12 things that can and do go wrong at an outdoor event

If you’re hosting an event be warned…if something can go wrong there is a very good chance it will.

Whether you are an experienced event manager or a do-it yourself party organiser, a large part of the job is preparing for the inevitable moment when some aspect of your event starts to go south.

Whether or not the problems are major or minor, it falls to the person in charge of the event to sort out the trouble and get the day’s/nights festivities back on track. So as an event planner, you should be fully aware of ways to handle your event going wrong. You’ll be the first person that everyone will look to if disaster strikes.

To keep you from getting flustered or stressed out at your next event, we’ve prepared a few simple tips to help you take charge of any troublesome situation, and snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

What could go wrong?

• Power and electrical problems
• Water connections for food vendors
• Vandals destroying outdoor marquees
• Rehashing and changing the site plan 10 times over 
• Not for profit groups not turning up/ locked in free spots a no show
• Weather
• Blocked toilets, vomit and general mess and garbage clean up
• Volunteers don’t show
• Exhibitor stays for one day only even though you have booked them in for 2 days
• Promotion company sends people that can’t speak English 
• Packing up the event during a storm
• General event overload and exhaustion 

How to handle it

• Wear an extra thick skin for the event
• Take a breath and find a quiet corner to pause, regroup or even have a cry
• Be confident that you have done the best you can and most of the above was unavoidable from an event operations perspective
• Follow up with the no shows (site booking fee charged)
• Have a great support event crew around you to pick up the pieces when you crumble after the event
• Keep smiling and laughing whilst on the inside you’re dying
• Swallow your pride and know that things like this only happens to the best of the best

You are only as good as your last event - if the crowds and people have unnoticed these issues than you have done an excellent job in covering and troubleshooting to make the event run as efficiently as possible.

For any enquires on Event Management Gold Coast, Corporate Events Gold Coast, and Conference and Incentives Days please call Jo. Jo can bring all her experience, passion and skill to the table to create a fresh and innovative partnership with you. Click here to get our ebrochure & download our PDF.

Jo Kane

Events Gold Coast