Event Managers-Vendors or Partners

The very tem ‘outsourcing’ implies a certain detachment and distancing of the activity- ripping it out of one’s own company and leaving it for another to do. While outsourcing your ‘event management’, it is usually justified by the argument that an experienced outside party can get the job done more effectively, economically and professionally, as they are masters of it. That’s well true.

But can outsourcing be worked on the isolationist principal? Or in simpler terms, Is your event manager your vendor or your partner? The typical answer should be ‘Partner’ of course, because the image of your brand rests on the efficiency of your event manager.

But the distinction is not often well understood. Event management involves studying the intricacies of the brand, devising a right event concept for the brand, planning the apt logistics and coordinating the right technical aspects for a proposed event. Post-event analysis and ensuring a return on investment too have become significant drivers for the event industry.

The event management industry now includes events of all sizes from the international sports events down to a breakfast meetings. Event management is considered one of the strategic marketing and communication tools by companies of all sizes. From product launches to press conferences, companies create promotional events to help them communicate with clients and potential clients. They might target their audience by using the news media, hoping to generate media coverage which will reach thousands or millions of people.

Clients hire event management companies to handle a specific scope of services for the given event, which at its maximum may include all creative, technical and logistical elements of the event. (Or just a subset of these, depending on the client's need, expertise and budget).

An event manager, who once sensed your needs will definitely handhold you through out your steps towards success. On the other hand, treating event managers as ‘vendors’ and changing vendors each time, will have no positive impacts on your business. Because, each time, the new event manager, or the company from which he operates, may not efficiently know your pulse, or if ever so, will not have the capabilities of meeting them.