Planning Programs that

Sarah GriffithSarah GriffithAssistant Director | Campus LifeAssistant Director | Campus Life

Brandon KotlerBrandon KotlerArea Director| Residence LifeArea Director| Residence Life

What Are Your Goals?What Are Your Goals?Whatcha Want to Know?Whatcha Want to Know?

Not So Great Events?Not So Great Events?

OK, So what makes an OK, So what makes an event then?event then?

Activity

• Highlight events you’ve attended/planned• What made it stand out in your mind• What made your event successful

OK so you want to have an

event.Now What.Now What.

The Cycle of The Cycle of ProgrammingProgramming

The Link@RIT:

The Link@RIT:

Event Registration (EVR)

Event Registration (EVR)

What Your Event Should What Your Event Should IncludeInclude

How to Get How to Get StartedStarted

• Brainstorm• Get your advisor involved!• Work out a budget

– Performers– Contracts (students CANT sign!)– Service Providers (Tech Crew, FMS, ETC, etc.)– Food/Catering– Decorations– Marketing

• Create a Checklist

Event Planning Checklist

What to Remember• Setting Date, Time, Location

– Start planning EARLY!

• Establishing Budget• What is your theme?• What service providers will you need

assistance from?• Will you serve food or drinks?• Do you need contracts?• How will you market the event? Make it stand

out?• What other events is yours competing with?

– Check EVR office/events calendar!

Don’t Forget . . .Don’t Forget . . . Student want relevant resources and programming Ideal location is key Time of day matters Students love food Free incentives or raffles go a long way Have MAJOR visibility. Make them HAVE To come to

your table/event! Contracts take time to process – students can’t sign

contracts! There are posting guidelines for where to advertise Interpreting – this is RIT!

Ways to Halt Their WheelsWays to Halt Their Wheels

How Can you MarketMarket your event?

Mar

keti

ng

Mar

keti

ng

FrequentFrequent Haunts

Consistent BrandingConsistent Branding

VisibilityVisibility

LocationLocation

Intentional

Intentional

EngagementEngagement

Brand Your PRODUCTPRODUCT

Consistent Logo PlacementConsistent Logo Placement

Free Marketing – Campus LifeFree Marketing – Campus Life

Unique Flyer ArrangementUnique Flyer Arrangement

So you think you’re an event planner.

. . . .Then let’s plan an

event.

Your TurnPlan A Welcome Back Event

- Needs to be planned within first two weeks of fall semester- You each have a different budget to work with- Present a plan for:

Marketing the eventPlanning the eventWhat the event will look like

Go to THEM to Get them to Come Go to THEM to Get them to Come to YOU.to YOU.

Things to Avoid Like Things to Avoid Like the {Programming} the {Programming}

PlaguePlague

Advertising too lateAdvertising in areas your target audience

won’t seeDoing events that don’t make sense for your

group or purposeWorking aloneNot making sure you had everything thought

out in advance

Event Planners are Made – Not Event Planners are Made – Not

Born.Born.

Be Ready BEFORE Be Ready BEFORE you step into the you step into the

spotlight.spotlight.

Know that Something will Know that Something will ALWAYS Go Wrong.ALWAYS Go Wrong.

People LOVE (Repeat: LOVE) People LOVE (Repeat: LOVE) Free Stuff.Free Stuff.

Once You’re In It, You’re In It Once You’re In It, You’re In It for the Long Haul.for the Long Haul.

It’s All About the #DetailsIt’s All About the #Details

Annual Events Need Annual Events Need Time to EVOLVE.Time to EVOLVE.

FreezeFest Weekend Juggling Club’s

Juggle InAnime Club’s ToraCon

Brick City Homecoming Fraternity

&

Sorority

Recruitment

Connectology

When able, COLLABORATE.When able, COLLABORATE.

Always Evaluate and Debrief.Always Evaluate and Debrief.

Plus

Minus

Delta

If you’re not into your event, no one else will be either! Have fun and

sell it!