When government and NGOs (non-governmental organisations) organise events without professional event managers, they tend to leave long-lasting impressions on communities and the public in general with negative outcomes. This is because governments and NGOs are people-orientated; they are directly linked to the welfare or the living standards of the people.
Similarly, without the service of the professional event managers or planners, the event can run into serious hiccups that may lead to non-attainment of the event objectives and ultimately waste of several scarce resources in the form of public funds, taxpayer money, and grants, making event success far-fetched.
Professional event managers have great intrinsic resources that have been garnered through experiences they have encountered over a period of time. Creating and implementing various event ideas is a common terrain on which they play; this also forms the areas of their competences.
In addition, people who work for the government, also known as civil servants, are all the time encumbered with bureaucracies and implementation of government policies, while those who work for NGOs, otherwise called developmental workers, are busy advocating for human rights or certain other policies that enhance the standard of living of citizens. Consequently, they may lack, in large terms, the needed expertise to actualise their event ideas into successful realities.
In this article, we will examine uncommon reasons why professional event managers are the best bet for government and NGO events.
1. Expertise and efficiency
“You cannot give what you do not have” is a common saying that depicts the fact that expertise is a critical tool for impact and competitiveness. Event professionals are experts at providing experiences through the use of well-crafted event proceedings and strategies that enhance the attainment of the set objectives.
When governments and NGOs get professional event managers to manage their events, they ultimately give a chance for higher performance levels. They undertake various tasks based on required standards in order to achieve the set results. For instance, an event professional knows that for there to be substantial engagement between the speakers and the audiences in a conference event, there are certain standards for seating and multimedia positioning that must be met. These are among the several details that will be considered by the event professional, which may be ignored by others who are not.
2. Management of risk
Every kind of event is vulnerable to eventualities. In other words, it is liable to suffer from unexpected circumstances that could bring damages to the organisation’s reputation, destruction of properties, and even endanger lives. These eventualities are primarily event management-related and revolve around the venue, the attendees, or the speakers; logistics; policies; equipment; vendors; and sustainability issues.
Managing risk is a core competence for the professional event manager, who has mastered the act and skill through several experiences on the field.
Therefore, government establishments and non-governmental organisations that want to keep their reputation intact and continue to earn public trust and confidence should allow professional event managers to manage the risk involved in organising events.
3. Leveraging of technology for event success
Technology integration in today’s event culture cannot be overemphasised. It is making and promoting more personalisation, which is critical to providing the needed experience for event attendees. This is well known by the event management professional who knows where and how to deploy the needed technology for the success of the event.
For instance, the professional event manager knows that a typical NGO needs data for her major decisions, including advocacy and fundraising. With his or her versatility, choosing the best technological tool to deploy for the best result is not in doubt. This puts the NGO in a better chance to get the most accurate data.
In addition, there are several event management software or programs available that can be used to provide seamless coordination of events, which the professional event manager can engage for the success of the event. This software can improve data collection and simplify cumbersome event processes such as registration and feedback.
4. Branding and public perception
One major benefit that organisations derive from organising successful events, whether they are public or NGOs, is that their brand’s reputation and perception are boosted positively. They enjoy the acceptance of their own audiences; they are emotionally connected.
This is a result of the several conditions that the professional event manager puts in place. Which may include setting messages and the event theme to be consistent with the visual realities in the event venue. Ensuring that the logos, colours, and other graphic works say exactly what the theme of the event is.
Similarly, the event professional ensures that this communication is done in the languages that are well understood by the audiences, using messages that resonate with their reasoning using the very simple channels available to them.
5. Budgeting and costing
Event experience is very vital when preparing budgets and/or cost implications for events. Budget and time overruns are often the results of budgeting handled by people who lack the professional knowledge of managing events. They do not understand the dynamics of various cost heads; they may also underestimate expenses, forget logistical issues, and have trouble negotiating with vendors.
For instance, when budgeting for events, provisions for alternatives or unforeseen circumstances have to be made. This may involve earmarking more money than expected in order to mitigate certain risks.
Sometimes budgeting for certain kinds of events can be very unpredictable due to how revenue is generated. Events such as sponsored events, ticketed events, and fundraising events. For instance, budgeting for a ticketed event, where revenue is based on the number of tickets that have been sold.
6. Strategic Planning and Execution
Finally, for governments and NGOs, the foundation of a successful event is strategic preparation and execution. From establishing precise goals to organising logistics, professional event managers carefully plan every detail to guarantee 100% success. To reduce risks, they create schedules, distribute resources effectively, and identify possible obstacles.
The creation of unforgettable events is a combination of expertise, creativity, and experiences. These are mostly inherent skills in a professional event manager who is capable of making a whole lot of difference.
In conclusion,
