Ever hear
expression: “You can never be too rich or too thin?” In case of special events planning, you can never be too organized.Events are critical in providing outreach and exposure for an organization, and some can often be an excellent fund- and friend-raising tool. However, it’s easy to make a mistake when there are so many details. And those mistakes could cost you your reputation and customers if you’re not on top of every detail.
Here are most common mistakes made – and solutions – to help avoid such problems:
Mistake #1: Failing to identify meeting objectives. Be sure to know one hundred percent what your management expects from this event. Examples: education, recruiting, awards presentations, new product roll-out, executive installation, etc.
Mistake #2: Failing to budget properly. Many planners make this mistake by overlooking some very costly items. Specifically speaker travel, audio/visual, program handouts, shipping charges, decorations, security, and afternoon breaks. Don’t overlook these costs!
Mistake #3: Failing to have a plan. This is probably most common error that hurts an event. Many planners try to run an event without a plan and detailed checklist – missing important details that could make or break event. Lighting, seating, room temperature, music, decorations, audio/visual, and location of bathrooms and telephones are just some of details that are often forgotten.
