tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-835795970650191068.post-11985151182227631912008-05-05T09:27:00.001-07:002008-05-05T09:31:49.511-07:00Top Ten Things To Remember When Planning an Event<br /><br /><br />Whether you’re a seasoned event planner, just starting out, or simply someone stuck with the responsibility of planning an event, it is essential to keep in mind these ten nuggets of successful event planning no matter the nature of your event:<br /><br />1. Have a clear vision.<br />On your mark, get set, research! Before anything begins, it is your responsibility to explore and dig up any and all ideas and creative possibilities regarding planning this event. What type of services will you need? Location, location, location. What type of activities? Will entertainment and lodging be in the mix?<br /><br />2. You are the soldier of this planning event.<br />It is your duty to tackle all problems and worries that come as an event planner. You, and only you, are the one who has to take all the hits to resolve all issues, conflicts, and issues, so put on your armor and get ready to rumble.<br /><br />3. Find your direction early in the event planning game.<br />From the food servers to the floor sweepers, you must be aware and involved in every essential piece and part regarding the success of this event. You must coordinate every grain of sandy detail and each person involved in the affair. Take nothing for granted. Inspect the site and meet each vendor of the venue. Note: This part of the event planning may involve starting weeks, months, or even years before the actual date of the event.<br /><br />4. Stay excruciatingly organized.<br />If you know organization is a weak skill of yours, fix it fast! If you need to buy a book or take a course on organization, do it! Or hire an assistant who is sublime at keeping you on task. Leave nothing undone!<br /><br />5. Keep everyone on your team motivated.<br />It’s the kiss of death for your event if you cannot control and lead your staff and all the vendors involved in this important production. Communication is vital here. Have timely meetings and appoint co-leaders to keep everyone informed of any changes or situations that may affect them and the success of the event. Empower your team and watch their morale and effort spike!<br /><br />6. Keep a really, really realistic budget.<br />Need we say more? If you do not eyeball your budget often and astutely monitor all monies coming in and out, you could be steering your event toward a Titanic catastrophe. Stay on top of your budget lest you sink your ship.<br /><br />7. Keep a central timeline.See number 6. Just as you must keep a steady eye on your budget, so must you have a heavily detailed timeline, down to the minute, especially on the day of your event. No gaping holes here or well, again, refer to #6. Glug, glug.<br /><br />8. Make your publicity plan famous.Have strong media contacts ready to go before, during and after the event. Don’t have any contacts? You’re making us sweat here. Create a media plan.<br /><br />* Go and meet the reporters who cover events such as the one you are planning.<br />* Pick up the phone and call them.<br />* Send them information well before your event.<br />* Think creative. Think like a reporter. Write a press release that practically writes the article for them. Make it easy. Make it legitimate.<br />* Look for the contacts that best suit your event. Do it well ahead of time.<br />* Have a pre-event release.<br />* Invite the reporters and media folk to the event.<br />* Plan wickedly smart photo ops.<br />* Think of great angles for post event articles.<br />* Film video and send it.<br />* Most of all, log all the contacts you make during this event and remember them for the next one.<br />* Send thank you notes.<br /><br />9. Testimonials, videos, reviews, oh my!<br />Once your event is over, gather up testimonials from attendees who thought it was an absolute masterpiece of a success. During the event have team members roving with video cameras, enough footage for fabulous promotions for the next event or to sustain proof of your magnitude of ability. Make sure reviews are written either by critics or writers you’ve contacted. Everything that can be documented and recorded is further proof that your event planning produces miraculous events, more successful than the last. Or, should there be mistakes or calamities that happened, you – like the best athletic coach – will have the footage to spot the errors and make sure they never happens again.<br /><br />10. Never settle for mediocrity.<br />Keep looking for new and innovative ways for your event. If it feels like you’ve been doing the same theme or expression forever, then it may be time to shake things up. As internationally famous party planner and party coordinator Stu Feinstein advises an idea might be hot for a season or two but the key is to never stand still. Action, as always, is everything.<br /><br />For more information on event planning, contact Mario Stewart at EMRG Media NYC, New York's Premiere Event Planning Company at <a href="http://www.emrgmedia.com/">www.emrgmedia.com/</a> or call at 212-254-3700.EMRG Media - New York's Premiere Event Planning Companyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10250850761323651702noreply@blogger.com