The document provides a tongue-in-cheek guide on how to intentionally plan a failing event using a concept called 'pre-mortem'. It emphasizes identifying potential failures before they occur by retrospectively analyzing what went wrong, as opposed to predicting problems in advance. The guide suggests practical steps for event planners to critically assess their strategies and outcomes.

1. HOW TO
MURDER
YOUR EVENT
THE GUIDE TO
EVENTS

2. IF #EVENTPROFS RAN FUNERALS...
THEY’D BE THE BEST
FUNERALS IN THE WORLD.

3. SET YOUR MURDER SCENE
Write down:
• the top 3 aims of the event
• who the delegates will be
• the top 10 clients
• the top three session topics
• what the industry press will
write after the event
Then seal it in an envelope, and
open it 2 weeks later, when
you’ve planned the event.
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4. GIVE YOUR TEAM
THE LOADED WEAPON
Your team are idiots.
The the biggest
problems your event
faces will be caused by
you and your team.
Just before you launch
the show to the press
and potential delegates,
take a few hours with
your team to conduct
a “pre-mortem”.
2

5. NOW KILL YOUR EVENT.
. 3
“Unlike a typical critiquing session, in which project team members
are asked what might go wrong, the pre-mortem operates on the
assumption that the 'patient' has died“ – Gary Klein
It is easier to isolate the cause of a single disaster than to predict
the multiple causes of multiple disasters.
Using ‘prospective hindsight’ improves people's ability to predict
the reasons for future outcomes by 30%.

6. THE GUIDE TO
EVENTS
For more information, visit
www.guideto.events
Photography credits:
Thierry Ehrmann
Hairyeggg
Tony Webster
Herry Lawford
Logan Ingalls
Habrda