The World of Women (WoW) gala event just took place at the NFT Paris 2024. On February 24, 2024, at the Pavillon Gabriel, there was an event called the World of Women’s. It happened between NFT Paris and Paris Fashion Week. Billed as a “celebration of the convergence of technology, culture, and identity in the digital age,” it promised to be an immersive experience at the intersection of innovation and empowerment.
The event was all about showing how technology, culture, and who they are in this digital age all connect and influence each other. Amidst the backdrop of such prestigious events, the WOW Gala 2024 held great promise, attracting attendees with the allure of an extravagant evening filled with networking opportunities and entertainment.
However, what ensued was far from the envisioned celebration. As a significant player in the media landscape, the CryptoTicker team eagerly attended the event, only to encounter a series of shortcomings and organizational failures that marred what could have been a memorable evening. This critique delves into the discrepancies between promises made and realities faced, highlighting areas of concern and calling for accountability.
The WOW Gala purported to offer an extravagant experience, boasting an open bar and entertainment until the early hours. However, upon arrival, attendees were met with a stark contrast to these assurances. Empty food stations, depleted goodie bags, malfunctioning POAP claims, and a cessation of alcohol service well before the promised hour painted a picture of mismanagement and oversight. Such discrepancies not only reflect poorly on the organizers but also undermine the trust of attendees who invested time and resources in attending the event.
Agency Deep Dive: What exactly happened?
World of Woman addresses women, and all its artwork is about women. Many men were unaware that they were also invited and welcomed to a World of Woman gala. Everyone we, as the CryptoTicker team, met, and many—not all—thought it was merely a gala for women to celebrate themselves in a word of rights for women and all this segmentation. So, there’s a brand mismatch with communication.
The second thing is when the brand like WoW is organizing a gala, they have two opportunities: to go with an agency or to make it internal. World of Women chose to go with an agency. They submitted the requirements, what they wanted, and obviously, a budget. The agency then talked to the location, which always has a caterer.
So, as the CryptoTicker team, when we attended the event we talked to all the parties involved: the brand, the founder, the agency booked for the event, the caterer of the location, and the location itself regarding grievances. It’s crucial to have a big picture, and as a brand, you have to fulfill your service agreement. If you announce in your community, on your homepage, or in the press that there will be an open bar, for example, there is no discussion—it has to be because people have bought NFTs, paid a lot of money in the past, and also bought tickets.
The second thing is there must be an entrance, guaranteed, because they must know the limit of tickets they can sell to the holders. If they overload and sell more, it’s their fault. The co-founder of World of Women Rapahel Malavieille said to us, “We were overloaded, we didn’t expect it.” Then our question was, “How could that happen if you know the capacity of this location, how many NFT holders you have, and then you know the maximum number of tickets you can sell?”
His argument was why the bar was empty already at 12 o’clock and not until two. He said to his team, “The audience should be fine. It’s their responsibility not to drink so much alcohol.” So, to be honest, he was blaming, and the agency team didn’t agree with the founder’s standpoint. Different team members said, “Yeah, the founder here is wrong. We’ve been trying to convince him for half an hour to an hour.” The team told CryptoTicker that they had to convince him to reopen the bar and allocate additional budget, obviously to the catering or the location. This situation took at least 30 to 90 minutes. In 90 minutes, everyone was talking. We, CryptoTicker team was the one who brought it to the table. And after that, WoW brought 20 bottles, which were gone in five to 10 minutes, and the bar was empty again.
Additionally, the experience from the main room was not good. Particularly from 12 o’clock onward when attendees realized they weren’t able to access drinks, causing them to promptly leave. This situation significantly dampened the atmosphere, especially considering that some performances were scheduled for 1:30. Consequently, fewer people witnessed these performances, which was unfortunate as it detracted from the intended celebratory ambiance of the gala. The overall impression was far from a festive occasion; instead, it resembled more of a club setting. This aspect undoubtedly contributed to the event’s downfall.
Furthermore, it’s crucial to ensure a seamless and enjoyable evening at the gala, and a key aspect of achieving this is by prioritizing the needs of the attendees, especially the holders, and promptly addressing any issues they may encounter.
However, it’s disheartening to note that during the event, holders who raised concerns were met with dismissive responses. There seemed to be a lack of acknowledgment regarding the challenges faced, such as the issue of overcrowding. It was evident that too many people arrived early, leading to an unexpected influx and subsequent strain on resources. This was exemplified by the fact that the food service began at 9:45, only to find the venue already emptied upon arrival.
The rationale provided, suggesting that attendees arrived earlier than anticipated, does little to address the underlying issue of overcrowding and its resultant impact on the event. Moreover, the excuse regarding the empty venue by midnight, despite promises of continued service until 2 AM, is equally unsatisfactory.
Furthermore, the notion of attendees being “herded” and expected to cope with the situation without complaint is not only dismissive but also fails to recognize the responsibility of event organizers to ensure a satisfactory experience for all guests. Every individual, whether a holder or not, deserves to have their concerns addressed and their experience valued.
It’s imperative to hold event organizers accountable for their actions and responses to attendee concerns. Dismissive and inadequate explanations from the founder only serve to exacerbate the frustrations felt by attendees. Moving forward, a more proactive and empathetic approach is necessary to ensure the success and satisfaction of all participants at future events.
The Illusion of Inclusivity
While World of Women claims to champion the representation of women in the cryptocurrency sphere, the reality behind the scenes paints a different picture. Despite purportedly female-led origins, reports suggest that the faces behind the curtain are not those initially presented. The discrepancy between public image and backstage reality raises concerns about authenticity and genuine empowerment within the community.
A Guest’s Plight: Advocacy Amidst Negligence
Attendees eagerly anticipated an extravagant affair, replete with an open bar until the early hours and exclusive goodie bags. However, the festivities fell short of expectations, as promises remained unfulfilled. The abrupt cessation of the open bar and the absence of promised amenities left attendees feeling cheated and disillusioned. Such failures to deliver on commitments not only tarnish the event’s reputation but also undermine trust within the community.
In the absence of adequate provisions and adherence to promised standards, attendees like the CryptoTicker team found themselves thrust into the role of advocates for their rights. Instead of enjoying the festivities, valuable time and energy were expended in negotiations and inquiries to salvage what remained of the evening. The burden should not fall upon guests to rectify organizational oversights, highlighting a fundamental failure in event management and responsiveness.
Questions Unanswered: Accountability and Transparency
The handling of grievances further exacerbates the issue, as attendees found themselves in futile debates with event organizers. Disregarding the concerns voiced by guests reflects a concerning lack of empathy and professionalism. Moreover, reports of disregarded service agreements and dismissive attitudes towards contractual obligations underscore a concerning trend of negligence and irresponsibility.
The response provided by the co-founder “Rapahel Malavieille” regarding the issues raised at the WOW Gala fails to adequately address the concerns raised by the attendees. While attempting to explain the shortage of alcohol towards the end of the event, the founder’s reply seems to deflect blame rather than provide a satisfactory resolution.
Despite the detailed description of events provided beforehand, the response falls short of acknowledging the lack of timely action taken to rectify the situation.
The assertion that the issue was resolved by the end of the event does not align with the first-hand experience of attendees who endured nearly 90 minutes without access to adequate provisions.
As paying guests and holders of NFTs, we as a CryptoTicker team took it upon ourselves to advocate for the rights, demonstrating a concerning lack of responsiveness from the event organizers. Thus, we are compelled to present our critique as a “self-made experience” to highlight the disparity between promised expectations and the reality faced by attendees.
Amidst the chaos, unanswered questions lingered, demanding accountability from the organizers. Why were promises of an open bar and extended service not upheld? Why did the event’s leadership fail to address grievances promptly, leaving guests to fend for themselves? The absence of proactive investigation and communication from the founders and team members further compounds these concerns, reflecting a lack of transparency and leadership accountability.
Conclusion: Towards Accountability and Improvement
The WOW Gala 2024 stands as a cautionary tale, illustrating the consequences of overpromising and underdelivering. As attendees, the CryptoTicker team experienced firsthand the disillusionment stemming from unmet expectations and organizational shortcomings.
Moving forward, it is imperative for event organizers to prioritize transparency, accountability, and proactive communication to rebuild trust and ensure the integrity of future engagements. As stakeholders in the media industry, we advocate for a culture of responsibility and improvement, where promises made are promises kept, and the attendee experience is paramount.