Perhaps your business has only one major event per year, or maybe your calendar is packed with customer outreach and in-house activities. In any case, you might sometimes find yourself at a loss for ideas as you look ahead to your next event. If you’re feeling a little short on creativity, check out some of the following suggestions to make your next event perfect.
Hire an Event Planner
First, you might make things easier on yourself by hiring an expert corporate event planning company. Your planner can suggest everything from venues to programming and then take care of all the details for you. You’ll be able to supervise and then sit back and enjoy the party. Keep this option in mind if your budget can support it.
Start Early
No matter what you choose, make sure you start planning early. If you’re going to host a major event, you should begin the process several months in advance. This will give you time to book a venue and entertainment, set up catering and prepare a program. You’ll also have more of an opportunity to recruit help along the way.
Whatever you do, never wait until the last minute to start planning your event. You’ll only give yourself more stress. And it’s quite possible that the final result will not be as professional or as fun as you might like.
Think Outside the Box
Corporate events often tend to follow patterns. You might think about all the dinners and gatherings you’ve attended over the years. These are useful and often quite fun. But you may want to do something different this time around.
So think outside the box. Depending on the nature and purpose of your event, you could choose to put on an employee talent show. Or you might host a themed party. Travel back to the 1980s or the 1950s, for instance, and ask your guests to come in costume accordingly. You may be surprised by how big of a hit this kind of event can be.
Pay Attention to Details
Even if you choose a more traditional event, be sure to pay attention to the details. Start by making a master list in the first stage of your event planning. Write down everything you can think of that needs to be planned and accomplished. Then have two or three colleagues look over the list and add their suggestions.
Distribute a copy of your list to everyone on your event team. Then start delegating tasks and checking off each item on the list. You may find yourself adding items as you go along. That’s okay because you don’t want to miss anything.
Make It a Team Effort
Finally, make event planning a team effort. You’ll simply drive yourself crazy if you try to do everything alone. Start with two or three other people, and distribute tasks according to their skills and time constraints. You can add more team members as necessary. Just be sure to communicate well at every step of the process.
Your next corporate event can be a major hit if you plan carefully and follow these suggestions. So get started, and have fun!
