“A river cuts through rick, not because of its power, but because of its persistence.” – Jim Watkins
Even if the event is tough and full of long and winding processes, your ability to stay the course will be crucial to your success.
When I was still green in the industry, there are times that I cried because of the pressure of deadlines, and the gargantuan tasks that I felt during that time is insurmountable.
But I stayed the course, convinced myself to ride the processes no matter how difficult it is.
Good thing I did!
By hindsight, I have a deeper appreciation of the processes. Indeed, persistence is a great attribute one must try to acquire and develop.
I have been a moderator in events before the pandemic. During this pandemic, I was able to moderate different virtual events. Here are lessons that I have learned from being a moderator in virtual events.
Despite the problematic internet connection, last year the online events like corporate meetings, exhibitions, conferences, webinars, and other business events continued.
Professional organizers were able to pivot and learn faster to offer event management services to their clients in need of implementing their planned events despite the pandemic.
Alongside this learning is the re-education of Generation X and Baby Boomers, which comprised a huge number of workforce in the Philippines, on how to work and conduct business online.
Last year, according to We Are Social there are 73 Million Internet Users in a country of 110 Million population as of January 2020. While in a 2019 Social Weather Station (SWS) survey revealed that 45% of Filipino adults use the internet.
Indeed, based on my experience last year, clients that are not accustomed and even shunned using the internet and online tools for business transactions are forced and are now technologically savvy.
Expect that this year online events will become prevalent.
A lot of associations and organizations fail to deliver the right experience for their attendees on their online events.
One of the reasons is the failure of technology.
A lot of people assigned to handle their online events are stressed. If you are aged 30 and above tasked to run your company's or association's event we understand your worries and stress!
The majority of the online events watched by the public are not seamless and full of glitches that are avoidable.
These small glitches pile-up and causing damage to your company's reputation.
This is really stressful and a cause to be worried about your future events.
But you can do something about it!
You can avoid being part of these events that have a lot of glitches and errors. You can implement a successful event!
An event that you can smile about and do high-fives ( in the near future) with your colleagues.
If you want to make this happen, we can help you.
Since that start of the pandemic, we are one of the first in the Philippines to serve as an online and virtual events manager.
The technology is there but what differentiates us from others is that we are a business events organizer for 20 years.
We know what you want!
We know you want to eliminate your worries and fears for anything that can happen wrong in your online events.
We know you want to be happy about the results of your event.
We know you want to be proud of your online event.
Our experience and our deeper understanding of your needs is the reason that you will have better online events.
We understand that it is more than an online event, we know it is all about you and your team reputation. We recognize that it is all about the experience that you want your clients to have during your online events.
If you believe in what we are saying, and what we are promising call or message us.
We will be very happy to partner with you.
4 Months in the Pandemic as an Online Events Manager. I see this trend grow until the next two years or might become one of the regular fixtures in creating an event.
I would like to share with you the 5 lessons that I have learned up until now.
Be Brave is more of you need to adapt to the changing conditions that the pandemic brought.
As the MICE Industry and Tourism Industry were completely shut down and frozen. We in our organization ask the question what now?
What now leads you to try different paths, mostly dead ends. But if you keep on trying, you will find better places that you can navigate and work on.
Be Brave is being more of a solution finder. Rather than give up, we choose to get up. Make something from this very difficult condition.
Robert Frost said, “ The Best Way Out is Through.” That is what Bravery can do for you.
Nobody expected this pandemic. There are no playbooks available to guide you in this type of situation.
We are a 20-year-old event organizer, I am in the events industry for more than 25 years. This is the first time that I am experiencing a pandemic.
There are no readymade answers. This is the reason why you have to venture into the trial and error phase.
Don’t be afraid to make mistakes.
It is by making mistakes that we become closer to success. This is best said by John Maxwell, we always Fail Forward.
And it is not a win or lose the game but a win or learn the game.
We exist because of our clients. They are the WHY of our organization. The reason why we have an organization.
Before pandemic, we are already tuned-in to their needs and expectations.
Now that we are inside a pandemic, the more that we should listen to them.
Bigger brands try to gain Brand Love. I think we should also try to emulate them and use them as an example.
If we do, we will achieve better results as online event managers.
Again, listen more to your clients. Usually, they are afraid and unsure about bringing their events online. You must assure them and work hard to deliver what you promise.
As a team, now more than ever you must communicate, collaborate, and coordinate tighter.
Work From Home is difficult but the more we communicate we can have better collaboration and ensure that completion of tasks are achieved because of better coordination.
When you are one of the first, others will follow, not only MICE Organizers but technology providers and other organizations that are looking to pivot.
After 4 months, we now have a bigger competition. Andrew Grove’s dictum of ” Only the Be Paranoid Survive” is your best friend.
While They are trying to copy you or using your organization as an inspiration. You should be making 3 to 5 steps forward so they cannot catch-up.
You already offered your Minimum Viable Product. It is time to improve it.
Never Settle. True before the pandemic truer during this pandemic.
We are in the new normal where the conditions are very fluid.
These are the 5 lessons that I have learned as an Online Events Manager or Online MICE Planner during this pandemic.
I hope you learn and gain insights.
