Keep Their Tummies Full - Essential Elements of an Event

It is easy to get blindsided by the flashy and picturesque details of event planning. We’ve all wanted that perfect mouth-watering shot of bite sized hors d’oeuvres or the perfect not-so-candid photo of us staring into the horizon. A picture after all is worth a thousand words.

This being said, I believe it is important for all event hosts to remember that the basis of a good event experience is not contingent upon sparkles, but on satisfying the overall needs of your guests. Don’t get me wrong, sparkles are great, but they are a bonus to be added on only when basic needs have been covered.

What are those basic needs?

1.    Hunger:  Most humans lose interest and are unable to focus properly on an empty stomach. If you want your guests to engage in the dozen of activities you’ve planned and also enjoy the experience, then don’t skimp on food. Remember: Balance out dainty appetizers with more hearty options like meatball sliders. This was a tip I learned from my husband when one day after reading him the menu, he responded with, “Do you want me to starve?”

2.    Mental Comfort: This has to do a lot with the space you choose to host the event and design of the layout. The question to ask yourself is, “does it make sense?”

• Overall Space: If a space is too large for the group, it will feel empty and devoid of energy. If a space is too small for the group, your guests will feel cramped (and hot!).  For a group of 50 people, choose a space that is meant for no more than 100 people. The space should also have a natural flow to minimize confusion; you want your guests to reserve their brain power for your activities, not for navigating the venue.
• Variety of spaces: There are extroverts, introverts, and everyone in between. Consider having one open space for networking and one to two more cozy settings for those who thrive better with smaller groups or simply need a place to rest their eyes.  

3.    Good Company: This one should be self-explanatory. Having the right company allows for conversation to naturally flow and hence, an overall more enjoyable experience for everyone. For small parties, you can easily control who to invite.  For large ticketed events, it’s more complicated and it will come down to targeting the right people and also giving people accurate details about the event so their expectations are in tune with what you plan to offer.

4.    Ice Breakers/entertainment: The best ice breakers are something out of the blue with a touch a humor such as a roaming magician at a business conference or a donut-eating competition at a party. The more surprising it is, the greater effect it will have on giving your guests something to talk about. This is the one category I say, “well why not?”