How To Run A Top Notch Roundtable

Roundtables are among the most successful and productive conference-style events you’ll ever host. Essentially, they’re keynotes in which everyone is able to offer conversation points and suggestions; a conversation between a small group of industry experts. At first glance, that probably sounds a lot like a traditional meeting – you know, the ones that everyone says are a total waste of time? The difference here, of course, is that the people who attend roundtables do so voluntarily – they actually want to be there, and they’re actually interested in having a discussion. That said; a roundtable can easily end up […]

How To Host An Awesome Product Launch

Whether you love Apple or hate it, you have to admit one thing – Steve Jobs knew how to get people hyped for his products. The man had a way with words and a gift for the stage, such that he was able to host some of the world’s most memorable product launches and announcements with little more than a stage, a microphone, and his trademark black turtleneck.  While you probably won’t be able to get people as hyped as Mr. Jobs could, there’s no reason you can’t still host a few awesome product launches of your own. See, most […]

What’s Involved In Planning A Political Event, Exactly?

There’s a topic that I’ve been a little curious about of late. See…in the past, I’ve mentioned that an event management professional can be responsible for a wide range of different affairs, ranging from weddings to trade shows to business conferences to political conventions. I’ve covered all of the former cases on several occasions, but I’ve never really touched the political side of things. Of course, we’re not going to be talking about politics, per se. Instead, we’re going to look at precisely what’s involved in becoming a political event planner. More specifically, we’ll examine in brief how a political […]

Five Tips For Running An Amazing Meetup

Not every event has to be a massive exhibition, a bustling trade show, or a huge convention. As an event management professional, you might occasionally seek to run something a little smaller, a little more reserved – a meetup. These informal gatherings are typically planned on a much smaller scale than a traditional conference, and usually tend to be focused on a particular community, interest, or activity. Done right, they’re incredibly fun and rewarding – and as an added bonus, they generally require significantly less work than a large conference. Here are a few tips to help you run a […]

Five Important Tips for Planning an Outdoor Event

With summer just around the corner, more and more events are being hosted in the great outdoors. And why not? Particularly if you live in Canada, weather this warm only comes around a few months a year. Might as well take advantage of it while it’s here, right? Not surprisingly, outdoor events are subject to a whole new set of challenges, complications, and logistical concerns. Here are just a few of the most important factors you’ll need to consider: Make Sure Your Event Will Work In An Outdoor Setting Not every event will work out doors. If you’re running a […]

Everything You Need To Know About Hosting A Hybrid Event

Some events are better hosted in person, as there are components that simply don’t lend themselves well to a virtual format. Others, meanwhile, are far more suitable for the Internet; far simpler and more effective to run through a streaming platform or online client. As the Internet gains more prominence in the field of event management, there are a number of event planners who’ve come to realize that just about any event can be enriched by applying a virtual touch. By combining a physical venue with an online platform, event organizers can reach a far larger audience than would otherwise […]

Five Amenities Every Concert Needs To Provide

Today, we’re going to shift gears a bit. A lot of the posts I’ve made on this blog have been about conference or trade show management (with a few bits and pieces about wedding management sprinkled here and there).  With that in mind, I realized recently I’ve actually been neglecting a fairly large field within the event management industry—concerts. We’re going to take a look at a few of the most important aspects of any successful concert, and what amenities concerts need to provide. These are things that every concert manager must ensure is included in their planning process. Ignore […]

Thinking Outside The Box

So we have covered the basics for running a trade show or small corporate events, but what about the less commonly requested events such as political events or concerts? The next two weeks our series is going to focus on more out of the box events. We will include the best tips & tricks for how to not only manage but be successful at whatever event you are asked to do. We will focus on the following topics: Five Amenities Every Concert Needs To Provide Everything You Need To Know About Hosting A Hybrid Event Five Important Tips for Planning an […]

How Event Planning And Hospitality Intersect

It’s really no secret that event management is more complicated than it’s ever been.  Professional event planners have to navigate their way through a logistical labyrinth, juggling everything from equipment to location to their own events team. While mobile technology has eased the load somewhat, it’s still not a career well-suited for just anyone. On top of that, the bar for entry has never been higher. Employers increasingly prefer to hire University graduates ahead of other applicants, while clients are increasingly paying attention to certifications – which include one’s degree. Curiously, one of the preferred majors in both cases appears […]

How to Plan a Corporate July 4th Event

July 4th will be here before you know it. While many people plan on spending this holiday with friends and family, others will have the opportunity to do so with coworkers and/or clients. Today we are going to focus on how to plan a corporate July 4th event. Some companies hold an annual Independence Day event to give thanks to their workforce. Others organizations look at this as a great opportunity to show clients a good time. Before we go any further, remember this: there is nothing more important than having a good time. Fourth of July is a time for […]

Five Personalities You Can Follow To Learn More About Event Management

The best professionals in any given field aren’t just skilled at what they do – they’re also incredibly adept learners. They know full well that, regardless of talent, they’re only as good as what they know. For that reason, they’ve learned to pick up tips, tricks, and skills from everyone around them, including (and especially) the people they work with. Last July, I wrote a piece outlining some of the top personalities in the event industry. These were professionals who, if you deigned to look into them, could offer insights on every facet of event management through their books, seminars, […]

Five Conferences No Event Manager Should Miss

If you’re trying to learn about the field of event management, it’s all well and good to seek out industry sites and certification courses, but there’s still something to be said for checking in at an event manager’s conference. There, you’ll be able to meet and greet some of the brightest, most successful people in the field. You’ll learn more about your industry and the people involved in it, and possibly even meet a few potential clients (or employers) in the process. Plus, you’ll likely have a great time doing so. After all, who knows better how to put on […]

How Video Games Can Make You a Better Event Planner

It wasn’t so long ago that video games were considered to be little more than time wasters. I’m happy to report that this is no longer the case – as gaming’s grown more popular and the games industry more profitable, gaming has become increasingly more advanced. Today’s video games aren’t just a means of passing the time – they’re hours-long, immersive experiences. And they can actually teach you a great deal about…well, everything. That includes event planning. Yeah, I know, it’s kind of a strange idea. Just bear with me here. Scheduling Through MMO Guilds I have a great deal […]

Why Scheduling Should Come As Second Nature To Event Planners

Running an event isn’t exactly a cakewalk. You’ve got to manage teams of diverse individuals, work out your event’s itinerary, organize guest speakers and keynotes, meet with clients, vendors and suppliers…you get the idea. It’s sort of a logistical nightmare. Worse still, all this stuff needs to be tackled in addition to everything that’s going on in your own life. (You may also like Five Major University Majors to Prepare For Event Management) It sort of goes without saying that you need formidable organizational skills (not to mention a cool head) in order to survive. You need to know how […]

How to Increase Visibility for Event Sponsors

As you go through the event planning process, at some point you will be faced with the task of signing up sponsors. If you already have relationships in place, such as from past events, this should not be a challenge. On the other hand, you may have quite a bit of work to do if you are starting from scratch. Sponsors are interested primarily in “brand visibility.” In other words, they care about nothing more than getting their brand in front of your audience. Here are three of the best ways to increase visibility for event sponsors: Online visibility: This is […]

What Can You Do If Your Event Goes Over Budget?

Where exceeding your event budget is concerned, the general rule is “don’t.” However, sometimes things happen that are out of your control – maybe a piece of equipment breaks down and you need to replace it in a hurry. Maybe you didn’t sell enough tickets to break even, or maybe the materials and supplies you’re using simply turned out to be more expensive than you expected. Either way, it’s something that needs to be addressed immediately. That’s our topic in today’s piece. What can you do if you end up exceeding your initial budget for the event? How can you […]

All About The Money

Money is a huge factor when planning an event. If you are faced with a small budget, it is often wise to look into sponsorships. As an event planner, you should network constantly to build your list of sponsors that would be available for different events that you plan. This can be a great relief to clients who are looking to get more for less money out of their pocket. There is almost a science to creating the right relationships to get the sponsorships that you will need for events, which is what we will be focusing on in this […]

Five More Incredibly Common Mistakes Made By Novice Event Planners

Nobody’s perfect. I can’t emphasize enough that in a complex, high-stress career like event planning, people are bound to make a mistake or two.  people are bound to make mistakes. This is especially true if they’re new to the job – in many cases, they may not even realize they’ve erred until it’s already too late to fix the problem. Today, we’re going to go over a few more mistakes commonly made by event management rookies. While none of these will necessarily lead to a catastrophe on their own, they can still cause a pretty huge headache for planners, clients, […]

Most Common Health Issues Faced By Event Planners

Your job can be hazardous to your health.

Every profession carries with it a host of hazards one needs to deal with each and every day. Failure to address any of these problems adequately could well lead to something a lot more permanent. Especially in event management – a career in which you’re constantly on the move – that’s something you want to avoid.

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Dealing With Illness As An Event Planner

As an event manager, you’re generally going to be working with large groups of people on a regular basis.  What that means is that even if you take good care of yourself, you’re exponentially likelier to end up sick. That in turn means your productivity goes straight through the floor. It goes without saying that you don’t want that to happen. So, if you should fall ill as an event planner, what can you do about it? After all, sickness is inevitable, especially in your profession. You need to be certain that you can soldier through your illness without letting […]