----- Original Message ----- From: "Trevor Warren" trevor.w@media.mit.edu
Can we afford event management companies.......both in terms of Ethically and Financially. Though i WOULD LUV all our events to be VERY PROFESSIONAL in the way they are conducted.
I mentioned event management companies because most events I have attended had them. Just a thought. I dont even know how much they charge. If we plan to have it managed by a professional company, I could find out.
The advantage would be that there is a strong business support backup. Things like sending out mailers, accepting registrations, collecting cheques and banking them, keeping track of budgets, making sure there are adequate trained personnel at the venue (pretty young girls for registrations, giving out the agenda, cds etc. -- every event has them), coording with the venue owners for seating, arrangements, lighting, OHPs, etc.
If we dont have an event managemnt company doing the above, then we should have enough infrastructure and support system to do that type of work. I think you are talking of workshops and seminars where a large number of people would come over.
(Mind you, I am not saying that volunteers from ILUG cannot do it, what I am saying is that there are hundreds of boring jobs which are to be done and these companies do it all the time, so for them it is child's play)
Regards Saswata