Saturday, November 8, 2008

Corporate Event Planning Concepts

By Mr David E Lake

Event management is the art of delivering an event project at a given time, in a given place on a given date. To successfully manage an event, the needs of those attending, performing and taking part will have to be taken into account. A great event management specialist will be able to achieve all this and more, whilst being on time, on budget and working in a safe and secure way.

For some people, events are held for business reasons, to advise clients of new products, to train staff or to win new business. This might be in the shape of a conference, a seminar, a training day or an exhibition stand. Business events can often be formal sessions, with presenters offering their ideas and experiences and then taking ideas and questions from an audience, although networking and social time are also an important aspect.

Sports events, concerts and festivals are just some of the more social or entertainment based events that are organised. Consumer shows are also organised for those with particular interests, such as gardening events, home maintenance shows or the ever popular wedding or baby fair.

The planning of events takes in many stages, from the initial event concept to the requirements of all the stakeholders. Event managers will liaise with and brief the event venue, deal with technical contractors and ensure that all of the catering is booked. Event managers will also look after accommodation for speakers, delegates and partners and ensure that all of their requirements are met.

Conference organisers will use many of the same skills as managers looking after outdoor events, but both disciplines will require their own specialist knowledge. Conference planners will be experts in detailed logistics and will have excellent venue knowledge. They'll most often be found wearing a suit, standing at the back of a conference hall or behind a registration desk. Outdoor event managers need to know about fencing and marquees, as well as temporary power supplies and dealing with large numbers of people.

The safety of your event is very important. You will have to make sure that those that you work with or employ work in a safe manner during the build, live and de-rig sections of the event. This is to ensure that everyone, whether they are working at, volunteering for or attending your event has a safe time whilst they are there. Understanding risk assessments, method statements and how to employ the right event sub-contractor are important parts of being an event manager.

Most event managers use technology to help them manage their events. Whether this be as simple as using email to communicate with delegates, or a mobile phone to catch up with suppliers, everything that technology can do to make planning easier should be undertaken. Many companies use proprietary event management software to manage delegate requirements and other aspects, and some use online registration systems to collect delegate details.

You shouldn't be afraid to use an event manager to help with your events. Event management companies in the UK and beyond service the event requirements of businesses and charities of many sizes, often saving them many thousands of pounds by working efficiently for their event project.

Event management skills often include the ability to multi-task, manage a budget, work with a client and understand and interpret their ideas and requirements. A good understanding of event technology is also important, and specialist skills such as health and safety or production won't hurt.

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