Event Planning Disasters And How To Avoid Them
Whether you are just starting out in event planning, or you are used to planning events with your eyes closed, there are a number of challenges that could come your way. Some of these come from being unprepared, while others can spring out of the blue when you least expect. The most important thing is that you do what you can to avoid them or manage them.
1. Not Enough Data
One of the most important aspects of event planning is ensuring that you have enough attendees. One of the biggest failures that can cause a poor turnout is not having enough data. Whether you are inviting people through a mailing list or through your website, you need to be sure you have enough confirmed invites to make your event viable.
2. Venue Costs Go Through The Roof
A lot of your event budget will be taken up by your venue booking, and budgeting for this cost should be one of your first priorities. Think about things you may need such as audio and video equipment, Wi-Fi and furniture hire. You’ll need to factor in all of these elements for most events. You could offset these costs by creating sponsorship opportunities with local companies.
3. A High Dropout Rate
Even if you have hundreds of confirmations for your event you will usually get a high rate of dropout to contend with. As a general rule you can expect a dropout rate of around 10-15%. The good news is the more you can do to promote your event the more you can do to increase confirmations and reduce the dropout rate.
4. Guest Speakers Fail To Turn Up
If your event depends on keynote speakers and they don’t turn up, what are you going to do? Short of creating a diversion or stumbling through a talk yourself, you need to think of a solution. The most effective solution is to prevent these problems from happening in the first place. Establish strong and effective relationships with your speakers throughout the year and ensure communication channels are clear.
5. Bad Press On Social Media
There was a time when people would give feedback after the event. Today, thanks to social media, they can give feedback during and after! The last thing you want is for your event to be a disaster and the whole world to know about it. Keep somebody in the wings to respond to any social posts as your event is happening. You’ll be able to handle any concerns or bad feedback and show that you really care about what people have to say.
Ensure Your Furniture Doesn’t Let You Down
At Furniture Hire UK, we help thousands of event organisers every year with their furniture requirements and we would be delighted to assist you today. Whether you are looking for tables, chairs or a mobile bar, we have the items you need to ensure your event is a roaring success.
