Networking Events, Are They Worth It?
Many organizations host networking events, should yours too? Read Planit Event Inc.’s blog where we share why hosting a networking event may be beneficial for your organization.
Posts
Hybrid Events, They’re Here to Stay
Planit Events Inc shares tips on improving your hybrid events through surveys, testing, and post-event feedback.
Why Fall or Winter Events May Be More Suitable for Your Organization
Planit Events Inc. shares some insight into which season is most suitable for your organization’s events!
Courtney’s 5 Special Event Tips
Courtney’s 5 Special Event Tips
For those of you who are returning to the Planit Blog, it’s great to see you, and for those of you who are new here, my name is Courtney and I’m the owner of Planit Events Inc. I’ve been in the events industry for many years now and I’d say that I’m just as passionate about it as the day I started. I love curating event designs and putting my client’s visions together to ensure that they have a successful event. Usually, I pick a topic to focus on for each of my blogs, but I thought I would switch things up a bit for this one. In today’s blog, I will be sharing 5 tips that I have learned throughout my experience as a professional event planner in the Edmonton and surrounding area.
Copyright Lauren Voisin Photography. All Rights Reserved 2016.
Tip 1: Plan Ahead
I apologize in advance to those who are returning, but I’ve said it once (ok, more than once) and I’ll say it again, always plan ahead! Planning your event is the core structure that your entire event relies on. Planning has the following benefits:
- Gives you time to troubleshoot when problems arise
- Allows you to potentially test out ideas
- Gives you ample time to research
So, when you are planning what things should you consider? I like to start with deciding what the event is for, who the audience is, and what my goals are. I then like to decide on a budget. This aspect can be tricky sometimes but don’t worry I’ve got you covered. Check out the Planit blog to learn how to plan out your event budget.
Once you have your budget you can start to make decisions on the details. Think about the venue and how you picture the event. Need help choosing the right venue for your event? Check out the Planit blog. Work on the details from biggest to smallest.
Tip 2: Stay Organized
Now with details, it’s important to stay organized. Planning an event can become messy, fast. But if you stay organized from the start, things will be much easier for you and your team. So how do I stay organized?
- Plan out my days (ensure to make time for yourself too!)
- Use reminders on my phone and calendar to keep me on track
- Make lists and monitor them
- Use digital tools (read more about this in the Planit blog)
Organization is different for anyone, so try a few things out and see what works for you.
Tip 3: Ask for Help
Planning an event can be super overwhelming and take up a tremendous amount of your time. Don’t forget that it’s ok to ask for help! Believe it or not, most large events aren’t just put together by one lone person. Make yourself a team of friends, family, colleagues or vendors. I know sometimes we don’t always have a team available, but you can also consider hiring an event professional to ease the burden. To learn more about how hiring an event planner can help, check out the Planit blog.
Tip 4: Don’t Be Afraid to be Creative
I think sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in the latest trends or get nervous to try out something completely different, but I’m here to tell you to be elaborate and think outside of the box! The best events that I have attended have always been different than the typical event and that’s what makes it so memorable. The only tip I have to give is to make sure the idea you have fits the audience that will be attending your event. Will your creative idea help you reach one of your event goals? If the answer is yes, then give it a try! Event planning in many cases is about trial and error. I didn’t find my favorite food vendors quickly, it took years of trying different ones out.
Tip 5: Always Evaluate
Last but not least, always evaluate post-event. This tends to get overlooked but it’s important to address how well your event went. Ask yourself the following when evaluating your event:
- Overall, how did the event go?
- What went well? What did not?
- Did I meet my event goals? Why or why not?
- What would I do differently next time?
- What would I do the same?
- Which aspects can I improve on for future events?
- Did I stay within the budget? Why or why not?
- What unexpected challenges came up?
- Did I deal with the challenges well?
- How did my team perform?
Although events are a lot to plan and put together, the reward of a successful event is priceless. To learn more about the services I offer at Planit Events Inc. visit our website. If you have any questions or you want to inquire about any services please feel free to reach out.
Notable Catering Trends in 2022 You Need to Try
Notable Catering Trends in 2022 that You Need to Try
Each year it’s so exciting to see the new and emerging trends in the events industry. In December I wrote a blog post that summarized the trends from the events industry in 2021 (you can check it out here). This time around I decided I would share some of the catering trends that have gained popularity and perhaps one of these trends will be fun to implement into one of your upcoming events!
Pandemic-Friendly Food Serving
The first one is a little obvious, but due to the pandemic (I swear, I will try to say this word less and less), catering has had to become creative to share food and treats safely. This led to a huge increase in individually wrapped servings, but many catering companies made light of the situation and got crafty. Take a look at some of these awesome ideas:
I do predict moving forward that this trend is here to stick around. Whether you are catering your own event or hiring a catering company, don’t be scared to be creative and have fun with it. Give your guests something to talk about!
It’s All About the Flavor
In the past, when thinking of catering for large events, many planners tended to stick with the more conservative palette for flavor, but according to studies from recent years, guests love trying new and bold flavors. Your event isn’t just about being informative or celebrating, it’s about being memorable and most importantly creating an experience for your guest. By incorporating bold flavors you’re doing just that!
Alcoholic vs Non-Alcoholic Beverages
Depending on your event and audience, you may choose to incorporate alcoholic beverages. This isn’t anything new or memorable to note, but what is, is that more are choosing to not indulge in alcohol anymore. So they’re left with the option of ordering a water, soft drink, or coffee/tea. And guess what, that’s no fun. Consider asking your bar team to add in a few fun non-alcoholic beverages, mocktails. Looking for some inspiration? Check out these fun mocktail ideas!
Think Green
Moving into 2022 more individuals and organizations are moving towards becoming more green. This is great, however, it can pose a bit of a challenge and this may require you to be a bit more creative about your catering. So how can you move towards a more green-friendly option?
- Not using disposable plates, cutlery, or glassware
- Cloth napkins
- Responsible sourcing of ingredients
The key message from this blog that I would love for you to take away is, make your event an experience for your guest and I can assure you they will be returning in years to come. And of course, if you need help along your event journey, or perhaps you’re looking to pizazz things up a bit, Planit Events Inc. is here for you! Send us a message and we would be happy to see how we can help your vision come to life.
Why Should Your Business Host an Event?
Planit Events Inc. shares why your business should considering hosting an event to boost brand awareness.
A Re-Cap of 2021 Trends and What to Expect in 2022
Planit Events Inc shares trends from 2021 and gives insight as to what you can expect in 2022.
Planning an Award-Winning Awards Night
Planit Events Inc. shares tips on planning an awards night that is guaranteed to be a hit!
3 Christmas Party Tips to Help You Throw the Best One Yet
3 Christmas Party Tips to Help You Throw the Best One Yet
As the frost rolls in and the air becomes crisper, it’s safe to say that the holiday season is right around the corner. I know that for most of us, the holiday season is one of the busiest times of all between your work and personal life, which can lead to extra stress. So whether you are getting your plans together for a corporate or family event, I have some great tips to share with you to help ensure that your Christmas party is a hit for each and every one of your guests.
Plan Ahead
As the holiday season can become hectic quickly with numerous events, buying presents for family and friends, and much more, planning ahead will save you a considerable amount of stress. First, pick a date and stick to it. The sooner you let your guests know about your fabulous Christmas event, the sooner they can pencil it into their calendar before other invites arrive.
Once you’ve set a date, create a checklist for yourself. Not sure where to start? Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered! Check out the Planit Events Inc. starter checklist to get you started. What kinds of things should you include on your checklist? Consider the following when making your unique checklist:
- Where will the event be held?
- How many people will be on the guest list?
- Will the event be held at a restaurant, or do you need to start looking for a catering company?
- Will there be a bar?
- Will there be a gift exchange or prizes given away?
- What will be the entertainment?
Download the checklist here: Christmas Checklist
If you want to check out some more great tips on planning, visit my blog!
Décor
It’s not a Christmas party unless there is holiday décor! With lots of advance planning, give yourself a chance to think of a theme or, better yet, start a Pinterest board of all your favorite décor ideas, and from there, you can narrow it down. Think about who your guests are? Do you want to go for a more elegant look, or do you want a more fun, spunky vibe?
Need some help putting your décor together? Look no further! Planit Events Inc. launched a new product earlier this year, Décor Crate! Décor crate makes decorating for your event simple! So how does it work? You will receive your custom curated Décor Crate, which has all your decoration needs, as well as a small box with items that you will keep and do not have to be returned. Don’t worry; a handy guide will be in the crate! Once you are done with your event, simply package all the items that are to be returned back into the crate.
Once we have the crates back, we will sanitize and clean all the decorations and have them ready to go for the next event!
Entertainment
It’s important to choose entertainment that everyone will enjoy! But where do you start? Again, think about who your guests are and what they enjoy. What have you done in past years that people liked or disliked? Here are a few of my favorites:
- Photo Booth
- Guests tend to let loose a bit during holiday parties, and it’s great to capture these happy moments with a photo booth! Christmas props like antlers and Santa hats can make them even more fun!
- Live Music
- Music is a great way to get people up out of their chairs to dance and sing along! Remember, if you’re going to have live music, ensure you secure a band or DJ that will play the right genre of music for your audience.
- Games and Giveaways
- Games and giveaways are a great way to get people excited and involved in the party. Perhaps a gift exchange or raffle! There are lots of ways you can go about this. Remember, if you’re going to incorporate a gift exchange, set a minimum and maximum spending limit.
Now, remember, the holiday season is supposed to be fun and full of appreciation for one another. Planning ahead and sticking to your checklist will help you plan a great party that not only your guests will enjoy, but you too! Planit Events Inc. is always here to help, especially when you have too much on your plate. So let us take the stress away so that you can sit back and enjoy the holiday season with your colleagues, friends, and family! Reach out to us to see how we can help you plan the most fabulous holiday party that people will be raving about years from now!
3 Ways to Increase Engagement During Online Events
3 Ways to Increase Engagement During Online Events
The past two years have completely changed how events are run. Countless trade shows, awards nights, and corporate events have switched from in-person events to either online or hybrid-type events. That being said, event planners have been faced with new challenges, one of which is engagement. I have learned many engagement tactics over my years of experience for in-person events; however, I was posed with the new challenge of engaging guests during online events. I wanted to share a few of the valuable tactics I have learned over the last bit that have helped me improve engagement through the online or hybrid events I have been involved in. Remember, an online or hybrid event can be just as effective as an in-person event if you roll up your sleeves and get creative!
Compelling Content
I can’t stress this enough, but compelling content for your event is key to attendance and engagement. Focus on your target audience, research, and use past event surveys to determine what type of content your audience wants to see. Ensuring that the appropriate content is presented is the first step in the engagement process. Better yet, provide recommended content to each guest based on their interests or reason for attending the event! This can be done by asking each attendee to pick topics of interest during the registration process. Once you have compiled your compelling content, you can move on to the next step, which is encouraging networking.
Encourage Networking
Networking can be complex during online events, so guests need to be encouraged. But how do you do that? We sometimes forget that guests attend many events not just for the keynote speakers or to generate new leads, but many attend to broaden their network and create new connections! Online events can be a bit more tricky as it’s not as simple as going up to a new person and introducing yourself. As an event planner, finding the right way to encourage your guests to network is one of the keys to a successful event.
First, it’s essential to host your event on a platform that allows one-on-one conversations between attendees. These one-on-one conversations can be encouraged by creating “hot” topics that the target audience would be interested in discussing. Perhaps invite subject matter experts to attend your event to entice other guests to join conversations to learn and collaborate.
Another networking method is creating topic-assigned groups, where attendees can join a group topic they are interested in and discuss it among other guests, exhibitors, and sponsors (and trust me, the exhibitors and sponsors will love this too). These discussions create new relationships, opportunities, and connections!
Include Incentive
Online events can seem less attractive to guests, and they may be less enticed to participate, so how do you give them the little extra push they may need? Provide incentive. There are plenty of ways to go about this, so I thought I would give an example of two ideas you can implement into your next event:
- Assign points to guests participating in certain activities. At the end of the event, you can give away prizes provided by the event host or sponsors. These activities can consist of:
- Visiting an exhibitor/sponsor booth
- Joining a group discussion
- Booking a one-on-one meeting with another attendee, exhibitor, or speaker
- Joining a live keynote speaker session
- Encourage exhibitors and sponsors of the event to do a give-away of their own to entice attendees to visit and interact with their booths. These giveaways will allow your exhibitors and sponsors to collect basic information (name, company, and email) about potentially interested guests, which can turn into leads in the future.
Online and hybrid engagement is different for every event. Contact Planit Events Inc. to discuss ways to improve your next event to ensure your audience, sponsors, and exhibitors experience strong engagement, in turn creating a successful event!
Copyright Lauren Voisin Photography. All Rights Reserved 2016.