How to plan a convention

What is a convention?

A convention is an event where people gather together with similar interests in order to learn about a topic or meet their peers. It could be a trade show at which companies showcase their products or services to potential buyers; it could be a conference where experts share their ideas on a specific subject with other professionals; or it could be something else entirely.
Conventions are held in different places around the world depending on their purpose — from big convention centers to smaller venues like hotels and office buildings. They can last anywhere from one day up to several days depending on how much information needs to be shared between attendees.

What type of convention are you going to organize?

The type of convention you organize depends on the purpose and goals for your event. If your goal is to educate attendees about new products or services, then you might organize a trade show — where companies can showcase their latest products and technology directly to a targeted audience. If your goal is to inform people about changes in law or regulations, then perhaps an educational conference with speakers and breakout sessions would be more appropriate.
Conventions can also be used as fundraising events for charitable organizations, such as when entertainment stars perform at concerts for charity organizations.

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Formal and informal conventions

A convention can be either formal or informal. A formal convention is one that follows certain rules, such as the structure and order (the agenda) of activities during the meeting. A conference is usually organized around specific topics. For example, a conference on “childhood education” would consist of presentations about different topics related to children’s education in schools (e.g., reading programs).
Informal conventions are less structured and more of an opportunity for participants to exchange information and ideas freely. Informal conventions are often used as part of a company’s marketing strategy, where customers can learn more about products and services offered by a company before making purchases.

Here are some tips for planning a successful convention

Define your goals. Before you start planning, think about what your goals are for the event and how you plan on achieving them. Do you want to make money? Expand your membership base? Get media coverage? Promote your brand? Set realistic expectations for what you hope to accomplish during the convention and how much time it will take to do so.
Pick a theme and venue. Once you know what kind of event you want to host, pick a theme that will help unify all aspects of it from the speakers to the activities at each break and lunch. If possible, choose a venue that’s convenient for attendees but still affordable — many hotels offer discounted rates for groups renting out entire ballrooms or meeting spaces.
Based on your theme and budget, you will have a selection of qualified speakers to choose from. Try to secure inspirational ones, that project authority and are respected in your field.
Plan logistics in advance. Create an event schedule that includes time slots for speakers and breakout sessions so attendees know exactly when each activity is happening throughout the day (or weekend).

Conclusions – planning a convention? You will need professional support!

The best way to plan a successful convention is to work with a professional agency that’s done it before. They will have dealt with the many problems and issues that can come up during the process. If you are thinking of running your own convention, you will need experience in event management as well as marketing. It is a full-time job, and you won’t be able to do it without substantial financial backing. If you want to get it right first time out, then working with an experienced agency is the way forward.

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