The Dos and Don'ts of Event Planning

​By: Sam Ross
Planning any kind of event is stressful, but when it’s over and you take a step back and look at everything you accomplished you realize that it was all worth it.
I just recently planned a silent auction and it was the first event I had ever planned, and even though I thought I was going crazy I realized that event planning is actually something that I enjoy.  Here are some of the things I learned while panning my first event.

Do start planning early. You never know when something will go wrong and cause you to stop doing everything. This is going to push everything else back. Getting a head start on everything will also give you less to do as it gets closer to the event.

Do ask for help. You may want to do everything yourself so you know it gets done right, but it’s just going to stress you out even more. There are always people willing to help. Whether it was picking up auction donations on my behalf, or volunteering to help throughout the planning process and the day of, other PRSSA members were always willing to lend a hand.
 
Do make checklists. This is a great way to stay organized and it helps you remember everything you have to do for that day.
 
Do stay organized. When planning big events, it’s easy to forget about the little details. A great way I stayed organized was by making lists, documents that said what donations were picked up and which still needed to be pick up and having a folder on my laptop of everything.
 
Don’t assume anything. If there’s something you are confused or concerned about, ask questions. Reach out to the president or advisor of your organization as they are more than likely have the answers you need.
 
Don’t get too overwhelmed. In the beginning, it will seem like you have a lot to do, but it will all work out in the end. There were many times where I was so overwhelmed, but I really didn’t need to be because a few days later that thing I was overwhelmed about didn’t matter anymore.
 
Don’t forget to enjoy the event. Don’t be stressed the day of. Just relax and have a good time at the event!