Pre Event Planning

Once you have decided that your event is feasible, it is a good idea to start putting a plan together, for how you are going to run the event. This plan will be with you through the entire event planning process, the live event and the evaluation stages. It is important to cover as many areas as possible in this first instance, as the more thoughts you give to the event at this stage, the more successful and stress free your event will be.

Before you get too far into your event plan - stop and think about your ability to manage the event successfully.

Budget, Budget, Budget

All events will need a budget of some sort. Whether you are organising a small conference or a music festival there will be a set amount of money to spend, break even points and cash flow to analyse

Time Planning

The key to any successful event is the planning and management of tasks that have to be undertaken. Look at ways to plan the tasks that you and your team will need to undertake. Also look at ways to manage time more effectively – and the tools you can use to do this.

Type of Event

Understanding the type of event you want to organise is an important factor as it will help you to keep focussed on the event and enable you to work on content, technical requirements and choose a venue

Event Content

Once you have decided the type of event you are organising, you need to consider the content of the event. Understanding and planning what will happen will help you to decide what you need from a venue or what technical equipment you need

Event Technical

Once you have your content decided you can begin to look at the technical infrastructure you will need. This might be as simple as a projector and a screen for a meeting, or might be marquees,generators and other outdoor event facilities

Attendees

It is important to have an idea of the number of people you are expecting to attend your event. This will help you to choose the venue, inform the correct authorities and plan your infrastructure. It is also a good idea to have some idea of your attendee profile, including their age profile, gender and history

Venue

At the early stages of the event planning process you should start thinking about the types of venue you might require, what you need from the venue and where you want it to be

Your Team

Having already built your team, now is the time to start defining roles, managing your people and ensure that they are working together