Tips for Thriving in the Event Industry
The event industry is an exciting and highly competitive sector.
As you dive into working in events, take a moment to think about the skills and characteristics you need to not only survive, but thrive.
01. Develop Effective Communication Skills
Communication is the key to success in the event industry. When you work in events, you will be required to communicate with your clients, suppliers and team members, along with your event attendees.
To really thrive in the events industry, you must be able to express yourself clearly and concisely. It is also important to know how to listen and to take into account the needs of each one to guarantee an optimal organisation of the event.
02. Learn to Work Under Pressure
The world of events is often synonymous with stress and tight deadlines. To succeed, it’s essential that you learn how to work under pressure. You will encounter short lead times and demanding clients in all the phases of planning your event.
To survive in this industry, you must be able to handle unexpected and difficult situations calmly and efficiently.
03. Develop Methods to Stay Organised
Organisation is the key to success in events. For some of us, staying organised seems to come naturally, and for others it’s a struggle. The trick is to develop methods and tactics to stay organised.
Pro Tip: Our ready-made event templates set you up to take control of event planning from start to finish, by creating event budgets, developing event plans and timelines and more.
04. Explore Your Creativity
The best part of planning events is the scope to be creative, and it’s worth reminding you that creativity isn’t limited to programming team. Every part of working in the event industry requires creativity and innovation.
You must be able to come up with original ideas and think outside the box to organise unique and memorable events, and problem solve when things don’t go as planned.
05. Continue to Learn
To be successful in the event industry, it is important to have a thorough knowledge of the industry. To thrive you need to understand the current trends, technologies and keep up with innovations that are changing the event landscape.
Actually the future of the event industry is already here, and it’s thanks to generative AI. With AI programs such as ChatGPT we can wave goodbye to tedious tasks and embrace a new style of event planning.
06. Get Control of Event Budgeting
Financial management is a key element of a successful event, and a thriving event planning business. You need to get control of event budgeting, right from the start.
You must be able to calculate the expenses and revenues related to the event, update your budget as the event progress and costs change, and manage the financial contingencies that may arise.
07. Have an Optimistic Attitude
The event industry is often unpredictable and can be stressful. It is really important to try to control only what you can, and let the rest slide (disclaimer: while always maintaining a safe event for all).
An optimistic is essential when working in events, to deal with all those difficult situations. A positive attitude can attract positivity and actually help you overcome those seemingly impossible obstacles.
08. Be Flexible
The event industry is constantly evolving, so it is important to be flexible and know how to adapt quickly to changes.
Being flexible with your ideas, your approach and your methods of event planning is key to thriving in the events industry.
09. Embrace Working as a Team
Events are not made alone. It is important to have a team spirit especially when working in the event industry. The event industry is all about building relationships - with your clients, your suppliers and your team.
Surround yourself with a reliable and capable team who you trust, and who trusts you.
10. Nurture Yourself
And finally… to foster a long and successful career in events we must all remember to embrace the post-event phase as a part of our journey. Rest, reflect, and celebrate accomplishments.
Give yourself the time and space you need to recharge, and you'll find your creativity and enthusiasm for events. After all, you deserve to celebrate your success and approach the next event project with renewed energy and passion.
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Meet Your Mentor
Hey! I’m Rachella — founder of Event Kit and an Event Consultant with 25+ years of experience running world-class festivals and public events. I created Event Kit because I knew there had to be a smarter, less overwhelming way to plan pro-level events.
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