WordPress Event Ticketing

One of the main dangers of any job is falling into a rut. Especially when it comes to jobs which inherently require a certain degree of creativity in order to be done successfully.

And yes, event management requires creativity. A lot of it. How else do you think a master event manager could juggle - and somehow, well, create a functioning - event out of a group of hungry guests,  a bunch of name cards, some late speakers and some sound speakers?

Playing it safe. Being boring.

That is why one of the worst transgressions an event manager or an entire well-oiled and experienced event management team can commit is doing things by the numbers. Choosing only what worked previously. Playing it safe. Being boring.

Don’t get me wrong, procedures and well-established solutions are the backbone of any event that has successfully  unfolded from start to finish, ever. But they apply to two aspects of events: tech and coordination. It’s really important to follow safety when setting up lighting or a buffet table with gas heating for food. It’s equally important to make a timetable for event preparation and to do your darndest in order to stick to it.

But it isn’t really important to always have guest speaker. Or the same guest speaker only because they worked out at a previous event or you got along really well. And sweet Jesus don’t let him or her make the same jokes they did at a previous event, because if you let them do it, they will think it’s ok and soon enough we’ll have a list of event jokes used at every company celebration or fundraiser around the world - and that is one of the seven signs of the Apocalypse (and nowadays we’re up to six, with Kanye announcing his 2020 presidential run).

A little boost of creativity can do wonders for an otherwise run-of-the-mill occasion. Being original, peppering even some tiny aspect of an event with a bit of inspiration or imagination can do wonders for the guests’ experience, and ultimately, do a lot of good for you company’s image, or your client’s company image, providing you are a professional outside event planner.

Of course, creativity is constrained by many things such as the venue, the type of event and, of course, the budget. But, here’s a newsflash: creativity is actually what happens within limits you are given. Being creative is about using what you have in unexpected ways or making the most out of an otherwise limiting situation. Chances are,  being big on creativity when planning an event will make much more of a difference than a big budget.

Given the diversity of potential types of events you will be handling, there’s no simple, catch all solution for being creative in every situation. But, fortunately, most events have some common components, and I can give you some ideas and suggestions for how to make the stuff you will encounter sooner or later more interesting for your guests.

Add a bit of magic and flare to any of these, and you are certain to make your event stand out, not so much from other competitors or similar events (because, if professionals are handling them, chances are they too know all this and will be using it) but rather in the memories of the attendees. After all, lesson number one of event management is that you’re doing it for the guests, since without them there is no event.

So, without further ado, here’s my list of things you could (and should) focus on when you are trying to make your event a tad more creative.

Venue

How to be creative with a venue if it’s a given? Well, there’s no way to, of course. But you can be creative when choosing the venue! Just make sure to get to know your attendees – what they like, what they do in their free time and, most importantly, what kind of event venues are they used to. Then go in a different direction. Take doctors out of the hotel conference room and to a park. Hire a big bus and have presentations while riding around town, dropping them off at the after party location. Just make sure to start planning on time, because this will determine the course of your entire event.

Invitations

The first impression is the most important, and your invites will have the name of the event (and its slogan) written on them somewhere. So why not making the invitation itself another medium to communicate what your event is about, not strictly true crafty or creative copy (although that’s always a good thing), but also in the material, the shape or the way the invitations are opened.

Name

A copywriter consultant can do wonders for you here, but if you for any reason are not in the situation to work with one, you should simply think about how you can frame that boring ol’ “Company Year End Party” have a more memorable name that will signal the spirit, the content or the reason for the event. Maybe even add a slogan or a tagline that will make it more clear the spirit of the event.

Set Design

This is one of the areas where creativity is a must – whether we are talking about backdrops, decorations, table centerpieces, chair covers or videos being played on screens. This is the visual aspect of your event and it’s most likely to make the most of an impact on your guests, so don’t hold back, make it memorable, but don’t forget that it always has to be relevant for the attendees or the purpose of the event.

Speakers

The same advice applies when looking for your guest speakers – choose relevant people but try to find someone unexpected. Guest speakers represent the key anchor points of your event’s content and they should be memorable, as should be the speeches they deliver.

Entertainment

This is one aspect where you don’t have to be particularly creative, because entertainers bring creativity with them by default, but still, your choice can speak volumes about how you approach your job. Instead of hiring a DJ or a cover band, try going with percussionist and revel in the energy they will bring. Or have a magician or a street acrobat to dazzle the guests after they begin succumbing to the dinner they just ate.

I know, it’s been said a billion times before, but only because it’s true: think outside the usual and you are on the road towards an inspirational event that your guests will forever remember fondly.