met celebrities like golfer Tiger Woods, former football player Kurt Warner, actor Leslie Nielsen, and country stars Garth Brooks and George Strait.
May was recognized for her work in 2019 with a Smart Women in Meetings Award during the Smart Woman Summit in Las Vegas.
Being an event planner has been challenging during the COVID-19 pandemic. May says she has seen an 80% decrease in business since March 2020.
She has tried to stick to smaller events, such as holiday and private parties, weddings, digital drive-in events, incentive events, pharmaceutical releases, a helicopter-themed rehearsal dinner, brand launches, retirement parties, and an outdoor gala in a mall parking lot.
During the gala for architects, attendees watched prerecorded footage of nominees and a video featuring the nominated projects.
“Everybody was in their cars like they were at a drive-in, watching their awards gala,” she says. “They saw themselves and their projects on the big screen. At the end of the night, the fi rst-, second- and third-place winners came up live on the screen and got their awards. It was a lot of fun. We were just trying to do something diff erent, something out of the box.”
During the last year, she avoided planning events for larger groups, as she didn’t want to contribute to the spread of COVID-19 or play gatekeeper.
“You can’t always control your clients, if they are going to follow the rules, if they are going to wear their masks,” she says.
“It’s up to you to make sure that they do, and that’s really personal. I don’t want to be putting a mask on someone’s child or
telling the CFO to put their mask back on. It’s just hard. You are in a different position when you are planning someone’s personal event and they are spending all that money. So, sometimes it’s easier to not do it than put yourself in that situation.” Instead, she focused on helping organizations like the Special Olympics and St. Mary’s Food Bank. She assisted with food drives, PPE packages for hospitals, and donations for the Beat the Heat program for Scottsdale seniors in need.
“I can’t give them money that I don’t have, but I can go help them raise it,” May
Karen May of Scottsdale Private Event Venues hosts creative events, such as a Pan-Am-themed party.
(Photo by Dana Gibbons Photography)
says. “I can go help them throw an event, and through my connections, I can help get them stuff. That’s what I was doing. It’s amazing what you can do as an event planner.”
Charities and nonprofits are nothing new to May, who has worked with Alice Cooper’s Solid Rock Teen Center, the Thunderbird Field II Veterans Memorial and the Be Kind Project.
May says giving back has helped her to stay focused and busy during the pandemic.
“Rather than just sit at home and be in a pity party, I needed to go do what I know and love and go help people,” May says.
She’s especially passionate about animals, as she has six rescue dogs. Before COVID-19, May organized events for thousands of people.
Her hangar events are something special. She brings in helicopters, jets and other aircraft. She has teamed with the Janet Cussler Car Collection as well.
“With the hangars, it’s a blank slate. You can make them into anything you want, and you can do it with props and lighting,” May says.
She stresses that she tries to stay away from the “typical.”
“I love when it’s different and it’s not in a ballroom,” May says.
“I hate being in a square box. I don’t like to do that. I like to do things in fun places. If you are at a convention for five nights, there’s always a night where you want to go out and let your hair loose. Those are the parties that we do.”
May says it’s all worth it when attendees walk into the venue.
“My thing is seeing it all happen, and the best part is when the doors open. It’s that Oprah ‘aha’ moment,” May says.
