The PABSTAD Event Planning Checklist

By Richard Brody

After more than four decades of involvement in all areas of leadership, including identifying, qualifying, training and consulting over a thousand, actual, and/ or potential leaders, and having planned hundreds of events, for groups from 10 to over a thousand, I have come to believe, one of the primary reasons, an event often fails to accomplish its objective, is those in positions of leadership, often, do not, effectively, plan, in a thorough, priorities - oriented manner! Therefore, I feel, if leaders used a properly organized, focused, event planning checklist, the results would be far better. This list, which is referred to, as the PABSTAD Event Planning Checklist, is a simple - to - follow, step - by - step, approach, to the leading the efforts, to put together, the best possible approach. With that in mind, this article will attempt to briefly consider, examine, and discuss, using the mnemonic approach, what this means.

1. Purpose: Although it may/ should seem obvious, all - too - often, events are planned, without focusing, on what one hopes, or needs, to achieve. Therefore, the first step, should be, to thoroughly consider the purpose, or purposes, of holding this, might be. Is it for social reasons, training, fund - raising, etc, and/ or some combination of these?

2. Attendees: Who are the attendees, you believe, you will be appealing to, and why? Why should they decide to attend this event, when there is often, so much competition for their attention, and dollars? What methods will you do, to specifically appeal, to your target, niche, and, will you do, all you can, to be certain, they find attending, worthwhile, and appealing?

3. Budget: Rather than planning, first, and, then considering, costs, etc, wise leaders and event planners, focus on where the revenues, might come from, and what the costs, might be! Will there be any subsidies, or sponsors, to help deter, some of the anticipated expenses? Will you be charging attendees, a sufficient amount, to make the function, affordable, to the group, without making it too high, to keep them from attending? Often, it's a delicate, balancing act!

4. Strategy (strategic plan): Resist the temptation, to begin, too soon, but, rather, perceive and conceive of, create, develop, and implement, a relevant, logical, strategic plan! One must have a strategy, in order to achieve the necessary objectives!

5. Timeline: Often, the lack of quality planning, creates an excessive degree of unnecessary pressure, which is easily, readily, avoidable, if one begins, with a clear - cut, timeline, before, during, and after, the event!

6. Action plan: Once you've determine your objectives, strategy, and timeline, as well as your roster of volunteers, etc, you'll need, a professionally designed, realistic, action plan, which includes, your priority, preferred approach, as well as preparing for back - ups/ contingencies!

7. Day of event: Far too often, I have witnessed well - planned, event, which suffer, because the planners, pay insufficient attention, to how the actual day, will be handled, and/ or performed. If you want to attract attendees, to return, to future programs, etc, they must leave, feeling their time, and money, was well - spent!

Use this PABSTAD Event Planning Checklist, fully, and properly, and your results will become exponentially better! Will you be willing to pay attention to all the necessary details, etc?

Richard has owned businesses, been a COO, CEO, Director of Development, consultant, professionally run events, consulted to thousands of leaders, and conducted personal development seminars, for 4 decades. Rich has written three books and thousands of articles. His company, PLAN2LEAD, LLC has an informative website http://plan2lead.net and Plan2lead can also be followed on Facebook http://facebook.com/Plan2lead