Running a conference can be a challenge and there are a lot of things that you will need to take care of. Sometimes things can go wrong and conferences can run into problems in the organizational stage. These little mistakes can become major problems that will affect the impression that your conference makes on your attendees.
So what are some of the main issues that often go wrong with your conference?
The Venue Isn’t Large Enough
You didn’t expect to have so many attendees and the venue you have chosen isn’t large enough to accommodate everyone. There’s a scramble to find enough parking spots and it is standing room only at the most popular workshops and lectures. While this is good news because it means that many people are attending the conference, the problem of overcrowding will not reflect well on the impression you make on your guests. It is best to choose a venue that allows you a little bit of extra space, such as Carden Park in Cheshire, so that you can accommodate if you happen to receive extra guests.
The Location Isn’t Convenient
Sometimes the most common complaint of visitors to a conference is that the conference venue is not very convenient and is difficult to get to. You might want to hold your event in a lovely country hotel in a rural setting, but when you are choosing conference venues in Cheshire think about the fact that your guests will need to take public transit or drive out to the conference. To make things easier for them you might want to consider offering a shuttle bus from a downtown location close to where most of your guests are located, so that they can easily travel back and forth to the conference events. Or, if your conference takes place at a facility with a hotel you can arrange for them to stay within the hotel for a discounted price, so that they won’t have to travel at all.
The Food Isn’t Great
Your attendees will be spending all day at your conference enjoying the events, so make sure that they are not disappointed when it comes to the food. You will want to offer some high quality cuisine so that your guests can fuel up on something delicious in between the events. When you have your conference catered with great food, this will ensure that everyone is happy and well fed. Of course, make sure that there is always plenty of coffee available as well – especially during the early morning sessions!
You’re Having Technical Issues
The Wifi isn’t working, the large video screens are malfunctioning or the microphone keeps cutting out. When you have technical issues during your conference this can really get in the way of the enjoyment of the event. These days technology is a huge part of the function of a conference, from the presentations to the social media interaction to the conveying of information to the attendees. Before the conference begins you should do a test run to ensure that everything is working the way it should be. If there are any issues with technology you will be able to fix them before the conference starts rather than struggle with them while the audience waits impatiently. Also, make sure that you have a dedicated IT expert on site to deal with any problems as quickly as possible.
The Speakers Aren’t That Impressive
When people attend a conference they want to be blown away by the wisdom and insight of the excellent speakers, who are experts in their field. If the speakers that you choose are lackluster, your audience might walk away feeling a little bit disappointed about the whole experience. In order to get the best and most interesting speakers in your field you might need to start looking earlier and spend a little bit more money, but it will be absolutely worth it.
These are just a few of the main problems that can occur during conferences, which can really decrease the enjoyment for the attendees. With a little bit of preparation and careful planning you can avoid these pitfalls and make sure that your conference is top quality. One of the keys is to choose a high quality conference venue with great helpful staff, who will help you to plan all aspects of the event and make sure that everyone enjoys themselves.
