Let’s be honest… Flights get delayed. Speakers cancel. AV fails. Weather changes. Roads close. I have had all of these happen, plus 75% of my group getting food poisoning, my team getting sick, charter flight engines catching on fire, getting threatened by a vendor to leave my group if I don't pay them additional funds right then and there, the beach for an event was gone due to a storm, a main venue closed 30 days prior to our event. No event goes exactly as planned. And in those moments, everyone looks to one person: You Here are 7 ways to lead, pivot, and protect your event when things go wrong: 1. Control Your Energy First Before you solve anything, control your reaction. If you panic, your team panics. If you stay calm, your team stays focused. You are the emotional tone of the event. 2. Get the Right Information Fast Don’t react on assumptions. Ask: What exactly happened? What are the options? How much time do we have? Clarity creates better decisions. 3. Make a Decision Quickly Indecision creates more damage than the problem itself. Even if it’s not perfect, forward motion matters. 4. Redirect Your Team With Clear Instructions Your team doesn’t need a discussion, they need direction. Be specific: Who is doing what. By when. What is the priority? Be crystal clear with what you expect from each team member. Some people handle stress and uncertainty much better than others. Recognize who can handle the more challenging tasks or harder decisions. 5. Communicate With Confidence, Even If It’s Not Perfect Attendees don’t need every detail. They need: Clear updates. Confidence and Reassurance. How you say it matters as much as what you say. 6. Protect the Attendee Experience Most attendees won’t remember the issue, hopefully. They’ll remember how it was handled. Shift focus to: Keeping things moving. Maintaining energy. Creating an alternative experience. 7. Always Have a Plan B and Sometimes C The best planners don’t just react, they anticipate. Think ahead: Backup speakers or agenda adjustment. Alternate spaces. Alternate routes for off-site events. Flexible timelines. Contingency budgets. Determine the closest hospital. Does your team have CPR training. Have an emergency protocol handbook for your team. Know your client hierarchy.

Expand Your Event Horizons: 7 Ideas to Break the Mold In a world of endless Zoom fatigue and "seen it before" conferences, clients are looking for experiences, not just events. Here’s a list of unforgettable event formats you can offer: 1. Luxury Cruises for Groups. Offer all-in-one experiences with built-in entertainment, dining, and exotic locations. Great for incentive trips and exclusive client appreciation. 2. Culinary Immersion Events. Host events centered around food: private chef tastings, sommelier-led wine pairings, gourmet picnics, or competitive cooking challenges. 3. Multi-City Experiences. Design progressive itineraries where guests move between cities or regions; perfect for VIPs or brand launches seeking maximum buzz. 4. Glamping & Nature-Based Retreats. Rustic chic venues, luxury tents, firepits, yoga under the stars, these hit wellness, nature, and escape all in one. 5. Private Mansion or Estate Takeovers. Elevate status with complete buyouts of historic homes, private villas, or high-end estates for ultra-exclusive programs. 6. Interactive Location-Based Experiences. Think Amazing Race style challenges, walking cocktail tours, or art gallery crawls. Make the location part of the event’s DNA. 7. Purpose-Driven Events with Give-Back Moments. Integrate community service, nonprofit tie-ins, or sustainability missions; turn your event into a cause, not just a party. Drop any of your creative ideas here to help other members!

Pre-Cons and Post-Cons aren’t just corporate formality, they’re your chance to get ahead of problems and build long-term relationships. Here’s how they work and 7 ways to make them powerful tools in your event planning process: 1. What’s a Pre-Con? A Pre-Convention Meeting happens 1–2 days before the event, bringing together hotel staff, the planner, vendors, and client stakeholders. It’s the final alignment before doors open. 2. What’s a Post-Con?A Post-Convention Meeting is held right after the event (or within a week) to review what went well, what didn’t, and what should be improved next time. It’s your debrief + business development session rolled into one. 3. Use Pre-Cons to Review EVERYTHING: BEOs, rooming lists, special needs, signage, AV timing, load-in/out plans, dietary requirements and run-of-show. 4. Set the Tone With Your On-Site Partners. The Pre-Con is your chance to build rapport with the banquet captain, AV tech, hotel CSM, etc. Establish yourself as the point person and build goodwill. 5. Post-Cons Are for Retention & Reflection. Get client feedback while it’s still fresh. Document wins and issues for the next time. Thank the venue and ask for their feedback, too. 6. Always Capture Action Items. During both meetings, assign and confirm owners for each task. Follow up the post-event with a recap and thank-you note, this is how professionals stand out. 7. Use These Meetings to Build Your Event Playbook. Keep Pre-Con and Post-Con templates in your system. Document learnings to reuse for future events, venues, or clients. Do you run Pre-Cons and Post-Cons consistently? What’s worked best for you? Drop your checklist ideas or lessons learned in the comments.