One major pet peeve of any event pro is the no-show—someone who said they would attend an event but drops out at the last minute. It happens all the time, and it’s just a part of an event planner’s life, right?

Not necessarily, says Association Success. To mitigate this problem, consider overbooking. “Don’t be reckless with this approach or you will get into trouble,” writes Danielle Hopkins in a recent article.

You also need to put in a lot of effort to confirm attendance. “I’ve found that people want to do the right thing but they need to understand what’s at stake,” she writes. “Explain that not attending will mean that you have turned people away and the seat will be wasted. Increased communication really helps here.”

GDPR Myths

NEW on the #MemberSuiteblog today: 5 Myths About #GDPR. #assnchat #members #events #memberengagement #engagement #security https://t.co/CeKPgff6Ae pic.twitter.com/4Y5akHr1E3

— MemberSuite (@membersuite) April 19, 2018

The General Data Protection Regulation goes into effect a month from tomorrow. Do you need to worry about it?

You do if you have European members, says the MemberSuite blog, even if you’re based in America.

And don’t assume noncompliance or data breaches won’t have big consequences. “Sure, Equifax, Facebook, Target and any number of American companies may get away with a slap on the wrist for sharing your personal data, but European companies see this as a much more egregious fault,” writes Malika Bowling. “You can be charged a percentage of your annual revenue if you are found to be in violation.”

Other Links of Note

All too often, a leadership transition will set back your group for longer than necessary. NonprofitAF reveals how to avoid a downward spiral.

Don’t count out direct mail just yet. The Agitator makes a persuasive case for why it’s still a powerful tool.

Have you considered influencer marketing? Here’s how much it will cost from the Buffer blog.

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