Five Things An Exhibitor Should Never Do

If you’re setting up a booth at a conference or trade show, you’re there to connect with people. You’re interested in one of two things: selling a product, or connecting with people who’d be interested in buying from you (or working with you). Both are pretty important, right? Today, we’re going to be going over a few of the biggest – and most common flubs – exhibitors tend to make on the show floor. If you’re an exhibitor, have a read-through to make sure you aren’t committing any of these mistakes yourself. And if you’re an event planner, well…you can…

Stand Out In A Crowd

Last week we focused our series on handling all of the different events that an event planner may be asked to do. This week, we are switching gears and focusing on how to be a good speaker and exhibitor at an event that you are invited to. We want you to be able to make the most out of your situation. Whether you are paying to be at an event, or you are the star of the show, we want to share with you tips on how to get the most out of it for your brand. Stop wasting time…

How Can You Add More Diversity to Your Tech Conference

The notion that the tech industry has a diversity problem is right up there alongside “water is wet” in terms of startling revelations. By now, mentioning the issue of gender, race, and culture inclusivity in tech seems akin to beating a dead horse. Everybody already knows the problem exists, and they’re getting sick of hearing about it – but no one seems willing (or able) to fix it. As an event management professional in the tech sector, you’re in a unique position to bring about change. After all, your events are (presumably) the place where influencers from all over the…

The Ins And Outs Of Running An Annual Conference

Many of the best known conferences and events in the world aren’t just one-off affairs; they happen one or more times a year. Annual shows like the DEVELOP conference give industry professionals a chance to strut their stuff, while trade conventions like the Consumer Electronics Show bring the world some of the coolest technological innovations ever designed. Today, I’d like to discuss some of the finer details of running an annual conference – assuming you want to do so. Now, it bears mentioning that much of what goes into running a yearly conference is pretty much the same as running…

The Story Of Suresh Doss Drives Home The Real Cost Of Event Management Blunders

Today, I’m going to tell you about a young man by the name of Suresh Doss. He is – or rather, was – an amateur event planner and freelance food writer. Today, he owes the City of Toronto $36,000. His is a cautionary tale, a story that drives home the importance of knowing who you’re working with and what you’re doing. See, Doss was part of a 2013 experiment to put food trucks in parks all across the city. Armed with an array of different meals, the trucks would keep hungry park-goers fed and content – and make a bit…

Are Business Conferences Really That Valuable?

It’s pretty common knowledge that meetings can be one of the biggest time-wasters in the business world. They’re a place where people go to talk about doing work – without actually getting anything done in the process. Today, I’d like to address a very simple question: do conferences fall under the same umbrella? You could be forgiven for thinking that they might. After all, a conference is basically a meeting between several or more organizations, isn’t it? With that in mind, what is it about a business conference that makes it so much valuable than a run-of-the-mill meeting? Quite a bit,…

How To Keep Your Events Sustainable

Both enterprise organizations and consumers have become acutely aware of the impact modern culture has on the environment in recent years. We’re beginning to warily eye the pollution created by oil, we worry and fret over greenhouse gases, and we’re quick to jump in and support any organization that makes an effort to be sustainable. The trouble is, talking isn’t really enough. What we ultimately need to do is take responsibility for the state of the Earth; we all need to do our part to ensure we keep things clean. In the case of event management, that means reducing the…

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…

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,…

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