Mastering the essentials of conference production
Identify and address the 7 biggest challenges facing producers today in this condensed two-day agenda designed to inspire, reignite passion, release creativity and hit deadlinesToday’s conference producer faces more challenges than ever before, both within and outside their organisations. The producer must rapidly master new markets as well as the mechanics of production — research, writing, analytics and marketing — all while building and preserving relationships with internal and external partners. By attending this master class on conference production, you will be able to find solutions to the key pinch-points in the production process. Using winning case studies from the Conference Awards, producers will learn best practice through real case studies and examples.
3 Minutes with the Conference Producer Trainer Sophy Searight
Online course outline
Session 1: Conducting research to develop timely content | 9am–11am
- Setting realistic targets for desk and phone research
- Multi-tasking — integrating your research targets with related functions
- Practical Exercise: select ideas for new phone research questions
- Comparing ‘organic’ and ‘one-off’ programme development
- Practical Exercise: map the market for one of your events and set yourself call targets
Regular short breaks, interactive quizzes and polls and time for Q&A
Practical exercise at home: based on learnings, map two more markets, one you work in and a brand new one.
Session 2: Formats for events and sessions/Add-Ons | 9am–11am
- Comparing production cycles for LSE, Annual, Stage 1, Roundtables
- Practical Exercise: view forward event schedule planner and note the impact on your events
- Choosing the right format for the content: talk, panel, interview, discussion
- Developing creative, and profitable, add-ons
- Practical Exercise: what changes you can make to your event format?
- Topic validation & new event validation
- Practical Exercise: complete 10 x 10 topic validation and more detailed validation table
Regular short breaks, interactive quizzes and polls and time for Q&A
Practical exercise at home: based on learnings, develop two add-ons for your existing events
Session 3: Writing compelling event and talk titles & Session 4: Speaker selection, invitation, and liaison | 9am–11am
- Brands vs. titles vs. straplines — what are they for?
- The conference producer’s play-book: tried and tested titles
- Practical Exercise: improve the title and strapline of one of your events
- Sub-points and why they matter
- Practical Exercise: Re-write your talk title
- Setting targets for speakers by seniority, industry, geography, etc
- Practical Exercise: list some new sources of speakers that you will go to for your next event
- Managing the inviting phase to ensure deadlines are met
- On-going management of the relationship — what can/should you delegate
- Practical Exercise: summarise what you will do differently with inviting and managing speakers
Regular short breaks, interactive quizzes and polls and time for Q&A
Practical exercise at home 1: research other events and identify up to six brand new title/strapline styles that you plan to borrow in the future
Practical exercise at home 2: create some cut and paste paragraphs that deliver a compelling message within an invitation email eg: topic based, around area of expertise, around experience, for women only, for diversity, for impact
Much needed, just in time focused content on how to sharpen your production skills and how to flourish as a producer. Every bit of information either helped or qualified what I had already known. Sophy is brilliant at what she does and could answer every question with examples and practical application.
The Mastering the Essentials of Conference Production Course was a great way for me, as a new conference producer, to learn from the trainer and other participants about best practice and to hear great ideas that I can take forward and implement in my everyday working.
Next online course:
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9am to 11am
Online cost
£395 (+ VAT) for all commercial companies
£295 (+ VAT) for not-for-profit organisations
Post-course 1:1 follow-up
If after attending the training course, you would like to discuss particular areas relevant to you with the trainer, you can book a one hour 1:1 consultation, cost £195 (+ VAT). Book a follow-up consultation here.
Course certification
All attendees who complete the course satisfactorily, will receive a certificate.
When?
All times GMT
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Who should attend?
This course is for new commercial conference producers who are looking to have greater know-how and expertise in producing conferences. It is also very relevant for event managers and producers at associations, corporations and charities who are looking to make the content of their conferences more market focused, timely and relevant.
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I was looking to transition out of Event Marketing into Conference Production as a career change. This course was an excellent insight into the tactical skills required and provided key resources to effectively create an excellent agenda. I particularly liked the last day when we were asked to submit our own questions to be answered which ensured that the training was personalised to us, and that we gained the maximum benefits of attending. This course gave me the confidence and ability to successfully
The trainer delivered the Essentials of Conference Production course in an engaging and insightful way. From the process and best practice behind any successful event to practical tips for speaker sourcing, the training provides a good foundation for conference production.
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