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You've got an idea. And it's a great one. You want to host an event, perhaps a retreat or a workshop and you know the impact you want to have on people's lives. Amazing, you think to yourself, I've totally got this. I just need to put it together, set the date, get the speakers, book a venue, order food, and get people to sign-up. I think that's it, and that should be easy... right?
Cue the possible overwhelm, confusion, and the thought of "wait... where do I actually start?"
Phew, it can be a doozy for sure.
But it's all actually doable, especially with the attitude you had when you got the idea to do the event in the first place! It is really important to keep your expectations in check though - which does include the fact that you, yes you, can do this! So with that in mind, let's dive in:
Expectation: This should take a couple weeks, a month tops.
Reality: Crafting an amazing event experience takes some time to get everything up and running, and that's okay! If you're new to event planning, I'd recommend allotting for at least 3 months. If you're planning a multi-day workshop or retreat, between 4-6 months. But if you're able to dedicate the majority of your time to this, then you can whittle down the time frame. Basically, you don't want to end up pressed for time, and as a result experience unnecessary stress about pulling all the details together, which don't forget - includes the time you need to market and sell tickets to your amazing event!
Expectation:
(Option A) To pull off an awesome event, I need to have a large budget and spend thousands of dollars.
(Option B) Putting on an event won't cost a lot of money, $200 is enough.
Reality: You can create an event based on your budget and what's feasible for you!
Yes, a larger budget does mean you can hire help for certain things, like staff, catering, marketing ect., in addition to other event elements. But you can create an awesome event without spending thousands of dollars. You just need to plan and scale it accordingly.
That said, you do need to expect to spend a certain amount in order to create the type of event you want to have. Unless you're having a meet-up in the park, with only tea and crackers, you definitely need to plan to spend more than $200.
Expectation: People will just sign-up without a ton of effort. Everyone will just want to attend my event.
Reality: Marketing and selling an event is like selling anything else! Think about the branding - ie graphics, pricing, sales pitch (without it being salesy), and conveying what the event-goer will experience, and overall why they want and need to be there! While you know what makes your event special, you need others to understand and get it too.
Expectation: I can pull the whole thing off on my own.
Reality: Everyone needs help. Period. This is something I grappled with in the past - and let me tell you, it's 100% true. Whether the help you get is paid, volunteer based, or your friends and family - you need it and you need to find a way to ask for it. At the end of the day, we can only be in one place at a time, and we only have one pair of hands. Event production is never seamless (more on that next) and depending on the type of event or program, people can help you with registration, check-in, helping to make sure things run smoothly, and so much more. Get help and thank me later :)
Expectation: The event will be perfect.
Reality: I strongly recommend letting go of this expectation now! Just like life, your event will inevitably have some hiccups. Plan for it to run smoothly, but be prepared for things to come up.
Expectation: Wow, planning an event sounds like hard work and not worth it after all.
Reality: Event production does take time and effort, it's true. But trust me - if you have a goal and a purpose in mind, it can be so worthwhile! Stay the course and you can create an amazing experience for participants! And in turn, something that is fulfilling for you.
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