Event Planners: Don’t Strike the Wrong Chord

Having a great band play a few songs for your audience is a good way to turn a networking event into something truly memorable. But bands have different needs than speakers do—and booking the wrong band for the wrong audience could spell trouble.

More thoughts on this in today’s Social Media Roundup:

A Band-Aid Won’t Fix This

Eight mistakes planners make when booking bands: http://t.co/b6orlKsgEF  (opens in a new tab) #Eventprofs  (opens in a new tab)

— Hello! Destination Management (@HelloDMC) August 25, 2014  (opens in a new tab)

A great band can get attendees talking … or it can tick them off when it’s clear you’re not really thinking about their needs.

And that’s just one potential pitfall. In a piece for BizBash  (opens in a new tab), Rose Curiel breaks down the problems that can come with getting a musical act to play your conference. From the wrong venue to poor communication with the performers and their booking agencies, a lot can make this experience hit a sour note.

Short version: If you want to book a big name, do your research and give yourself plenty of time. And be sure to put them in the right venue. Sure, it matters if the room looks good, but the sound matters more.

“There are some really spectacular, beautiful spaces that just aren’t ideal for sound,” Empire Entertainment’s Adam Kahan tells the magazine. “Good production companies can work around that but it’s just not ideal.” (ht @HelloDMC  (opens in a new tab))

Two Departments, Two Wavelengths

https://twitter.com/JessicaLevin/status/503979560762097664

As we noted last week, marketing execs and tech execs aren’t always on the same page. Over at Inc.com  (opens in a new tab), AirPR Chief Strategy Officer Rebekah Iliff , writing from the marketing perspective, says there are ways to ensure the two groups understand one another. One key ingredient: an open-door policy.

“Make friends with an engineer, learn about what they do, and be big enough to invite constructive criticism,” Iliff suggests. “Before you know it, you’ll be exchanging ideas, innovating, and leading others by example.”

Oh, yeah, don’t be afraid to learn some of that tech stuff yourself. (ht @JessicaLevin  (opens in a new tab))

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