Boiled Down, Simple Cloud Computing

I feel as though there’s a mantra which every marketing and tech blogger should repeat whenever they write a piece on cloud computing: “I’m not going to bore you with buzzwords, nor coo how cloud computing is the future of all industries. I’m not going to claim the cloud is the only solution to all your problems, nor am I going to ignore its flaws.” Well all that said: today I’m going to discuss how you, as an event management professional or not, can be served by cloud computing. When used properly, the cloud is an extremely powerful tool in […]

Novices’ Guide to Event Management: Part Three

Hey there, folks! We are moving on to part three of our novices’ guide to event management. So far, we’ve covered what an event management portfolio should include and how to organize it so you’re putting your best foot forward. Today, we’re moving on and looking at how to use that portfolio to break into the event management industry. The goal: landing yourself a sweet gig as an event planner. First, you do need to decide whether you want to be an independent event planner or join an already-established organization as their resident event manager. If you’re going to jump […]

Top 5 Health Tips for Busy Event Planners

As an event planner, you’re probably used to doing several hundred things at once while running on little more than fumes. Ignoring the demands of your body in order to focus on keeping the show running is probably old hat to you. On some level, you’re aware that what you do probably isn’t the best course of action if you want to stay healthy…but you’ve so much to do, you don’t really bother thinking too much about it. You probably should. For one, it’s been proven time and again that your mental well-being is tied directly to how well you […]

Novices’ Guide to Event Management: Part Two

Last week, we took a look at the components every novice event management professional should focus on to help build a strong portfolio. Today, we’re going to take a quick look at how you should format a business portfolio, fitting those component pieces together to best catch the eye of prospective clients. More importantly, we look at the language and presentation of your portfolio that will best ensure perspective clients hire you.  Not surprisingly, presentation plays a huge role in every aspect of an event professionals’ career. Putting together your event management portfolio for the first time can be an […]

Incorporating Bar Science Principles into Event Planning

The other day, I happened to catch a few episodes of the Spike Network’s Bar Rescue. For those of you who aren’t much into the network, Bar Rescue is a reality TV series (bear with me here) hosted by Jon Taffer, president of the Nightclub and Bar Media Group and self-proclaimed Bar Science expert. The show centers on Taffer’s efforts to bring ailing bars back from the brink of failure; a process which often results in him butting heads with owners, managers, and employees, many of whom are completely unaware of their own incompetence. Much of the entertainment value, as […]

Avoid These Mistakes on YouTube as Event Planners

So, you’re planning to market your event on YouTube? That’s great! Good initiative! You’ve potentially just equipped yourself with a powerful tool that could easily make your brand soar to new heights – but only if you actually understand how to manage it. Even a seemingly irrelevant mistake could cause all your efforts to come crashing down around you, leaving you with little more than a few terrible videos and a lot of wasted time. The problem here is that if you’re new to YouTube marketing, there are a few mistakes that you’re far likelier to make – mistakes that […]

Novices’ Guide to Event Management: Part One

So…are you just starting out as an event planner? If there’s one thing more daunting than the profession itself, it’s being a novice in the profession. Nobody knows who you are – or particularly cares. You’re competing with big names; men, women and organizations with more connections, better reputations, and more clients than you could ever dream of. And what do you have? You may become the greatest event planner, but you don’t have any sort of portfolio to show for it. Without one, you’re going to find landing clients a herculean task. What’s a rookie management professional to do? […]

Novices’ Guide to Event Management: Part Four

So, you’ve gotten some experience in event management, and you’ve decided that working exclusively for one company really isn’t for you. You want to run your own event management firm, be your own boss, and run events on your own terms. Today’s installment of The Novice’s Guide To Event Management looks at what’s involved when establishing your own event planning company.  For our purposes, we’re going to assume you’ve already got the necessary experience as an event manager and it’s not totally crazy to take the plunge on your own. Of course experience isn’t all you need, there’s a bit […]

Six Event Metrics Every Management Professional Should Understand

Metrics and analytics are terms so overused in the business world that they risk becoming empty buzzwords, right up there with “Gamification” and “The Cloud.”  That’s rather unfortunate, given their clear value to any business professional savvy enough to understand how they should be used. That includes event planners, by the way. I’ve touched a bit on metrics in the past, but I’ve never really examined them in too much depth.  Today, I’d like to change that. I’ll be looking at a few vital metrics that any event manager worth their salt should know and understand, both for their own […]

Budget-Saving Tips for your Next Event

As an event management professional, one of your jobs involves juggling your event budget with the needs of your client. Unfortunately, running an event isn’t cheap, and a lot of clients will be looking to cut corners and save money wherever possible. Your clients might not necessarily understand what goes into getting an event up and running, and often end up trying to trim the fat from inadvisable components of your event, such as security costs, guest speaker budgeting, or equipment. Your job is to ensure that this doesn’t happen. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with trying to save money. […]

Ten Steps to Avoid Event Planner Burnout

Event planning can be exhilarating but also exhausting. From coordinating details to juggling schedules, the stress can become overwhelming. However, top event planners have mastered the art of staying balanced. Here’s a roadmap to help you avoid burnout, maintain productivity, and thrive as an event planner.

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Resolving Event Team Conflicts: Strategies for a Stronger Team

Interpersonal conflicts are inevitable in event management teams, where high-pressure environments and tight deadlines can create tension. Resolving event team conflicts effectively is essential to maintaining productivity and morale. When left unaddressed, conflicts can escalate, causing disruptions that impact the success of your event. Here’s how you can handle conflicts and foster a more cohesive team. Recognize and Address Conflicts Early The first step in resolving event team conflicts is identifying the problem before it escalates. Pay attention to signs like tension, passive-aggressive behavior, or a drop in team collaboration. A proactive approach prevents minor disagreements from becoming major issues. […]

Event Management’s Ambitious Global Initiative

On July 8, 2014 an interesting and ambitious new organization known as The Institute of Event Management made its official debut at The Meetings Show in Olympia, London. The IEM, initially operating out of the United Kingdom, hopes to eventually become an international organization establishing global professional standards for the event industry. Universal standards in the meetings and event industry have been a long time coming. The Meeting Show was a perfect setting for the announcement of this type of global initiative. This annual event focuses on the needs of professional meeting and events planners providing dedicated educational programs, guest […]

Technological Hazards Event Planners Encounter

Technology has the irritating tendency to gleefully implode at the most inopportune moments. Any event planner that’s spent some time in the industry knows exactly what we’re talking about. No one gets away without a mishap.

Of course, busted tech is almost always the result of human error somewhere along the line, but that’s beside the point.

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Event Planner Network: Five Individuals You Need to Know

I’m sure you’ve heard it said before that in the business world, it’s all about who you know. Cliché or not, this old adage holds true in the event industry. Personal talent and passion will only get you so far if you can’t connect with the right people.

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The Future Role of A.I. and Robotics in Events

We’re pretty much living in a science fiction novel. Maybe it doesn’t really feel that way because technology has a way of creeping up on us. We don’t freak out about technology because achievements that would’ve caused us to have an aneurism a century ago rollout over time and become routine, first in one use, one industry and then some spread throughout our daily lives. Nowhere is this clearer than in the robotics industry, where recent advances have led to some downright revolutionary changes in how robots interact with their environment – and with human beings in particular. And then […]

Leveraging Facebook Page for Event Management Firms

As I’m certain you’ve been told time and time again, your event management firm should have a Facebook page. As the world’s leading social network, it’s generally one of the best places to connect with your clientele, and an even better place to promote your events. Why would you ignore Facebook? Certainly, people offer some general advice on how to use Facebook – post funny, relevant, interesting content; be active and approachable, tease your potential atendees with content well in advance of an event…you get the idea. This advice is largely true, but we offer a bit of practical, tactical […]

Top 5 Event Industry Personalities to Follow

Even if you’re completely confident in your capabilities as an event planner, there’s so much to be said for learning from those around you. There is so much insight to gain by watching someone who’s better than you, and working to figuring out why – and there will always be someone better than you. Here are five leading event industry personalities that we follow and suggest that you follow as well. They offer insight and advice through their blogs, books, social media profiles or you can discover what makes them stand out by paying attention to their work. Andrea Michaels […]

Discover A New Series Investigating Event Industry Leadership

Everyone thinks they know what it takes to be a great leader.  We have a personality checklist: Possess a great deal of confidence and have strong point of view. Be great at what you do, stand out from the crowd and people will follow. Good social skills are really valuable; easily form relationships with whomever you meet. Of course, in business we look for a few tangibles: Know how to optimize resources and delegate. Have a good head for numbers, or deep understanding of politics etc.  A business leader often has a creative outlook and a willingness to take calculated […]

Must-Have Features for Every Event Management Tool

As an event management professional, you are not the gadgets you use. You are not your Smartphone or tablet, your event planning software, or your presentation tools. You aren’t controlled by your technology. At the same time, gearing yourself up with the right tools can be the difference between success and failure when planning an event. You might not be controlled by your technology, but you can be made by it. There are a few requirements you’ll want any event management tool, gadget or application you use to fulfill; if they miss even one, there’s a good chance they simply aren’t […]