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As an event professional, your reputation and that of your conference host/MC, can be left in tatters if you or they “don’t do the right thing” at the end of an event.
I was once told of a celebrity of some repute, who after officiating as an awards host, didn’t engage with any of the delegates or guests of the award ceremony in question. Far worse, he left abruptly and before the coffee was served!
Apart from being rude, this aloof and condescending behaviour would certainly have meant lost opportunities for him in the future.
Although possibly tiring, you and your conference host must stay behind at the end of an event to talk to others, whether they be delegates or their guests, the client or technical staff – and thank those who booked you and your MC!
Do this and you’ll leave a warm glow in the hearts and minds of those you’ve entertained and informed – and you never, ever know who you might meet.
If your conference host hasn’t organised a post-event debrief meeting, then call them to arrange one! You need to get feedback so alterations or improvements for the next time can be considered with your client. (I make a point of always asking for a testimonial from the event organiser and thank them for the kind testimonial they’ve sent me, or remind them if they haven’t!)
Much more importantly though is getting some feedback about the event and, if possible, the hosts performance too.
One final point which in my experience can be overlooked is to mention and thank the sponsors. Sponsors of an event or conference are best thanked by the host or presenter, just before he or she mentions the “housekeeping” about mobile phones, toilets and emergency exits. And always make sure your host or voice-of-God pronounces their names correctly, so do your homework!
Jeremy Jacobs with property guru Wendy Whittaker-Large in November 2015.
Ed. This article first appeared in Pulse on my Linked-In site in early 2016.
Tags: events
