Looking into the New Year, it’s time to make some changes. No more overtired, haggard planner barely hanging on during hour 127 of the event. No more computer vision syndrome from straining to navigate a 5,000-row excel sheet. This year will be a year with far fewer blisters, less client frustration, and more enjoyment of the process. Make a few resolutions this year to take out the stress and make life better.
Control Reactions to Last Minute Client Requests
A client wants a unicorn at an event? A castle decorated in floor to ceiling canary diamonds? Some clients have an unrealistic expectation of budget and their requests can send you into a tailspin. In the new year, respond to their requests with a calm head.
Don’t Spend Hours Deduping Data
Spreadsheets and cells and pivot tables – oh my! When you got into the event planning industry, did you expect to spend so much time in Excel? This year make a pledge to spend less time deduping and cross-checking endless spreadsheets. It’s 2018, there’s better tech out there! Try out Cvent’s Event Management Platform and decrease your Excel pain. If you could get out of Excel, wouldn’t you?
Stuff Fewer Badges
Fewer papercuts and less time lost to hours of menial labor. Get away from traditional pre-event badge stuffing or away from printed badges altogether with new kinds of badges and badge tech. Get away from traditional pre-event badge stuffing or away from pre-printed badges altogether with more modern badges and badge tech. Cvent has a few on-demand printing solutions to make your life easier.
Ask for Help
You may have a team, you may be a team of one, but either way, you aren’t alone. Build up a support system and don’t be afraid to reach out when you need a helping hand.
Don’t Forget to Eat and Hydrate Onsite
On days when your step tracker tops 50k and you’re answering every page that comes across the Walkie Talkie, don’t forget about the little things. Taking the time to eat and hydrate will keep your energy up and prevent you from crashing at the eleventh hour.
Prove Your Worth
Your clients don’t understand the value of events. They expect you to put on impactful events that change lives but slash your budget. There’s no reason to beat your head against the wall and hope that unsolicited rave reviews from attendees will find their way to the client. Track everything, from check-in to speaker attendance, and more with integrated tech platforms.
Take a Moment
Don’t let your event pass by without taking a moment to stop and take it in. It’s easy to get lost in the details and the problems, but take time to recognize the incredible result of your efforts. Schedule 5-10 minutes per event to disconnect, walk around, and take in the moment. Being an event planner can be an incredibly rewarding career. You create experiences that individuals will remember for their entire lives. Focus on the experiences this coming year and use the above resolutions to help you decrease unnecessary stress. Enjoy your work, love your life. Not a TPP? We still have resolutions for you. Check out Corporate Planner Resolutions and Association Planner Resolutions.
