It takes a special person to be an event planner. Here's a fun post about what we should hate about event planners.
1. They do it all.
If you are working with an event planner you might hear them say, "I took care of that yesterday." How do they know all the things that need to get done? Chances are this isn't their first rodeo. Still, with so many tasks it makes you wonder, is there room in their brains for anything else?
2. Their organization skills are sickening.
There is no way that someone can be that organized. It's true, it seems impossible, but event planners take task lists, color coded spreadsheets, and their calendar to a whole other level than the rest of us. When you're trying to balance multiple deadlines and events, organization is a key factor in making everything come together.
3. They don't seem phased by criticism.
An attendee might yell at them for a poor registration process, or the special dietary meal someone ordered wasn't available. Perhaps the microphone for the keynote speaker wasn't loud enough, or the room was too hot or too cold. In the hustle and bustle of the event day there is little time to dwell on the things that could and will go wrong. A good event planner will take the criticism and likely try to make it right. Sometimes they know that it's okay to just let it go. People pleasing is their business, but you can't please everyone with all things, am I right? They have to listen and move on. A good event planner will be able to do just that.
4. They have all the answers in the face of crisis.
Often when things at an event go awry it seems like event planners have an answer. A successful event planner will have thought through all the possible things that could go wrong. A speaker's flight was delayed, no problem he or she knows someone at the conference that might be able to speak on a similar topic. The Wi-Fi isn't working, no problem he or she knows the closest Wi-Fi hotspot or business center for those that desperately need a place to check their email.
5. They understand their clients better than the clients themselves.
Event planners have often thought of the perfect menu, the right amount of time between educational sessions, the best platform to promote their sponsors to their clients, and great mix of work and play during the program. A good event planner understands what will make their attendees and clients happy. Attendees should take note, your event planner is in your head... beware!
6. They say no, but you leave happy anyway.
As hard as event planners try to meet every request they receive sometimes it's just not possible. Still, they are artful communicators and can make your complaint feel like it's the best feedback they've ever received. Why wouldn't you be warm and fuzzy after talking to the event planner?
7. They are all things to all people.
How do they do it? You swore you just saw them at the registration table, but now they're on their hands and knees taping down audio/visual cords. Next, they were backstage adjusting the pipe and drape, and did they really just hand deliver food to that table? Event planners wear many hats. You wonder if they're human and how they acquired so many different skills?
Conclusion
Of course as an #EventProf maybe I'm biased, but I find that most planners have these skills and those that don't work in the industry often don't understand us. They may even wish they had some of these skills, perhaps that's where the hate comes in. It's our job to make it look easy after all!