Once your event is over, you may be inclined to breathe a sigh of relief and move on. However, if you are in the position of organising events on a regular basis, it would be most beneficial to evaluate your function. This means examining it, identifying the shortfalls and problems, as well as the positives and advantages and using this information to improve your service and performance in the future.
This may expose some major problems, whether in you, your staff or your vendors. Take this seriously and rectify the issues before another event suffers because of them.
In evaluating your event, ask yourself and your team the following questions:
- Did the event fulfil its objectives and meet its goals? Whatever the answer, examine why or why not it was so.
- Which vendors should be used again in future events? Which should be avoided? Give reasons for your answers.
- Was the event well attended by the people at whom it was aimed?
- Did we experience an attendance from those to whom we did not directly market the event? If so, why? And what does this mean for future marketing initiatives?
- Was there positive feedback from the guests and vendors? Remember that vendors have worked at many events; their feedback is valuable.
- How was the theme carried out? Could guests identify it easily?
- Was the décor effective in creating the right ambience?
- Was there sufficient sound and lighting equipment?
- How did the date and time of the event affect its success?
- Were there conflicting events that had an adverse effect on your function? How can this be handled in the future?
- Was the venue appropriate?
- Did the guests have problems with accessibility to the venue, parking or washrooms?
- Were you able to set up the venue as planned? If not, why not?
- How would you change your publicity strategy the next time around?
- Did you stay within your budget? If not, where did you go over? How could this be handled in future? On the other hand, were there areas in which you should have been more generous?
- Was there sufficient security and parking?
- Were your sponsors reliable?
- Was the venue, lighting, sound, décor and so on worth what they charged?
- Were there problems with paying any of your service providers? If so, why?
- Did everyone involved in the planning process adhere to their commitments? Discuss this in-depth to avoid future problems arising.
- Were the channels of communication between and among the event planning staff members sufficient? If not, how can these be improved for future functions?
- Was there sufficient food and drinks for all of the guests?
- What was the biggest success of the event? Why?
- What was the most significant failure of the function? Why?
- Did the event meet the needs of the client? Why or why not?
Photo Credit: Integrated Solutions Partner
