Do you really need an expert to plan an event?
First of all, events are an amazing opportunity for you to do some networking. It’s a great avenue to show off and impress potential partners, and help grow your company. So, YES, hiring someone proficient in the field is essential for your business.
Throwing an event is tricky. There are different facets that you have to worry about when planning and managing these functions. This is why having the right support is paramount to ensuring its success from initial planning to final execution.
Introducing, a virtual assistant for event planning and management—the event industry’s best-kept secret solution.
These professionals may be working from a remote location, but they sure can throw a bombastic event that will leave your guests utterly impressed.
This blog post will share every important detail about a virtual assistant and why they are key to successful event planning and management.
A virtual assistant for event planning and management is an expert remote assistant who plans, organizes and coordinates every aspect of your events on your behalf.
If you haven’t tried planning an event, you should know that it is a very daunting endeavor.
However, with the support of a virtual assistant, you will have loads of fun instead of stressing out the whole event.
Given the “challenge” of creating a successful event, a virtual assistant for event planning and management can play a pivotal role in executing the following tasks:
Regardless of whether you’re planning a virtual or on-the-ground event, you have to stay on budget, and a VA can do wonders in that department.
They will determine the overall event budget, create a cost spreadsheet and find vendors within your price range. This will ensure that you can cover your expenses and not overspend on this one-time event.
There are so many great locations to choose from, and thus, it can be difficult to decide which one is the perfect venue for your event. That’s where you can use the help of a virtual assistant.
Your VA can do the legwork and scout different venues and put together a list for you to choose from within your defined requirements—budget, parking and number of guests.
Don’t know what your event’s agenda is? A virtual assistant can design it for you. From setup and timeline to cleanup, nothing will be discounted, and activities will be squarely divided.
Event vendor coordination is pretty complex. Therefore, it’s best to leave it in the expert hands of a VA, who will deal with the décor and reach out to photographers, entertainers and everyone else involved in making the event a success.
Take comfort in knowing that with them at the helm, your event’s necessities will be delivered on time. They will communicate with vendors and even negotiate with them on your behalf. How comforting is that?
Once every detail is polished, it’s time to fly out the invitations! Your virtual assistant takes care of this process for you. They can design the invitation (just the way you like it) and ensure the message reaches your guests.
This can save you plenty of time and energy.
As the excitement and dread reach new heights as the event gets closer, you’ll start receiving replies from your guests. This will add extra pressure, and you’ll be extremely glad to have a VA take charge of keeping score of who’s coming and who’s not.
VAs can make and update the list as the RSVP keeps coming. They can answer questions too and make modifications based on the number of attendees.
Of course, you need to advertise your event. Whether you’re going traditional or using social media, you can count on a virtual assistant to craft eye-catching flyers, post ads and share them with your guests.
Even after the party, your remote assistant can follow up on attendees and collect feedback that you can use to improve future events.
Food is life, so you need an amazing menu that’ll keep everyone satisfied. From researching caterers to making sure dietary plans are met, your virtual assistant can plan out the catering for your event to perfection.
Your virtual assistant will do everything in their power to ensure your big day goes off without a hitch!
Here’s to more benefits of working with a virtual assistant for event planning and management:
Ready to work with an event virtual assistant? Look for the following skills and specific traits that separate an excellent VA from a bad hire:
Event planning is counted among the hardest jobs on the planet. That said, you need a VA with a “can-do” attitude. They have to be welcoming when conversing with clients and suppliers and leave a good, lasting impression.
The slightest touches make all the difference between mundane and superb. As such, you need a VA with an eye for detail who carefully oversees everything they do. Remember, one tiny crack can ruin a long-planned event.
Plans can go astray—horribly, at the last minute. This will force you to adapt quickly. To come out of this intact, you need a remote assistant who is agile to sudden interruptions and can think of workable solutions fast.
When you’re planning an event, you’re working against time, budget and unforeseen changes. Hence, you need a virtual assistant who can deal with constraints in a fast-paced environment while remaining calm.
Your virtual assistant is going to be interacting with you, your guests and the vendors. They have to be able to pitch ideas and convey messages, in writing or verbally, effectively.
So, how can you keep things neat and organized with a virtual assistant who is not in your line of sight?
It can be challenging—but not an impossible feat. Here’s how you can ensure day-to-day activities run smoothly in a virtual workplace:
You need a project management tool to have a visual timeline of each task’s progression. This way, everyone on the team is on the same page.
It will cause confusion if your remote team is using multiple channels to communicate. Find one that works for everyone, and make sure no information is lost.
To avoid conflicting schedules with other work, you need to have a calendar booking system that details your appointments—who you’re talking to and when.
Having a daily routine gets your team organized. This will set expectations for what tasks need to be done.
As you can see, working with an event planning and management VA is nothing short of extraordinary. They have the resources to bring your visions to life—and give you some peace of mind.
So, if you’re planning an event, book a virtual assistant. You’ll have more fun on your big day, instead of stressing about it.