Special Event Production: The Process The Process

A companion to "Special Events Production: The Resources," this text analyzes the process of event planning to provide a unique guide to producing events. It explains budgeting and resource concerns, planning and cost projections, and the role of the well-crafted proposal.

This must-have guide to special event production looks deep the behind-the-scene of an event, and dissects what it is that creates success. It analyses the process - the planning and business aspects to provide a unique guide to producing events. It explains thoroughly, budgeting and resource concerns, planning and cost projections and the role of the well-crafted proposal.

Incorporating pedagogical features, this easy-to-read book is packed with photographs, diagrams, flow charts, checklists, sample forms, and real-life examples. It steps through the whole process from the creativity and proposal at the outset, to budgeting, the contract and risk management with event follow up to conclude.

This text is Part one of a two book set - also available is Special Events Production: the resources (isbn 987 07506 85238).'

Contents
Preface
Acknowledgements
Chapter 1: An Introduction to Special Events and Special Event Production
1.1 Reasons for Special Events
1.2 Categories of Special Events
1.3 The Players
1.4 The Phases of Event Organization
1.5 The Responsibility Areas of Event Organization
Chapter 2: Creativity
2.1 What is Creativity?
2.2 The Cognitive Process
2.3 The External Environment
2.4 Creativity Techniques and Methods
Chapter 3: Budgeting
3.1 Preparing the Production Budget
3.2 Managing Cash Flow
3.3 Making a Profit
3.4 Budget Layouts
3.5 Other Financial Considerations
Chapter 4: Proposals
4.1 What Wins Business
4.2 Preparing a Winning Proposal
4.3 Delivering a Winning Proposal
4.4 Ethical Considerations
Chapter 5: The Production Team
5.1 Assembling and Organizing the Team
5.2 Working with the Team: Concept and Proposal Phase
5.3 Working with the Team: Coordination Phase
5.4 Working with the Team: Execution Phase
5.5 Health and Safety Issues
Chapter 6: Contract Management
6.1 Definition of a Contract
6.2 What Should be Included in a Contract?
6.3 Issuing and Signing Contracts
6.4 Breaking a Contract
6.5 Resolving Disputes
Chapter 7: Risk Management
7.1 Theory versus Reality
7.2 Compliance
7.3 Insurance
Chapter 8: Production Management
8.1 During the Event Coordination Phase
8.2 During the Event Execution Phase
Chapter 9: Event Follow-up
9.1 Following up with the Production Team
9.2 Following up with the Venue
9.3 Following up with the Client

After 22 years in the Canadian Armed Forces serving as an aeronautical engineer, Doug Matthews began his second career in the entertainment industry when he joined Pacific Show Productions in 1985. This company produced special events and entertainment in Canada and overseas for many diverse clients. For example, these included: original musical theatre productions in Barkerville, BC; the millennium First Night celebrations in Vancouver, BC; the annual Leo Awards for BC film and television; and four entertainment show tours for the Canadian Armed Forces to the Arctic, Afghanistan, Bosnia, Cambodia, Egypt, and Israel. Pacific Show Productions was regularly nominated for special event awards both in Canada and the United States and won several awards under Matthews's leadership. The company was sold in 2004. Matthews is an accomplished speaker, delivering seminars at special event conventions and courses at community colleges in the areas of entertainment, creativity, and event production management. He is currently on the faculty of Capilano College in North Vancouver, BC, where he teaches Special Events as Tourism Generators and Advanced Special Event Planning and Production to Asian and North American students. Matthews remains involved in the industry as a member of the Canadian Special Event Society and serves on the advisory board of an international consortium of special event production companies called TEAM Net, based in Atlanta, Georgia, of which he was president in 2002-04. His published articles range from technical engineering papers for military audiences to pieces for special event publications, as well as original music and mini-plays. His most recent publishing success is a self-published book on special events, How to Create Fantasies and Win Accolades: A Practical Guide to Planning Special Events, which has received critical acclaim in the USA and Canada.