This week we caught up with Chiney Foong from The Hangout. A much needed catch up and we definitely learned a few things.. (don’t let Chiney hang out around red/green buttons)!
What inspired you to move into your current position?
I have a corporate background of 20 years in events and 22 years background in entertainment events. My current position came about from an opportunity of timing. I was working with one event agency and then a great opportunity came along with another company that meant I had better opportunities overall and could really allow my events background to run away with ideas. I set about creating something for a niche market that London or the UK didn’t have.
Best client you have ever worked with?
The best client I have worked with was probably a USA magazine who really pulled out all the stops for me to ensure that I could get them the reporting that they needed.
What about the biggest client?
The biggest client I’ve ever worked with had me on an NDA, but let’s put it this way I learned and saw a lot! It let me see that particular industry from a very different perspective and taught me a lot. They flew me out from the UK, no expense spared, and gave me ‘access all areas’ to report back for them.
What are 5 things on your bucket list?
1) To climb Mount Everest
2) Learn how to play the Piano
3) Sky dive (I’m petrified of heights)
4) Run the London Marathon
5) Take a sabbatical and travel the world volunteering at various animal sanctuaries and rescue centres
“You’d do anything for love, but you wouldn’t do…?”
Ride an elephant or partake in any act where animals have been stolen from the wild for human entertainment.
(As a side note from the Editor- Find out if the elephant sanctuary you’re visiting is legitimate via a quick google search. For Thailand, you can visit the link here: http://www.responsiblethailand.co.uk/green-tourism/ethical-elephant-experiences-thailand/ )
(The Guardian also released a great article in 2018 on how to spot an ethical sanctuary vs. one that is used more for tourism. You can see it here: https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2018/aug/11/how-ethical-is-the-elephant-sanctuary-youre-visiting )
If money wasn’t a factor, how would you spend the rest of your life?
I would have an animal sanctuary somewhere rescuing broken, abused and unwanted animals. Also actively teaching people about wild animals and their sad journey on how they became a tourist attraction.
Who is your hero?
My grandfather is my hero, god bless his soul. He has such an amazing story of his life. How he fought in the war, fled the war and how if he didn’t choose some of the things he chose to do I wouldn’t be here. He even named me.
What social issue is important to you?
Homelessness and knife crime are two huge social issues that are really important to me and with my own charity ‘Givebackldn’ we are continuously trying to raise the issues around this.
Trump? Brexit?
Trump *sighs*… I think the scariest thing is that it is the people of the country that got him to that position. I don’t know how this man continues to manage to wing representing the USA.
Brexit *double sighs*… Again our prime minister is someone who was in a way elected by default, yes he was elected as the leader of the conservative party but it wasn’t a nationwide election. With the Brexit date looming it looks like we are likely to end up with a no deal. Personally I think we fair better remaining. We live in a disposable world – what happened to staying out and working it out?
What cheers you up?
Seeing my family and close friends happy and succeeding in life. Spending time with my godchildren and seeing them grow up. Seeing the world start to change and peoples’ way of thinking. Especially around topics like plastics and Veganism.
What is the last item you purchased?
The last item I purchased was…some books!
What is your biggest fear?
I’m petrified of heights, I get dizzy at the top of the escalators of Angel Tube station! Sky diving is on my bucket list but I think I would need to be thrown out of the plane to conquer it!
If you could be any character from a film, who would you be?
I would love to be Mowgli from The Jungle Book, living the simple life with all the animals of the jungle!
If you could have one super power, what would it be?
If I could have one super power it would be to be able to put a shield over the rain-forests and jungles that needed protecting.
Name something you would like to change about the events industry?
I think the industry itself has changed over time. It used to be all about bar charts and excel spreadsheets. Now events companies and their clients are becoming much more creative with the help of mood boards etc, I feel peoples visions have become more creative- whilst also more demanding because of the need to be more creative. Clients can really dig deep into creating their perfect vision of their event. Even the classic exhibition stand is becoming a thing of the past, it’s a little bit stagnate and more and more clients are wanting interactive exhibition stands that naturally draw guests and delegates to them.
Name one of your most embarrassing moments?
Accidentally pushing the red button (in my defence, the security had gone to the restroom and had asked me to let people in when the doorbell rang) in 11 Downing Street instead of the green one and deploying the Special Forces because I had just informed them that Downing Street was under attack… Gordon Brown and his family we in number 10 at the time… It was not my finest moment!
What is your life motto?
My life motto is “Organisation is the key to success! If you fail to plan, you already plan to fail.”
Do you have any hidden talents?
I can swirl my tongue into three parts… oops I think that’s more of a party trick!
Name your 3 favourite restaurants?
1) Dozo Sushi – Kensington
2) The Banc in Wood Green
3) San Carlo – Piccadilly Circus
Name the greatest event you have ever been to?
Ohh that is a hard one. There are so many great events I would be very hard pushed to pick just one! But if I’m allowed to be biased, I would say TheHangout events are always the greatest events I have ever been to 🙂
Where can we find out more about yourself and/or The Hangout? www.thehangoutuk.com
Where can people contact you?
chiney@thehangoutuk.com
Thanks to Chiney for taking the time to answer the questions! If you’d like to be featured here amongst our other #MEW posts and you’re a 20/20 Club Member… Don’t hesitate to get in contact!
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