There’s a lot of exciting tech that’s currently used by the big players in the event planning industry. It’s all aimed at getting guests talking, ensuring they experience something new, and building the reputation of the planner. But, what if you can’t afford to hire the professionals and / or their equipment?
We’ve shared some clever ways for you to bring some pizzazz to your own event. Whether it’s upskilling or investing in hardware, these are the hacks that will allow you to save money and wow your guests.
Get attendees snapping in your own photobooth.
Photobooths tick the boxes of guests as well as event hosts. Guests enjoy the selfie experience, while event hosts appreciate being able to brand attendees’ photos. One problem – hiring photobooths all the time becomes expensive. A more cost-effective option is to do it yourself by investing in a photobooth and the software to collect users’ email addresses. Learn how to use the software and set up the hardware, and you’ve got your very own all singing, all dancing photobooth!
There’s an app for that!
If you’re tired of emails, sticky notes and your indecipherable wall calendar, it’s high time to turn to technology. There are apps to help you keep track of social media (give Hootsuite a go), event registration (we can’t help but recommend Get Invited at this point!), vendor and sponsor research (Evernote) and scheduling (Doodle). A good event app will be easy to use, it it doesn’t make your life easier, try another! With so many apps available, we recommend asking other event planners for advice on the best ones.
Skip the event planner, do it yourself.
There’s no doubting that hiring an event planner will ensure that your event looks professional and runs smoothly. But, if you don’t have the finances to work with an organiser, do it yourself. There are lots of resources online – including the Get Invited blog, of course! – with actionable advice guiding you through every step. If you plan to host events regularly, taking a course in event planning will boost your skills and confidence.
Partner up with the right people.
Because no man is an island, right? You can either approach relevant organisations for sponsorship (there are lots of tips in our post How to Land a Strategic Event Partner) or work with a community sponsor. In this instance, no money changes hands – it’s all about sharing ideas and resources. If they have event tech that you’d love to use, don’t be afraid to ask if you can borrow it (and offer them the use of your own tech for their event). You support them and they will support you. This hack is truly win-win!
Let nature take care of the decor.
Vintage decor is so last year! It’s all about nature in 2017. With the Pantone colour of the year being ‘greenery’, this means that flowers and plants will take centre stage. If you’re fortunate enough to have a large garden or to have access to local woodland, this will make for an easy, cost-effective decor hack. Our blogs Going Green: Hosting a Sustainable Event and How to Colour Theme Your Event will give you plenty of tips for dressing your venue.
Marshmallows over an open fire.
There’s nothing quite like toasting your own marshmallow over an open fire. Often, this isn’t possible during an event due to the lack of a fireplace indoors, or venue owners not being keen on building a fire in the grounds. You could invest in several marshmallows, or – and here comes a particularly clever hack – you could use candles. Use one large candle for each guest to ensure there’s enough heat. Trust us, your attendees will love it!
Don’t be afraid to jump onto the bandwagon.
There’s no doubt that it’s good to be original, but being aware of trends is important if your event is to feel ‘current’. Food is one aspect of an event where it’s easy to wow your guests. Factor in what’s hot at the minute, your guests’ demographics and the location, the local vendors you can work with, and you’ll come up with a stunning menu.
Takeaways
If you don’t have the resources – whether they’re financial or personnel – it’s possible to plan and execute a well organised, exciting event. Through upskilling, prudent investing, and coming up with alternative cost-effective solutions, your event will be a success.
What’s your favourite hack from our list? Share your own best event hacks with the Get Invited community below or on Twitter! We can’t wait to hear them!
