Basic Questions for Event Organizing

In the course of organizing the information for an event, you may find it useful to consider the following questions:

• What kind of audience do you hope to reach?

• What professional challenges do members of your audience face?

• How will the information help the audience meet its challenges?

• What is the size of the audience you intend to reach?

• What kind of presentation will your audience find most useful and appealing?

  For example, is your information appropriate for a lecture format, a hands-on workshop, a demonstration, and so on?

• How long will it take to present the information?

• What equipment, such as computers, projectors, projection screens, slides, sound systems, and telephone or network wiring, will you need for your presentation?

• What collateral item do you want audience members to take with them from the event?

• What resources (human and monetary) do you have for the event?

Having at least tentative answers to these questions helps you decide on the basic structure of an event, including session type and length, speakers, and collateral.