EPMS
The Web and Events
This page is meant as a guide for event managers in the use of the Internet for the management of events. Just as in many areas of society, the Web has made a significant impact on event management. One only has to look at the effect of email to realise this. The Internet's full impact has yet to be measured.
Even a small festival like the Kapunda Celtic Festival the country town of Kapunda in South Australia used the Web to download information about the performers. The 'downloaded' photos were then used to create the Festival poster.
Only a small use for the Web but it probably saved a few hundred dollars. The Festival also used emails as their primary method of negotiation and logistic planning . As a result it was easy to track the decisions. Even a small specialised country festival can use the Web to their advantage. Of the thirty or so festivals and events I was involved with in 1999 each one used to Web to some extent.
Below is a schema of Web use that I have seen over the last year. Out of this I have put together a checklist for event manager of what could/should go on the Web. It is not too large a step to create a Web page for an event and use the existing information. It may not even require much work in this area and the rewards in terms of an efficiently organised festival may be great.
The event manager can not be an expert on Web design. However just as in all fields of event management including sound , ticketing or promotion, the manager needs to know what is possible, effective and efficient. The Internet is changing at such a rate that I have to make an educated guess in its direction of growth ( and decay). For example, Webcasting and conferencing are new areas and may well disappear with new communication technology or may become industry standard. They have been included because they are used in event management.
Please take this checklist as it is presented - it comes purely from my experience and that of other event managers I know. It is by no means an exhaustive list but, hopefully will assist you in planning that event.
Sample Web site set up for Australia Day 2000 in Newcastle (find this sample on the CDROM)
Web sites of interest to the event managers ;
http://www.worldofevents.net - the world event portal with an emphasis on the UK - up to date and comprehensive overview of all kinds of events - corporate to public.
Crowd safety www.crowdsafe.....
Buy the CDROM for more information
© W.J. O'Toole 2005