In terms of event/temp staffing, it's always a good idea to work with a partner that's proactive in having redundancies in place. At ATN, we are adding the appropriate number of on-site backup staffers to ensure 100% attendance even if there's an unforeseen issue with a starters arrival time. So whether you need 3 staff or 300, you get what you asked for and your event, conference, trade show etc. has the coverage it needs.

Prompt and courteous communication is key to creating long term relationships in events. There are bound to be issues that come up, but it's how they're handled that matters most. I always like there to be multiple points of contact just in case so nobody is at an event without a lifeline.

Having a backup plan when it comes to transportation around getting your guest speaker to an event is critical. Often, we will have multiple transportation options booked (flights, cars, etc.) to ensure that speakers can get to their booked engagements on time and as stress-free as possible. This backup plan should be documented and shared with all parties involved in making the speaker's engagement at a live event a resounding success.

Organizing events in rural Tanzania requires us to be both incredibly flexible and also okay with navigating ambiguities. This means we have backup plans for anything you can possibly think of. What if it rains, what if cows run through the festival grounds, how many backup generators do we need? How many backup vehicles do we require, do they all have two spare tires? What do we do about hyenas at night? Being prepared to shift quickly to any number of contingencies we've put in place is key. It's helpful for me to sit with a group of people from different backgrounds and with different experiences in Tanzania, and to just ask: "What could go wrong?" And then we put plans in place.

One thing I've always found helpful is to put myself in the client's shoes. Luckily, I typically work with event producers and was also an EP for many years, so I've been on their side before and am empathetic to how difficult their jobs can be at times. Being in it together with a common goal is a good feeling to have.

What happens after the event is truly a measure of an event's success. Do more customers decide to buy from your brand? Does your organization see an uptick in donations? Is there an influx of social buzz around your brand? All of these, combined with asking the right questions of your attendees, can help paint the picture of your event's success, so that you can take those learnings with you into the next event.