ANTICIPATING NEEDS: THE ART OF EVENT PLANNING - PART IV

In event planning, the excitement of execution often takes center stage. It is so thrilling to see your event come to life. But did you know the real magic happens during the post-event phase? This is when your event keeps making waves, pushing the boat out for your future projects and helping you grow. It's the perfect time to reflect on what went well, smooth over any rough edges, gather valuable feedback, and celebrate all your accomplishments.

In this final entry in the event planning blog series we explore the subtleties of this key phase, highlighting its importance and revealing strategies for success. We'll discuss assessing attendance, enhancing engagement, collecting feedback, and creating insightful reports. We're here to make the post-event stuff less of a headache.

The Post-Event Phase

The post-event phase is an important part of event planning that should not be overlooked. This phase involves evaluating the success of the event, gathering feedback from attendees and exhibitors, creating a report for future events, having an organized plan for clean up, and celebrating the success of the event. Here's what you need to know:

Evaluating the Success of the Event

The first step in the post-event phase is to evaluate the success of the event. This involves analyzing the event's goals and objectives and determining whether they were met. To evaluate the success of the event, consider the following:

• Attendance: Did the event attract the expected number of attendees?

• Engagement: Were attendees engaged in the event? Did they participate in activities and interact with exhibitors?

• Feedback: Did attendees provide positive feedback about the event? Were there any negative comments or concerns?

• Revenue: Did the event generate the expected amount of revenue?

By evaluating the success of the event, you can identify areas for improvement and make necessary changes for future events.

Gathering Feedback from Attendees and Exhibitors

Gathering feedback from attendees and exhibitors is an important part of the post-event phase. This feedback can provide valuable insight into what worked well and what could be improved for future events. To gather feedback, consider the following:

• Surveys: Create a survey that attendees and exhibitors can complete to provide feedback about the event. Be sure to ask specific questions about what worked well and what could be improved.

• Interviews: Conduct interviews with attendees and exhibitors to gather more in-depth feedback about their experience at the event.

• Social Media: Monitor social media for comments and feedback about the event. Respond to comments and take note of any feedback that could be used to improve future events.

Creating a Report for Future Events

Creating a report for future events is an important step in the post-event phase. This report should include a summary of the event, an evaluation of its success, and recommendations for improvement. To create a report, consider the following:

• Summary: Provide a brief summary of the event, including the date, location, and purpose.

• Evaluation: Evaluate the success of the event based on the criteria outlined in the previous section.

• Recommendations: Provide recommendations for improving future events based on the feedback gathered from attendees and exhibitors.

By creating a report for future events, you can ensure that lessons learned from past events are applied to future events.

Celebrating the Success of the Event

Finally, it's important to celebrate the success of the event. This can be done by thanking attendees and exhibitors, recognizing key contributors to the event's success, and sharing positive feedback about the event on social media. Celebrating the success of the event can help build momentum for future events and create a positive reputation for your organization.

Need some help evaluating the success of your event? Download the free Action Review template from my resource page.

| Credits: Author: Jacintha Payne; Photography: Jacintha Payne |