InitLive Blog

Whether you organize small or large events, today's event planning industry requires that event managers have access to all sorts of data on their volunteers. But there's specific functions your volunteer management tool should have that allow you to access information quickly and make important...

Today's volunteers under 40 are tech-savvy, educated, and looking for experiences that will help them in their career paths. And they're ready to find other ways to volunteer if they don't feel appreciated for their efforts. Here are some great ways to motivate volunteers and keep them engaged...

Event technology is always providing us with invaluable long term insights on how we plan and run events. Collecting event data on your staff and volunteers, through an event management tool like InitLive, allows you to fully understand the pool of people working at your events. This can lead you...

As the world of modern marketing continues to evolve, event planners eager to make an impact are often looking to outside-the-box tactics. While mobile events certainly aren’t a new concept - having been around since the days of horse and carriage - this unique way of reaching consumers has seen...

And we're talking 'touch your toes' flexibility! Events as a whole are widespread, unique, and each has different requirements of its professionals. In such a dynamic and complex industry, each new day requires different processes and workflows. The technological tools used need to suit every need,...

Any event manager will know that outdoor event planning comes with its own unique complications and demands - which can make it difficult to manage the expectations of attendees, vendors and onsite staff, while also ensuring your event goes off without a hitch.

Instagram is a fantastic tool for spreading the word about your event. By incorporating the use of Instagram into your event planning, you can create excitement before, during, and after the big day. Here are a few tips for making the most of this free platform to boost your event marketing...

Your volunteers are ready to go! It's tempting to pass out assignments like candy until you get it all off your plate. Before you add that "Would you also...?", keep this question in mind: if you're not paying these people, what's an appropriate workload? Your event volunteers are there to help,...

Whether your event is a massive production with hundreds or thousands of volunteers, or a more intimate event, the most important thing to an event manager is simple: peace of mind. While this applies to everything under their command, one of the most work-intensive aspects is the managing of...

Good men and women are especially hard to find when you need their services and are not paying them anything for their time. Volunteers are event and festival "fuel," they keep services running, people moving and smiling, solve problems and find solutions. To keep volunteers happy (and retain...

Technology is evolving and becoming more and more integrated into the event industry. Many welcome this change, but it’s important to provide resources and support to volunteers who might have questions about your new event staff and volunteer management tool, InitLive.Here are 3 ways to get your...

Let's face it: Technology can be intimidating. And when unpaid event volunteers are told they have to use it, it can be difficult for them to recognize the technology's real worth. Read on to find out how to get your event staff and volunteers onboard with the event technology you're asking them...

There's nothing like visiting the reception desk at your event to discover there's no volunteer there after all. It's the stuff event planning nightmares are made of, and most of the time, it's an event planning reality, too.

As an event manager, you know this well: good communication between you and your staff can prevent terrible event snafus. Even a simple misunderstanding can lead to a dissatisfied customer, and that's not a risk you can take. 

So talk to each other! We could finish this post right here...😉

Running an event is hard work. Keeping track of schedules, site logistics, and sharing information can become very time-consuming. But keeping your volunteers informed is critical to success. Here are some tips that will help you communicate with event volunteers (a.k.a. those hard-working people...

Events are never small projects. Even for more intimate affairs, there are so many moving pieces that most people don't recognize, all working behind the scenes to create an event that runs without a hitch. Amidst the organized chaos that is the workings of an event, volunteers are invaluable, and...

Deciding how many volunteers are needed for an event seems like a complicated process at times. It's difficult to know where to begin, especially with a thousand other things on your mind when it comes to running your event. Knowing the numbers needed, while seemingly overwhelming, is boiled down...

When it comes to your event volunteers, you need to keep track of more than just their names. Carefully tracking certain information helps your event run more smoothly, helps protect you in case of a legal issue, and encourages your volunteers to trust your leadership because they can see you're...

Regardless of size, putting on an event takes a considerable amount of time and resource - both of which a lot of nonprofit organizations have very little of. However, this doesn’t mean nonprofits should shy away from events. Some of the best fundraising comes through nonprofit events, with the...

When the success of your event depends on staffing committed and reliable individuals, effective "day of" communication with event staff is absolutely critical. In this industry so much can change day-to-day, and event planners need an efficient way of keeping people in the loop. 

A volunteer...

Finding volunteers for an event can be difficult, but finding the volunteers you need AND who fit the criteria necessary is a whole different ballgame. When creating a call for volunteers for any event, there are several key points to keep in mind that will attract the volunteers you need.

The bigger the event, the more volunteers are needed, and manual sign up becomes tedious, unnecessary, and strenuous for an event that requires hundreds or even thousands of volunteers. At this point, online sign-up methods are not only preferred, but imperative to keeping your event running...

Large events can require hundreds or even thousands of volunteers if you want to do it up right (and of course, you do!). That's a lot of people for you to manage, even if you have an assistant or two. In a case like this, a little strategy goes a long way to prevent burn-out and avoid falling...

When you think of daredevils, you probably think of sky divers and motorcycle racers. Event planners might not fit into that category--or so you believe. However, when you meet one who insists on using nothing but pen and paper to organize his or her events, you've met one who's living life on the...