Sharing things learned from the school of hard knocks. Having no event planning background, organized the Phoenix Twestival events over the past few years.

1. from the school of hard knocks

2. • who - who is your audience
• what - what kind of event
• where - this is big
• why - what’s the point
• how - what are the details

3. • definitely no event planner
• twestival - 3 events in the bag
• podcampaz - on the organizing team with 3
events
• will give a look at what goes into planning
twestival phoenix

4. • subject to whims of global
• date not flexible
• infrastructure determined
• timing not up to us

5. • who is your audience
• drives decisions - format, venue, etc.
• who is your sponsor audience
• positioning of event will depend on this
• where will you get volunteers

6. • advisors • a/v
• registration • design
• volunteer coordinator • development
• event director • social media
• raffle / silent auction
• documentarian

7. • purpose behind the event?
• event type?
• social / educational?
• provide food/drink?
• entertainment? activities?
• size / scope? event day
• recurring?

8. • venue is key
• venue is key
• venue is key

9. • cost - space, services, service charge
• location
• insurance
• services provided (food, drink, tables,
chairs, wifi, etc.)
• allowance of outside goods/services
• licenses required / fees

10. • what is the purpose?
• social / educational /charitable?

11. • meetings
• basecamp
• email
• im
• google docs / forms

12. • nominations - uservoice, blog post
• research
• twitter profile - followers, # tweets, stream
• charity navigator / guidestar
• website
• facebook
• charity

13. • blog - wp please?
• twitter - tweets, w/link to blog posts
• cotweet / hootsuite / tweetdeck (sched)
• facebook
• yelp
• press releases
• brand > username

14. • blog
• facebook
• upcoming
• yelp
• twitvite

15. • platforms
• amiando / eventbrite
• firstgiving / charity sites
• blog
• pif
• sponsors
• donors

16. • with twestival, big social payback
• see what companies want to engage in sm
• what value can we provide to them
• attendee demographics
• social media exposure
• sponsorship levels
• row feeder

17. • what value can we provide to them
• social media exposure
• beat the street
• keep going no matter what
• resources
• one sheet w/event & charity info

18. • registration / payment
• laptops > platforms
• silent auction
• bid sheets / tally / announce / collect
• sponsors / donors
• keep contact / document

19. • volunteers
• coordinator / schedule
• food / beverage
• entertainment

20. • sponsor thank you’s
• continued social media exposure
• donation receipts
• follow up
• wrap up
• media - flickr / youtube / etc.

21. • recurring
• use the same platforms
• strengthen the relationships
• make it easier every year