While the recent pandemic has impacted most industries, a few like hospitality and event management, which are dependent on people congregating, have been badly hit. Even though things are slowly being restored to normalcy, the ‘new normal’ has made specific rules and regulations in these industries more stringent to avoid a relapse.
While event and promotions management involves accounting for a fair amount of unpredictability, the recent pandemic has added further complexity to the mix. Event planners in the new normal must go the extra mile to ensure that all guests are safe and the event continues without any glitches.
Clearly, understanding the weight of the current scenario and taking proactive measures to incorporate the safety of guests and staff can be a huge help while planning events in a post-pandemic world. This blog discusses three event management strategies which can make your job less complicated as an event manager in the months to come.
Screen all attendees
Due to the infectiousness of COVID-19, exclusivity is the new buzzword in the event management industry. As an event manager or organiser, you must understand that the travel history and past interactions of your invitees can end up spiking cases in your area.
You should be minutely aware of any exposure of guests to quarantine hotspots in the past, and urge all guests to produce self-declarations to make your job easier. A thorough physical screening of all guests is the right decision to take, regardless of their travel history.
Keep guests to a minimum
Overcrowding of venues can increase the chances of virus exposure. Hence, the new normal dictates all event planners must take active steps to drastically reduce guest lists and ensure that only the necessary people are present.
If you have a guest list that can’t be shortened, you should have the seating arrangement done in a way that social distancing guidelines are met when guests are interacting. You can also make arrangements to stream the event for other invitees so they can attend virtually.
Organising virtual events
While virtual events as a concept was conceived a while back, it has really taken off during these last few months. The primary reason behind the popularity of virtual events is that people can attend from their homes and avoid being exposed to the virus.
Although pulling off large-scale virtual events seems more straightforward than hosting an event in reality, you will still be required to tie loose ends to ensure success. You will have to find an online platform that allows possibly hundreds of people to interact with each other. You may also have to invest in relatable content and strong performers or speakers to counter the challenge of a possibly unfocused audience.
These new codes of conduct for event organisation and management will remain for the foreseeable future. Incorporating stringent health regulations into your event planning might cause temporary inconvenience, but it’s a small price to pay for ensuring that your event remains problem-free.
Pursuing formal event management degrees will teach you to become a quick thinker and will help you adapt to new changes, just like we have right now. Event management courses can also provide essential insights into finance and marketing, which are equally crucial for running fully-fledged event management companies.
The London College of Contemporary Arts (LCCA) offers a BA (Hons) Event and Promotions Management programme that intends to equip students with all the skills required to manage, initiate and lead any event.
The three-year BA (Hons) Event Management programme will also provide you with an opportunity to complete a professional practice year abroad which will further enrich your educational experience. Furthermore, the programme is accredited by the University for the Creative Arts in the UK, providing you with a globally recognised qualification. Click here to learn more about the BA Event Management programme and BA Fashion Media and Promotion curriculum at LCCA.