|
|
Like this article? PLEASE +1 it! |  |
|
What do you do when ‘da bomb’ bombs? Good advice for event planners who don’t live in a perfect world…
| Guest post by: Michel Neray |
Article Overview: In a perfect world, every meeting would come off without a hitch, every audience would leave enlightened and motivated, every client would be a hero, and you would never have heard of anyone called Murphy. But we don’t live in a perfect world, and statistically, it’s simply not possible for every event to be a success. So I turned to some of my more experienced friends in the business people who have seen it all. I asked them a simple question: ‘Imagine you were giving advice to a newbie event planner or bureau agent, after the event he or she just handled went south…. what would you say?’
 |
Free Download - The Power of Yes! By Michel Neray |
What do you do when ‘da bomb’ bombs? Good advice for event planners who don’t live in a perfect world…
In a perfect world, every meeting would come off
without a hitch, every audience would leave enlightened and motivated, every
client would be a hero, and you would never have heard of anyone called Murphy.
But we don’t live in a perfect world, and statistically,
it’s simply not possible for every event to be a success. Few people openly
admit it, mind you, but every once in a while things do go wrong… and the
meeting bombs. And suddenly, ‘da bomb’ that everyone was raving about on his or
her website, is living up to the wrong side of the word.
I remember one such experience like it was
yesterday. The knock-knock joke I opened with went over like a lead balloon,
and the audience just stared at me and fidgeted in their seats. Fortunately, my
kindergarten teacher was gracious about it and helped me and my classmates
survive elementary school without any permanent emotional trauma.
Fast-forward 50 years or so, and here I am
researching tips on how to survive the bomb for an article I’ve been asked to write.
On the hyperweb – the interconnected cyberspace between computers that’s full
of hype – there is plenty of information on how to plan an event; ten top tips
for ensuring a successful event; and, numerous promises and personal guarantees
of amazing successes…. but I can’t find anything on what to do in the unlikely
event the event turns out below expectations.
Nada.
So I turned to some of my more experienced
friends in the business people who have seen it all. I asked them a simple
question: ‘Imagine you were giving advice to a newbie event planner or bureau
agent, after the event he or she just handled went south…. what would you say?’
Christine Beaumaster,
President of Keynote Speakers Canada, puts it bluntly: “There is (almost) no
way to recover from the damage done when a speaker bombs.”
She goes on to explain
that – assuming you are using a professional speaker – the meeting may bomb for
one of two reasons: a mismatch in either the speaker style or the presentation
content.
“Look,” she says, “it’s
not a chicken or beef luncheon choice. It’s so important to resist the
temptation to just be an order-taker and book a speaker without asking enough
questions. Instead, it’s important to take the time to discuss the audience,
the theme and goals of the event, timing and if there will be any late-nights
and alcohol… everything that might affect the program must be considered.
It’s
a subjective business but strong communication, due diligence and trust will
always guarantee best results.”
Theresa
Beenken,
Vice President
of National Speakers Bureau – and recent President of
the International Association of Speakers Bureaus -- says pretty much the same
thing. As one of the largest bureaus in Canada for over 35 years, they’ve got
the pre-planning process and speaker selection down to a fine art. I believe
her when she says it almost never happens that a speaker ‘bombs’. Her
credibility goes up even higher when she says, “but every once in a while, a
speaker might not hit it out of the park.”
“So
what do you do then?” I ask her.
Theresa: “We have been
able to turn a bad situation into a better one by finding out what was missing
from the presentation and then offering that content in a different form – like
a follow-up article for the client’s publication, or books, etc., to help give
more value/content from the speaker.
We also recognize we
have three parties with a vested interest -- the event planner who booked the
speaker, the audience who experiences the speaker, and the speaker him or
herself. Each will have his or her own view of the experience. Our goal
is to constantly improve and help everyone through the process. We know
we can only do that if we get a holistic view of what happened.”
When
I talk to Martin Perelmuter, President and Co-Founder of Speaker Spotlight –
another leading bureau, with over 13,000 speaking engagements (and counting) arranged
for clients in over 30 countries worldwide since 1995 – I’m not surprised.
An
experienced bureau knows how to ask the right questions in order to match the
right speaker. Check. An experienced bureau does its due diligence. Check. An
experienced bureau treats its roster of speakers with the same respect and
trust that it has for its event planner clients. Check. An experienced bureau
is focused on building relationships for the long-term instead of looking at
event engagements as individual transactions. Check.
So
what happens when an event goes off the rails (even though it almost never
happens, of course)?
Martin:
“By all means learn from the experience. Talk to the speaker and get his or her
perspective. Review the audience feedback forms to see if there’s a consistent
or pervasive thread. If there is a genuine issue, chances are the audience will
not want to give the speaker a second chance – so free books or a follow-up
speeches won’t help no matter how ‘free’ they are.
In
that case, find out what the client wants. Maybe the client wants the fee
refunded; maybe the client wants an apology; maybe the client simply
appreciates the effort we make to resolve the issue; or maybe there’s nothing
anyone can do. Then, all we have to draw on is the trust we had previously hopefully
built up in the proverbial trust account...”
Which
brings us back full circle to what Christine told me at the outset. And that
makes me wonder if all my interviewees secretly got together and agreed on
everything they were going to say to me.
Or
maybe, just maybe, the more experienced bureaus have their own unique style and
personality but all follow the same golden rule, which can be summed up like
this: ‘Just do the right thing.’
Good
advice.
Profitable Online Business Ideas and the Recession Part 2
Social Networking or Social Distraction
What is the best way to develop my sales skills?
How can you make more of your customers open your emails?
Personal Finance Help
More crazy customers!
FEAR and RISK? What is holding you back?
Choosing the Perfect Opening Convention Speaker
3 Ways to Have Virtual Events Work with Physical Events
How do I find a passionate and purposeful mentor?
Contribution
THE PLIGHT OF THE PERFECTIONIST
One Size Doesnt Fit All
Building Your Emotional "Fallout Shelter"
Enrolling Clients at Live Events
Online Business and Freedom in America
Know your magic numbers
Why live blog an event?
Why Climate Change is the A-Bomb of the 21st Century
My Perfect Online Business Review
|
About the Author: Michel Neray RSS for Michel's articles - Visit Michel's website
What makes you different as a person is what makes you better... in your business, your career and your life. Michel Neray combines a science degree from the University of Waterloo, an MBA from McGill University, and a career as a creative marketing copywriter, advertising agency director and marketing executive. A visionary and entrepreneurial game-changer, in 1995 he founded Portfolios Online, the world's first Internet search engine for advertising and creative professionals. As a consultant and facilitator, Michel helps his clients discover, communicate and focus on their greatest value and true competitive advantage -- for massive increases in sales, leadership effectiveness and, yes, happiness! It’s what he calls your 'Essential Message'. As a motivational speaker, Michel empowers his audiences to dig deeper than the usual marketing messages to access a well of meaning and purpose that drive sales as much as they drive productivity, engagement, resilience and cooperation/collaboration. Since 2008, Michel has held a variety of leadership positions in the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers, and has spoken professionally in more than seven countries around the world. Michel co-authored The Great Crossover, which made it to Jack Canfield’s Achiever’s Recommended Reading List. In 2005, his chapter, "Everything Starts With A Conversation" was selected as the lead for the book, Sales Gurus Speak Out. He’s married with three children, two dogs, three snowboards, a whitewater canoe and a black belt in Karate.
Click here to visit Michel's website   Conversational Selling Tips |
Related Forum Posts
Re: iPhone 3Gs Now Outnumber First Generation iPhones
- Hi There,
Thanks for this information.
This figures are astounding. I guess it does not happen overnight. There is a lot of planning beforehand. Just think the ordering of the raw material, setting up the assembly lines. These planners need a patch on their back.
Honour where honour is due.
It shows, that the world is moving on, opportunities are still created.
Re: Networking
- Good work, just remember to continue to plug away and dont stop.
Good luck,
Matt Belock
Pre-Registering for Events
- Hi Kevin! You have gotten some great advice on this thread. I think a combination of all the above, without sounding trite, would be appropriate.
Your marketing should be very targeted and very consistent, once a week or whatever in order to lead up to the event. Take a tip from the information marketing world, and send them new notes about what they are going to learn and how its going to change their lives.
Buyers specifically want to do 4 things
1) make more money
2) save more money
3) alleviate some pain or stress
4) reduce their workload (or minimize their efforts)
(sounds like a great bunch eh?? ;0))
I would also mirror Beat's suggestion. When we are hosting events for clients we do take credit card numbers, and attendees are told that they will be charged a fee for no -shows. (This helps maintain the integrity of the event). The rate can change depending on the event topic or something. We typically charge $99 for no shows so its enough to get people to honor their commitment. ($25 and they didnt care. ;0))
Your client could also promote the expert a bit more, right now their seminars are a bit bland from a 'who are we going to hear from..." perspective.
J
Re: Lost memo
- [quote="BizLoanz4u":1alr0b3e]WHAT?! Men still run the world?
Sorry...I must not have received that memo![/quote:1alr0b3e]
I dont' want to get into a political/religious debate - this ain't the place... but there's a great deal of the world that is run solely by men, and more and more countries are being taken over by such men with a certain mindset toward women that isn't healthy for women's future standing as a human being with a right to walk around without her face covered, etc. etc.
You should rephrase it... "Men still run the western world?"
odd Jobs
- I wonder if #6 gets fired if they swallow the beer instead of spitting it out! ... if they dont, .this could be the perfect job...a job that no alcoholic would lose! LOL
Well, those are some pretty weird and odd jobs to say the least...but interesting....Poor # 8...imagine meeting someone and they ask what you do and you simply say "i'm a ball tester" LOL
My kids would love to be #9 and i don't even want to comment on #10 LOL enuff said.
Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.
Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.
by: 
Best Automated Forex Trading Strategy
Build Your List with Joint Venture Giveaway Events
May 2012 Top 100 Social Media Experts to Follow on Twitter
What to measure to be phenomenally successful in business
10 mistakes of media relations
Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!
SEO Gurus, Software and Ebooks
Having It All... With No Sleep
Your Local Small Business Online Marketing Funnel
Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.