Event Planner Pro

What this skill does

# Event Planner Pro 🎪

Complete event planning and execution system. Covers every event type from intimate workshops to 5,000+ person conferences. Business-grade methodology with templates, budgets, timelines, and ROI measurement.

---

## Phase 1: Event Strategy & Concept

### Quick Event Assessment

When asked to plan an event, gather:

```yaml
event_brief:
  name: ""
  type: ""  # conference | webinar | workshop | networking | trade_show | product_launch | corporate | fundraiser | retreat
  purpose: ""  # lead_gen | brand_awareness | education | community | sales | internal_alignment | celebration
  target_audience: ""
  expected_attendees: 0
  date_range: ""  # preferred dates or flexibility
  budget_range: ""  # total budget or per-attendee target
  format: ""  # in_person | virtual | hybrid
  success_metrics: []  # what does success look like?
  constraints: []  # venue locked, date fixed, sponsor requirements, etc.
```

### Event Type Decision Matrix

| Type | Best For | Typical Size | Lead Time | Budget/Person |
|------|----------|-------------|-----------|--------------|
| Webinar | Lead gen, thought leadership | 50-500 | 2-4 weeks | $5-20 |
| Workshop | Deep skill transfer, premium positioning | 10-50 | 4-8 weeks | $100-500 |
| Networking | Relationship building, community | 30-200 | 3-6 weeks | $30-100 |
| Conference | Brand authority, multi-track content | 200-5000+ | 3-12 months | $200-800 |
| Product Launch | Buzz, press, sales pipeline | 50-500 | 6-12 weeks | $150-1000 |
| Trade Show (booth) | Industry visibility, leads | N/A | 8-16 weeks | $5K-50K total |
| Corporate/Internal | Alignment, culture, training | 20-500 | 4-8 weeks | $100-400 |
| Fundraiser | Donations, donor cultivation | 50-500 | 8-16 weeks | $150-500 |
| Retreat | Team bonding, strategy | 10-50 | 6-12 weeks | $500-2000 |

### Purpose → Format Mapping

- **Lead generation** → Webinar (top funnel) + Workshop (bottom funnel)
- **Brand authority** → Conference or speaking at others' events
- **Sales acceleration** → Intimate dinner/roundtable for 10-20 prospects
- **Community building** → Monthly meetup series + annual summit
- **Education** → Workshop series with certification
- **Internal alignment** → Offsite retreat + quarterly town halls

---

## Phase 2: Budget Planning

### Budget Template

```yaml
event_budget:
  name: ""
  total_budget: 0
  contingency_pct: 15  # always include 15% buffer
  
  venue:
    rental: 0
    insurance: 0
    security: 0
    permits: 0
    subtotal: 0
  
  food_beverage:
    catering: 0
    beverages: 0
    special_dietary: 0
    service_staff: 0
    subtotal: 0
  
  technology:
    av_equipment: 0
    streaming_platform: 0  # for virtual/hybrid
    event_app: 0
    wifi_upgrade: 0
    recording: 0
    subtotal: 0
  
  marketing:
    design_branding: 0
    paid_ads: 0
    email_platform: 0
    printed_materials: 0
    signage: 0
    photography_video: 0
    subtotal: 0
  
  speakers:
    fees: 0
    travel: 0
    accommodation: 0
    gifts: 0
    subtotal: 0
  
  logistics:
    staff_travel: 0
    shipping: 0
    swag_gifts: 0
    badges_lanyards: 0
    decorations: 0
    transportation: 0
    subtotal: 0
  
  contingency: 0  # 15% of total
  grand_total: 0

  revenue:
    ticket_sales: 0
    sponsorships: 0
    exhibitor_fees: 0
    merchandise: 0
    total_revenue: 0
  
  net_cost: 0  # grand_total - total_revenue
  cost_per_attendee: 0
```

### Budget Allocation Rules by Event Type

| Type | Venue | F&B | Tech | Marketing | Speakers | Logistics |
|------|-------|-----|------|-----------|----------|-----------|
| Conference | 25% | 20% | 15% | 20% | 10% | 10% |
| Webinar | 0% | 0% | 40% | 35% | 15% | 10% |
| Workshop | 20% | 15% | 10% | 25% | 20% | 10% |
| Networking | 30% | 30% | 5% | 20% | 5% | 10% |
| Product Launch | 20% | 15% | 20% | 25% | 5% | 15% |
| Trade Show | 40% | 10% | 15% | 20% | 0% | 15% |

### Cost-Cutting Strategies (When Budget is Tight)

1. **Venue** → Use co-working spaces, university halls, partner offices
2. **Speakers** → Offer exposure/content swap instead of fees for smaller events
3. **F&B** → Breakfast/lunch only (no dinner), drink tickets instead of open bar
4. **Marketing** → Leverage speakers' audiences, partner cross-promotion
5. **Tech** → Use free tiers (StreamYard, Zoom, Luma) for <100 attendees
6. **Swag** → Digital swag bags (ebooks, templates, discount codes) instead of physical

---

## Phase 3: Timeline & Project Plan

### Master Timeline Template

Adapt lead time to event type. Conference = 6-12 months. Webinar = 2-4 weeks.

```yaml
timeline:
  t_minus_6_months:
    - Define event concept, goals, success metrics
    - Set budget and get approval
    - Book venue (in-person) or select platform (virtual)
    - Identify keynote speakers, begin outreach
    - Create event brand (name, logo, color scheme, tagline)
    
  t_minus_4_months:
    - Confirm speakers and session topics
    - Launch event website/landing page
    - Open early-bird registration
    - Begin sponsor outreach (sponsorship deck ready)
    - Book AV, catering, photographer
    
  t_minus_2_months:
    - Finalize agenda and schedule
    - Launch marketing campaign (email, social, ads)
    - Send speaker prep kits (guidelines, templates, deadlines)
    - Confirm all vendor contracts
    - Set up registration/ticketing system
    - Plan networking activities
    
  t_minus_1_month:
    - Close early-bird pricing
    - Send attendee pre-event survey
    - Finalize run-of-show document
    - Brief all staff on roles and responsibilities
    - Test all technology (streaming, mics, slides)
    - Prepare attendee welcome materials
    
  t_minus_1_week:
    - Final headcount to caterer
    - Print badges, signage, materials
    - Load all presentations into master deck
    - Run full tech rehearsal
    - Send attendee reminder with logistics
    - Prepare emergency kit (adapters, tape, markers, batteries, meds)
    
  t_minus_1_day:
    - Venue walkthrough with team
    - Set up registration desk, signage, AV
    - Test wifi under load
    - Charge all devices
    - Pre-position water, snacks in speaker rooms
    - Team dinner / final briefing
    
  event_day:
    - Arrive 2 hours early
    - Registration desk open 1 hour before
    - Run-of-show doc in every staff member's hands
    - Photographer capturing key moments
    - Live social media coverage
    - Monitor and fix issues in real time
    - Collect feedback (paper cards or app)
    
  post_event:
    - day_1: Thank you emails to attendees, speakers, sponsors
    - day_2: Share photos and recording links
    - day_3: Send feedback survey
    - week_1: Analyze survey results, calculate ROI
    - week_2: Debrief with team, document lessons learned
    - week_3: Follow up on leads generated
    - month_1: Publish recap content (blog, video, social)
```

### Webinar-Specific Fast Timeline (2-4 Weeks)

```yaml
webinar_timeline:
  week_1:
    - Define topic, title, speaker(s)
    - Create landing page with registration form
    - Write 3-email invite sequence
    - Schedule social posts (5-8 posts)
    - Set up streaming platform (test audio/video)
    
  week_2:
    - Send invite email #1 (announcement)
    - Speaker prep call (align on content, Q&A format)
    - Create slide deck template
    - Send invite email #2 (value hook)
    - Partner cross-promotion (ask speakers to share)
    
  week_3:
    - Slides finalized
    - Full dry run with speaker(s)
    - Send invite email #3 (urgency/last chance)
    - Prepare follow-up email sequence (recording, CTA)
    - Set up polls/Q&A in platform
    
  webinar_day:
    - Test 30 min before go-live
    - Start recording
    - Moderator manages Q&A
    - Drop CTA in chat at midpoint and end
    - Thank everyone, announce next event
    
  post_webinar:
    - Send recording within 24 hours
    - Send follow-up #1 (recording + resource) — day 1
    - Send follow-up #2 (CTA/offer) — day 3
    - Send follow-up #3 (case study/social proof) — da