When our company first started, it was a singular event nerd with one big-ass dream. Ten years later and it’s almost impossible to wrap our heads around the growth that can come with some serious dedication (we’re talking all of the blood, sweat, and some quite literal tears), a little bit of luck, and of course the dream of building an events production empire and taking over the world.
Over the decade we’ve lived and we’ve learned through more outrageous events-related situations than we’d care to admit. Through both the high moments and the low, we’ve worked to develop our crafts and continue to create some insanely memorable experiences. Whether it’s producing a poppin’ one-day Pokemon event with over 1,500 attendees, orchestrating a fully immersive hip-hop brunch with Questlove, or live-broadcasting a dope hair-styling competition to 4,000 attendees for a Fortune 1,000 company, we’ve seen it all. The good news for you? The Nerd Herd is here to help you bring your crazy visions to life.
We’ve compiled a list of our top event production advice for you regardless if you’re a marketing team of one (hello, seriously we can help you) or are a seasoned events pro just looking for a refreshed perspective on the industry. Enjoy our nerdy thoughts and when you’re ready to bring in some outside production experts, get in touch at holla@theeventnerd.com. Okay, now back to business:
1. Creativity is best experienced within constraints.
The limitations that are thrown at you while event planning (see: budgets, audience, ugly carpet on the floor) give you an opportunity. How? By pushing you to create something that incorporates them rather than hides them.
Ex. We built a “city” from scratch in the middle of a field with zero existing infrastructure. Starting with such a literal blank slate allowed us to think big, do big.
2. Teams matter.
Not just your internal team, but your team of partners, too. Third-party involvement can be tricky so it’s critical that you have people whose capabilities you understand intimately and vice versa so that you can collectively figure out how to help the team work better together. Make sure that these people are also big dreamers who won’t shut down your crazy idea (they’ll just think it.) Find a partner who will work with you to bring your vision to life.
Special shout out to Shag Carpet, BEYOND, and Onstage Systems for never raining on our parade and also helping us to keep things from burning to the ground.
3. Take all the pictures.
Everything you do should be captured. Working in the events industry can be a whirlwind; be sure to prioritize pictures and videos so that you can better tell the story. Remember: the moments are fleeting and you can’t get them back.
In fact, all of these pictures we have rocking in this article are thanks to the legend Can Turkyilmaz. DFW locals, give him a shout.
4. Dance like everyone’s watching.
Have fun on-site. Have fun in meetings. Laugh a lot because it makes the stress maybe, kinda, a little bit, less horrible?
5. Don’t have a plan, be a planner.
As The Event Nerd himself, J. Damany Daniel says, “Don’t have a plan, be a planner.” Even if you are a professional event planner, even if you have a perfect plan, something will always go wrong. Always plan on a plan B, or C, or D for that matter.
6. Chase the crazy.
All of our crazy ideas were only crazy until we proved that we could do it. Start with the big idea and then work backward to figure out how to make a version of that vision a reality.
7. The technology doesn’t matter (okay, it matters a little).
We first started as a tech-focused production company and have pivoted to be an event tech-forward company. Technology is constantly changing and being locked into any one technology is limiting. Instead, focus on telling the stories that matter and then figure out how to incorporate tech where (and if) it makes sense.
8. Tell better stories.
No matter what we’re doing- whether it’s an art installation, a concert, or a conference- there is always a story connected to every event we produce. By focusing on telling that story, you know that the message will be embedded into every detail of the event in some way. Discover the story, who you are telling it to, and then dive into the tools you’ll need to tell it.
9. The arts make a massive impact.
Incorporating the arts into your experiences makes an incredible and everlasting impact. Everyone notices, everyone pays attention, and everyone cares. Almost every day humans experience art, it’s the magic ingredient that makes life beautiful. But then we are expected to show up to events and the vibe is immediately “welcome to the corporate thing.” We can make events impactful by always remembering to bring in the arts.
We brought in a high school drumline to a hospitality conference. We put live muralists on stage at an anniversary party. We created an original composition performed live for a CEO’s walk-out song. The list is endless.
10. Help people discover their adjacencies.
As a company, we have always known the importance of hiring people with adjacent skill sets. In doing this, everyone gets to learn new things, ultimately making their capabilities richer.
Encourage people to find their crossovers and then continue to support each other in honing those new skills. Plus, it’s pretty damn awesome when it comes to executing events thanks to your diversified team of baddies.
Event Production Tips // How to Plan an Event // Event Planning Advice
