You're considering a career in Live Events. How do you know if you have what it takes to succeed?

"Love what you do and you will never work a day in your life". This holds true in this industry but with that comes a dark side to the Event business. you need to understand that this market is a 24/7 world. our clients are global- the events are time consuming and production takes work. So understand that this is NOT an 8-5 world and if that is your priority I would recommend looking elsewhere. Your Passion also needs to translate into ability- and not just 1 discipline. Keeping your eyes open to everything increases your worth and your understanding of "Why" things happen. After 40 years I am still learning, loving what I do and growing my skill set. After all, if you are not learning and adapting- you are just standing still.

For Live Events you will need: To have a well scoped plan To be calm 'under fire' To always have back ups to back ups Strong communication skills To be able to think outside of the box To be creative on the fly To be a strong team player

Passion is one of the traits that seems to be common among everyone I meet in events across all roles and functions. It will carry you a long way. It’ll definitely help you get through the sometimes long days and hard work!

To succeed in a career in live events, you need a passion for the industry, creativity, strong organizational and problem-solving skills, effective communication abilities, and flexibility to adapt to changing circumstances. If you possess these qualities and are dedicated to working hard and continually improving, you may have what it takes to excel in the fast-paced and dynamic world of live events.[keep the micro people aside ;)]

You need to be able to switch it up on the fly with Live Events. Last week I was in a Live Audio room with Elon Musk and was a speaker. I first asked him if a Hotdog is a sandwich (seriously). To switch it up, I then asked him a more serious question which was the most newsworthy answer of the 3 hour event. I asked him the status and progress of the Neuralink patient. He said they can now control a computer mouse with only their brain. I adapted and flexed. WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

Stop analysing it and start doing. You don't have to commit to a career in events, you can just go and work on some shows. See how you like it. Start small and take on more responsibility as you go. You probably have what it takes, and you'll probably enjoy it

Having a creative mindset helps in designing memorable events. Assess your ability to come up with innovative ideas and visualize the end result. A good sense of aesthetics and understanding of what makes an event engaging can set you apart.

Keep up to date with current Technologies Listen to yout Tech Crew - They know you know Fluidity is key - no bump stops! Remember that Old School elements are still reliable Mix and match Old with New Immersive is not just a word, It's a challenge Use Stage Automation, Life is not static Wow should be top on list

Live event work is going to be where you see the most need for being able to adapt and be flexible. I have always used the term pivot since your movement does not get halted it just guides your momentum to a different direction. Following the idea of a swan and keeping your stress off you physicality will also help others not gain that same stress which will keep everything moving smoothly.

Communication and interpersonal skills: I'm gonna be honest with you guys by communicationg to you: Can you please like this comment? I am trying to get my 8th badge now, and this one would be cool. Thanks and have a great day y'all! WOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Way back when it was about hiding problems and never saying no. These days most of the top players are much more transparent and talk about challenges to solve them with the client. I did a show that had problems with a creative video element. We could have solved it but the crew would not have slept before the show. I talked it over with the client and they were happy to go with a faster solution. “No big deal, we were wondering if that was going to work or not, thanks for asking” was their response. A rested crew nailed the show Honesty and collaboration are key. If there isn’t trust and honesty between you and your client you should question the relationship. Same holds true for respect and dignity. Repeat business is about trust.

Successful event planning and execution require impeccable organizational skills. You should be able to manage multiple tasks, prioritize effectively, and maintain attention to detail even under pressure.

Communication is key and a good social empathy is an important skill, sometimes more important than the skill you’re hired for.

Openness and honesty are key, but so is the need for tact. One of the most important skills that live events organization taught me is the need to meet people where they are at. It doesn't matter how reasonable your position if someone is dead-set against hearing it right from the start. So your first and foremost goal needs to be figuring out where your clients, team members, vendors, and audience are coming from, what their needs are, and what problems keep them up at night that you might be able to solve. If you can frame all communications with mindfulness of these concerns, then what you have to say is far more likely to land well.

Live events are unpredictable. You need to be adaptable and calm under pressure, capable of solving unexpected problems quickly and efficiently.

In live events, success is driven by creativity, innovation, and tech-savviness. For instance, managing an exhibit stand at a trade show, you could use AR technology to create an interactive experience, allowing attendees to virtually explore your offerings. This not only enhances the attendee experience but also showcases your innovative approach, technical skills, and trend awareness that can lead to success in this industry. You also need to be aware of the hours and that you will be working nights and weekend.

Every show might be the same, but the circumstances change every day. Learn from the old ones how to solve problems immediately and efficiently. Specially efficient!!!! A good path to find and solving problems is priceless! Unfortunately, it looks like it's a dying trait.

While you may be tempted to highlight your own creativity and innovation in event organization, you are likely to get better results if you make your events places where everyone involved is encouraged to let their creativity shine. Creativity isn't generated in a vacuum, and inspiration grows as it is shared. And it is far less concerned with being on-trend than it is with cultivating style and memories that outlive trends.

Creativity and innovation are not the owned solely by the Creative and Innovation teams, but by everyone working in events The ability to approach any challenge with a creative mindset it key to get to the solution you need

Live events are about real experience. You cannot read a book or follow a check list to succeed. You need to fill your tool box with fixes for problems. Having seen a problem previously, you can respond quickly. After doing a job or task you know what it takes and how it can be accomplished. You know it will take 30 minutes to mop the stage because you have done it in 30 minutes, and how to do it in 15 if needed. Live events don’t care about your masters degree, in fact, you will have a better career if you start at the bottom and learn every job you can. When you clock out ask the seasoned Pros if they mind explaining how they do their job. . This builds the wisdom you need for decisive action in the future. Always be learning!

What gets you the result you need? You won't always know the right solution to a problem or a challenge, but you need to use the tools, technology and people around you to come up with the best outcome. Get all the input and opinion you need, analyse it quickly, make the decision you need to, and communicate it clearly to your team and other stakeholders. Manage expectations with stakeholders in relation to the decision you have made, why, and the potential implications

Being ready for everything is part of being in live events. Using your experience and having a clear understanding of the event goals, will help guide your decisions when things go wrong. Learn from when something does go wrong and store it for future reference when the next thing goes wrong!

If you have worked front-of-house in the restaurant or hospitality industry you will find those skills transfer extremely well. Moving quickly from one issue to the next, feeling comfortable helping people regardless of how they are treating you, and knowing when you might need to tell them there's nothing else you can do.

Depending on your role, technical knowledge of sound systems, lighting, and other event technologies may be necessary. Assess your willingness to learn or your existing expertise in these areas.

All of the above, plus my 2 favorites: - Are you able to "look at the big picture" (as one of my mentors once told me), even if at the same time you are focused on the smallest and most complicated detail? - Do you "swear" to always keep an audience-first mentality and approach? If you answer "yes" to the following 2 questions - and you describe yourself as passionate, energetic, with unlimited stamina, and practical, you got what it takes to build a rewarding career in Live Events!

Pre-event dont be afraid to try something new If you have an idea - test it dont discuss this idea with the client until you know you can deliver it. Dissapointment is not an option!

Live events often require long hours, with much of the work happening on evenings and weekends. Consider whether you have the physical stamina and the passion to sustain this level of activity.