Event profs often get asked this question, that is, what is actually the difference between planning and managing an event? Understanding the process of both will give us a clear idea about the difference and how to execute them briefly. “Plan before you can manage”. In simple words, planning comes before managing, events. Event planning is a pre-event planning process within overall event management activities that includes budgeting, establishing timelines, selecting and reserving the event sites, acquiring permits, planning food, coordinating transportation, developing a theme, arranging for activities, selecting speakers and keynotes, arranging for equipment and facilities, managing risk, and developing contingency plans. A better way to differentiate and understand both the terms is by understanding the process involved in both planning and managing an event.

1. Difference between
Event Management &
Event Planning
BLOG POST ULTIMATE GUIDE TO EVENT MANAGEMENT

2. Event Theme &
Objective
Who is this event for?
What is/ are objective/s of this event?
How much investment is needed for successfully conducting the event?
What will be the form of this investment? Time, money, talent or others/
What KPI will you track for measuring event’s RoI?

3. Event
Awareness
Event website works as a trailer to your actual events, with feature videos,
image gallery, session information, attendee profile, and speaker list. In
an event website, you have a medium to showcase the value your event
has to offer.

4. Plan & allocate
budget
Venue Cost | Software & Tech | Catering & Food budget
Transportation & Logistics | Marketing budget
A/V budget | Production costs

5. Promotion &
Marketing
Communication
Choose Marketing Channels as per your attendees’ demographics
Ticketing & Registration strategy
Get your event listed
Email & SMS

6. Set Timelines
When should the event be held?
When should you start your marketing campaigns?
When should your registration start and when should it end?
What should be your vendor delivery timelines and SLAs?

7. On-Ground
Operations
Event Production
Queue Management/ Attendee Management
Badge-printing

8. Finding
event sponsors
& partners
Sponsors and partners are important to plan, most events where the
goal of the event and that of sponsors find strong synergy are instantly
funded, additionally, they have a strong association demand.

9. Engagement &
Networking
How do you encourage networking at events?
How do you engage attendees at your event?