THE EVENT MANAGER’S “SURVIVAL KIT”

The Drop team have had loads of event management experience. They have organised charity, corporate, community and sporting events, festivals, fundraisers, awards ceremonies, formal and informal lunches and dinners, cocktail events, launches, seminars, conferences …and just about everything in between. Many of these events have been for clubs or held within clubs.

If there’s one thing we’ve learnt about organising events it’s to be prepared for any contingency. An event manager is expected to be able to fix any problems that arise – whether big or small – and to fix them efficiently and with a minimum of fuss.

In order to do that, experienced event managers often rely on their “survival kit’ – a toolbox of “essentials” that can cover most situations. If you have this kit on hand it will save you having to scramble around to find bits and pieces at crucial times or chase down other people and wait for them to sort out the problem

Inspired by the launch of the new Club Event Management Essentials course being offered by Barringtons, we thought we would share our own survival kit checklist. Print it out, add to it if needed and use it as a shopping list to ensure you are well prepared.

(    )      Batteries (assorted sizes) – including microphone batteries

(    )      Bags (Carrier, bin, sandwich & sick bags)

(    )      Blue and white tac

(    )      Bottle opener and corkscrew

(    )      Bulldog clips

(    )      Cable ties

(    )      Camera

(    )      Candles – (various including birthday, tealights etc)

(    )      Calculator

(    )      Chux cloths

(    )      Clipboard

(    )      Copy paper

(    )      Deodorant

(    )      Disposable razor

(    )      Dustpan and brush

(    )      Elastic bands

(    )      Extension cord

(    )      Eye drops

(    )      First aid kit

(    )      Hair spray

(    )      Hand towels

(    )      Hand wash / sanitiser / Shower gell

(    )      Hammer

(    )      Insect repellent

(    )      iPhone lead and plug

(    )      Iron & ironing board

(    )      Knife (Stanley / Craft)

(    )      Lint brush / roll

(    )      Pens & pencils (also highlighter pens)

(    )      Post it notes

(    )      Polish & duster

(    )      Matches and lighters

(    )      Markers (thick, black, red, green & blue)

(    )      Mints / breath freshener

(    )      Multi-purpose phone charger

(    )      Multi-purpose surface cleaner

(    )      Multi plug socket adapter

(    )      Music CDs / iPods (compilations)

(    )      Nails and screws (assorted

(    )      Notepads  (A5 & A4)

(    )      Paper clips

(    )      Paper towels

(    )      Phillips screwdriver

(    )      Picture hanging wire

(    )      Pins (straight & safety)

(    )      Pliers

(    )      Power Board

(    )      Pushpins / tacks

(    )      Scissors

(    )      Screwdriver

(    )      Sewing kit

(    )      Shoe polish

(    )      Spray adhesive

(    )      Stapler and staples

(    )      Sticky labels (white)

(    )      Stopwatch

(    )      String

(    )      Sunscreen

(    )      Superglue

(    )      Tape (carpet, clear, scotch, double sided, masking, electrical and gaffer tapes)

(    )      Tape measure

(    )      Tea towels

(    )      Tissues

(    )      Toothpaste and disposable toothbrushes

(    )      Toothpicks

(    )      Torch

(    )      Water bottles

(    )      Whistle

(    )      Wipes (hand and face wipes)

(    )      Window cleaner

(    )      Wire cutters

(    )      Umbrella

(    )      USB Stick