What each type of event needs to go well

When someone says "I'm going to organise an event", they can mean very different things: a wedding, a verbena, a convention or a concert. And each one needs different things.

This article is a map. It helps you place what type of event you have in hand and what is usually needed for it to go well.

The first step to organising an event is not booking anything: it is being clear about which event it is.

The main types of event

Almost everything fits into four big families. This table gives you the overall picture at a glance:

Social events

These celebrate a personal moment: weddings, christenings, communions, anniversaries. Here what matters is the emotion and the detail, and the music rules: it sets the pace of the whole celebration.

Cultural and popular events

Verbenas, pilgrimages, San Juan, carnival... These are the festivals that bring a whole village together. They usually need a stage, good sound and, often, a mobile disco that lasts until dawn.

Corporate events

Company parties, conventions, product launches, team building... They mix work and celebration, and each format has its own rules. We look at it in detail in the guide on how to organise a company party.

Musical and show events

Concerts, festivals and live performances are the most demanding technically. They need a mobile stage that can handle the setup and, for the party side, a DJ for events who keeps the energy up between acts.

How to start organising any event

Whatever the type, the start is similar:

• Define the goal and the number of guests
• Set the date and budget
• Choose and book the venue
• Hire the technical side (sound, stage, music)
• Sort out the details and communicate

With the type of event clear and this order in mind, the rest falls into place on its own.