After a long day of event planning there’s nothing better than getting home, ordering a pizza, putting your feet up and slobbing out on the sofa with Netflix. Whether you’re looking for a feel-good comedy, an educational documentary, or a gripping series, some streaming therapy is sure to help you unwind.

As someone who has a background in TV Production, I find the quality of Netflix programming to be gripping – particularly the Netflix Original stuff. However, recently it’s become less relaxing as I felt myself slipping into ‘work mode’ whilst re-watching some of the Netflix. Check out below how we, as Event Managers, can learn from these must-watch classics:

Fyre Festival
This one had to be on the list, right? How could it not be. If you’ve ever had an event go wrong just remember that it wasn’t as bad as Fyre Festival. I mean, it’s in the title; “The greatest party that never happened”. The Netflix documentary shows in cringe-worthy detail how the 2017 Fyre Festival failed – from ripping off guests, food that was literally just a slice of bread and cheese, no-show celebrities, not enough working toilets, unfit accommodation and no drinkable water.

The film-documentary demonstrates how an impressive marketing strategy means nothing if the event itself cannot be well executed. It was a recipe for disaster; a leader way in over his head, inexperienced personnel working on the event and a complete lack of budget management. I could go on…

GLOW
I had to include this as I’m a huge professional wrestling fan (I know, I judge myself too). Based loosely on a true story, the series follows the 1980’s women’s professional wrestling circuit and what goes on behind the scenes to produce a live event. Whilst I imagine there’s no bodyslams, leg drops or infidelity going on backstage at your events, the show does demonstrate how to give your audience what they want.

The show Director “Sam Sylvia” quickly identifies his most interesting and creative acts, centering his agenda around them, which draws the audience in and engages them on a deep level. The show tackles gender inequality in the workplace, the LGBTQ+ community and the importance of managing a team. His ability to identify and execute to great effect is an example for us in the industry.

The Last Dance
The Last Dance is a ten-part documentary about the greatest basketball team of all time. In a way though, the show isn’t really about basketball at all; it’s a masterclass in leadership, and Phil Jackson (Chicago Bulls head coach) was the star. We learn that to get the most out of your personnel, you must pay attention to your personnel and not to discard challenging personalities (Dennis Rodman!) or ideas just because they’re “different.”

Jackson made sure everyone knew where they had to be and when. When things didn’t go to plan, he didn’t panic, he simply went to Plan B. A master course in leadership was his ability to navigate all dynamics ranging from MJ to Rodman to Scottie Pippen — to the contract disputes and heightened expectations. Great leaders don’t get caught up in the narrative. Instead, they constantly encourage their team to buy-in and take control of their end story.

Oceans 11
Ok, let’s say you’re planning to rob the Bellagio, the Mirage and the MGM Grand. You will need a crew comprised of characters that have disparate disposition and diverse abilities. You need a team of opposites, each of whose skills and approach compliments those of the others. To rob three casinos at once, you need collaboration, calculated risk-taking and resourcefulness.

Oceans 11 highlights that when you put the right team in place and everyone is on the same page, even the seemingly impossible can be pulled off. It emphasises that at the core of success is bringing in the right people for the job. Next time you go for the cheapest quote, you’re not necessarily getting the same level of expertise and reliability. The right people in your team is key.

Tiger King
Yes, there is a link between Joe Exotic and Events Management. Don’t believe me? Read on.

Our first lesson comes in the form of ‘differentiate yourself’. By this, I don’t mean your events should have a gun wielding psychopath as a speaker, but rather identify what the unique proposition is of your event and concentrate on that, even if your event is similar to your competitors. Joe, Carole, and Doc Antle all had big cat parks, however they all offered very different experiences, products, and services. Think about how you can differentiate your event from others.

The second lesson highlights the power of an online presence. One of the most significant assets for Carole and Big Cat Rescue is their social media following. Her online presence not only gave her a whole new market and audience, but still, today, helps her raise funds and promote her legislation efforts, and keeping her business at the forefront. Ignoring the content of Joe Exotic’s online presence, his delivery and charisma he brought to the videos generated interest.

Lesson three is “pick your business partners and team wisely”. To have a team that sticks by you no matter what and helps your success is critical. To develop and nurture a strong event, you need your team to be on the same page and be pursuing the same goals, keeping communications consistent, and directing their efforts in one unified direction. Find a partner that can bring skills and experience that shares your values and vision, with good business and personal ethics, and more importantly, someone that respects you. Which we all know wasn’t the case with all of Joe’s “business partners.”

So, there you have it, 5 must-watch Netflix picks for any Event Manager. As an Event Planning Company who offer End to End Event Project Management and Global Venue Finding, we take inspiration from anywhere and everywhere…plus Netflix helps us relax. Sometimes.

Hippo offer Event Project Management and Global Venue Finding services. Please feel free to contact us today on 01372 460 100 or email on enquiries@hippoevents.co.uk