How to Produce a Successful Corporate Event

Corporate events are vital for cultivating work culture and building lasting relationships with your clients. As you start to plan your next corporate event, it is vital to make sure you have everything in order.

Whether you have planned an event before or maybe this is your first time, the following tips below will help you create a successful event.

1. Determine the purpose of your corporate event.

This is the first thing you should do and it will help you focus your energy and prioritize certain parts of your planning. An event to thank your employees will look a lot different than one geared at nurturing relationships with customers.

Before you plan anything know your goals for the event. These goals will help you focus your energy on the correct things.

1. Set your budget.

Figure out how much money you have to spend on the event. In the initial planning stages, determine how much of that budget will go to each main expense. Keep in mind costs for a venue, catering, decorations, hiring a live band, and unforeseen expenses.

It is a good idea to set your budget a little bit higher since an event will almost always end up costing more than anticipated.

1. Set a timeline & choose a planning committee.

You should have a strong idea of when things need to be accomplished to successfully plan an event. Write down dates for booking a venue, hiring musicians, contacting speakers, catering, and setting up the event.

Make sure you have a committee in place to help with the arrangement and implementation of the event. Each person on the committee should know their responsibilities. Once everyone is on board, it’s time to begin making arrangements for your event.

1. Book your ideal venue.

Before you start planning the smaller details for the event, you should pick and book your venue first. The venue will play a large role in what your event looks like, so it is important to have this booked before you start making plans. Book the venue as soon as possible to guarantee availability.

1. Hire a band.

A live band is great for any corporate event. You should hire a band that fits with your venue and the vision you have for the proceedings. If you are holding an event outside you could opt for roaming bands as they will not require any amplification and can mix with your clients. It is important to always book your live band early, especially if your event is during the summer season. It is tempting to cut costs on this front, but having a great band can significantly add to the success of the entire event.

1. Contact other services.

Once you have your venue and band in place, start contacting and booking other services you require like catering, photographers etc., and event coordinators if needed.

1. Promote your corporate event.

If your event is planned for just your employees, contact them through employee email and company announcements. Use all channels to let your employees know about the upcoming event.

If you are creating an event for clients use advertising methods to get the word out.

1. Plan for glitches.

Events seldom go exactly as planned. Make sure you have space in your planning to deal with any problems that may arise. You should always have at least one person on standby to fill in where needed. If someone calls off sick that extra person can step in to fill the role as needed.

1. After the event, get some feedback

It is always a good idea to get feedback after your event. Pay attention to what employees or clients are saying about the event and use it to plan your next event. This is especially important if you’re planning to have the event every year.

Within a few weeks of the event, sit down with your planning team to discuss the event. You can find out what went well and what didn’t, and what you can do better next time.

We hope you find these few tips helpful when planning your next event.