Rebecca Linfoot Unit Four: Managing an Event 24.03.20
Planning an Event in the Light of Research
Learning aims
1. To investigate the feasibility of a proposed event.
2. To develop a detailed plan for a business or social enterprise event.
Vocational Context
For this assignment, I have been asked to work in a small group of peers (myself and two others,) to
decide on an appropriate and substantial event that could be staged and managed by our group. The
event can be held within our college, or within our local community. After researching what event
will be the most suitable, I will then gather research on a variety of events such as Sporting and
Entertainment, and use this knowledge to develop a feasibility plan for my own.
What is an event?
An event is ‘a planned and organized occasion, for example a social gathering or a sports match.’
They are able to bring people together who share similar interests and have the ability to leave a
memorable impression. In order to run an event, an event manager must plan ahead for all of the
different factors involved. This includes ‘identifying the target audience, formulating the event
concept, planning the overall logistics, and conducting project management of the event as a whole.’
It is important that this planning takes place, as it ensures that no factors are missed out and
everything has been properly prepared to avoid negative circumstances such as health and safety
issues.
Sporting
A sporting event is ‘an activity involving physical exertion and skill that is governed by a set of rules
or customs and often undertaken competitively.’ Worldwide sporting events include the Olympics,
Paralympics and the FIFA World Cup. These large scale events, take place every four years, in a
different country each time. As of 2018, the World Cup’s attendance in Russia, had an astonishing
‘3,031,768’ viewers in total, averaging out to around ‘47,371’ viewers at the stadium, per game. As
of 1970 in Mexico, the comparison from 3.03 million to a lower 1.7 million, shows how this event has
gradually become more popular over the years. This increase in popularity is down to football being
one of the most popular sports played internationally as well as being enjoyable to watch. This is
down to the short 90 minute game time, fan’s loyalty to players, as well as marketing by large
companies such as Coca-Cola, who use their promotion of drink wrappers to gain the interest of
consumer’s and spread the message about this event.
On a smaller scale, football matches can be an event that is held locally. An example of this would be
Roko Health Club at Clifton Moor York, where teams from around the York area play against each
other called six-a-side, that is held once a week. Training isn’t a necessity like it is for professional
footballers, who use the four year gap between the World Cup game’s to dramatically intensify their
skills. A local football sporting match is more about having a good time with your team members,
rather than taking it as seriously as professionals in regards to competition. The purpose of a
sporting match is to help build up the participants who play. Firstly, it develops physical and social
skills. Sport such as football, is a healthy way of exercising the body and uses communication skills
building relationships with other players. In addition to this, it also increases environmental
awareness because it simply requires a football, team members and a set of goals.
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,Rebecca Linfoot Unit Four: Managing an Event 24.03.20
The aims and objectives of running a sporting event relates to an event planner (football coach)
wanting the football game (for example) to educate participants as well as include and strengthen all
players. It can be about wanting to win a game on the bigger picture, but on a smaller scale, looking
at each individual player and setting goals to help train them up to become more skilful. In relation
to the FIFA World Cup, an example of a limitation of this wide scale sporting event includes the fact
that the host country such as Russia had to invest a large amount of money into a stadium. In
addition to this, money is needed to cater for the football players, coaches, physios and all the other
team members. Money is further invested into advertisement which then brings in large amounts of
tourism that the country then need to provide hotel accommodation for e.c.t. On the other hand
however, large amounts of tourism can help boost a country’s economy as well as increase the
brand image and create a high profile status. Through these major international sporting events, it
shows success for countries as a whole, as it generates an interest in their history, culture and cities
which means that even after a sporting event was to take place, tourism remains popular as an
‘empty’ stadium such as Camp Nou in Barcelona, Spain, still attracts thousands of tourists, due to
being the biggest stadium built in Europe.
If I were to run my own sporting event, I would base my ideas from the research of York’s local
football event. At Bishop Burton College, the fields already used for football games would be an ideal
location meaning that the venue is reliant upon nice sunny weather. Below is a mind map containing
the purpose, aims and objectives, constraints and success factors for this event idea:
Entertainment
An entertainment event includes performances from band players, musicians, dance artists,
magicians and speakers (for example poetry.) An extremely popular event in the UK that is known
across the world, are the musical performances held at West End in central London. London is
currently the ‘most popular tourist destination, attracting around 30 million visitors from other
countries each and every year.’ As of 2018, West End sold ‘18.8 million’ tickets and performed
’44,135’ shows within the year. Again, like the World Cup, it shows there is a high interest in these
entertainment shows with classic performances including ‘The Lion King’ and ‘Hamilton’. These
musical events are captivating, providing entertainment from the best trained vocal and dance
artists. They are held to give paying people who buy their tickets a memorable experience and to
open their eyes into a different mind-set from the outside world. Through all the training a
performer goes through to be able to correctly display a show, the event from the theatres point of
view is to make sales through tickets and create an enjoyable atmosphere to customers.
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, Rebecca Linfoot Unit Four: Managing an Event 24.03.20
On a smaller scale, just outside of York city centre, the York Barbican centre hosts ‘a range of live
bands, sports, family shows and community events.’ They provide workshops and hold auditions for
their own local smaller scale West End shows such as ‘Oliver Twist, where people from the
community are able to get involved and experience performing on stage to a large audience like
professional actors do as their day job. The purpose of an entertainment show is to provide
enjoyment to viewers and to further create and hold an interest for the full duration of a
performance. It can be seen as a pathway to escape the living world as it allows a viewer to focus
solely upon the entertainment aspect as they should be intriguing and fun to experience.
If I were to hold an entertainment event, I would choose to run a college summer ball. This is
because by following the yearly tradition, it means that there will definitely be students interested in
attending and the aim is to interest and introduce more students to take part in the event as it is
open to all. Factors such as music for entertainment purposes as well as food and drink would all
need to be considered before choosing to run the event. Again, here is a second mind map
displaying the purpose, aims and objectives, constraints and success factors for this event idea:
Fundraising
A fundraising event is ‘an event or campaign whose primary purpose is to raise money for a cause,
charity or non-profit organization.’ A popular charity who uses fundraising is Macmillan. Macmillan
use their donations to help diagnosed cancer patients and their families with treatment needed and
also for support and care through difficult times. Events such as bike rides, running and bake sales
are a few activities that enable people to get involved in, to help raise money and go towards a good
cause. Fundraising is important to non-profit organisations because it creates an increase in
awareness of their brand and their aims and objectives to the public. Without fundraising, the world
would be in a more unhealthy state with more people not being able to have support or treatment
they need because it is expensive, but because of communities pulling together and raising
incredible amounts of money, it allows other people a ‘second chance at life’ because they are given
the gift of treatment. Below, is a chart that Macmillan have provided through their website showing
how the 1.9 million people they helped back in 2018, received support:
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