Events are all about creating memorable moments. This is why you need to pay a lot of attention to the planning and preparation to make sure your event runs smoothly. Whether you're an experienced events organizer or planning to make your debut, take a look at five ways you can make your events more memorable.
First Impressions Matter
It apparently only takes seven seconds to make a good first impression. According to Business Insider people make a decision on the following things within those brief seconds:
- Trustworthiness
- Status
- Intelligence
- How successful you are
This means you should make sure you have enough staff to welcome guests and that everyone is getting the treatment they deserve. A warm welcome and a good, calming attitude will make great impressions. Also, think about the outfits your team will be wearing, they should be dressed appropriately and match the theme of your event.
Pick the Perfect Venue
Don't overlook the importance of selecting a suitable venue - getting this right can have a significant bearing on the success of the day. Consider capacity - is the venue large enough to comfortably house all expected guests? Is it accessible - will guests find it easily if they're not familiar with the location? How will they get there - is there adequate public transport within range and sufficient parking spaces for those who plan to travel by car?
Think about what you need to do, too. If you're presenting and speaking, you'll need a stage and probably a projector screen, or the facilities to link your laptop up with a TV screen. If your presentation requires visual aids, ensure the tech available in the venue meets your requirements. You should run through all of this in advance of booking the venue.
If there's a networking element to the event, you may need access to another room so that guests can mingle and mix freely outside the main room.
You should visit several different venues before committing to booking one - have a checklist of 'must-haves' and judge which one best fits your criteria.
Choose the Perfect Host/Speaker
A host or guest speaker will make or break your event. It’s their responsibility to entertain, delight and shape the mood of your event. They have great power over how the audience will feel and can focus on achieving the objectives you are looking for. Likewise, a host can attract the audience's attention as well as destroying engagement and create the wrong mood. This will ultimately provide a poor experience for the guest and your event will be remembered for all the wrong reasons.
Ideally, you’ll want a host who is going to be able to manage your event exactly the way you want. This includes introducing the guest speakers, and linking them together seamlessly, if there are several speakers, to ensure the theme runs smoothly. Finding the ideal host will take time and effort but it’s an essential step to be taken.
Set the Mood
To create the perfect mood, you’re going to need the correct lighting, colours and music. Proper lighting will allow for good photos that you and your guests can then share on social media.
Colors will have a big effect on the mood of your event, such as:
Red - for a party to create warmth, energy and excitement
Blue - business meetings to create trust, intelligence and logic
Yellow - for art exhibitions, to create strength, friendliness and creativity
When it comes to music, your selection should depend on the type of event you’re hosting - it must suit your theme and audience.
Remember to Thank Your Guests
You’ve put a lot of time and effort into the event to make it perfect, so it would be such a shame to lose momentum when it’s all over. When the event has finished, remember to thank your guests and perhaps share photo or video highlights from the event. This is an important step to maintain the relationship you’ve built with your audience and increase their chances of attending another event held by you.
Hopefully these five tips provide inspiration for your next event and help towards creating that memorable experience for everyone involved.
