When planning and executing an event, it is important to be efficient and keep things running as smoothly as possible. The following 10 tips from Sarah Hill, creative content writer at Group 7 Events Ltd., will save you from many headaches.
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Book your venue early!
There are certain times of year when venues are especially busy: post summer holidays, pre-Christmas and during the end of the fiscal year (May and June). If you are looking to hold your event during any of these periods, you must start contacting venues early to secure your date—as far forward as a year in advance, depending on the size of your event.
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Create a timeline and task list
Before you jump in the deep end, make sure you prepare a timeline and task list for your event that you can refer back to throughout the process. It can be as simple or as complex as you want it to be, but you will thank your lucky stars when you have that to rely on as the big day approaches.
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Do away with paper forms
If you want to increase event efficiencies, start with your registration process. Collecting paper forms, transferring data to spreadsheets and following up for payment can be timely and complicated. It doesn’t have to be this way. Online event registration systems can save you and your members a lot of hassle. Contact details, payment information and dietary requests can be confirmed with the click of a button and members can often log back in to update their registration. All event registration systems are different, so take the time to scope out options that meet your specific needs.
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Start promoting early
Most professionals’ schedules fill up quickly. In order to ensure you have the greatest turn out to your events possible, make sure you provide members with plenty of advance notice. Even a “save the date” stating there will be more details to follow solidifies the date in their mind and creates anticipation. Collecting registrations early on will also help you get an idea of how big your event will be so that you can adjust venues as need be.
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Set registration and cancellation deadlines
The days leading up to an event can be very busy, so setting deadlines for registrations and cancellations is necessary. In order to prepare materials such as handouts and giveaways, you need to know how many guests to expect. You also need to provide venues your guarantee with at least 48-72 hours’ notice, so it is wise to set these deadlines at least 72 hours prior to the event. You can typically increase numbers by a few, but reducing is an issue—if guests are allowed to cancel within this time frame, you will be out for their meal costs, which is never a good thing.
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Keep attendees informed
Advise your guests of any important information prior to the event. If you are holding your event at a private club or golf course, a dress code warning is imperative. You will also want to advise guests of registration times, to bring cash for draws, and their team mates or starting holes if it is a golf tournament. One email can save you from phone calls and reduce questions at the door.
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Confirm final details with the venue
Just like you, venues are busy planning many events so it is easy to forget minor details if they were not recorded in the event contract. Touch base in the days leading up to your events to re-confirm any details or additional requests, such as table set-up requirements. All venues create an event sheet which staff at the venue follow, make sure you request to look over this and do it with a fine toothpick to spot any issues/notes that may have been missed. A walkthrough of the event space may also be helpful to visualize the set-up.
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Always arrive early
You never know what surprises can come up on the day of an event. The room may be set up incorrectly; maybe you forgot important items at the office. You will also want to perform a thorough AV test to ensure all equipment is in proper working order. Encourage your speakers to arrive early as well, so they can get comfortable with the set-up.
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Greet guests in an organized fashion
The registration desk is your attendees’ first impression of the event. Ensure you have attentive staff and/or volunteers ready to handle the crowd. Name badges that have been laid out alphabetically contribute to a streamlined process. You should also have print outs of attendance lists and methods of collecting payment in case people show up un-registered at the door. Find out where the bathrooms and coat racks are as soon as you arrive, and be prepared for any and all questions!
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Prepare an agenda with timelines
In order to ensure the event stays on track, a day-of agenda for volunteers and emcees is necessary. This should include any important announcements, speaker names and bios and sponsor recognition. Everyone has busy lives and you don’t want guests leaving early if the event goes over its scheduled end time. This may also cause problems with the venue if they have another group starting promptly afterwards. A jovial emcee who can pleasantly move speakers along will be a great asset to your events.
This may seem like a lot to keep in mind but a lot of it is common sense and will come with experience. As long as you build these items into your event planning task list, you will have nothing to worry about!
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