Who is an event manager?

We have already had over 500 online and offline conferences.

Probably no one who participated in the event at least once, its organization did not seem easy – and it is in fact. Whether we are dealing with a classic stationary event, hybrid or online events, there are always a whole lot of details to be determined.

It depends on the specifics of the event, but also on the size of the company, whether the manager participates directly as a contractor or focuses solely on managing the process. In small entities, the former approach is possible. However, large companies specializing in comprehensive event organization typically separate roles, and the event manager’s responsibility is focused solely on the organization of the event. Only? In the case of such a high level of responsibility and complexity in the process, that might not be an entirely appropriate phrase…

How to become an event manager

Organizing events is certainly an interesting and challenging process. Specialized courses prepare individuals for this job, and at least several higher education institutions offer postgraduate studies in Event Management. It is anyway classified profession (occupation code 333201, international ISCO-08), which can be referred to – according to the Ministry’s terminology – by the following names:

• Event manager.
• Meeting and convention planner.
• Manager: organization of events.
• Event organizer.
• Party organizer.
• Organizer of mass events.
• Organizer of special events.

However, to take up a job in the profession, it is not necessary to have a directional education. The first steps in the industry are often taken in executive positions, getting acquainted with event organization from within, at the level of technical staff. The path to the top usually starts from the very basics, through junior and senior positions, up to the role of a director. Of course, the job titles may vary depending on the specific company or event agency. It is also possible to work on a freelance basis, i.e freelancera, employed by the Agency to implement specific elements of the event.

In addition, theoretical knowledge alone is not enough, as specific predispositions are also necessary for working as an event manager, including high stress tolerance and the ability to work under time pressure. Indeed, one can find out about the demanding and challenging nature of the job by referring to the CareerCast study conducted in 2019 in the American market. The event coordinator was ranked sixth in the ranking Most Stressful Jobs, behind the professional soldier, fireman, pilot, policeman and reporter. Is the job really that hard? Well, it’s not easy.

Event manager is a person who masters not only the logistics of organizing the event. A good event manager must also be familiar with every aspect of the event’s construction, including suppliers, partners, lighting and stage technology, multimedia, legal requirements for event organization, and more. Indeed, those “building blocks” are not always perfectly aligned, and often an event manager needs to demonstrate a great deal of creativity and improvisation. They must be able to think on their feet, adapt to unexpected situations, and come up with innovative solutions to any challenges that arise during the event planning and execution process. Flexibility and problem-solving skills are essential in successfully navigating the dynamic nature of event management.

It is also appropriate for the event manager to know the specifics of the industry for which he works. Pharmaceutical, scientific, entertainment, industrial, and in each of them many branches, differing in requirements, expectations, the way of building the message. The subject of events is not homogeneous, it usually changes from project to project, so not only specialist, but also general knowledge is recommended for the position of event manager.

Features of the event manager

The tasks of an event manager may be different, but there is a certain set of features that are advisable or even necessary for this position. They allow you to do your job not only effectively, but also with satisfaction. Belong to them:

– multitasking to be able to deal with many elements of the puzzle at the same time,

– openness to people, extroversion,

– creativity and the ability to find new solutions,

– excellent ability to organize working time – for yourself and for the team and subcontractors,

– soft skills that allow you to manage a team and maintain good relations with external companies,

– delegating and settling tasks,

– motivating and managing the team, allowing to maintain its full performance (or sometimes exceed it…),

– the ability to find oneself in any situation, including crisis,

– conscientious and responsible approach to each task and each event,

– resistance to stress, knowledge of stress reduction techniques and – last but not least – work/life balance.

All of these qualities are necessary to successfully implement diverse projects, from integration trips to ceremonial company galas.

People in the position of event manager often say that you can’t get bored in this profession, and the job is full of new challenges. Although often irregular and unfamiliar with the concept of the weekend. However, everything is rewarded by the satisfaction of a well-organized event…