When Have You Planned An Event?

Question 1

Situation (planning an event)

Answer 1

When the first lockdown ended, I needed to start Rhymetime again because families and children still wanted needed what I could offer, but my usual business model (drop in, put money in a pot, all crowding into the hall and helping each other out) was not going to be legal or safe.

Question 2

Actions (planning an event)

Answer 2

While we were still in lockdown I made contact with other Early Years Music providers and read and guidelines re singing from other countries.
I read government guidelines, researched the advice available, contacted my insurers and consulted Environmental Health at Bristol City Council and wrote a risk assessment after discussions with the venue. I planned the content of the group and rehearsed.
I set dates, advertise it to my mailing list and took booking through PayPal and email.
As the day grew closed, I drew up a tick list of everything that I needed, and made particularly sure I knew what would happen at the beginning and the end of the session as these tended to be less predictable as people move around.

Question 3

Task (planning an event)

Answer 3

I needed to create a different kind of session, ensure it was COVID safe, make a profit and most importantly provide something that was still fun and educational.

Question 4

Results/reflection (planning an event)

Answer 4

I learnt a lot from those first sessions:
+build in even more time for cleaning and change over,
+provide people with instructions for the new way of doing things in several different ways and at different times, to prevent information overload. +streamline the booking process by using an online shop that prevented too many people booking at once and also gathered contact details.

The next iteration of sessions, the following term, was smoother as a result.