Passion is the key of event management according to Simone Ruscica, honorary member of AEGEE-Cagliari and the main organizer of the General Assembly hosted in Cagliari in Autumn 2014. His experience as event organizer (within and beyond AEGEE) was fundamental for the success of the last Agora. Do you want to know what’s behind his dark hair and see why he’s got brains? Check this out!
The AEGEEan: Hi, Simone, could you introduce yourself to our readers?
Simone: Hello, I’m Simone, 25 year old student of business administration, event organizer and current honorary member of AEGEE-Cagliari.
When did you join AEGEE and why?
I joined AEGEE in March 2012, so I’m not such an old member. Why did I join AEGEE? I think for the same reason as 90% of the others AEGEE members: to have the possibility to travel around Europe with really cheap prices, meet new friends around Europe and take part in a Summer University (SU).
What made you stay in our network?
Spirit, passion and enthusiasm are all aspects that make somebody an AEGEE member. I found this out during my very first SU and I was really surprised about that. Maybe I was just lucky because I met a great group of people during the SU, but when I came back to Cagliari, I immediately decided to become an active member.
What is your experience in AEGEE, both at the local and at the European level?
Actually I took part in almost all kinds of events, both at the European and at the local level. I took part in a Travel Summer University in 2012, a Winter University in Naples in 2013, I attended the Autumn Agora in Zaragoza in 2013 and the Spring Agora Patra 2014. At the local level I have been an organizer in several events (it is impossible to count all of them): starting from Local Agorae up to Agora Cagliari.
You faced an important challenge with your antenna when Cagliari hosted our General Assembly. As main organizer of the Agora could, you tell us which are the main obstacles/difficulties you had in terms of event management? What about the highlights?
The main obstacle? Finding the right mood for it, in other words to be brave and calm. Actually we had several difficulties (but I think it is something you always face while organizing an event). The biggest problem was to find the right location to host over 800 people and to gather enough money to feed all of them. In other terms fundraising is fundamental: if you have enough money, everything is a lot easier. The main organizer needs also to be stubborn and “crazy” enough in order not to give up. The highlights? For sure the opening ceremony (it was really exciting) and the closing one. I have seen twelve months passing in front of my eyes in a few minutes and almost all the members of my team started to cry. I really love them all.
Did you have any experience in this field beyond AEGEE?
Yes, I had other experiences in this field [event organization]. I used to be a marketing assistant at Mondo Ichnusa 2011 (the biggest concert on my island with over 100.000 participants), location manager at Leggendo Metropolitano 2012 – 2013 (the most important literary festival in Sardinia), co-coordinator of several Loud Open Air Festivals (free music festivals we’ve organized in Sardinia with over 15.000 participants per event. You can find out more about it at the following link: http://vimeo.com/100932563).
According to you, what makes somebody a good organizer in AEGEE?
Oh, good question. To be a good organizer in AEGEE, first of all you should love what you are doing and you should have a lot of passion for it! Secondly, you should be really determined and motivated but also to be able to motivate your own team. The most important thing is that you shouldn’t forget that you are not the boss and that you need to approach your team as friends and try to build a real “family”. Everything will run easier in this way.
Are you still active in your local?
Well, right now I’m trying to be more active in my university. Right mum? (he smiles)
You are an honorary member of your local. How do you feel about it?
I feel great and really honored, like on the day in which the previous AEGEE-Cagliari board asked me to be the coordinator of Autumn Agora Cagliari 2014. It was totally unexpected and one of the best surprises I got this year from my local. I want to dedicate this “prize” to all the members of my team and the people who supported me in this great 2014. Everyone of you put a big brick in that big wall and you made my dream come true!
What about your future plans?
I have only one more goal to reach right now: complete my Bachelor studies in business administration and after that I will think of some new big event to organize.
Written by Larisa Smajlagic, AEGEE-Verona