News
Host with the most
July 4, 2025 | IN Together Magazine | BY AVID | 5 min read
A lot goes into becoming ‘the host with the most’ – just ask MASK Event’s Abi Brown. A Sunshine Coast-based industry leader and regular collaborator on AVID’s famous events, Abi knows a thing or two about catering to your guests every whim whether there’s five or 205.
The Together team was lucky enough to sit down with Abi to help readers take the guess work out of hosting, as she exclusively shares her insights and tricks to pulling off any event, big or small, in your own home.
As the Sunshine Coast’s first event company and a go-to choice for hundreds of companies, MASK Events have been collaborating with AVID on community events from Display Village Openings and Christmas Spectaculars to Long Table Dinners and more for years.
For Abi, events are all about connecting with your guests, something she has been able to achieve through her work with AVID.
“We love working with AVID because we can tell they genuinely care about their communities. This really resonates with MASK’s core values, as we’re also all about human connection and lasting relationships.”
“My personal favourites are always the Long Table Dinners. It’s such a delight to see a whole community come and sit together and engage in fun activities, conversations, and creativity.”
According to Abi, everyone has it in them to be a true host with the most. It’s not the budget or venue that truly makes an event stand out but instead it’s the thought behind it and the smaller details that you incorporate for guests to discover.
“Anyone can plan an event, however, to make it memorable, my best advice would be to activate all of you guests five senses.. What will they be hearing, smelling, tasting, seeing and feeling in their surrounds?”
“Once you’ve upgraded your venue by bringing together all five senses, every time that guest tastes that food, or smells that amazing candle you were burning at a later date, they will automatically be transported back to your event.”
Next, consider the practical side of your event. Hosting doesn’t need to break the bank, a few simple steps courtesy of Abi can help to keep costs low and payoff high.
“Try avoiding overly trendy items that you won’t be able to reuse. I’ve seen trends like bohemian-style mustards and neon signs come and go, but classic staples you can reach for time and time again will always make for a stylish fit-out.”
“It’s also really easy to get caught up in the craziness of event planning. I always recommend making a list and actually sticking to it. An extra tip is to prioritise sourcing the bigger items like catering and décor first in case any issues pop up and it effects what other items you need.”
Once you’re finished carefully planning, bringing together the details and engaging all your guests’ senses, all that’s left to do is sit back and enjoy.
“Allow yourself more time than you would think to prepare and set up. That way, you can enjoy the event you worked so hard to put together and spend quality time with your guests.”
With some attention to detail, creativity and ingenuity, hosting doesn’t have to be expensive, overwhelming, or too much work. Take some inspiration from Abi and the MASK Events team and have your next event be the talk of the neighbourhood.
5 Steps to Engaging all 5 Senses:
- Smell
- A subtle yet effective way to set the scene and mood of your event, don’t underestimate the power of a well-placed candle or diffuser to truly transport your guests.
- Touch
- A small treat for your guests to pick up and take home is always appreciated! This doesn’t need to blow your budget, get creative and think about what you could DIY.
- Taste
- There’s nothing quite like a party to build up an appetite! Think about what you could cater that is easy to eat, won’t lead to unfortunate stains, and suits your theme. Don’t forget to ask your guests about any allergies either.
- Sight
- The first glimpse of your event is very important to setting the tone – first impressions count! Consider the little details and remember that sometimes all it takes is a cohesive colour scheme, homemade decorations, or even just tidying up.
- Sound
- Whether you’re an expert playlist maker or a DJ in disguise, curating the perfect soundtrack for your event is a great finishing touch. Stick to your theme or go for classics everyone will love – the choice is yours.
Abi’s Top 3 Tricks of the Trade
- Find your why
- What is the main reason behind your event. It can be as small as just wanting to get together with friends for a milestone birthday. Zeroing in on the ‘why’ will help refine the theme and feeling you want to achieve.
- Think about how you want your guests to feel.
- Even if some guests don’t notice the little details, it’s these special additions that really make an event memorable. An effective and wholistically planned out event will have people leaving wowed.
- Always have a Plan B. When in doubt, maybe a Plan C too!
- A contingency plan or two is an absolute must. When you help to minimise panic in an unplanned scenario and cover your bases, nothing can rain on your parade!
