Planning a Successful Corporate Event Checklist
Corporate Event is always very important, be it the people who host it or the people who attend it. The event can be an anchoring point for the hosts to achieve their objective for which they arranged it all. One step in the wrong direction and you could just hit the bottom. It does not matter if the event is planned to foster interpersonal relationships with your clients or allies, to promote your business, to boost your sales or to increase the revenue? If you want it to be successful, check off the to-dos from the Successful Corporate Event Checklist given below. We recommend you, get it printed so that you can work easily through the stressful job of planning a successful Corporate Event.
✓ Set Your Goals and Objectives
Why do you want to arrange an event? Do you want to raise awareness? Arrange a donation drive? Celebrating a milestone? Is it a product launch? Conference? or is it a networking event? Each mentioned event has its own purpose. Note down what do you want to achieve out of this. Setting goals would clear ambiguity and it will ensure a smooth-running of events attaining the desired outcome.
✓ Setup The Event Essentials
The next step to take is to establish some of the key details of your event and add it in your Corporate Event Checklist:
Date and time:
Decide a date and time for your event that could easily be agreed on by your attendees.
Location:
Finalize a geographical location, country? city? area? The place that seems most related to the cause of your event. Research and interview the vendors of that location to decide which vendors you can rely on.
Venue:
Shortlist a number of venues that have your required capacity to comfortably accommodate the event attendees, suit your budget range and the theme of the event.
Audience:
What are the people who would be attending your event? They are the second important thing to focus on in setting goals. Consider that you need to meet their needs and expectations to make the event successful.
Catering:
The food offered in your event says a lot about you, decide one after going through the details of the most suitable menu provided by the catering services.
✓ Build an Event Budget
Microsoft Excel spreadsheet would be a lifesaver here. Begin from the major categories. for example rentals, decor, speaker fee and catering. Break down all the expenses according to the priority you give to each category. Also, do research on the costs of rentals, contact the vendors and get their quotes, pay deposits after negotiating for discounts.
✓ Incorporate Audience Engagement Activities
The audience must be kept engaged in the event to keep it running smoothly, no one wants bored attendees in their event. Design activities according to the type of people attending. These must be related to the industry they work in yet fun-filled. Keep some gifts for the winners to make people excited till the end. Giveaways can make people remember your event for as long as possible.
✓ Gather Paperwork
Let your budget be approved and signed by your company’s executives for the smooth flow of cash needed to be paid. Make sure you have planned to meet all the laws and codes or obtained the licence or permission for conducting the event peacefully. Assign a bookkeeper or a treasurer to manage all the payments and receipts. Create an agenda and distribute it to all the guests and attendees of the event so they know which program would be tailed after the one that ended.
✓ Tailor Your Event as a Brand
Publicize your event on your website or social media pages. Describe your event to grab people’s attention. Make an event log and come up with a tagline to make it familiar to people in your industry. Send emails to your attendees to spark interest in them. You can write blog posts or make a promo video about your event.
✓ Things to Do in Last Week
- Confirm your schedule with all the event vendors, their arrival and setup time.
- Finalize even script, presentation or speech, speaker introductions, thanks, closing remarks.
- Draft a program blueprint
- Send invitations and reminders
- Reach out to confirm presenters/speakers and request a copy of the presentation or speeches
- Follow up with your event sponsors, receive any promotional materials you need to share with event attendees.
- Finalize and proofread all the printed materials.
✓ Hire a Professional Event Planner
Who can do a better job than a professional? To have a successful corporate event hire a professional event planner to do the honours. They usually have the trained staff to deal with all the critical checkpoints. Though you can’t just leave everything on them and it’s your right to cross-check with them every now and then. They make your whole preparation hassle-free and keep you away from all the tension.
These are not all but the most commonly used checklist items by many famous event planners. A Corporate Event Checklist to make your event a successful one and to be remembered for months. You can call us “The Event Planet” and get it all managed by professionals.
What Does an Event Planner Actually Do?
An Event Planner Will Save You Time and Headaches
There are hundreds of small details that need to be taken care of when planning any event. Much of them you may be aware of, but most of them likely not. Hiring an event planner will save you time and allow you to focus on some of the bigger aspects of your day. An event planner will save you the time and headaches of attempting to figure out what to do, and when to do it.
An Event Planner Will Help You Bring Your Vision to Life
Where an event planner comes into play is hearing what you want and using their expertise to bring your vision to life. An event planner will use their industry expertise in Pakistan to help achieve the look and feel that you want for your event.
For example, perhaps you wanted to use blue napkins, but the planner knows that black napkins will compliment your other colors more appropriately. It’s all in the small details that really can push your event from being great to being unforgettable. This is where the event planner’s expertise and vision can make all the difference.
Industry Expertise and Fostered Relationships
Over time, event planners build up a list of vetted industry connections which they can tap into when planning your event. Since they’ve worked closely with these various vendors such as florists, bakers, makeup artists, photographers, bands, and so on, chances are your event planner will be able to not only find the perfect vendor for your specific event, but they can often get you a better deal than if you were to visit a vendor yourself.
Organization and Details
By the very nature of their job, event planners have to be organized. Through their experience, they’ll have expertise on what the best practices are when it comes to planning your event. They’ll know how to best structure your event, which will have the biggest impact on your guests. Having an organized event means that everything will run smoothly, which leaves you having to worry less.
When you read a story, the essence of what makes it so great is the small minute details. An event planner knows that the little details are what matter in telling your story to your guests.
Budgeting for Your Event
When it comes to your event, naturally you want everything to be perfect. All the details you dreamed of are important, and that can be fine when you have an unlimited budget—but most people have a specific amount that they have planned on spending.
Having an expert event planner will keep in check with your budget. Their expertise allows them to know where to allocate the right amount of money to make the biggest impact you’re looking for. Also, as mentioned earlier, your event planner will have connections to vendors who may work with you for a lower price, which should help stretch your budget.
Timeliness and Flexibility
It’s not easy to leave work in the middle of the day to meet with a vendor. Having an event planner will eliminate that problem, since they will be able to meet with vendors and make any decisions that need to be made.
Your Event Planner Will Be There for You
In the process of planning your event, you’re certain to have ideas and questions. Having an event planner will allow you to ask those questions and bounce ideas off of someone who is an expert in the field.
Also, their job doesn’t stop at planning. On the actual event day, you’ll have someone who is there to stay on top of things so that everything goes smoothly.
Event Planners are responsible for every aspect of event planning. Their main duties include selecting venues, determining the cost, arranging event services, and monitoring client approval.
So if you are looking to organize a successful event in Karachi, get in touch with The Event Planet team straightaway to make your event planning stress free.
5 Event Cost-Saving Tips For You
Reducing the budget does not always mean poor and cheap quality. In reality, it is possible to reduce your budget and still deliver a great attendee experience. Follow these 5 cost-saving tips to conduct your event at lesser costs.
Prepare Before Time & Communicate
As your venue is booked, reach to the vendors and suppliers. Make sure that all the things must be available for the event dates. A last-minute panic situation can cost you extra if the vendors need to arrange as per your requirement. Have a meeting with the vendor and suppliers to organize the things.
Invest And Reuse
Purchase the staging in such a way that it can be assembled in other ways and versatile lighting elements can also create a unique feel for every event. Produce such graphics that can be useful for further events.
Look For The Package Deals & Save On Event Cost
Going for some cheapest deals in each expense category i.e., catering tables, chairs, etc. is the way to save money. You can also avail of these deals at the time of booking the event or wedding venue.
Staff Your Event With Volunteers
Volunteers are a great way to get the manpower to your event without adding the cost. You just have to invest your time in training the volunteers in the decorum of your event. They must be well versed to facilitate the attendees without any hassle. They must have quick access to anyone at the management level if something goes wrong.
Cut Down On Catering
Food and beverages don’t have to be such a large expense if you are straying from traditional trappings. Always think outside the box. You can skip the multi-course, plated dinner over a buffet. Your attendees will love to choose the food of their choice.
These are a few cost-saving tips on cutting your budget that we could think of. Hope you liked them.
Corporate Event Planning Mistakes
Corporate events are a delicate matter to handle and need extra care to deal with. It’s better to learn from the mistakes of others instead of making mistakes yourselves. Here are few corporate event planning mistakes we should avoid when hosting one.
Keeping an Eye on Everything
A very common event planning blunder is to involve trivialities and not lining up the tasks. If your event is not having any impact on the people its purpose is still a way far to be achieved. The real achievement of an event is having an impact in the first place. It is an essential element of an event.
Crossing Your Budget
Crossing the limit of your budget is very easy to go. But it is very important to get it right. Hidden fees include taxes, permits etc. can easily increase your expenses. This results in all sorts of financial disturbance.
Unawareness of Cultural Sensitivity
Lack of cultural sensitivity is one of the biggest deficiencies for the event series from a tactical as well as an activation vantage point. This can be further intemperate into things such as lack of attention on the catering, toilet arrangement, temperature regulation of the facilities among the other factors.
Unsuitable Use of the Technology
Technology can both boost or flop your event. Guests roaming around using the events app will only distract them from the event or scanners unable to read tickets because heat or humidity can quickly break the situation.
Poor Timing
The biggest issue is the balance of the timing. Organizing all elements like budgets, Ramadan considered, the biggest tipping point is the timing. From the beginning of the preparation till the inauguration of the event and afterwards timing is everything.
Neglecting the Five Senses
The first impression of an event and the guests will definitely appreciate the warm welcome. They will feel truly comfortable if all the ambience will be according to the basic need of a person. At this point, there is a need for some check and balance on the right area temperature, memorable visuals, a pleasant aroma, delightful tastes, and a fitting soundtrack.
Failing to take help from the professionals
Hiring a professional photographer/videographer is very essential. To capture the feel and energy of the event that is the guest arriving, mingling, entertaining all should be captured for the lovely memories.
To avoid event planning mistakes and make your events memorable and exciting, contact the Events Planet team today.
Tips for Planning an Event Successfully
Develop Your Event Goal and Objectives
The very first step in planning your event is to establish a tangible goal and objectives.
First, start by asking yourself: Why are you organizing this event, and what do you hope to achieve?
Set a Budget and Stick to It
If it’s a wedding event, make a budget and stick to it. If you think you may have “wish list” items that will pop up closer to the time of the wedding, add those items in with your set budget from the very beginning. Aim to never exceed the set amount you have budgeted for from day one.
Begin Timely
Begin planning as soon as you possibly can. If your event is a large event you should really begin planning it four to six months in advance. Some events need at least one month to plan. To keep the final run-up to the event flowing smoothly, try to ensure that all vendor contracts are completed a few weeks before the event.
Remain Flexible & Do Create a Confirmation Checklist
Over the course of planning the event, things are going to change. Whether it is event times, locations or even the type of event you’re hosting, you need to ensure that you’re flexible and can meet the changing demands. In the week leading up to your event, you should be running through your event planning checklist to ensure that you and all those involved are ready to go.
Don’t Send Out Invites Too Late
Your guest’s availability is largely out of your control, but one thing you can do to encourage attendance is to stay on top of invitations and RSVP confirmations.
Don’t Forget About the Trash Removal Service
Your event doesn’t begin and end when your guests arrive and leave. Consider every little detail from setup and strike to trash removal, though these services are sometimes included in venue fees.
Do Plan for Everything
You should always expect something to go awry — and be prepared for it.
Long-distance Venues
You may not be a fan of where you currently live or want to wed where you grew up, but make sure you don’t stray too far from the majority of your guest list, as fewer people will be likely to attend.
Make Sure You Have Plan B in Place
However much you don’t want to think about it, something could go wrong on the day. This could be anything from a problem with the catering to rain (despite the forecast promising a dry day). Plan alternatives for each scenario and account for anything that might not go to plan so you’re not left stressed out and panicking on the big day.
Get the Menu Right
One of the biggest talking points at any wedding is the food. As with most aspects of wedding planning, you should begin by consulting your budget. Food can get costly, so make sure you know your limit before you dive into selecting hors d’oeuvres and mains for your wedding meal menu.
List, List and More Lists
With a million and one supplier to deal with, each with different payment deadlines, it’s impossible to keep track of everything by yourself.
Looking to make your wedding event more memorable, get in touch with the Event Planet team today.
