Understanding how you want people to experience your event — how they “flow” from room to room — is important, as it will help you think through more details down the line. For now, let’s focus on the big picture: how will people get from the entrance to your “main event,” or the primary reason…
Inspiration: OK Go’s TED talk on how to find a wonderful idea
I recently stumbled across this TED Talk from the band OK Go. You may know them from their wildly popular viral videos, such as this choreographed treadmill dance or this one shot from a drone in an abandoned parking lot in Japan. Lead singer Damian Kulash discusses just how difficult it is to wrestle a creative…
Event basics: welcoming attendees
At any event, from a dinner party to a multinational festival, guests need to feel welcome, and to have some way to orient themselves in the space. Speed is a factor here: the more quickly guests feel at ease, the quicker they can immerse themselves in your event. You might have experienced a common example…
Event basics: space / environment
I’m learning that the space your attendees are in – and the surrounding environment that comes with that space – is possibly the single most critical part of event planning. There are so many elements to consider that can affect the experience, and if even one of those elements is off, people can walk away…
Event basics: RSVP / registration
Consider carefully how people might register for your event. However you choose to do this, the process should have a welcoming design, minimize frustration and take special needs into consideration. Another key consideration is whether your event is public or private (invite-only). For public events, major platforms such as Facebook and Eventbrite will allow people…
Event basics: discovery
So how do people find out about your amazing event? In some cases, this answer is pretty straightforward. Perhaps you’re just emailing friends or creating a private event on Facebook. If you’re an established brand with multiple outreach channels – maybe a newsletter (or two or three) and social media handles – you may already…
Event basics: core elements for event planning
Any kind of event, from a party with close friends to a wedding to a multi-national conference, requires a lot of consideration for your attendees. What do they expect from the event? How do they find out about it? How do they RSVP? Where should they be at any given time? Is there food or…