Some more great results from the boys at www.panelworks.co.nz , 3 first places, 2 seconds and one third at the recent Taranaki Mustang convention in New Plymouth, New Zealand. We have just set up their new blog so check it out.   http://bit.ly/2UXHB

There is no "I" in teamwork: An event involves a number of players. In some large scale events, it is mind boggling to think of the sheer number of players involved. For example, in a music concert – musicians, sound technicians, light technicians, stage technicians, sponsors, celebrities and of course the general audience. Each of these parts has to function smoothly in order for the whole to work. Communication is the key. Frequent meetings, briefings and rehearsals are needed for everyone to understand what their responsibilities and how they need to coordinate. During the event have effective communication and coordination mechanisms like wireless headsets, or cell phones. In teamwork, most of all, it is important to forsake egos. Don't try to blame others for anything for what might go wrong – instead the entire team should work in close coordination to cover for the slightest mistake made by an individual.

Make sure you have the right tools for the job this is a great piece of software Event Manager for managing events, displaying a calendar of social meetings and for seminar bookings, this highly functional piece of software allows you to do everything from marketing your event or seminar to seat bookings and accepting payments online and off including built in email notifications for event follow ups.

Tools of the trade: It is also very important to have a grasp over the technicalities that run the show. Arrangement for the correct technical equipment and skilled technicians is of prime importance. Nothing can be more embarrassing than a piece of equipment malfunctioning in the middle of the show. Pay attention to detail – for example when two projectors are beaming simultaneously on two ends of the stage, they must be in sync and have the same color balance. Have the technicians check and recheck the equipments before the show starts.

Prepare today, execute tomorrow: Once a high level understanding of whats needed to be done is obtained, it’s time for the planning phase. Chalk up a plan of what action is to be taken, and then. Assign responsibilities to the your various team members. Track the progress of each planned action to completion. Before a big event, it is crucial to conduct dry runs and simulations. If possible, try and involve the customer in such a dry run and walk them through what he may expect during the actual event. This will prevent unpleasant surprises.

Knowledge is power: In order to make an event successful, understanding and knowledge is crucial. No two events are the same and understanding the nuances of what is required for a particular event is crucial. Events such as corporate meetings have their own demands of protocol and procedures. Entertainment events such as concerts require knowledge of various supporting resources to be put in place. Before actually commencing with managing an event, do make sure that you understand what exactly needs to be done. Talk to people who have participated in such events before, talk to other people who have managed such events before, keep yourself constantly updated with the evolving dynamics of each type of event.