Best Practices for Hosting Events: A Collaborative Clinic

How do you succeed as a Biznik event host?

You've hosted an event, or you're considering it. You've run into some challenges. Maybe you've had some successes. It's time to stop trying to figure it out all by yourself. Let's collaborate to solve our challenges and share our successes.

Gather around a table at Mosaic Coffee House with fellow Biznik event hosts. We'll take a minute or two to introduce ourselves and share one success we've had (or anticipate having) as an event host.

Then we'll go around again, this time sharing a current challenge or question we have. We will choose one challenge at a time to focus on, and by brainstorming, sharing new perspectives, telling stories, and perhaps being silly, we will work together to come up with one or more approaches to meet each challenge.

Possible Ingredients of Our Conversation:

• Deciding what type of event to host

• Choosing a focus that appeals to the community

• Writing a compelling event listing

• Promoting your event on Biznik (and outside of Biznik)

• Building interest and anticipation before the event

• Facilitating a great experience for your attendees

• Following up after the event

And I'm sure there are ingredients I haven't even thought of. Let's be honest, hosting an event is a big deal. But we can learn from one another what works and what doesn't, and discover our own personal formula for success.

And What's the Secret to Turning Event Hosting Success into Business Success?

Ah, now that's the real question! We see that some of us are filling our events. But how well are we doing at turning that success into business? That's what it's all about, right?

I think we're in the early stages of developing the expertise to take this amazing community and the opportunity to host events, and turn it into business success for each one of us. I'd like to see us accelerate this learning by sharing our wisdom, by collaborating and making our ever-expanding expertise available to the wider community.

My intention is to make this an ongoing event, and over time to compile a "Best Practices" guide for Biznik event hosts. By contributing your ideas and experience, you'll be helping the entire Biznik community grow stronger.

NOTE: Other dates for this event include January 7, January 14 and January 28.

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Your host for this event has been a member of Biznik since December 2005, was one of the early Biznik event hosting pioneers, and has recently served as Biznik's Events Coordinator. He is also trained in various group facilitation techniques, and received his MA in Whole Systems Design from Antioch with an emphasis on facilitating transformative learning experiences.