A Planning Timeline for Corporate Events, corporate events can be complex and a challenge to plan but with a clear planning timeline the most complicated corporate event can come together smoothly and result in flawless execution.
Budget
A budget is the first thing that is required for any event. Without a budget you can’t get anywhere. Firm up a budget with the client early on, and do your best in researching and estimating revenue and costs and fill in with exact numbers when you have them.
Secure a Date
If this is a recurring event, start thinking about the next year’s as soon as this year’s event comes to a close. As a matter of fact for most major corporate events, the planning process begins about a year out. When you are wrapping up with your team, discuss the date and changes in expected attendance. Similarly, consider how adjusting the date would affect attendees. Keep an eye on competing events and take a careful look at the calendar to see that you aren’t scheduling during spring break or other widely-celebrated time periods.
Venue
Once you have settled on a date, it is time to secure a venue. For the most part, venues can have very particular scheduling requirements so contact your preferred venue as soon as you have a secure date. If this is a venue you have used before, they may let you schedule a year out. A new venue may not be able to schedule more than six months out. Also, it is a good practice to contact a runner-up venue and possibly a third.
Speakers
Speakers and special guests should also be contacted a year in advance for several reasons. If the speaker is popular in your area, they may be in demand and could be booked for several months at a time. Also, if they charge considerable fees you will want to put this in your budget ASAP and possibly look for a sponsor.
The same rule holds true for entertainment. If you are booking a band or DJ, begin speaking with them a year in advance and have a back-up plan in place in case they are unavailable.
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