At first glance, organizing a successful event may seem to be simple enough, but there’s more to it than meets the eye. A lot of people organize an event, and simply hope that it will turn out to be successful. Some people think that the success of an event is largely dependent on luck and that they sort of just happen. However, by doing so, people most often fail to get the most out of their event. If you want your visitors or participants to remember and cherish your event, you need to understand the 5 important keys to any successful event.
5 Keys to a Successful Event
1) Detailed Planning and Preparation
Careful and detailed planning for your event is one of the crucial keys to a successful event. Regardless of type and size of an event; whether you are organizing a banquet, fund raising event, company picnics, or holiday parties, a well thought-out plan is required. There are plenty of decisions that need to be made and most of the time; these decisions need to be made early on. The foremost thing that one must keep in mind is to maintain a checklist and note down important tasks that needs to be accomplished within a specified timeline. A written plan should be prepared ahead of time to serve as a guide for everyone who is included in the event preparation. It will serve as a guide, reminder, and at the same time, it can help prevent anything to be overlooked. A good plan should include a detailed structure of the actual event, realistic schedule and timetable for everything that needs to be completed, and specific budget for the planned activities. The more detailed your plan is, the better your event will be in the end.
2) Budget Allocation
Proper distribution of funds is an important factor in organizing a successful event. If the funds are not well allocated, there is a tendency that there will be a deficit in one area and an overspending in another. Consider ahead of time how much will be your budget for various expenses such as the venue, menu, decorations, entertainer, and etc. Make sure to list down all your expenses based on you planned activities and allocate a realistic and detailed budget for each of them. Since not everything about the event is in your control, allot a certain amount for unforeseen expenses.
3) Venue Selection
The location of the event is vital to its success. The venue must be appropriate and has a connection to the type of event that you will organize. Always keep your participants in mind in choosing an appropriate location. The venue should be large enough to hold the number of your participants and spacious enough to for your planned activities. Always visit the site before your book it so that you can estimate if it will work out for your event.
4) Program Implementation
Sometimes, the only difference between a good event and a great event is the tight execution of the planned program and good management of the events. Disruption in the flow of events can cause disengagement of the participants to the activities and program. This will greatly affect their perception of the event as a whole. Make sure that the responsible people for each part of the event knows how and when to execute their assignments.
5) Establishment of a Memorable Moment
The difference between a plain event and a wonderful event lies on that special moment of the event that they will remember even after the occasion. There must be a moment at which the event grabs the audience and makes each person feel that they are part of it. These can be done in various ways; by giving out mementos of the event, by setting a lively mood to the participants through entertainers or by including engaging activities that they can participate in. That special moment can establish a connection to everyone and will give a lasting impression to the participants even after the event has ended.
Tony Biggar,
www.biggarsketches.com