We’ve realized something throughout many years of creating and managing events for for-profit, nonprofit, and government clients. Most people – especially those at nonprofits, community-based organizations, and local government – don’t have much formal training in how to envision, plan, or manage programs, events, or experiences. The responsibility for planning a fundraising gala, a new outreach program, or a community festival often becomes an “other duty as assigned” that is dropped in the lap of a marketing director, facilities manager, or Development VP who may have little experience (and even less time and resources) to handle the substantial tasks involved with bringing an event successfully to life.
Whether you’ve never produced an event before or are an old hand at putting together fantastic events, we’re certain you’ll come away from an EVENTS101 training with new insights, new perspectives, and exciting new professional connections.
Does This Sound Familiar?
You’ve just been tasked with producing a gala but no one on your team has events experience. Or the COVID-exacerbated economic downturn has forced your organization to part with key marketing team members and scale back popular programs. Maybe you’re in desperate need of a fresh approach to engaging your audience after two-plus years of pandemic lockdowns. Or your organization could benefit from a new revenue stream, but you’re not sure how to find – let alone build – one that embraces your mission while also delivering a financial win.
If you see yourself or your team in the examples below, you’re exactly the type of person we believe would greatly benefit from attending an EVENTS 101 training. We’re confident you’ll leave the day energized and ready to enhance your existing events program or develop a successful event or events series that will help you achieve mission success!
You’re new to the events field.
You’re a marketing lead or development officer, or you’re a hard worker who wears seven different hats at work. Suddenly you’re tasked with putting together a gala, holiday event, or concert series – but you have no experience in envisioning, producing, or managing events.
You’ve created events in the past. But you’re short on the staff, time, and stuff to craft an event at the right quality or scale.
You’ve built events before. Maybe you were great at it, maybe it was like pulling teeth. But your team isn’t strong in events, you’re swamped with other priorities, and you don’t have the network to source key items like audio and lighting gear, barricades, talent, staging, permits, and more, to create a powerful event.
You’re responsible for a venue that has too many dark dates, or events that don’t meet mission or revenue goals.
You run a performing arts center whose theatre is dark 70% of the year. You’re in charge of specialty programs for a county fair and have a building or two that you just can’t activate successfully. Or you’re filling your spaces but with random events and activities that may generate some revenue or draw crowds, but don’t really yield big wins across all your mission priorities.
You run a successful event, but would like to scale up by adding more to your event in its current location or by adding new locations far afield.
You need help developing a plan to replicate the success of your current event, whether that means re-envisioning for a new audience, finding new venues, building relationships with new contractors, or building the teams needed to spin up successfully.
Thanks to inflation, or COVID, or ALL THE THINGS, your organization has been forced to reduce (or eliminate!) your internal events and marketing staff.
The (almost) post-COVID economy has left many businesses in a terrible position, having had to cut previously critical positions in marketing, PR, community outreach, events, and more just to survive the economic downturn. But that leaves organizations unable to activate events or experiences that were the lifeblood of community-focused activity on your property – the fairs, festivals, concerts, and exhibits that thrilled the public, fostered engagement, and generated much-needed revenue. Rebuilding internal teams in the short term is a challenge, both in finding staff and covering salaries and overhead. So how do you still generate revenue and engagement without the cost burden of internal teams?
You run a successful event, but you’re curious about how to take your event to the next level.
You created or inherited a successful event or event series. Maybe it’s a county fair, art show, fireworks show, or concert series. But you’re curious about how to take the event to the next level – how to find the right mix of activations, vendors, programs, and operational excellence needed to keep the event fresh, draw record crowds, and impressive revenue.
Your company has a strong belief in corporate social responsibility, in doing good for the community by creating events or supporting them through sponsorships.
Your company is a household name in your area – perhaps a major utility, global brand, or manufacturer. You create jobs and tax revenue and are seen as inextricably woven into the fabric of your community. You’re interested in supporting high quality of life and strong, resilient communities, but your core business is electricity or windshield wipers or software. Events sound like they might be a great idea, but how do you come up with a plan?
You’re an organization with a diverse audience of organizations (e.g, Chamber of Commerce, Arts Council, Professional Association) and you want to empower them to produce more successful events that engage audiences and build stronger communities.
You might be an arts organization that provides networking, guidance, and grant support to smaller visual and performing arts entities throughout a county, state, or region. Or perhaps you’re a Chamber of Commerce, looking to serve the needs of a wide array of for- and nonprofit businesses in your community. There’s certainly an option to produce events – mixers, galas, and more – that will engage and entertain your constituents. But our EVENTS101 training program offers ways for Chambers and other nexus organizations to “pay it forward” by hosting or sponsoring one- or two-day training sessions that bring premiere events education to your community.
You’re in a leadership role and believe events could be transformative for your organization. But you’re not sure how to get started.
Perhaps your staff keeps resurrecting a tired event concept year after year, puzzled at the diminishing attendance, lackluster audience enthusiasm, and ever-smaller revenue. Or your team doesn’t have the time, energy, or expertise to create an events program from scratch. We can assess your current events, help you understand your options, and envision a meaningful, mission-centric approach to developing successful events.
You’re a for-profit organization and you’re interested in “giving back” to the community, but aren’t sure how.
We can help you transform your spirit of generosity into an EVENTS101 education session open to your whole community or to specific students you recruit from constituent organizations or from specific fields. From fighting against food insecurity and supporting first responder organizations to raising awareness or funds for local humane societies or youth organizations, the funding required to sponsor EVENTS101 pays back through the community many times over for years to come.
You’re a Board Memeber or Community Leader (ADD MORE HERE)
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur.
You’re a professional volunteer and you want to take your skills to the next level -OR- you’re considering a career switch and want to grown your knowledge and skills before you seek new opportunities.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur.