12,October 2023
Crisis Management for Events – Handling Last Minute Disruptions and Changes
Crisis Management for Events – Handling Last Minute Disruptions and Changes
Despite extensive planning, corporate events can sometimes be derailed by last minute crises and disruptions outside the organizer’s control. From bad weather to supplier issues, anything can go wrong leading up to or during a live event. Having robust crisis management protocols is key for event planners to handle changes seamlessly and deliver successful events against all odds.
– Build In Contingencies and Backup Options
Anticipating potential disruptions is the first step. Identify likely risks like power failure, transportation delays, speaker cancellations etc. and develop contingency plans. Have backup options ready, whether it’s an alternate venue, standby suppliers, replacement speakers or redundancy for technical requirements. Budgeting for contingencies provides a buffer for the unknown.
– Respond Rapidly with A Communication Plan
Timely communication is critical when a crisis strikes. Alert stakeholders immediately with action plans and next steps via email, text and phone notifications. Provide multiple channels for attendees and vendors to reach the event team. Continual updates reduce confusion and keep everyone aligned.
Empower onsite staff to handle queries and troubleshoot issues. Have copies of FAQs, critical contacts and procedures to equip the team.
– Document Decisions and Learn for the Future
In the heat of a crisis, document all decisions, costs and workarounds that were implemented. Conduct a post-event debrief to review how the situation was managed and identify improvements for crisis readiness.
Build an event risk assessment checklist incorporating any new scenarios encountered. Update operational playbooks with lessons learned for mitigating future disruptions seamlessly.