A "universal template" for excellent event planning

In the eyes of outsiders, event planners are well-dressed, in control of the overall situation, and act after careful planning, with the demeanor of a military strategist. Only in the planner's own world do we know that event planning is a trivial and detailed job. Every successful event planner can almost be said to be omnipotent:

1. Ability to write: Writing is the most basic skill in event planning. You should be able to write copywriting, planning, and reporting in various styles and express yourself clearly and vividly.

2. Ability to calculate: basic calculation skills, grasp of data such as activity evaluation indicators, budget, advertising expenditure and effect, and result reports.

3. Observation: Detailed and accurate insight, make full use of market research methods to make activity strategies meet market demand.

4. Organization: Allocate the human and material resources that the organization can invest in activities in the most optimal way to ensure the smooth progress of the activities.

5. Public relations: Strong public relations skills and appropriate public relations strategies can expand the influence of the event, such as media hype.

6. Be able to endure: Event planning is a detailed and difficult job. You have to be able to stay up late (even like squeezing toothpaste) to write the plan. When there is a shortage of manpower, you must be able to accept glorious tasks like being a porter at any time.

Psychology and marketing are also indispensable basic knowledge. These abilities constitute the basic skills of event planning. When applied to the specific work of an event and dispersed across various work nodes, "excellent abilities" can produce "excellent planning plans." For beginners or planners who want to quickly improve their skills, the ultimate test of successful event planning is the grasp of details. Therefore, I summarized my previous experience in organizing events, and I called it the “basic version of event planning.” Most of the events can be directly applied to it.

Well, let me summarize the full version. This "basic version" divides the activity into five stages, which are then listed one by one according to the planning ideas.

[Phase One] The earliest stage of an event, when the event is confirmed and organized. The larger the scale of the event, the earlier the start time and the longer the preparation period.

[Phase 2] During the preparation period from when the event is confirmed to when it is officially held to when all the details that need to be taken into account are arranged.

[Phase 3] A few days before the official event, the site is arranged and materials and personnel are in place.

[Phase 4] The event is officially held, with many details and more things to pay attention to.

【Phase 5】 The follow-up arrangement phase of the activity.

Complex activities can be added, simple activities can be deleted, and all elements of this basic model can be flexibly adjusted and used freely.

Finally, let me say one more thing: the key to the success or failure of event planning lies in the details. Only planners who don’t miss out on details will have the last laugh.

Author: Yi Yunlong

Source: Zhihu