Donna Hodge is:
Designing the Experience…
Designing the Event or Experiential Experience, it includes several elements. Whether it is a corporate event, a social event, or a fundraiser, what do you want the attendee to remember the most? Understanding the “End Game” will help ensure that your event is memorable for the right reasons, and it will keep your guests happy and that will keep them coming back to your next event.
Remember the experience doesn’t start when your guest arrives, it starts months before with careful planning and attention to detail. The end goal is providing your guests with the most memorable experience so they will not only return for another fun event, but you want them to share this experience with friends and colleagues. You can’t monetize “word of mouth” adage. So, as we navigate through post Pandemic events, Hybrid events (a combination of virtual and in person) have taken on a new perspective.
Designing the corporate event is all about business and customer/client relationships. and It is the perfect backdrop to build brand awareness and cultivate partnerships.
Donna Hodge, CSEP, CMP, CED, DES
Events for All
Not for Profit and philanthropic events are usually connected with raising money for a cause. It could be for educational scholarships to helping the homeless. There are a multitude of great causes. They can be simple to the sublime.
Social events are for fun, but they still have the same key components as the other events.
The basic elements include research, design, planning, coordination, execution, and evaluation.
Tell Me Your Vision
What is the purpose of the event? Brainstorming and stakeholder meetings are a great place to start the conversation.
Who is your audience? Who do you want to attend your event, old clients, perspective clients? Who is the target audience? What generation are you trying to reach? What is the best method of communication to reach your intended audience? It differs for many generations.
It's All in the Details
What is your budget? How much do you want to spend? What is your ROI (Return on Investment?) Are you offering sponsorships? Do you plan to sell tickets or are you footing the bill? What works best for this event.
How many people do you want to reach? Is a small intimate event or a large gathering?
What is your theme? Create a timeline. There are many different software programs that create and populate your timeline that can be shared with your team. Create a project action plan to identify, vet and contract for all the necessary event specialists. This may include caterers, audiovisual technicians, printers, decorators, photographers, florists, and security personnel, to name just a few. You must also book speakers and presenters, including prominent figures, experts, or influencers, who can best communicate the ideas you’d like to circulate throughout the gathering. Will they need overnight accommodations? Transportation?
Where will your event be held? Choose a venue that speaks to your event.
How will you promote your event? Will it be through media partnerships? Sponsorship activations? Social Media or will it be a private event?
Create a “Day of” agenda. This maps out the entire day to include all deliveries, sound checks, rehearsals and final walk-throughs before your guests arrive.
Then, “its Show Time!”
