Mistake No. 1: Not being prepared for the unexpected

Problem: While the jury is out on who coined the famous Murphy’s Law saying “Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong”, chances are this person probably worked in event management. Event Planners need at all times be prepared for the unpredictable.

Solution: Risk Management is vital for any event. Identify risks, assess their likelihood and the severity of their impact, and prioritize them accordingly. Then build contingencies to palliate these risks.

Mistake No. 2: Living in the stone ages.

Problem: In 2013, trying to run your event with static and outdated tools is like trying to inform event participants of changes by paging them. In the days of smart phones, tablets and other electronic gadgets, an event manager who is not equipping himself with at least one suitable event management tool is unnecessarily complicating his own live.

Solution: Deciding which tool to pluck out of the ever-growing sea of Event Management softwares available can become a confusing task. A quick guide like this one (click link: A Buyer’s Guide to Event Management Solutions), can help you decide which one suits your Event Planning needs the most. For the best experience, always check to see if you can get a free-guided demo before purchasing.

Mistake No. 3: Not thinking locally

Problem: No two events are ever alike. A banquet in London, U.K., and a banquet in Beijing, China, require very different approaches in planning, organization and execution. Be aware of cultural difference and language barriers as well as local business practices.

Solution: Look for local expertise in the form of partners, translators and other local professionals. If you’re asked to organize an event in a place you’ve never organized an event in before, get someone to join your team who has.

Mistake No. 4: Failing to set clear objectives

Problem: How does one assess the successful outcome of an event? Opinions may vary on what constitutes a satisfactory event. All too often event managers are so focused on trying to ensure that nothing goes wrong during their events that they forgot to set other objectives.

Solution: Identify clear goals and desired outcomes, both short-term and long term. Make sure these are measurable. Conducting client surveys, assessing budgetary bottlenecks and critically evaluating shortcomings and mistakes are just some of the things event managers should consider during and after events.

Mistake No. 5: Losing track of event changes

Problem: If there is one certainty in any event it is that you can never be certain of anything. Events change more than the tide, and if there is one thing that connects event managers across the globe it’s the frustrating experience of trying to ensure that everyone involved with your event is always up to date to the latest changes.

Solution: Work from one centralized planning solution. Utilize event management software to generate an event blueprint that suits your Event Planning needs and that allows you to keep track of your event progress.

Image courtesy of David Castillo Dominici available from http://www.freedigitalphotos.net