Making Something Happen
When do we observe an event?
An occurrence is not the same thing as an event. It’s a great PR tool because it can inspire, shock, convince, bring people together, or do anything else you want. If done right, it can be a watershed moment in your or your company’s history. Putting together a successful Event is a feat of creativity and engineering that calls for pinpoint accuracy in every detail. Keeping a high bar and insisting on quality is also essential. The event planner’s artistic and organizational skills are crucial, as they will need to work closely with the client to conceptualize the event, organize it, pick all the parts, and then… make it happen.
Product and Message Conceptualization
The first thing to do when organizing an event is to visualize the entire thing in your mind. It is important to imagine how you want the event to feel, look, and flow for your guests or delegates, the outcome you hope to achieve, and the message you wish to convey. It’s essential to give the development and interpretation precise names. An event’s venue, schedule, stage design, lighting, and decorations can all undermine its intended message if this isn’t kept in mind. For a business bash, for instance, a desired outcome may be for all employees to feel like they belong to a beautiful and valuable team, to be pleased to be a part of it, and to recommit themselves to the firm and its aims. The results of a successful fundraiser could include a large sum of money being raised and the participants feeling confident that they are helping a worthy cause and honored to be a part of the event. The wedding may result for the wedding party and their guests to have a once-in-a-lifetime event, be amazed and moved by it, envision the best future for themselves and their loved ones, and have a blast doing it all. What you want from a product launch is for people to believe in you and the product, desire to buy it, utilize it, and spread the word about it. Therefore, the Event Planner and the client need to discuss the desired outcome and message for the event. This message or desired outcome should inform and guide the event’s organization to the smallest detail.
Agenda Setting
Forecasting and Sequencing
The planner now officially names all the event’s components, sequencing, and necessary vendors in consultation with the client. The Event Agenda outlines every step that will be taken, from the very beginning to the same conclusion. Planning allows you to see the whole picture in your head and make educated guesses about any variables. Just how are they going to get there? Need us to arrange rides, provide directions, etc. Where should I park? When they arrive, what happens to the guests? It is common practice to issue name tags to conference attendees, compile guest lists, and arrange for receptions before other events. When does that occur? Where are their water sources? I need to find the restrooms. What are they sitting on? What level of ease is acceptable? When they go, how do we find out what they thought? These are just a handful of the many inquiries that are addressed. When planning an event, choosing vendors who can supply everything needed without breaking the bank is essential. The planner will have worked with many vendors, allowing them to pick only the most reputable ones for the event.
Cohesion and Excellence
Again, the whole needs to fit the part in style, quality, and congruence with the intended message and outcome. Of course, the higher the rate, the higher the price. A competent event planner will put in extensive time and effort to research the client’s needs and provide them with the best quality-to-cost ratio options possible. Because of this, hiring an event planner is often not more expensive in the grand scheme of things. One must weigh the desired outcome and message against the available money when determining the level of quality necessary. For instance, using pyrotechnics instead of a laser show might achieve the same effect for far less money. However, using paper napkins instead of linen may diminish the impact of the meal’s presentation and the host’s message. A professional event planner will advise and assist the client in making these choices within his budget constraints.
Production of Events
Leadership and a Sense of Team
To ensure everything goes according to plan, the event planner will be the central point of contact for all relevant providers. Successful event planners maintain strong bonds with reliable vendors who work hard to keep the steady stream of business provided by the planners. The best event organizers are also natural leaders, able to motivate their teams to carry out their respective tasks. They force everyone to cooperate and have fun together. Planning an event can and should be a ton of fun.
Integrity
All vendors must maintain the highest standards of honesty and competence. When selecting vendors, your planner should provide you with assurances like these. The planner ensures that all vendors are reliable and trustworthy in their service. Without the help of an event planner, you can waste time worrying about the event’s logistics and other issues when you could be focusing on getting ready to give a speech, get married, or perform some other important task. The planner is committed to handling every detail, so you don’t have to.
Focus on Service and Concern for Customers
Often, many moving pieces and aspects to consider while discussing an event. Things can sometimes arise at the last minute and require attention. The customer should be able to focus on the event without interruptions, and if something unexpected does occur, the event planner should do what they can to make it go away. Your event organizer will ensure that a birthday cake appears at lunch if it comes up during the Congress that one of the participants is celebrating their birthday. If you unexpectedly need to arrange security for a celebrity guest, the planner will know who to call to get things set up quickly. Everything possible should be done in advance to anticipate needs. On the other hand, having a good event planner makes all the difference and allows you to stay focused in such circumstances, and any competent planner will rise to the occasion.
In Retrospect
If possible, it’s usually a good idea to get input from your visitors or attendance. This is something that needs to be done but rarely is. Find out if your goal was met and to what extent using surveys, a guest book at the front desk, or some polite inquiry. For instance, attendees at a product launch could be polled about their thoughts and plans for the product. A customer’s next move in marketing his goods may depend on this information. Similar surveys of conferencegoers can assist in shaping the direction of a subsequent seminar or congress. Professional event planners listen to and act on participant feedback to make adjustments when necessary, strengthen relationships with reliable vendors, and recycle popular event forms. It is usually required to have high-quality videos and photos. One of the numerous tasks that may arise once an event is over is sending out “Thank you” notes to those who helped in significant ways or had outstanding performances. Again, a professional event planner will assist you in handling all the “after-event” aspects and ensuring that everything is finished to your satisfaction.
Last but not least, as someone who has worked in this industry for a long time, I cannot express how much I enjoy and take pride in designing and executing events for my clients. An event is not “something that comes and goes” but rather a potent communication tool that, if done right, can and should serve as a watershed moment in your development as an individual or the growth of your business.
Imagine Events, located in Israel, is run by Naomi Tavor, a Jewish wedding planner.
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