The event last week was a smash hit, I have to say! Before I go on, I have to give serious props to Sharon, Purple Lab’s Communications Director. She executed every ounce of this event, from the signage to the sponsors to the layout to the organization to the registration to the gift bags to the… you get the point.

We had to be very careful about letting in ONLY the ones who registered because of fire hazards – God forbid something went wrong! And it pained every ounce of my being to have to turn some away (we did offer them a drink from our bar and suggested they stay because so many singles would mingle after).

Luckily no one threatened us with violence.

Sharon was overseeing the whole pre-party situation while I was in the green room, filming testimonials with the HSN crew. I asked random women to come and play with products and give their feedback for the camera, which you’ll be able to see on HSN.com as well as our debut shows, so please tune in!

At 9:30, the event really kicked off. Steve and I made an entrance and announced the rules of speed dating on stage. Ejai from True Sound Music busted out the sexy playlist.

<—- my friend, Jeannine, who wrote about her night on her blog, Beauty Sweet Spot.

The girls sat on one side of long tables and the guys, across from them. Every three minutes, a siren went off and the guys moved one seat to the right. “I never knew how long or how short three minutes could be,” one girl said, adding “it was long when the date was bad and short when it was good.”

Some matches were definitely made. I caught a couple making out after (thankfully, we provided Dentyne and Luvah is scented with vanilla and mint!). See below, I caught them exchanging digits!

But I can’t say that there were no glitches – what’s an event with 500 people without one?

Twenty minutes before take off, we sent two Purple Lab girls out to wrangle in some new guys – about 20 didn’t show up. All they had to say is “175 cute girls… free drinks… free food… 175 cute girls!”

The other oversight – as the guys moved to the right, the ones at the very end didn’t know where to go. We quickly remedied by sending our team to escort them to the other side of the room, but there was a moment of panic, I have to admit!

While I saw a few people get up and go to the bathroom in mid-date (is it me or is that rude? Couldn’t they hold it in for an hour?), I saw happy faces and lots of gloss application going on.

For the record: if any love matches are made, let me know. I will come do your makeup for your wedding!

As the crowd trickled out, I got down and dirty for clean-up. I brought sweats for the cause and chowed down on the left over brownies and cookies. One day, I’ll be able to afford an entire clean-up team!

Mwah!

Karen

Purple Lab Creatrix

with my Luvah!!!

I am just coming up for air now. Friday’s speed dating event is still kind of a blur and before I can recuperate, I am on the HSN bandwagon, putting together all of the initiatives behind the launch.

Before I go there, let’s get to the day of… the manic circus mayhem!

Sharon and crew spent about 18 hours assembling gift bags, making signage (and by making signage, I literally mean printing, cutting, and pasting on posterboard – the things you do when you’re on a budget) and arranging the room so that the chairs were in horizontal rows and each dater would have pen and paper for note-taking and Dentyne for fresh date breath.   

Todd’s morning required last minute product assembly (that’s him in the <— kitchen).  Oh and delivery of boxes to and from the W Hoboken.

We also set up stations for our sponsors: got2b hair touch up girls were on hand, armed with gel and Michael Todd Cosmetics brought in spritz girls to give everyone a little love with Swingle, pheremone enhanced fragrance.

There were guest lists to organize alphabetically, registration areas to prep, security guards to debrief, a bar to set up.

 While all this was going on, I was stationed in Room 1702 with the most amazing producers, George and Jen, from HSN, filming promos for both TV and dotcom.

HSN does something called “Behind the Label,” where they give you an inside look at what goes on… (drum roll)… behind the label.  Normally, these are done in a studio but we had such a sick background to work with, it was hard to resist cramming the equivalent of an entire film studio into a 300 square-foot room!

They asked me fun, personal questions like what did I think I wanted to be when I grew up, how the brand even started, and what my secret talent is (for the record: break dancing – I took lessons in sixth grade and hooked up with a group, performing at Bar and Bat Mitzvahs!).

I had a small food break – and became immediatley concerned with what I’d do for dinner – before the next round of filming: testimonials.

As girls arrived, I pulled random people aside and asked if they’d be willing to try Purple Lab products and give a testimonial on camera (if they liked it, of course).  We turned a conference room into our sound stage and made a quick jaunt to the local deli to find an orchid for the background!

Gina, below, was nice enough to do one (I couldn’t not ask when I saw that dress! So PL!).

She tried Huge Lips Skinny Hips in Red Sole  and Cheek Implants in Backstage Pass, which she totally, utterly, completely loved (Yay, Gina!)

A few weeks ago, we found cheapo hand mirrors and had a vinyl of our logo made at Staples for this very moment.

I kept pinching myself… it was happening… it was happening… I was at a world record event… with HSN… getting testimonials to be used on air… national television! And Steve Ward was just about to make his first appearance.

More on that later!

Mwah!

Karen

Purple Lab Creatrix

Getting in the mood to find your Luvah?

Yeah, I thought so!

As we get ready for our speed dating soiree, hosted by Steve Ward, we’re putting together the ultimate playlist for you and your new luvah, who you will hopefully meet at W Hoboken tonight!

Your ipod will thank me!

Downloads for love:

Lately by Massive Attack for some dark, raw after dark action

Wandering Star by Portishead = delicious downbeats with a sultry edge

Venus by Air is totally cool French pop and the kind of think Sofia Coppola digs

Jamais by Charlotte Gainsbourg for some sultry French female crooning

It Ain’t Me by Lina brings in the soul and groove

Locoman by Latin Playboys for the Latin luvah in you

Candy Shop by 50 Cent is downright dirty hip hop – soooo hot!

Positively Beautiful by Lewis Taylor is soulful poetry to beautiful music

Passing By by Zero Seven is simply heaven, like floating

Get Me by Sia (She used to be the lead singer of Zero Seven and has the most beautiful voice ever)

Orestes by Perfect Circle enchants, mesmorizes, hynotizes – trust me!

Hot to Death by Everlast is dirty sexy cool and a little bit hard but not heavy

Meow… I mean… Mwah!

Karen

Purple Lab Creatrix

T minus three days until Purple Lab’s attempt to break the world record for the largest speed dating event in history. It’s on!

<—— The W Hoboken floor plan/schematics  for the event, which shows how and where everythign will be set up. Sharon and Tiffany were there the other day for a walk through, which we Twitcam’d in case you want an inside glimpse.

There will be 20 Purple Lab peeps (all of whom are generously lending a hand because, clearly, we don’t have that many employees) working the event, from registration to seating escorts to bouncers (Todd will be one so don’t mess with him!). We’re prepping for some serious Steve Ward luvin’ crashers!

Our fabulous sponsors will be located along one wall with interactive booths so everyone can check them out.

There’s a “green room” (private waiting area, typically used in TV world for talent before they go on air) for Purple Lab staff (we’ll be the ones wearing hot pink Blume Girl tees with our logo). And I will be asking random women if they’d mind trying all of our new products and giving testimonials for HSH who will be on hand with their seriously high-def camera crew.

It must be choregraphed as flawlessly as a carefully orchestrated ballet. One wrong move and the whole thing could come crashing down.

 There are 400 gift bags to stuff, large signs to make, flyers to pass out, lists to organize, a dossier from Guinness Book of World Records to fill out (you know we’re going down in the book, right?), a photographer to coordinate (we have an official “shot list,” event speak for all of the pix to take), about 40 big boxes to bring from my apartment to the W on Thursday, and a step & repeat to hang.

<—- Tiff, resting on the boxes in hallway/kitchen.

You know when you see a pic of someone at an event with a repeating logo pattern wall behind them? That is s a step & repeat. Ours has Purple Lab and W logos all over it. This is  Todd with our step & repeat, which is currently resting on our living room floor. We’ll be doig photos in front of it so that, as we share images across the internet and media, there’s the subtle reminder of Purple Lab.

The day of, we’ll do a run through again, a sound check, the seating plans, set up stanctions, meet the security detail, and Sharon will be escorting Steve to and from all media interviews (tough job, huh?) so that means there’s a car service to arrange.

Oh, we are also printing all of the IDs (G1, G2, B1, B2…) in-house. We could be on our sixth ink cartridge.

Most importantly, we’re eagerly awaiting tomorrow’s delivery of Luvah, our new lip aphrodesiac-infused lip color product, for all the girls. We have stickers with our time and date for the HSN launch for the compacts – and I’m sure you’ll see our tweets all night long as we peel stick and assemble. (RT if you do!)

We’re home grown here, working late and loving every minute of it.

Mwah!

Karen

Purple Lab Creatrix

4 days until Purple Lab’s World’s Largest Speed Dating Event goes down at the W Hoboken! So I hope you daters out there are getting ready to find your Luvah. As Pat Benetar wisely said, love is a battlefield, so you best be prepared with the ultimate dating tools!

<—- Luvah, a lip stain and matching pearly gloss in one chic, petite compact is called the “ultimate dating tool” because it is formulated with ancient Chinese herbs known to be aphrodesiacs (Dong Quai), Complex OO (two plumpers), Ylang-Ylang, another floral libido remedy, and vanilla/mint for good make out breath.

But there are other dating tools I swear by – and we’re having ALL of them at our soiree.

Here they are!

From left, clockwise:

1. Dentyne - my fave gum for reliably delicious breath (the better to kiss you with, my dear)

2. Luvah - couldn’t resist adding it again!

3. got2b - hair products (did I mention that we’re having touch up stations for girls and guys and our cute mavens will be on hand to style?), but specifically smooth operator, a smoothing gel that’s weightless and sweet (with cashmere!) and magnetik, a guy for guys with pheremones!

4. Schick Intuition Plus – the multi-tasking razor with 4 blades surrounded by shae butter, aloe and Vitamin E (perfect to go with Purple Lab’s double duty beauty). I’m telling you – best shave ever!

5. Skinny Water – I don’t know about you, but it’s really hard for me to drink the required amount of water to be healthy and have good skin… unless I go with Skinny Water, which is infused with vitamins, antioxidants, electrolytes and flavor – sans sugar and calories.

6. Swingle - pheremone-filled fragrance with cheeky names like “man seeking woman,” “woman seeking man,” “man seeking man,” and “woman seeking woman.” We’re going to have spray girls there so you can be sure to lure your Luvah.

7. Blume Girl – Lingerie. Enough said. And they’re donating sexy thoughts to us by way of cute camis with our Purple Lab logo and thongs for the gift bags (you can customize them on their site and get one that says the name of your new Luvah.

8. X-Rated Fusion – sensuous, uber-premium French vodka infused with blood oranges, mangos and passion fruit for the perfect Luvah cocktails (they’re doing sexy recipes for two savvy cocktails just for speed dating)

9. Luxe Press – online dry cleaning service – we’re giving gift cards in the swag bags because you always need your date clothes to look the best!

10. S-Factor - the pole dancing playground for women. Girls, it’s the best way to bring out your inner vixen so we’re giving you a pass to an intro class!

Get your flirt on!

Mwah!

Karen

Purple Lab Creatrix

Next Friday just may be the day you find your Luvah (girls, that’s not only in a man but also with our new product, Luvah, which you’ll get to road test at our speed dating event at the W Hoboken).

<—– Todd, my Luvah!

Yesterday, I posted some relationship tips from our event host, Master Matchmaker Steve Ward (VH-1’s Tough Love). As you gear up to speed date to love, I bring you more of his sage advice.

PL: What is the worst thing you can do while speed dating?

SW: Don’t be negative.

PL: What mistakes do you think women make when they’re looking for love?

SW: They blame everyone and everything but themselves.  They don’t take responsibility for their failings. 

PL: What about men?

SW: Either they aren’t willing to make enough effort and seem like they’re not that into the woman, or they make too much effort and come off pushy and aggressive.  It’s a double edged sword.

 PL: What is the secret to good speed dating?

Keep your comments, questions and answers short, sweet and to the point. 

PL: What kind of questions do you suggest everyone ask each other to make the most of their 3 minute speed dating time?

 SW: Where are you from?  What do you do?  And are you in the market for just a good time or are you in the market for a relationship?  Focus on the person you’re most instantly attracted to and come prepared with business cards or a pad and pen to exchange contact information.

PL: What is the worst thing you could do while speed dating?

SW: Talk about things prematurely, i.e. past relationships, politics, religion, money, etc. 

PL: What do you think daters should wear?

SW: Wear something flattering yet comfortable; clothes you can be confident in.  Wear an outfit that accentuates your style, personality, and body type. 

PL: How can a woman sense if a guy is looking for the real thing or not – and vice versa?

SW: She can’t sense it.  She’ll have to be straight up and ask and then see if she can tell whether or not he’s being honest.

PL: What are the tell-tale body language signs that someone is into you?

SW: They smile, make eye contact and physical contact.  They focus and ignore distractions, like other people or their phones.

PL: Best way to do a first date for the love matches from speed dating (of course, after their drink at W Hoboken)?

SW: The guys should pick the women up at their homes or meet a place most convenient for them.  Then arrange a date where its conducive to a good conversation. You already know there’s at least some physical attraction otherwise you wouldn’t have made it this far in the first place so now it’s time to see if you’re actually compatible. 

PL: Would you be willing to try our product, Luvah, so we can get a man’s take on it? I mean, after all, you could wind up kissing somoene who’s weraing it (not at the event, but in general, because all girls will be wearing it eventually!)

SW: Hmm. I’m sure considering how wildly popular this product is, I must’ve tried it before without knowing it.  The problem with lip gloss is three fold.  One, constant application annoys the hell out of men.  Two, women are reluctant to kiss because they don’t want to rub off the product.  And three, they leave it on everything they put their lips to such as forks, glasses…our faces.

PL: You’re so funny! So… what can we say to the girls who are coming and secretly want to date you?

SW: You’ll just have to tell them I’ve met someone and am excited about being exclusive. 

PL: Thank you so much for being a part of this! What excited you about it?

SW: I’m very competitive.  I love the idea of trying to break a world record.  I’m sure we can do it!

Can’t wait to see you on Friday!

Mwah!

Karen

Purple Lab Creatrix

We are INSANE here in the office as we prep for our speed dating event, hosted by master matchmaker Steve Ward at W Hoboken. INSANE! The email box is overflowing with date-ready girls (thank you, our XX-Chromosomal friends!) and the wait list is growing by the second! And some of my personal friends can’t get in now because we’re at capacity. 

This is literally what Sharon looks like in her overwhelmed moments!

I think that a ton will drop off on the day of – they always do. So we have a big wait list going.

But here’s what we need: BOYS! Boys, you better hurry up – the girls who signed up are GOOD! (You know how guys are – not so quick to pre-register for things!).

Operation: Purple Lab Luvah Street Teams. The amazing girls (a.k.a. multi tasking mavens!) in the office are pounding the pavements and sharing the purple dating news.

To the left, the lovely Lisa and Ashley (today was her first day!).

Team 2: Tiffany and our supportive friend Dawn, the honorary Chief Organizer Officer, hit Wall Street the other day and, like spray girls in Saks, they spritzed each invitation with Swingle, the fragrance I mentioned before (by Michael Todd Cosmetics). It has pheremones, the best way to attract your target! 

Here’s Dawn, chatting up with the bull in the financial district.  They attacked the male crowd with flyers with the fervor of a girl at the 90% off Balenciaga friends and family sale.

Who says no to girls this sweet? Not the men, I can tell you that! And I kind of made her wear an old purple wool Philip Traecey baseball hat. (What? I thought it was cute when I bought it!)

Tiffany also scoured some lounges to recruit. Here she is with someone who, we think, signed up!

Oh! Get this! WGGY 101.3 FM (a.k.a. Froggy 101) is holding a contest and sending 20 guys (in the mega limo)  from PA to our event to date!

Sharon is out of her mind, trying to secure media. I am stress eating which is never good.

HSN is actually coming to the event so that we can film testimonials. I’ll be asking random women to test out our products and get their feedback on film – in the midst of signing in 400 daters (I actually put it out there on Twitter that I needed an assistant for the day but could not pay in anything other than Huge Lips Skinny Hips and luckily, I have back up!)

Our street teams are going out it again and next time, they’ll be armed with got2b’s Magnetik  pheremone-packed hair gel for men (seeinga theme here?). We’ll be giving our daters some touch ups to get them ready to find their Luvahs!

Mwah!

Karen

Purple Lab Creatrix