Plan, organize and host events like a pro — even if it's your very first time.

Ever notice how the best events look effortless? Everything just seems to unfold perfectly — and at just the right moment. A well-planned, well-run meeting, retreat, or convention is a thing of beauty.

After attending this seminar you will be able to:

• Understand the fundamentals of meeting planning
• Manage the details that can slip through the cracks and derail your success
• Negotiate the best deals possible from vendors
• Build an event-planning bible to keep you on track
• Plan a workable budget — and stay within it
• Assess and manage printing needs — agendas, binders, publicity, signage
• Know your critical tasks 6 months out, 30 days out, the week of the meeting and the night before
• Handle setup and teardown schedules smoothly and efficiently
• Conduct a day-after evaluation to assess your event and improve planning and management for the next one

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Ready, Set, Go — Getting Started Right

• The #1 reason events get off track, and how to avoid it
• How to determine the amount of time you need to prepare for an event
• The absolutely most important thing to do first when you're put in charge
• The six essential elements of any meeting, and how to prepare for each
• When you should hold the event at your workplace and when a hotel is a better choice
• Ways to determine how much assistance you need and what each person should handle

Building Your All-Important Project Plan

• Key factors to consider in building your timeline
• Critical questions to ask all vendors
• The one thing to always remember about negotiating with vendors
• The five basic questions every event planner must be able to answer
• How to create your own working timeline document
• The best way to research vendors for a true picture of their capabilities
• How much cushioning to include in your event budget

Dealing with the Details

• The most important consideration for setting up a registration desk
• What you can do before event day to ensure registration runs smoothly
• Five essentials to test at the hotel or meeting facility before you book
• What type of food you should serve, how much and when
• When it’s best not to offer food — or risk losing your audience’s attention
• A simple system that cuts the hassle of arranging for Internet, AV, LCD and other electronic needs
• Five common room setups and which works best for each event situation
• Tips for creating an event that pleases all the senses and earns rave reviews
• How to ensure a unified look for printed materials, from signage to programs
• Questions to ask prospective entertainersto ensure the presentation suits the audience

Managing Meeting Day

• How top planners decide how many staff members to have on hand, and where to place them
• Services for the physically challenged — you need more than a barrier-free building
• How to deal with language differences in printed materials
• The secret to creating a smooth load-in-load-out schedule that spares time and tempers
• When and how to train meeting staff for best results
• The #1 consideration when it comes to communication in planning meetings
• How to get the most out of the day-after evaluation
• Why you must evaluate the event with LBs (“like bests”) and NTs (“next times”)