Barn Brainstorming! How to Organize a Successful Corporate Event

Whether you're a professional planner or want to organize a successful corporate event to wow your attendees, consider these expert tips.

So you're interested in organizing a corporate event... congratulations on taking the first step towards a fun and rewarding process.

Whether you're looking to break into a career as a member of an event team down the line or just looking to help your company excel, a business event is a tremendous choice.

Every amazing event has a killer staff behind it that exhausts all of the time and resources that they're given.

If you're just starting out from scratch it can be hard to decide where to get things rolling.

Here are several steps to consider as you piece together the corporate event that you're envisioning.

1. Create a Budget

First things first, you need to know what the monetary restrictions are for the event that you've been tasked with.

Not to worry, every amazing event has finite resources. It's not the budget amount that makes it great, it's how you maximize the money that you're given!

To start out, you'll want to present a few of your ideas to whoever is fronting the money for the corporate event that you're trying to throw. Do your research ahead of time to find potential venues for that specific event.

Hotels are always an option, but using a unique event venue will add legitimacy to your event the day of.

It's important to note that not all of your ideas will be well-received during the initial budget meeting. Don't take offense to it, it's all part of the event planning process!

There is always room for negotiations with the venues you're looking into, so having your boss/client that's funding the event set a budget will help give you a firm amount to stick to.

2. Find the Purpose

What are you and your team ultimately trying to achieve with this corporate event?

Maybe you're trying to boost morale among your company's employees and clientele.

If so, attending a local sports game or organizing a bowling party can be a great way to go. Renting out an event venue for a holiday party would also be a home run among all of your attendees.

Perhaps you're looking to build partnerships with local businesses. If that's your priority, then setting up an expo or a Gala can be an amazing avenue for gathering local businesses under one roof.

Whatever your event's purpose is, it's important to have that at the front of your mind while planning. Having that well-defined by your boss will help set the tone for what's in store.

3. Compile a Guest List

The cost of almost any event that you're trying to organize will depend on the number of guests that you're interested in having.

That number will tell you the size of the venue that you need to comfortably fit everyone inside.

The trick is to not invite any more people than you have to. Of course, you'll want to invite everyone but that's not the goal here. The goal is to have everyone that is attending have a great time.

Everything from the food to the giveaways at your event will be decided based on the number of your guests that will be attending. So needless to say, this is a very important part of the process!

4. Set the Them

Every great event has a theme, whether it's a Christmas party, 90's throwback, a night at the Roxbury, or anything else, it has to fit the vibe of your guests.

If your event is meant to be more on the informal side to encourage employees to have a good time, then setting a fun or thrifty theme will set the tone.

Whereas if you're trying to keep it as professional as possible (for an expo) then a subtle theme that ties into your business would be a better way to go.

The theme may also play a big part in the food, props, giveaways, and layout that you put together for the event. People will admire all of the work and detail that was placed on tying everything together.

5. Push It Out!

Marketing your event to everyone is the piece de resistance to making your event (and hard work) a success.

You might be thinking If I've created a guest list, why do I need to focus on marketing the event? Unfortunately, your guest list will take a few reminders before RSVPing.

Social media is a great way to push it out and set it on the calendars of everyone that you want to attend. Pushing it out on Facebook will allow you to post any updates leading up to the big night as well.

Exhaust all options to make sure everyone catches word of your event. Post flyers on the breakroom bulletin board, send out several email blasts and use the occasional desk visit to those that won't respond.

You're looking for definitive "yes" and "no" answers. A "maybe" isn't going to do anyone any good.

Find the Perfect Venue for Your Corporate Event!

As you've undoubtedly noticed about planning a corporate event already, it's important to look for ways to differentiate yours from anything that's been done before.

Picking the right venue is crucial to creating a night that everyone in the office will remember fondly.

Be sure to read this article on dinner ideas for the venue that you pick for your event.

For more inquiries please fill out our request a tour form and we'll be happy to schedule a time for you to check out the facility!