Chukka up!: Behind the scenes of The Inner Circle Polo Festival with Oceane
The Inner Circle Summer Polo festival is almost upon us. But just what does it take to get the largest singles party in town ready each year? Our Events Manager Oceane Krugel let us into some of the creative secrets behind the scenes — plus offered some tips for how to make the most of this unique dating day-out.
Where does the Summer Polo Festival come from?
Polo is very much anchored in the tradition of a delightful British summertime day out, where people meet under the veneer of watching a sport to dress up, socialise and, crucially, flirt. The idea behind The Inner Circle organising a polo event was to mix this great tradition and glamour and give it a modern twist — all the while providing the members with an opportunity to find love. Considering it’s now Europe’s biggest dating event, and entices members from all around the world to attend, it’s certainly a fantastic bet!
When do you start prepping for the event? Just how much planning goes into it?
From its inception four years ago, the event has evolved from a small private party for friends into a unique al fresco festival — and as soon as we finish one year, we begin prepping the next, while inspiration is fresh! For this fourth edition, we started gathering ideas right after last year’s event, and got hands on from January 2018.
First we secure the layout of the venue, including how many stages we’ll need! Then we discuss entertainment; obviously the DJ comes first, but what makes it are the live instruments playing along. It really gives the festival vibe and differentiates the Polo from any outdoor event.
We then agree on other entertainment types (including the one that will blow your mind this year!).
Finally, we look into partnering with diverse companies so they come and have a little stand on the day to create brand engagement. It’s a lovely addition to the event and allows brands great exposure at no cost — but they have to fit our ethos and meet our high standards!
What marks the Polo event out in a sea of other singles events, in your opinion?
The Summer Polo Festival is unique in many aspects. First of all this is the biggest dating event in Europe, which speaks for itself. But more than a dating event, it is a great mix of festival vibes, inspiring people and British tradition — what a coincidence that everyone is single! This is something you would find nowhere else. Imagine: a stunning polo club set in lush nature, 750 deliciously dressed and ambitious young professionals and top-notch entertainment (from polo matches to magic tricks and live musical performances).
What’s the biggest challenge of organising the Polo?
The biggest challenge is to always renew ourselves. Once people have experienced the polo, they always come back and the challenge is to give them an even more thrilling experience than the year before. To do so we need to carefully evaluate what worked so well the previous years, taking into careful consideration our members’ desires and then bringing in new elements of surprise.
If you could get one special celebrity guest to perform at the Polo, who would it be?
Hard one. I think I’d choose a celebrity band everyone likes and who brings some freshness and energy to the event. Maybe a band like Maroon 5; great career, catchy songs with a hint of sex appeal, and party vibes guaranteed.
What are your insider tips for making the most of the day if you’re a single person attending?
My top three tips would be:
- Dress to impress — how often do you get the opportunity?!
- Don’t be afraid to go and talk to everyone (it’s not like walking into any every other environment — as people are there to meet people, they genuinely want to talk to you!)
- Drink a lot of champagne and let your hair down like it’s Friday night
To buy tickets for this year’s party, first sign up here.
