Businesses hold events all the time, but most of these events are grand affairs with a hundred or more participants and attendees. Planning such a big event can be daunting, but you will often find a lot of material online to help you with your planning and preparations. But what if you are planning to host a small and intimate event for your business? Does it entail the same degree of attention as a big and grand affair? Of course, it does. But the details may be slightly different, so you have to remember these details as you plan as well. And while you can find a whole plethora of tips for planning big events, finding tips for small events is a bit more challenging. Here, then, are your top tips for planning a small and intimate event for your business.
- Decide on your guest list or attendees
Firstly, you should decide on your guest list or list of attendees. A lot of other factors involved in your event will greatly depend on your guest list, and this includes the format of your event, the content, the location, the activities, and so on. When you structure your event this way, your goals can be more specific and easier to achieve.
- Write down the details – including the content, refreshments, transportation, lighting, and more
Everything matters at your event, no matter how small or intimate it is. In fact, the smaller it is, the more likely it will be for your guests to notice glaring mistakes or miscalculations. So you have to be as precise as possible and write down all the details surrounding your event, from the content to the refreshments to the transportation to the venue to the lighting and more. All the different elements should form to make a cohesive whole, and your guests will remember everything – positive and negative – and relate it to your brand. So note down all the details, so you don’t neglect or overlook anything.
- Remain flexible in terms of location, size, and other important details
As you get into the nitty-gritty of planning your small event, you may suddenly find that you have to change the location, the size of the event, and other details. This is a natural part of the event planning process, and you shouldn’t worry about these changes, as confirmed by the expert party planners in Oxfordshire from Oasis Events. Always have a backup plan, so you don’t have to panic, and remember that being flexible is one of your best protections against disaster.
- Create a budget for the event and try to save money whenever you can
Other small business owners may tell you that planning an intimate business affair may often cost more than you were thinking of in the first place, so remember to factor this into your budget. Most of your expenses will go to your venue and your menu and drinks, but factor in additional expenses for licences and permits, too. Make a full list of your event expenses so you can also highlight key areas or points where you can ask sponsors for a donation, whether in cash or kind. One way you can save money on your event is to work with partners and other businesses; the networking helps you in other ways as well.