Event Management Training

Course review:

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Develop a successful strategy
• Plan a successful event
• Create an event checklist
• Create and manage an event budget
• Manage stakeholders
• Plan your publicity
• Avoid pitfalls
• Control the day
• Evaluate the event

Pre-Course Work: Proposed Course Outline: Course Outline:

Develop strategies for success

• Make sure the purpose of the event is important enough to merit the time and expense needed to properly stage, publicize and evaluate the event.
• Carefully match the type of event that is selected to the purpose that it serves.
• Understand your role and responsibilities
• Select a working committee with broad representation and what supporting roles they will undertake
• Target groups that have a special stake in the event.
• Communicate and negotiate with stakeholders.
• Start planning at well ahead of the event date.
• Identify and avoid possible pitfalls and handle the unexpected.
• Develop ways to evaluate the event’s success.
• Measurable event objectives may include attendance, the amount of money raised, etc.
• Talk to other colleagues who have successfully staged similar events.

Make a checklist – Critical Path

• A checklist provides a step-by-step guide to organizing and executing a special event.
• Create and work to a budget
• The objective is to provide event planners with a financial blueprint for the event
• Consider and understand logistics
• Working with and choosing the correct venue / vendor / guest speakers
• Negotiating the best pricing / terms and facilities
• Keep control on the day
• Cope with difficult situations effectively
• Plan publicity
• Are you trying to inform, educate or entertain?
• Increase awareness or attendance of the event?
• Build a base support from a specific audience?
• Facilitate good community relations?

Evaluate the event

• Did the event fulfil its goals and objectives? Why or why not?
• Identify what worked and what needs fine-tuning.
• Which vendors should be used again?
• What items were missing on the checklist?
• Was the event well attended?
• Was informal and formal feedback about the event positive?
• Given all that went into staging it, was it worth doing?