Finding the Perfect Event Space By - Jody Long You've just decided on location for your upcoming event, a huge hurdle in the event planning process no matter what size event. The next step? Figuring out the perfect event site that will best suite your needs. Hotel ballroom? Convention Center? Professional sports stadium? Here are some ideas that may help you decide and brainstorm on what will work best and help make it the perfect event. Read More
Event Management Resources By Jody Long In an earlier post this year (http://institute-of-event-management.com/event-management-resources), a list of event management resources was provided on this blog. Wether you are an experienced event coordinator looking to sharpen your skills, or a newbie to the industry, it's always a good idea to know where to look to find tools you can use for your job and career. If you found the previous post helpful, hopefully these additions will be of use to you as well. Read More
Trade Shows By Jody Long One word comes to mind when the words “Trade Shows” comes up: Opportunity. If this isn't the first word that comes to mind when you think of your company attending trade shows, take another look. Why you should attend as an exhibitor: · Because everything is starting to go digital, and there is still something to be said for in-person meetings, and shaking the hand of a potential client. Wouldn't you be more likely to do business with someone you've met in person, rather than over email, social media, or phone call? Read More
Hiring a Guest Speaker By Jody Long One of the most important parts of an event is the guest speaker. It can be a stressful task, on top of everything else you're planning for your event. So if you've never dealt with hiring one before, here are some tips so you aren't afraid of making any mistakes with your first hire. Read More
What Type of Planner Are You? By Jody Long If you're reading this, you're probably considering a career as an event manager. You've probably given it a lot of thought, and know that you have what it takes to be able to plan meetings and events, weddings, trade shows, corporate outings, fundraisers, or non-profit events. The event industry is a large field to break into, so before you jump right in, be sure to give some thought to the type of planner you'd like to become. Read More
Why You Didn't Get The Attendance You'd Hoped For By Jody Long Think about your last three events. In particular, think about your attendance at each of them. Did you have a goal in mind for each event? Did you meet that goal? If not, here are some areas you may want think about before you start planning your next event. Sometimes just making one of these changes to your next gathering may make the difference of a packed room, versus a handful of attendees. Read More
Preparing Your Resume & Portfolio By Jody Long When a recruiter is reviewing resumes, it usually takes them about 20 seconds or less to get a first impression. That means you have to have a clear, concise, and well-written resume that will also stand out among many others. Read More
Saving Time at Your Meeting By Jody Long When someone tells you “that was a good meeting”, they are probably referring to one of a couple things. It was either: A) You didn’t waste their time, and meet to just to meet, or B) It was informational, planned well, and not boring. Or hopefully a combination of both! Read More
Ergonomically Speaking By Jody Long No matter how comfortable the conference room chair is, sitting in an all-day meeting is usually not ideal. Unfortunately, in our line of work, these meetings have to take place. Here's an idea for your next meeting, so your guests can be more productive in their breakout sessions, and less fatigued by the end of the day. Read More
Go Green at Your Next Event By Jody Long Have you ever thought about how much waste is associated with some meetings and events you plan? Signs, hand outs, name badges, food…there’s a lot of one-time-use items that are thrown away after a short-lived event. If you’re thinking about changing this, and "going green" is something you've been considering for your next gathering, here are some points to consider when you start planning. Read More