Practical Event Planning

Dren Asselmeier

So You Want to Have an Event• Great!• Why? Have a goal• Ask yourself some questions

– Who?– What’s your budget?– What’s your timeline?– What do you need to accomplish your goal?– How will you get people to your event?

• Think it through and be realistic

Brainstorm• Get some or many other people involved

– Beware of “too many cooks”– You don’t want too many people hijacking

your idea– Be open, too

• Or, develop your own idea and present it to your group

• Look to others for inspiration and advice

Find out the Rules• Check with your OSL• If you’re in high school, check with your adviser• Find out how to do the specifics and when they

need to be done• Make sure you know the budget guidelines• You will probably find out some strange rules that

you wouldn’t have thought of

Make a Timeline• Timelines are some of my best friends• A timeline helps you with many aspects of event

planning– Visual representation of tasks– Way to delegate– Combine steps– Obliterate procrastination– Can add steps as you go– Great for regular events

Checklists• Checklists are the best thing ever• Help you to never forget a step• Should be detailed

– More detailed checklists can be delegated in whole or in part

– Great for next year’s officers to see exactly how to do an event

– Good way to take notes for next time– Don’t be afraid to include too much

Tips• The first rule of event planning

– Don’t freak out• Roll with it and be flexible

– Think Chex Mix• Accept that you will probably forget something• Know that you won’t always have an ideal

amount of time or resources– PZ Myers at GVSU, for example

Further Considerations• Use your school’s budget if you can (that’s what it

is there for!)• Mix it up: small/regular events and large events• Look to campaigns for help• Check the Speakers Bureau• Work with your local center• Ask Dren! I am here to help you!

– aasselmeier@centerforinquiry.net

• The end!