Summer is finally here, and you know what that means? Yes, you guessed it - garden parties, festivals, and all things fun. Everything is much needed after the shocker of a year that we’ve had. But the clouds are lifting (both metaphorically and, fingers crossed, literally), and it’s time to whack out those luscious lockdown bodies and get back in the hosting game.
While a cute little barbecue with the family can be fun, we’re thinking something a little bigger should be in the works. You’re probably thinking, “That’s great, but surely that’s not possible at the moment?” Well, we’re here to tell you that, with just a little planning and a few safety measures, all your event dreams can soon be a reality. With these 5 easy tips, you can become the perfect host!
Jump to:
1. Assess Your Goals
Before investing in anything, you should always sit down and assess what you want your outcome to be. We highly recommend going old style and just putting pen to paper. Although it may feel overwhelming at first, it can be a good idea to split your page up and answer some of the bigger questions before getting into the nitty-gritty. Some overarching questions we suggest starting with include:
- Who are you hosting the event for?
- What entertainment will you be providing?
- How many people will be attending?
- What time of day will it be occurring?
- What are the costs of this event?
If you're having trouble coming up with answers and you're a novice event planner, you could choose an online rental booking software for event management. It’s always beneficial to have this software to generate invoices and manage the guest list.
2. Get Inspired
Once you have a solid goal, you may want to start looking at different venues to host your event. This can feel a little overwhelming if you don’t have a clear vision. So, to help you decide, you may want to start by looking at other previous events before jumping into anything drastic. While we are 100% back just throwing ourselves into the event pool and trying out different things, we can appreciate that this may not be possible for everyone. Instead, we recommend going online and scoping out event sites and photos. A great place to do this is Pinterest! You can create mood boards of different option ideas, food recipes, and even entertainment ideas.
Consider hiring an unoccupied location and adding customized touches to create an occasion that will be remembered forever. Fill the space with unique furnishings like bean bags, bean bag chairs, and tents. Include the company emblem on the furniture for business occasions, and choose character-themed products with custom printing for children's parties. For a fun-filled event or a boho wedding, make a statement with a wooden arch or inflatable tunnel. With a variety of sizes, hues, and shapes, inflatable tunnels customized for your events are adaptable and ideal for any situation. These components will give your event a special and tailored touch, making it genuinely exceptional.
Additionally, going through event photos can also help you decide on a theme and color scheme. Seeing images can often help people understand which colors and patterns might work well together. You may want to write down different themes such as boho, neon, or costume, and find images for each one. It’s also important to bear in mind the budget! You don’t want to plan an elaborately themed ball but suddenly realize you don’t have the budget for any of the props.
3. Safety and Sanitation
Hosting an event can be hard at the best of times, so hosting during COVID-19 may feel that much harder. But we’re here to tell you that there’s no need to stress; all you need to do is stay up-to-date with your local news and ensure you keep to the safety measures. We highly recommend going beyond the measures suggested just to be on the safe side.
This could mean limiting the number of guests and ensuring face masks are mandatory. But where’s the fun in that? Well, although we’re well aware it isn’t the ideal situation, you could add a fun twist to the experience by providing custom masks or even having a mask-making station!
Adequate sanitation facilities are also a must. You don’t want guests lining up for one tiny, grubby toilet, only to find out that it doesn’t even have a sink! So, before you start to wonder how to go about providing this, check out this article from Hall’s Septic Services on how to rent portable toilets for your event. Hall’s Septic Services allow quick and easy portable loo rentals, with a variety of different options, including flushable and sinks. The large variety of facilities means that, regardless of size or type, they are perfect for any event.
4. Book Your Entertainment
Good entertainment is key to ensuring your event is a success. The type of entertainment you decide to book can range anywhere from a basic movie to an A-list celebrity. Your choice will be dependent on your overarching goals and the number of guests attending. If you’re going for a movie theme, you may want to hire a movie screen for the night, or, on a smaller scale, you could invest in a projector.
Just remember that entertainment doesn’t just mean the main attraction; it encompasses any additional features you may want on the night. For example, you may want self-serve ice creams or old-style saloon cars. Don’t forget to factor these extras into your budget.
Booking entertainment can be difficult, as entertainers are often reserved months in advance. As a result, you should always inquire as soon as possible.
5. Think Eco-Friendly
Festivals and events often have a huge carbon footprint. However, this is easily fixed by making some quick and easy adaptions to the standard ‘event blueprint.’ Much of the issue comes from plastic and non-recyclable waste. In fact, in 2015, the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival generated more than 979 tons of waste in just four days.
So, we advise switching up your typical single-use plastic cups and straws for the cardboard bio-degradable versions. Alongside this, we also suggest ensuring recycling bins are readily available. While you can cut down on plastic use, it’s unfortunately not possible to get rid of it completely. Therefore, providing adequate recycling options allows an eco-friendlier option to the regular trash can.
Although organizing events can seem a little overwhelming, especially since we’re all out of practice, these 5 tips will get you on your way to creating the perfect event!
Leave a Reply