By: Teagan Kazim
When I first joined the Integrative Public Relations program and began thinking of what my career would look like one of the aspects that piqued my interest was the opportunity to plan and execute my own events. Maybe it was movies like The Devil Wears Prada or shows like Emily in Paris that made the job seem glamorous. Still, there was something about creating an amazing night from nothing that seemed almost magical.
This is why when I joined PRSSA’s Bateman Case Study Competition this year I eagerly volunteered to be the event planner. Our client was EveryLibrary, an organization that fights book bans and secures funding and support for libraries. This was a topic I not only knew a lot about but was also incredibly passionate about.
When it came to the actual event planning there were a couple of things I learned immediately. One of those is the need to be flexible, your best ideas are rarely your first, and being open to that change can improve your event immensely. Another is the importance of understanding your target audience and being able to craft an experience they will enjoy and seek out. The success of your event is, unfortunately, not dependent on how much you liked it but on how much the attendees did. Finally, there is the workload. Of course, I anticipated it to be large when I took on the role but it exceeded even my expectations. For an event that lasted an hour and a half, I likely spent 30 hours working on it, preparing the materials, shopping, planning, etc.
The last bit of event planning I want to touch on is the day of. From the moment I opened my eyes at 8 a.m. to when the event started at 6 p.m., it was all I thought about. The day was spent running all the last-minute errands, checking in with my team, and making list after list to ensure everything was accounted for.
It was crazy and stressful, but it was also one of the most exciting and rewarding things I’ve done. Looking out at the setup and decorated room, watching people spill into the venue, engaging with them, being thanked for our work, it all invoked a sense of pride and accomplishment different from anything else. So yes, it is a lot more work than the shows or movies will have you believe. But it is just as exciting, rewarding, and at times glamorous, as they make it seem.