Event Management - Event Manager

Event Manager

The event manager is the person who plans and executes the event. Event managers and their teams are often behind-the-scenes running the event. Event managers may also be involved in more than just the planning and execution of the event, but also brand building, marketing and communication strategy. The event manager is an expert at the creative, technical and logistical elements that help an event succeed. This includes event design, audio-visual production, scriptwriting, logistics, budgeting, negotiation and, of course, client service. It is a multi-dimensional profession.

An event architect is an event manager that becomes involved at the early initiation stages of the event. Specially for larger public events, at the initiation stage, the event architect needs to make crucial choices and decisions related to the creative concept and design of the event. In depth technical design knowledge and full understanding of how to communicate a company´s message across a public are needed in order to make the event effective.

If the event manager has budget responsibilities at this early stage they may be termed an event or production executive. The early event development stages include:

• Site surveying
• Client Service
• Brief clarification
• Budget drafting
• Cash flow management
• Supply chain identification
• Procurement
• Scheduling
• Site design
• Technical design
• Health & Safety
• First Aid Services
• Environmental and ecological management
• Risk management

An event manager who becomes involved closer to the event will often have a more limited brief. The key disciplines closer to the event are:

• Health & Safety including crowd management
• Logistics and vehicle selection
• Rigging
• Sound
• Light
• Video
• Detailed scheduling and agenda planning
• Security