With so much intense news the past year, today our Blog takes a lighter approach as we look at How To Ruffle The Feathers Of An Event Manager!
Life as an Event Manager is never dull. One day you’ll be glued to your laptop desperately trying to answer the constant stream of emails, whilst the next you’ll be dealing with backstage melt downs, equipment failure and last-minute random requests. We’ve seen and done it all. To great success I may add. Nonetheless, despite the stress, your love for the job never waivers.
Keeping calm under pressure, nothing makes you see red. Well, very little. That is until someone asks you a seemingly innocent question or makes a well-intended statement.
While in good and light hearted faith let’s have a look at some questions and statements that ruffle the feathers of even the most composed of Event Managers!
“Your job is so glamorous!”.
On the face of it Events does seem glamorous. To some degree it is. You can travel to amazing destinations, eat at Michelin Starred restaurants, stay in 5* Luxury Conference Hotels and meet celebrities. In reality, the majority of that is in your minimal spare time you have free or when running an event itself (which means you’re uber busy!). Most of your time is spent at your computer, planning. How do people think your “glamorous” event gets organised? 95% of it you’re working your backside off all day, every day. There’s a reason why Forbes say Event Management is in the top 6 of “most stressful jobs”.
This leads me onto……
“You look stressed.”.
Personally, I pride myself on my clients/suppliers not knowing or seeing quite how stressed I am, however, family and friends can mostly see past it – apparently. If we looked stressed, the chances are, we are! Just don’t tell us that. Unless of course you want to receive a 5-minute rant on how much we have to do with a deadline of … yesterday. Saying that, all good Event Managers are able to thrive off stress, so in a roundabout way it’s actually a bit of a backhanded compliment – that’s how I take it anyway!
“The bedroom rate on lastminute.com is cheaper than your quote.”.
To explain, websites like lastminute.com advertise rooms which are either 1) the last remaining rooms they’re trying to flog or 2) hotels have barely any bookings so are trying to generate interest in those dates. The rooms on these sites are traditionally a) non-cancellable b) cannot be group booked c) do not include breakfast d) are the worst rooms in the building (not refurbed, next to loud areas etc.).
Our rate is higher than lastminute.com because 1) You’re taking a big chunk of rooms, and the Revenue Manager has to meet a minimum average 2) You get favourable T&Cs, including some form of attrition or cancellation 3) Guests can pay for their own rooms individually 4) You get better rooms 4) You’ll likely get some free upgrades 5) A group code can be created so guests can book their own accommodation 6) It’s the same rate for everyone.
“You’re looking…..well.”.
Yes, I am aware I’ve eaten one too many Bagels the past few months. I’d like to point out early that it’s been clinically proven that stress can cause weight gain. At least that’s what I choose to believe! The Events industry is centred around F&B. If you’re not at a networking event or FAM trip indulging yourself in the highest quality sweet treats, then you’ll be likely be taking full advantage of the free-flowing wine. And, when you’re not doing that, you’re unknowingly making your way through a box of Maltesers at your desk, hoping it’ll give you the energy boost you need.
I call this “snackcidental weight gain”.
Challenge: show me one person who is lighter now than when they started working in this industry…
“Can you plan my (kids) birthday party?”.
We’d all love to say “yes” and help out a friend, but realistically the answers “no”. We’ve sadly got enough on our plate with huge responsibilities and don’t have the time. It’s a compliment being asked though – you obviously make your job look easy! Personally, I always try to offer advice and support where I can – maybe even help set up the bunting.
“What do you actually do? Just, like, plan parties?”.
No, not parties; Corporate Event Management for high-end clients, big budgets and huge amounts of pressure and responsibility! The real question is, “what don’t we do?”.
Our job descriptions should include so much more. Whilst thinking ahead 10 steps, juggling multiple events simultaneously, reacting to ad hoc requests, being in more than 1 place at a time and making visions into reality, we also act as an on-site IT technician (fixing client tech), a tailor (always bring some safety pins!), a concierge (don’t forget your portable trolley) and a linguist (yes, we’ve all tried to speak a foreign language when running an event!). We’re also Batman in case you didn’t know – we never sleep.
There you have it, the top questions we always get asked as Event Managers that ruffle our feathers the most!
Would love to hear from more of you in the industry with your statements or questions you’ve heard that get the blood going. Send them through to stevecatling@hippoevents.co.uk and I’ll do a follow up post with some more!
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