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• » Avoiding mistakes

Avoiding mistakes

Some mistakes that crop up in conference planning are easily avoidable. These are the classic mistakes made by many first-time event planners, and they can be avoided if you are aware of them from the start. Read over this list now to avoid mopping up your mistakes later.

Stick to your goals

Don’t get caught up in the logistics and lose sight of the purpose of your event. Events should support your organisation’s goals and missions, so make sure you are aware of those goals before you start planning.

Always have a brief

Before you begin planning your event, ensure that you have a thorough brief from your manager or client. The brief should include their objectives for the event, a budget, and any special considerations that need to be taken into account. If you don’t have a brief, schedule a meeting with your manager or client and ask them what you need to know. 

Start planning early

If you wait to plan your event until just weeks before it is due, there are bound to be hiccups and you’re likely to have to compromise on venues, catering and speakers. A good way to ensure your event runs seamlessly is to map out an event timeline.

Learn from past mistakes

Gather material on similar events your competitors have run, and gather information on past in-house events to learn from your colleagues’ experience. Collect old event material such as invitations, correspondence and previous quotes for an idea of what to expect.