Just what the web needs.. another blog

Just what the world needs… another viewpoint from someone ranting from their little corner of the world…

Well this one I hope to share musings thoughts and new “event stuff” in particular about Asia…

Although this is a new site – just migrated to WordPress.. I thought I would start off posting the entire my mediocre and miniscule (about 3 posts for over three years) old posts from the former blog “Eventlife”…

Let’s hope that “Event Musings” is more prolific..

05/30/07

Filed under: General

Posted by: @ 7:49 am

Wha’ appened??!! A whole two entries then nothing for 3 months!!! Sorry what can I say December kicked in full then Chinese New Year and now some big stuff cooking but more on that latter.

Something did happen around the time of the last entry that I would like to tell you about and it is a good thing there has been some time for me to ruminate, otherwise i may come across as a ranting lunatic.

Yes it has happened to us all at one time… someone (an unnamed supplier) let me down… New Year’s Eve.. I had been negotiating with a client (a very good long time client who called on December 1st and said “I need you help, I have been thrown in as chairman of the committee for our NYE Big Ball, we have a venue, a band and some lights. We need someone to co-ordinate and decorate”). So the first thing after determining budget etc was see who was available. I called up a decorator that had helped me on a project in November. First question was are you available NYE set up in the morning take down 3AM on the 1st? They said Yes! I couldn’t believe it I was all yea! this will be easy… So we met came up with a plan and a cost within budget …I took it back to the client said “here’s what we will do”… Client said cool went back to the vendor said ok lets sign off.. she disappeared no returning phone calls no return emails.. I began to worry.. then Dec 20th I got an email, only 2 lines… Sorry cannot do the job…. AHHHHGGG!!! Panic! Where can I find a professional event team 10 day before New Years! If they are not already working they certainly don’t want to! Any how lucky for me in my building Clive from Rich Creation managed to sort me out as well as my own personal fluffer Nikko… Client was happy, looked great and alre4ady booked for next year.

SO,,,Today I am talking about TRUST…

How important is trust in events and event management?

Trust is one of the most important assets an event manager can have. Whether it is between the client and you or between you and your vendors, not only will it make your life easier but it will help you gain sales. As a ‘project manager’ we are constantly juggling a thousand different things at the same time. If you have to keep calling a vendor just to check on progress or are loosing sleep fretting over if “X” is/will be done you probably don’t fully trust that vendor. By the same thinking if you have one of those clients that must be in on every decision and is constantly calling and taking valuable time on minute details, they probably don’t trust you. My best (read favorite) clients are the ones that tend to make one call (”Rob got a party on the 15th can you sort out?”)… the rest of the comunication is progress reports from me, it’s great, makes the job soo much easier, and usally a better end result.

So how to build trust? Trust happens over time. With each experience we gain or loose trust in our relationships.

sorry wife’s turned on the telly can’t concentrate at the moment finish later…

http://www.kottke.org/03/07/business-lessons-donut-guy

12/19/06

ROI

Filed under: General

Posted by: @ 11:42 pm

Return On Investment…

Why should we worry about ROI in the special events industry?

Several reasons, for me I want our customers to up the budget, to spend more money, to give me more to play with, more lights, better wine, better food, overseas entertainment, giant balloons gently lifting nubile graces overhead while a thousand little people sing a chourus of somewhere over the rainbow… also larger budgets equals larger percentage equals larger profits.

But why should they spend more??The budget from last year was sufficient, if anything they often want to cut back…

You have to give the decision makers a reason to spend on special events. They are not an everyday expense for most companies and require budget approval.

But when you start talking to the decision makers on a level that they understand and you can give solid reasons for “investing” in this event ears begin to prick up and they begin to see why they should allocate more to the event. As well when the bosses begin to see that they are getting return on their investment they can justify the expense of hiring a professional to do the job. As we know often many events are handed to office staff that don’t get out much, their idea of a party is a banquet with a lucky draw (many executives especially the finance directors think the same, I had one say “what do we want a theme for? Just give them some good food, good prizes for the lucky draw they will be happy”)…

But how do?you measure ROI in special events?

First you must have a measurable goal.

If your goal is to market a product, this can be done in the form of measuring media impressions, pic in the paper, stories about the event, time on telly etc. (anyone know of a HK company doing this?)…Promoters got it easy with bums on seats…. If it is shopping mall shows perhaps a measure of the average length a shopper stops to watch…For an annual dinner it could be an informal survey among staff (Have you been to other dinners? How does this one compare? How’s the food? How’s the entertainment?). Personally I take notes from informal conversations at events I also measure and analyze anything else I possibly can (level of excitement, percentage that stay on after the final lucky draw). For my repeat customers I compare the previous event’s evaluation forms to see what areas have improved.

Want to know your ROI? First establish measurable goals then evaluate them.

Does anybody have any recommendations for measuring ROI?

Entry One

Filed under: General

Posted by: @ 9:20 am

Ahh well now that I have attained my CSEP I thought it was about time to show some leadership and do something to further the events community. I start this blog as a oppurtunity for all in HK (or anywhere for that matter)

to write, rant, review, recomend and generally moan about anything special events related.

And now on with the blog!!!