Event management is undoubtedly an exciting job – it has the pace, the people, the adrenaline, the glitz and of course, the post-success euphoria that only a job well done can inspire. From afar, the allure is quite understable, and often even encouraged by those who would very much like it believed that their lives are indeed all about looking glamorous, meeting exciting new people and travelling from one place to the next with the sole mission of delivering yet another wonderful event.
Of course not all event managers work with celebrities and organize Oscars. Most, like the author who shares her experience in this article, are people working events that may not be as large-scale, but come with the same kinds of woes and risks. All event managers share the post-success euphoria, but where they truly bond is in the dark underbelly of an event amidst the chaos of missed deadlines, electrical failures, budget cuts and staff shortages.
Most experts agree that the foundation of organizing a successful event, be it a suburban birthday party or the Super Bowl halftime show, the key to success most definitely lies in proper planning. Another article that explores the common mistakes made in event planning, identifies the key elements of planning for a successful event. Aside from having a structure to the whats, whos, whys and whens of the event, it is also essential to set realistic aims for the project that takes into consideration factors like location, budget, time frame and staff efficiency.
Check out part II for details on how to balance logistics with the desire to throw an amazing event.