Concert Management vs. Conference Management: What’s The Difference?

Since we all know a lot more about conferences and trade shows, we’re going to be looking at things from that perspective. Precisely how do the two differ from one another? First, let’s start with how they’re similar. As with conferences, it’s important that you understand your primary demographic when running a concert – what sort of genre do fans of the headlining band prefer? What artists do they like, and which do they prefer to avoid? Promotion is also just as important; you need to know how to get people hyped up about an upcoming show (although with a…

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…

Five More Books That Should Be In Every Event Manager’s Library

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again – it doesn’t matter what field you work in; you’re only as good as what you know. And one thing you should definitely know is that there’s always more knowledge to be had. No matter what field you’re in, you should always keep learning. And as has been the case for many, many years, one of the best ways to truly learn is through books. A couple months back, I put together a short list detailing a few books that I felt every event planner should read. Today, I’d like to…

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…

Be The Best Event Manager Possible

Awhile ago we did a series on Event Management Tips & Tricks, but since everything couldn’t be covered in one week we are circling back and covering even more tips to make you the best event manager possible. There’s the conventional tips about managing your time, being organized, and how to manage large groups of people, but we wanted to bring to you NEW tips, like how video games actually will help you as an event manager and what books you need to be adding to your Kindle to learn from the best of the best. We will be covering…

The Do’s & Don’t of Event Sponsorship

We’ve talked a bit about event sponsorships in the past – how and where to find the right contributors, how to bring people on-board, etc. Today, I’d like to expand upon the topic a bit. See, it’s not simply a matter of tracking down the perfect backer and offering up an amazing pitch. There’s a bit more to it than that. Aside from the best practices we’ve already covered, there are a few extra pieces of advice we can offer up; a bit of additional insight that could potentially benefit every event organizer in the field. It’s Sometimes Better Not…

How To Be A Better Vendor At Trade Shows

Today, we’re going to shift gears a bit. Instead of talking to event organizers, we’re going to be talking to vendors. Vendors are arguably even more important to the success of an event than guest speakers. Particularly in trade shows, they form the core of how many attendees will spend their time when they aren’t at keynotes. The profits they turn – and the presence and value they bring to events – simply cannot be ignored. “At the heart of a successful event planner’s business is a team of reliable vendors,” writes Entrepreneur’s Cheryl Kimball. “It can’t be overstated: your…

Meerkat or Periscope for Your Next Event?

As an event planner, you should always be looking for new ways to bring fresh ideas to your audience. In today’s day and age, this often means the implementation the newest forms of social media. Meerkat and Periscope don’t receive nearly as much attention as they should in the event space. Both these services have been proven effective in an event environment, prompting more and more planners to take a closer look. What is Meerkat? As a live video streaming app, it is easy to see why Meerkat has become so popular with the event crowd. It gained initial popularity on…

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…

Ten Tips For Landing Your Perfect Sponsor

Landing your perfect sponsor can be challenging. As I’ve mentioned in the past, I ran a charity event a few years back. The biggest challenge by far wasn’t the logistics of space booking, nor was it managing volunteers. It was landing your perfect sponsor that’d provide with the necessary funds, prizes, and equipment to run things adequately.

Cold Calling 101 – How To Get A Sponsor On Board For Your Events

In the past, I’ve often instructed you to contact various individuals for your events – be they sponsors, vendors, or guest speakers. I’ve not really gone into any detail on exactly how you should go about doing that. I’ve basically just told you to do a bunch of cold calling, without actually giving you any advice on how to do that. After all, you can’t simply call someone and blurt out the details of your event and expect them to jump on board – nor can you email someone a bullet list and assume they’re going to read it. If…

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