Wondering how to plan an event? There’s a lot that goes into hosting an event, from choosing your venue to selecting the speaker line-up. The key is in the preparation: getting the big jobs ticked off so that you can focus on bringing everything together and, most importantly, enjoy your event. Our ultimate guide features all the essential steps to organise an event. Plus, it simplifies every step of the process to make planning as hassle-free as possible.
How To Organise An Event
- In the previous chapter of our event management series, we’ve covered planning – the first stage of the event management cycle:
- Planning the event: From idea to action plan.
- Organising the event: From action plan to execution.
- Promoting the event: Spreading the word and selling tickets.
- Hosting the event: Making sure things run smoothly on the day.
- After the event: Thank yous and follow ups.
The event manager need not necessarily be skilled in all aspects of event management but they should endeavour to surround themselves with helpers who have a range of useful skills. This is the purpose of the organising committee.
The Organising Committee Has Three Main Functions:
Planning & advisory function. To assist and advise the event director to formulate plans and policies. Planning is generally better when ideas and issues are discussed in a small group environment. There is less chance of something being forgotten or overlooked when a group makes a decision rather than a single individual.
Executive Function. The organising committee can assist in the process of managing the myriad of tasks that need to be done. Committee members, having a good knowledge of the event management plan, are well placed to provide training, supervision and assistance to other personnel involved in the organisation of the event.
Worker Function. Ideally the organising committee comprises people with good knowledge, skills and experience of events. If so, members of the organising committee will often desire to directly carry out the event tasks. Organising committee members tend to be the most reliable and diligent workers, and often they perform such work on a voluntary basis.
It is important that the event director and the organising committee work together with close co-operation. At this highest level of event management all parties need to ‘pull in the same direction’.
