Event Planning Basics – Creating an Action Plan

Screenwriters use a script to tell their story.   Chefs work from a recipe to get consistent results.  Travelers use a map to get turn-by-turn directions in order to arrive at their destination.  Use any analogy you like, but the same principles hold true for event planning.  You need to create a written plan to get you on the path to achieving your goals on time and within budget.

 

Whether you’re planning a business conference or a birthday party, there are several essential elements that are common to almost any event.  After you’ve established your goals and assembled your team, it’s time to get to work on an action plan:

• Establish your budget
• Select a venue
• Create an agenda
• Identify Equipment Needs, Third Party Vendors, other logistics
• Decide on the Food, Fun, and Theme/decor
• Publicize – invitations, registrations, advertising, social media
• Create a task list (with an owner for each task) and a timeline for task completion

We’ll go into detail on each of these essential elements in future chapters.  For now, just remember that preparation is the key to your success.   Visualize your goal, identify your mission-critical activities, create an action plan, surround yourself with the right people, and be agile enough to think on your feet and persevere when things don’t go according to plan.

Next…Event Planning Basics – Establishing Priorities

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