--- title: "Festivus: Event Planning for the Rest of Us" id: "14905" type: "post" slug: "festivus-event-planning-for-the-rest-of-us" published_at: "2012-12-10T23:00:55+00:00" modified_at: "2026-11-09T19:20:54+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2012/12/10/festivus-event-planning-for-the-rest-of-us/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2012/12/10/festivus-event-planning-for-the-rest-of-us.md" excerpt: "A Festivus twist on event planning. Also: A Buffer co-founder tells us a story about storytelling." taxonomy_category: - "Meetings / Events" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "event planning" - "festivus" - "Meetings" - "social events" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Director" - "Manager" taxonomy_persona: - "Association Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Festivus: Event Planning for the Rest of Us It’s that time of year—the one where you stick a steel pole in the corner of your apartment, air your grievances to friends and family, and show off your feats of strength. That’s right, it’s Festivus time. That and more in today’s Social Media Roundup: ### A Festivus Miracle https://twitter.com/BusyEvent/status/278236452574355456 **Air those grievances!** Just in time for the appearance of [Modern Seinfeld (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/SeinfeldToday) , BusyEvent’s Brian Slawin [brings one of the series’ most popular episodes out of the attic (opens in a new tab)](http://www.busyevent.com/blog/?p=853) , giving it a clever event-planning twist. Sample: “The Airing of Grievances is a Festivus tradition that happens over dinner. Basically, it’s exactly what it sounds like; let those gripes out! But, be smart about it because there is something to be said for designating a time and place to let out your gripes and vent.” Sound like something your event-goers need to do sometimes? ### The Value of a Story > Our brains on stories: what happens in there when we tell stories – [http://t.co/c7Stkrch (opens in a new tab)](http://t.co/c7Stkrch) > > — semmerson (@semmerson) [December 10, 2012 (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/semmerson/status/278220558049611776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) **We are more likely to remember** a story we’re told over some random info, but why is that? [Buffer (opens in a new tab)](http://bufferapp.com/) ‘s Leo Widrich [lays it out flat for you (opens in a new tab)](http://blog.bufferapp.com/science-of-storytelling-why-telling-a-story-is-the-most-powerful-way-to-activate-our-brains) , explaining the behavioral science behind why we’re more likely to remember a good story, even if we’ve only heard it once. “A story can put your whole brain to work,” he notes. “And yet, it gets better: When we tell stories to others that have really helped us shape our thinking and way of life, we can have the same effect on them too.” How do you work on your own storytelling efforts to make sure they stick with people? *(ht [@semmerson (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/semmerson/status/278220558049611776) )* What are you reading on the interwebs these days? Let us know in the comments. [Ernie Smith](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/) Ernie Smith is a former senior editor for Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/) Tags: [#event planning](https://associationsnow.com/tag/event-planning/) [#festivus](https://associationsnow.com/tag/festivus/) [#Meetings](https://associationsnow.com/tag/meetings/) [#social events](https://associationsnow.com/tag/social-events/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [PodcastAssociations Now Presents: Beyond the Contract: Building Stronger Destination PartnershipsSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/associations-now-presents-beyond-the-contract-building-stronger-destination-partnerships/) - [VideoMelvin Tennant, CAE, President & CEO of Meet Minneapolis, Welcomes You to Great Ideas 2026September 2, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/02/melvin-tennant-cae-president-ceo-of-meet-minneapolis-welcomes-you-to-great-ideas-2026/) - [VideoASAE TV Daily Recap: Final Day at the 2026 ASAE Annual Meeting & ExpositionAugust 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/08/24/asae-tv-daily-recap-final-day-at-the-2026-asae-annual-meeting-exposition/) - [VideoTerin Bates, MBA, CAE, CX-PRO, Shares Her Experience at the 2026 ASAE Annual Meeting & ExpositionAugust 18, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/08/18/terin-bates-mba-cae-cx-pro-shares-her-experience-at-the-2026-asae-annual-meeting-exposition/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2012%2F12%2F10%2Ffestivus-event-planning-for-the-rest-of-us%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !