Event Planning DNC Chicago

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Big events take weeks, months to plan.

The DNC held in Chicago, August 19-22 was spectacular. Informative. Well-timed. Now that the dust has settled, I have time to think about logistics of staging an event of such magnitude. Event management is not just about booking a convention center, putting up party banners, buying balloons, providing water and checking if microphones are working. It’s not as easy as it looks. Example.

1. America has 50 states. Event planners had to coordinate with all of them for the Democratic National Convention.

2. Presentation. How will they deliver their pledges? Remember Georgia’s presentation? It was quite unique.

3. Event planners had to coordinate with convention speakers.

4. How about high profile speakers like Nancy Pelosi, Jamie Raskin, Hakeem Jeffries, Michelle and Barack Obama? Event planners had to work with their offices to determine scheduling and other logistics.

5. Family speakers? They had to coordinate with the families of Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.

6. There were kids at the DNC like the Vice President’s nieces. Event planners had to work with them, and help them with rehearsals.

7. Entertainment? Remember musicians come with drums, keyboards, back-up singers, that sort of thing. Event planners had to fine-tune time and how they enter the stage.

8. Music. How to choose recorded music and double-check copyright implications.

9. Big events have First Aid crews and doctors on-site, just in case.

10. Then the grand finale: when the 2024 presidential nominee delivered her speech. Everything had to be just right.

Event managers will tell you emergencies are the most difficult part of the job. It’s impossible to guess. All you can do is drop duck tape, velcro, a real torch, paper towels, perfume/cologne and maybe aspirin in your emergency hold-all bag. Every event planner has one. Crazy right!

Nonqaba waka Msimang

Blogger Without Borders

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