It’s easy to make costly mistakes at your live events. Most time, you make these mistakes and you’re not even aware that they might be costing you money…and probably some goodwill with your attendees.
Recently, an event promoter asked for the volume of the music to be really cranked up during break. The idea was that people would be inspired to move around and that the loud music would really get their juices flowing and the excitement up.
Admittedly, one of the challenges at events is keeping them fun and the participants motivated, but setting the volume of your music to blast your attendee’s eardrums is not going to accomplish that.
In fact, the results of this idea were more damaging than improving. The volume of the music was so loud that people couldn’t hear themselves think. There was a lot of complaining going on and many people left the room to relieve the headache they suddenly developed. They also left the room so they could talk to and network with the other attendees who were there that they wanted to share ideas with. They were forced to go out into the hallway to have their conversations so they could hear each other without yelling at each other.
What is the purpose of the event you are hosting? When you went through months of marketing campaigns, when you coordinated the food and beverage services for your event, when you hired the event planner, you were investing in your event. The point of any investment is to profit and have a positive return on that investment. That’s one of the reasons for hosting your own events.
You make money at your events by having other speakers present from the front of the room, selling books and having other material available for your attendees to purchase. Part of the success or failure of this is in how you have the room set-up.
So, if everyone’s out in the hallway escaping the overbearingly loud music, they aren’t talking to your speakers, they’re not looking at the books and material you have available and they’re not making purchases that get you a positive return on investment. All of this because you made one little mistake…that could have been avoided.
At all live events you want the attendees to mingle, you want them to ask your staff questions, you want them to go to the back sales table, where your materials are and you certainly want them to invest in it.
If you’re chasing them out with blaring music you won’t accomplish this goal – plain and simple.
You want to really consider every aspect of your events that might be keeping people from buying and investing in their further education with you. Consider what it takes to keep your guests in the meeting room and you leaving with that money in your pocket.
You can host an event that is upbeat, fun, and motivates your guests, and allows you to also walk away with a nice profit for your efforts.
Diane Conklin is an internationally known author, entrepreneur, coach, consultant, event planner, speaker and copywriter.
Diane is a marketing and business strategist and direct response marketing expert who specializes in showing small business owners how to integrate their marketing strategies, media and methods, to get maximum results from their marketing dollars, by producing hugely successful workshops, seminars and live events.
Through her company, Complete Marketing Systems, Diane helps event promoters market, plan and manage their live events, workshops and seminars, using cost effective, multi-step marketing strategies that put butts in seats, without the promoters losing theirs. She works with all event promoters to make their events more successful – form those looking to put on their very first event, to experienced event promoters who are looking to save time and money.
As an Event Marketing & Planning expert, Diane has planned and produced multiple events grossing over $1,000,000.00.
Diane was named Information Marketer of the Year for her innovative marketing strategies and campaigns.