Outdoor Events & Advance Ticket Sales

Recently, while working with a client, I was reminded of the importance of efficiency as it relates to one's workplace technology.

Because of the technical aspects of the work being done, the client agreed to use a screen-sharing service. The client was at the tail end of cleaning up a lead generation campaign. With the screen-sharing service, I was able to guide the client through the final technical parts of the process.

As I watched through the screen-share, the sense of frustration set in. The client's computer kept hanging on a series of simple tasks.

Five minutes later, I asked, "how old is your computer?"

To which the client responded, "I was from before I started working here." (Over 5 years ago)

The waiting was absolutely brutal for both the client and myself.

Finally, I offered to help the client out and made all the necessary updates using my computer. Total time on my end to complete the data-based updates, less than 30 seconds, and three simple clicks of the mouse.

Unfortunately, three clicks can take five minutes or longer when you're working with ancient computer technology.

A slow computer can wreck one's productivity and is insidious. If you take five minutes a day and spread that over the course of a work year, you get over 1,100 minutes of waiting for one's computer. Or about 18 hours total.

Imagine going to work next week and waiting 18 hours for your computer to load, before starting any work.

My suggestion to you, look at upgrading your old tech. That said, there is no need to pay a premium or buy a new computer. If possible, stay away from tablets as your daily work driver.

A recent computer or laptop, even a used one that's one or two years old, with a solid-state (hard) drive, a decent processor, and memory is all most people need.

"No amount of money ever bought a second of time." -Howard Stark

Be productive where you can. An old computer is often overlooked and is one of the easiest places to regain productivity!

Want to get more event marketing advice? Check out the articles below:

• Where should you focus to increase event revenue and attendance?
• Do you want 1MM or 20K people worth of event promotion?
• Why People Really Attend Fundraisers
• Why Well Planned Events Fail
• Turn Your Event Into an Experience

Here's a recurring theme that bears re-emphasis.

Today, I received a telephone call from a client "needing to vent." Long story condensed, two primary groups responsible for producing an outdoor event are now feuding. It's a combination of hurt feelings, opinions, and politics.

To date, almost all the useless drama has come in the form of third-party messengers, text messages, and short but heated telephone conversations.

What's worse is that the two decision-makers upon which the entire event hinges have yet to speak to one another. An executive assistant insists upon trying to convey and communicate between the two decision-makers.

My word of advice to my client, "Go and 'break bread.' Sit down and have a face-to-face in-person meeting." Regardless of best intentions, the executive assistant is simply getting in the way.

To the best of my knowledge, there isn't a single serious issue that clients have ever resolved using text messages, email, or telephone calls. (Not to say it's never happened).

There is no guarantee that a face-to-face meeting will save the event described above. That said, I guarantee that meeting anyone in person will outperform telephone conversations, text messages, or email. It's important to remember that most humans can't read body language or tone via some digital message.

If you find yourself wrestling with a bout of useless event drama on a critical decision, please consider the breaking bread option.

Want to get more event planning advice? Be sure to check out the links below:

• Why Well Planned Events Fail
• How to Get Them To Your Event
• Why People Really Attend Fundraisers
• Leveraging Your Sponsor's Digital Resources

Today was a fascinating "kick in the head" kind of day. It was a day where government X was supposed to give updates on a set of federal regulations. The information was scheduled to be shared via an online meeting. The particulars of the information impacts thousands of individuals and businesses. Including, the guy writing this email.

About five minutes before the scheduled meeting start time, I logged in and entered my password. After that, meeting attendees are met with a "waiting for organizer to start the session" message.

At the 10-minute mark, I decided to call into the backup audio line. Then, more waiting and no action. Finally, after about 15 minutes, I started to make some telephone calls.

By now, you've probably guessed that the meeting was cancelled. And you are correct.

When I finally spoke with one of the organizers about the meeting, their response was, "we posted to Facebook that the meeting was postponed." Mind you; the post was published 13 minutes after the meeting's scheduled start time. And the post was made on a completely unrelated Facebook page.

Why am I bringing the above to your attention?

Should your event be postponed or canceled, you need to use multiple modalities to update your attendees, in short order! These modalities include but are not limited to your event webpage, all your event's social media channels, and contact lists. Depending on the size of your event, you might want to include local media outlets.

Here's one last crucial point. If something changes about your event. Please make sure that you let your attendees know first.

Attendees (especially ticket holders) finding out issues regarding your event from other sources diminishes trust and credibility with your customers moving forward.

Here are some additional social media resources you can use to market your event:

• Do You Make These Social Media Mistakes with Your Event?
• Measuring Your Social Media Event Promotion Efforts
• How to Leverage Facebook and Your Event Marketing
• Beware of the "Social Media" Event SMACKDOWN!
• Social Media, Your Event Marketing, and "Insider Info" . . .
• Social Media Comments and Your Event
• The Downside of Promoting Your Event with Social Media

A year later, there is a decent amount of COVID data for us to consider. One data point of near-universal agreement is that COVID transmission outdoors is very low. Consider this recent headline from the United Kingdom.

"Beach trips safe and 'have never been linked to Covid outbreaks', says government adviser."

Source:
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/coronavirus-beach-holidays-safe-sage-uk-b1803367.html

Recently, I surveyed a few North American outdoor event organizers. With attendance of over 150,000 people across multiple 2020 events, there were zero contract traces back to any of the events. That said, when you get 150,000 people together, someone is going to have COVID.

As the world recovers, I believe that outdoor events will be some of the first to recover.

So my question for you today:

Would you be able to move your indoor event outside?

In some cases, there could be massive logistical considerations, and moving outside would not work.

Mash the reply button and let me know if moving your event outside is even feasible. And if not, feel free to share.

Get more outdoor event ideas, advice, and strategies here:

• Ethically "stealing" outdoor event ideas
• Outdoor events & record ticket sales
• 65 Minutes of Outdoor Event Promotion Insight