The Practical Guide to Organising Events is a short, accessible and practical guide on how to successfully plan and organise a variety of event types in a wide range of contexts. The core sections of the text are logically structured around the key stages of event management - pre-event, on-site and post-event - offering essential practical insight and guidance throughout the whole process. Topics covered include proposal writing, budget, funding and sponsorship, health and safety, security and evaluation. This is a fundamental resource for all events management students running and organising an event as part of their degree programme. It is also a book for anybody who just happens to be tasked with organising an event such as an office party, a social networking event, Christmas party or family wedding. Based on experience, using real-life case studies and anecdotal examples, The Practical Guide to Organising Events ultimately makes the business of events management appealing, understandable and achievable.
List of contributors
Preface
Acknowledgements
PART 1
Introduction
1 The culture of events
1.1 Developed markets
1.2 Undeveloped and developing markets
1.3 Sustainable events
2 The structure of events
2.1 Types of event
2.2 Sectors of the event industry
2.3 The structure of an event
3 The role of the event organiser
3.1 Types of event organiser
3.2 The 'real' event manager
3.3 The 'real' client
3.4 Risk and control
3.5 Staffing
PART 2
Management pre-event
4 The enquiry to confirmation stage
4.1 Enquiry
4.2 Brief
4.3 Proposal
4.4 Budget proposal
4.5 Confirmation
5 Management of the lead-in
5.1 Lead-in
5.2 The venue
5.3 Marketing
5.4 Funding
5.5 Theme
5.6 The client file
6 Catering and beverages
6.1 Catering
6.2 Beverages
7 Client liaison and communications
7.1 Tickets and invitations
7.2 Client liaison
7.3 Event checklist
7.4 Administration checklist
7.5 Production companies
PART 3
Management on-site: operational event management
8 Event organiser responsibilities
8.1 Checking
8.2 Hosting
8.3 The running order
8.4 Sequence
8.5 Production office
8.6 Rehearsal
8.7 Caterers
8.8 Theme and decoration
8.9 Entertainment riders
8.10 Staff briefing
8.11 Pre-event briefing
8.12 On-site briefing
8.13 Security
8.14 Final walk-round
8.15 Fire, health and safety
8.16 Aesthetics
8.17 The front door
8.18 Cloakroom
9 Inside the event
9.1 The guest experience
9.2 The press
9.3 Event photography
9.4 De-rig
9.5 Get-out
PART 4
Management post-event
10 Debriefs and reports
10.1 Debriefs
10.2 Complaint handling
10.3 Guest feedback
10.4 Final report
11 Case studies
Case study 1 by Philip Berners: Garden party hosted by Queen Elizabeth II, Windsor
Case study 2 by Philip Berners: Artist and VIP hospitality at The BRIT Awards
Case study 3 by Philip Berners: Worldwide launch of the Bon Jovi album, Crush
Case study 4 by Chantal Dickson: The 2014 Tour de France Grand Départ Leeds
Case study 5 by Paul Glover: A circus celebration event in London
Case study 6 by Ariane Lengyel: Grand party at the Palace of Versailles
Case study 7 by Amira Malek: Reflections on graduating with an events management degree
Case study 8 by Dr Evangelia Marinakou: An international IT conference in Greece
Case study 9 by David Titley: Reflections of studying for a degree in events management
12 Event management as a career choice
13 The author's career path
13.1 Author's eventography
Appendices
I Event enquiry form
II Example sponsor package
III Event checklist
IV Administration checklist
V Example function sheet (running order)
VI Final report
Glossary of technical terms
Index
