Event planning isn’t for the fainthearted. It takes a lot of organization, problem-solving skills and the ability to handle high amounts of pressure. Whether you’re experimenting with your event planning prowess and arranging a birthday party for your kids, or you’ve been tasked with organizing an event for your business and your colleagues, it’s important to focus on what you can achieve within the small space of time you’ve been allocated. Biting off more than you can chew in the event planning business can lead to all kinds of catastrophes.
Although it’s worth remembering that even the most experienced event planners have to deal with the occasional disaster, if you want to keep your event on a smooth, problem-free path consider the following advice.
Read on to discover the event planning pitfalls you should definitely avoid!
Neglecting event planning software
Years ago event planning meant huge amounts of paperwork, files and calculators. Of course, a huge event planning faux pas would be to still do things this way. These days you’ll find the entire event planning industry has been transformed by event planner software. Click the link to discover free event planner software right now. Physical and social media-based invitations, payment handling, data and statistics, promotional tools, and so much more are all available in the palm of your hand!
Poorly chosen catering
Catering isn’t easy to get right. Not only do you need to find a caterer who has high standards and is within budget, but someone who’ll be able to cater to all your guests’ requirements. Allergies, vegan and vegetarian options, gluten-free—are your guests expecting more conservative dishes or would they like to try something new? They say that the one thing that people remember about any event is the food, so get it wrong and it’ll be difficult to come back from.
Not hiring enough staff
Caterers, waiting and bar staff, car park attendees, cleaners, bathroom attendants, the list of potential staff goes on and on. So, getting it right is crucial to the smooth running of your event. When hiring staff it’s always best to hire experienced personnel, often vendors will provide staff to complement their services. Make sure you’ve got your numbers right to ensure all your bases are covered.
Failing to plan for disaster
Having a plan B is essential. No one wants to think the worst will happen, but if there’s a power outage or rain disrupts your outdoor event then you’re going to be stuck with some very frustrated guests. Consider all the potential issues that could go wrong and have a backup solution ready to go. For power outages have a generator ready, for adverse weather conditions, hire a secondary space where people can move indoors, if the car park is too full, then arrange for an overflow solution.
And finally, leaving it until the last minute
From the moment you have the date of the event confirmed, the clock is ticking. It’s never too early to start planning, so start as soon as possible!
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