Proactive Event Safety and Security Management is a key success area that an event management company in the Philippines must prioritize.
As an event manager for more than two decades, I always believe that the most important part of my job is event safety and security.
I firmly believe that event safety and security are above meeting the client's objectives.
No event manager can bear the burden of someone getting hurt during their watch.
The key to preventing this is anticipatory or advance thinking. Prepare for the worst-case scenarios and create action plans to prevent these.
If you keep this in mind, you will have a long and very meaningful career as an event manager in the Philippines.
"A successful event is not just about meeting the objectives, but also about creating a lasting impression on the attendees."
Let us say you achieved your revenue target because of the event you created. However, the attendees have a bad experience. Do you think that your event will have a repeat because of this?
We all know the answer to this question.
It is important that more than meeting your event objectives like sales, revenues, and brand awareness, you also give importance to the impressions that your attendees will have because of what they experienced from your event.
A lasting impression can be because of how the attendees were treated during the event. If you let them feel they are VIPs, they will conclude that you really care about their needs.
A lasting impression can also be the proactive and creative networking space you provided to your attendees. People attend events to belong and expand their network. If you are able to serve as their bridge to other people they will appreciate your event.
A positive experience by attendees will provide emotional goodwill to your event. They will spread the word about how great your event is because of the feelings they generated from being part of it.
In summary, beyond the profit-centered key performance indicators, focus also on the emotional ROI that your attendees will gain from your event.
According to one definition, creativity is the use of imagination or original ideas, especially in the production of artistic work.
An event is an artistic work. As an event manager, you are the artist and there are no limits to what you can do to shape and elevate an event into an unforgettable masterpiece.
Also remember that in every event that you do, you are tasked to create a masterpiece that will leave an indelible mark on the minds of your clients and attendees.
Creativity follows organization. No matter how brilliant your ideas are you will not be able to make them happen without a solid organization to back you up.
Create a seamless style of work and skilled manpower inside your organization. These hold the key to allowing you anything that is possible in your event.
"The best event planners are like conductors of an orchestra, bringing all the different elements together in perfect harmony."
The job of an event planner or event manager in the Philippines is tough. It is similar to being a musical conductor.
First, you are the leader of the team. If a musical conductor is the head of many musicians, you, as an event planner, are the leader of different event staff performing in different areas of the event.
As a leader, you must know the strengths and weaknesses of your team to create great harmony, akin to what a musical conductor does.
Second, an event planner is like a musical conductor because he must be a skilled coordinator. There are many elements involved in a musical concert. The event planner is also confronted with many event elements that he must ensure are all placed in their proper area.
Last but not least, event planners, like musical conductors, must adapt to sudden changes and surprises. Events like musical concerts do not go as planned most of the time.
The event planner must always be on his feet. Advanced in his thinking, ready to make quick decisions in order to reach the goal of having a successful event. The event planner simulates the way of a musical conductor. Changing his baton direction and, depending on the changes happening during the show's flow and band members' musical harmony.
In the end, event planners are like musical conductors, both savor the sweet music of success and adulation of attendees and clients.
"Great events don't just happen, they are meticulously planned and executed with precision."
Great events require tremendous effort to make them happen. Nothing happens without careful planning of the event details.
The event manager's attention to details inserted in the plan ensures that the event is never left to chance and luck. It is a guarantee that all critical success areas are given the necessary attention.
If practice makes perfect is a must. In the event management industry in the Philippines, it is a rule of thumb.
Therefore, checklists, Gantt Charts, staff orientations, weekly meetings, technical dry runs, script reading, and committee and coordination meetings, are some of the activities that are given premium.
Now that you know it is time to make your event a huge success.
"Success in event management is all about attention to detail and the ability to adapt to any situation that arises."
Attention to Detail is easier said than done. In the world of event management, you prepare for a long checklist, orient your people to their specific tasks, and make rounds to check if they are doing their work.
Attention to detail is your ability to spot minute aspects of the event you are running from pre-event, the actual event, and post-event.
In fact, our ability to have very focused attention to detail is what our clients are paying for. This ability is what makes us deliver a successful event. The ability to not leave any stone unturned in order to deliver the experience the participants of the event are expecting.
One of the challenges in event management is creating an atmosphere where delegates will feel welcome. It is a challenge to make them feel they belong and not an isolated island in the midst of faceless and nameless attendees.
Here are some tips to create a welcoming atmosphere:
1. Be a Great Host
The first time they step into your event venue, be ready to smile and greet them. This will warm their hearts. Nobody can’t resist a smiling person approaching and greeting you while ready to assist you in helping you have your seat at the event.
Also, find time to explore the room and talk to your attendees. Just imagine the venue is your house and your attendees are your guests. Striking a conversation or small talk removes the uneasy feeling of attendees. Eventually, they will be comfortable and show their bubbly self or step away from being shy to being friendly.
2. Create a Speed Networking
Most Filipinos are shy by nature. Even if they are professionals, only a few people have the ability to start a conversation. Therefore, when you place speed networking in your program, attendees are forced to break the ice and approach other people because they were given permission.
Your attendees will surely love this. They may even believe this is the best part of your event.
3. Prepare for Group Workshops
Group Workshops allow attendees to work together. In the process of the workshop, they are avail to get to know each other while benefiting from an output-based conversation.
Group Workshop creates a dynamic bond for all attendees. Best of all, it is a great way to learn more things.
There are other great ways to create a welcoming atmosphere for your attendees. The key here is always to make this one of your priorities.
“Event Management is not just about logistics and planning; it’s about creating an emotional connection with your audience”.
Logistics and planning are important. However, this is the technical aspect of the event. Oftentimes, event organizers focus too much on the technical aspect of the event. This is a big mistake when you neglect the reason why you are achieving technical excellence – the audience.
The audience experience or customer experience must be the heart of your technical hard work. You must ensure that your activities and attention to detail are geared towards creating an event that emotionally connects with the audience.
Always remember that you are creating an event to have a repeat transaction. This repeat business can only be possible when your event resonates with your audience.
Yes, logistics and planning may have something to do with it. But it will only be possible if, on top of our minds, all actions that we take are all about the experience our audience will enjoy and emotionally appreciate.
