--- title: "Lessons From a Behind-the-Scenes Look at the World’s Biggest Events" id: "45704" type: "post" slug: "lessons-from-a-behind-the-scenes-look-at-the-worlds-biggest-events" published_at: "2019-02-15T04:58:33+00:00" modified_at: "2026-11-09T15:57:29+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2019/02/15/lessons-from-a-behind-the-scenes-look-at-the-worlds-biggest-events/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2019/02/15/lessons-from-a-behind-the-scenes-look-at-the-worlds-biggest-events.md" excerpt: "The Netflix documentary series 7 Days Out gives takes viewers behind the scenes in the week leading up to some of the world’s most famous events. If you don’t think you have something in common with the planners charged with..." taxonomy_category: - "Meetings / Events" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "Behind the Scenes" - "event planning" - "events management" - "Meetings" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Manager" taxonomy_persona: - "Association Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Lessons From a Behind-the-Scenes Look at the World’s Biggest Events While [Netflix and Hulu’s documentaries about the massive failure of Fyre Festival (opens in a new tab)](https://www.tvguide.com/news/which-fyre-fest-documentary-should-you-watch-hulu-netflix/) have been garnering a lot of attention since their release last month, another event-planning documentary series from Netflix has caught my eye as of late. This one, called *[7 Days Out (opens in a new tab)](https://www.netflix.com/title/80207124)*, takes you behind the scenes in the week leading up to six major live events. These are some heavy hitters: the Westminster Dog Show, the Kentucky Derby, the Chanel haute couture fashion show, and the esports championship League of Legends. Also: the reopening of the fine-dining restaurant Eleven Madison Park after it landed at the top of the [World’s 50 Best Restaurants List (opens in a new tab)](https://eater.cmail19.com/t/d-l-ndkhthy-jrurlyulld-d/) and the return of NASA’s Cassini spacecraft after a 20-year mission. I enjoyed the series and seeing how these events were made to look like they went off without a hitch—although they typically didn’t. And I think it highlights some lessons that will serve planners well as they go about executing future events. **Practice makes perfect—or close to it.**In the episode focused on Eleven Madison Park’s reopening, viewers get a glimpse at how servers prepared. For example, they are shown running through a pretend service, spooning imaginary sauce on plates and rehearsing how they would speak to diners. A service manager then offers feedback on their mannerisms and word choices at the table. Because of this grueling preparation, staff are prepared and confident going into opening night, which turns out to be a success. It’s a good reminder that everyone could use some preparation—[including your speakers](https://associationsnow.com/2019/01/why-speaker-preparation-is-a-must/) —in the lead-up to a conference or other event your association is hosting. **Nobody is immune from a few hiccups.** If there’s a lesson to be learned for any event planner when watching this, it’s that no event goes perfectly. During the Kentucky Derby episode, planners have to deal with heavy rain the day of the race, which results in some last-minute changes. And a strong odor in Eleven Park Madison’s bar as a result of last-minute construction requires some quick thinking from co-owner Daniel Humm. (I won’t give his fix away entirely, but it involved a blowtorch.) The most successful meeting planners are those who can stay calm and come up with solutions quick. **You can’t go it alone.**Events, big and small, are a team effort, and this series does a good job highlighting everyone’s role in making them happen—whether floral designers, seamstresses, dishwashers, caterers, audio and video technicians, and so forth. At the end of every episode, there is a feel-good moment when leaders thank their team for the excellent work they’ve done. As you go about planning your next event, keep in mind that you have teammates you can rely on to get things done, and definitely make time to celebrate your success once the event is over. A scene from an episode of “7 Days Out.” (Netflix screenshot) [Samantha Whitehorne](https://associationsnow.com/author/samantha-whitehorne/) Samantha Whitehorne is a former editorial director of Associations Now in Washington, DC. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/samantha-whitehorne/) Tags: [#Behind the Scenes](https://associationsnow.com/tag/behind-the-scenes/) [#event planning](https://associationsnow.com/tag/event-planning/) [#events management](https://associationsnow.com/tag/events-management/) [#Meetings](https://associationsnow.com/tag/meetings/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [Video2014 ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition — Behind the ScenesMarch 31, 2014](https://associationsnow.com/2014/03/31/2014-asae-annual-meeting-exposition-behind-the-scenes/) - [VideoTeam Event Management DemoSeptember 11, 2020](https://associationsnow.com/2020/09/11/team-event-management-demo/) - [VideoEventPower DemoJuly 9, 2020](https://associationsnow.com/2020/07/09/eventpower-demo/) - [VideoMemberSuite/Event Farm DemoJuly 9, 2020](https://associationsnow.com/2020/07/09/membersuite-event-farm-demo/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2019%2F02%2F15%2Flessons-from-a-behind-the-scenes-look-at-the-worlds-biggest-events%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !