Five Potential Pitfalls of Event Planning
Updated: Sep 24, 2018
Five easily avoidable mistakes when planning corporate or social events...
Lack of Information
"What do I wear?" "Where should I park?" "Will I need cash for the bar?"
Event attendees want to know what to expect at an event. Especially for business events, they want to ensure they put their best foot forward wearing the appropriate attire, showing up on time, and bringing everything they need. Tell them what they need to know!
Not looking at things through the attendees’ eyes
“They should put a sign here!” If you’re a seasoned event planner, you are nodding your head right now. Take the time to walk the path your event attendees will walk. What will they see? How will they get from point A to point B? This will help you place necessary signage or branding elements in the most effective places.
Give ‘em a break!
No one can comfortably sit in a session or for a presentation for three straight hours. We’re human! We need bathroom breaks, coffee/water, or to check email or take a call. Give your event attendees a break to do what they need to do at least every 75 minutes. If you don’t, they will go rogue and break when they need to break and risk missing the content you’d like them to digest.
Disregarding Dietary Restrictions
These days, this is a cardinal sin. You asked for them in your registration process. Don’t forget to make arrangements! Nothing makes a vegetarian/vegan/gluten-free/dairy-free/pescetarian or all of the above angrier than including their dietary need on a registration form to find out they are not able to eat anything at the event. Dining together builds human connections. If an attendee isn’t comfortable or capable eating at an event, they feel ostracized from the group and it prohibits them from making connections with others.
Improper room set up
You gave them a full breakfast buffet with bacon, eggs, and pancakes. They take their heaping plate of food, balance their cup of coffee, and purse/briefcase as they enter the room to find it set in rows of theater. No tables. Take the time to fully think through the needs of your attendees. Are you encouraging group conversations? Set the room in pods or round tables to encourage discussions. Expect them to be working on laptops throughout your session? Equip the room with power strips at each table.
Need help with your corporate, non-profit, or social event? Reach out to Lynn David Events at www.lynndavidevents.com.