Event management is a great career that can be as rewarding as it is challenging. It’s super fast-paced and highly competitive in the events industry, so you’ve got to be on your toes at all times.
The role can be really stressful sometimes, the best event managers out there thrive under pressure and they’re not afraid of a challenge – in fact, they find it exhilarating!
Although all that stress and pressure does sound a little daunting, believe us, if you have a passion for events it can be an amazing career to get into. Sure, there might be ups and downs, but that’s the same with any career, right?
So, if you’re really into events and you want to build a long-term career in this field, you’ll still need to make sure that you have what it takes to rise to the task. Event management requires a mixture of skills and knowledge, which can make it different from other careers.
There’s a ton of stuff you’ll need to know, like marketing, PR, logistics and project management, to name just a few. Some you’ll pick up on the job or through an event management internship, and some you might know already. For the other key skills, you might have to learn by studying an event management course.
With that in mind, we’re going to give you a rundown of the most crucial skills you need to be a successful event manager. But first, let’s take a quick look at what an event manager actually does.
What does an event manager do?
Event managers, sometimes called events managers, are usually responsible for planning and promoting an event and then making sure everything goes ahead without a hitch.
Event managers will plan, promote and manage all kinds of events, from weddings to virtual events and live music to product launches. Basically, all events require some form of event planning and event management, that’s why it’s an in-demand career.
Successfully promoting an event and then ensuring it runs smoothly is a team effort, so event professionals rarely work alone. They’ll work alongside an events team and a marketing team to make sure everything goes to plan.
The main goal of an event manager is to make sure that an event is planned correctly, fits to a pre-agreed budget and (most importantly of all) people actually turn up!
It’s not unlikely that an events manager will roll their sleeves up and get stuck in to make sure all these things happen – often they’ll be the first to arrive and the last to go home.
Among many other things, event managers are usually responsible for the following:
- Coming up with ideas to make the event memorable
- Recruiting and managing people to work at the event
- Helping to promote the event, either through marketing or networking
- Talking with the client to establish what they want
- Reacting to issues on the day, if they happen
- Working out how much the event will cost
- Booking venues, accommodation and performers
- Helping the guests before and during the event
- Working to a budget and managing finances
What skills do you need for event management?
To be a successful event manager you’ll need a range of different skills and capabilities. If you think about a typical event and what comes before, during and after, you’ll realise there’s a lot to factor in.
If you dream of becoming an events manager, here are the six most important skills to be a successful event manager. How many do you have?
- Organisation
- Networking
- Problem-solving
- Budgeting
- Leadership
- Communication
Organisation
First and foremost, event managers have to be really good at organisation. Working to strict processes and methods in a meticulous, organised manner is key to any successful event. Not only does it help the event manager run a great event, it also means the team that works with them knows where they stand.
Marketing
Marketing is another important skill to have. You don’t have to be a marketing master who knows about every aspect of traditional and digital marketing. But it’s good to have a fundamental understanding of how marketing works in the context of events. If you are already good at marketing other things, there’s lots of transferable skills you can bring to the table.
Problem-solving
Planning and running an event isn’t without its complications. At times when you least expect it, a problem will arise that you didn’t plan for. Thinking on your feet and learning how to problem solve is a really good trait to have, so you can quickly overcome any issues that crop up.
Budgeting
Managing money is a vital part of event management. Knowing how to budget, like how much money to spend and what to spend the money on, will be the difference between a resounding success and a miserable disaster. If you’re working for a client, there will probably be a strict budget that you have to adhere to, so you’ll need to figure out how to stay within your budget.
Leadership
Events aren’t run by one person, they’re a team effort. Normally the event manager will look after an event management team, a marketing team and everyone that works at the event – whether that’s bar staff, waiters, ushers…you name it. When it comes to the crunch, your leadership needs to shine. Getting everyone on the same page is critical.
Communication
Last but not least, and probably the most important skill on this list, is the age-old art of communication! After all, what good are leadership, organisation and budgeting skills unless you can’t communicate effectively? You need to be able to communicate your ideas and needs to people who might not be on your wavelength. How you do this comes down to your interpersonal skills. Honesty is always the best policy, so is clarity. Make sure you’re clear about what you want, so there’s no room for doubt.
What are the 5 Cs of Event Management?
The 5 Cs of event management is a really handy framework for planning and managing events. Having these five helpful nuggets in the back of your mind at all times will help you pull off a successful event. The 5 Cs of event management are as follows:
- Concept
- Coordination
- Control
- Culmination
- Closeout
Concept
This is the first step in planning and managing a successful event. The concept, or your idea, will need to be fresh and innovative if you want to stand out and attract event attendees.
Coordination
Coordinating an event is all about pulling everything together. Once you’ve settled on a concept, you’ll want to coordinate things like the venue, staff, performers, dates, times and more.
Control
This is all about maintaining control at every stage. Going through each element of the event and ensuring that you have everything in hand, accounting for worst-case scenarios and unexpected surprises!
Culmination
This is when the event actually takes place, the day of reckoning! Make sure everybody knows what they’re supposed to be doing, everything is in place and that during the event things are going to plan.
Closeout
After the event ends, it’s not over. You’ll need to make sure that you debrief your team, manage any outstanding finances, collect feedback from performers, participants, staff and the client. After all, you’ll want to make each event better than the last.
How to become an event manager
So now you know what an event manager does, what skills they need and the basic principles of running a successful event, you might be thinking about getting into event management. That’s great! However, getting your foot in the door isn’t always easy.
If you’ve gone through the list of skills and thought, “hey, this sounds like me!” then you’re halfway there. The next step is to get some real-world experience so you can hone your skills. You can do this by reaching out to event management companies and exploring job opportunities with your existing skills.
Alternatively, studying an events management course might be for you. Through an events management course, you’ll learn how to plan, organise and run various types of events. You’ll also learn about researching and planning events, how to secure funding, and how to use digital marketing to your advantage.
Whatever path you choose, remember to do your best and enjoy it. Working in the events industry can be very rewarding if you have a passion for it, and events management can be a really great career!
