by People still turn up late and miss out on things despite the technological advances in time-keeping and date-setting.
They also get lost despite having a GPS in their car and Google Maps on their phone. Are people just plain hopeless?
We don’t know. But we do know that there is help for those who want to be in the right place at the right time.
Read on to discover…
- What to include on your event agenda
- Suggestions for your event programme outline
- How to go about the event programme design
- Sample printable event programme templates
- Some event programme examples
Without further ado, let’s look at how to create an event programme.
What’s an event programme?
An event programme is quite simply an overview of what’s going to happen on the day of your event. If you’re hosting a small get-together, then you might not have a need for one.
But for major events like music festivals, business conferences, theatre performances, and even weddings, it’ll be a practical asset to hand out to your event attendees.
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Why it’s a good idea to have an event programme
Event programmes have traditionally been printed on a piece of paper or included in a booklet. Today, many events will have an app that includes the event programme.
There are still some uses for a printed programme, however. Phone batteries have a tendency to die after some use—and how will your event attendees find the charging stations then?
Furthermore, not all audiences will appreciate an app. Older attendees might appreciate a paper version. App notifications also have a tendency to distract from the task at hand.
Finally, there is ample opportunity to make some extra revenue with an event programme. Many conferences offer sponsors the opportunity to advertise in the event agenda.
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What to include in your event programme
What you include in your event programme will largely depend on how much space you have to work with. A bare-bones programme with essential information is enough to do the trick.
Here’s what you should definitely include in your event programme:
- The name, location, and date of your event.
- The schedule of what will happen on the day.
- A map of the venue showing the different locations.
- Your event branding, slogan, and social media links.
If your event programme is printed in a booklet, you’ll have more space to play with. In that case, you can include a few practical extras.
Here are some optional items you can include in a more comprehensive event programme:
- Additional images and branding
- Event sponsor advertisements
- Brief descriptions of event vendors
- FAQ section to answer common questions
- Speaker or entertainer bios
- List of media partners
- Contact information for emergencies
In other words, you should include anything that you feel will be useful for your attendees to know. The more information you can pack into the programme, the more time you have to focus on other things.
Tips for how to structure your event programme
Before we get into the aesthetics of your event programme, let’s go over some general guidelines for how to structure it. These seven tips will get the best out of your agenda.
1. Stay on brand
Consider your company’s brand before you jump into the design of your event programme. Your brand might have a certain style, colour scheme, font, or other things that are unique to you.
2. Consider partner brands
Your own brand is not the only one you should consider. The design of your event programme should also align with the brands of your sponsors, partners, speakers, and charities.
3. Use high-resolution images
Nothing screams amateur hour like pixelated images in your event collateral. Make sure that you know which dimensions you need for the images so they look good in the programme.
4. Keep it concise
Even if you’ve opted for a booklet, remember that the event programme is not a novel. Keep all information concise and to the point, so the agenda can be used as a quick reference.
5. Refer to the event website
If you have to elaborate on certain points, you can always refer people to the event website. That includes information about the venue, speakers, sponsors, and any charities you’re supporting.
6. Use visual hierarchies
The design of your event programme should focus on the most important elements. Use boxes, circles, strong colours, and bold text to create a visual hierarchy that highlights them.
7. Run quality checks
Whatever you do, don’t send your event programme to print before you’ve run some quality checks. Proofread the copy, check the image quality, and review the formatting.
Tools to help you design your event programme
There are a few ways you can go about designing your event programme. You can hire a professional designer, design it yourself, or tweak some existing event programme templates.
1. Hire a designer
A designer will likely produce the best results but will also be the more expensive option. If you don’t already have an in-house designer, you can use freelancing websites to find one.
Here are some of the most popular freelancing websites:
Tip: Read this guide on how to hire a freelance designer to learn how to vet them for quality.
2. Design it yourself
If you’re familiar with Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, or InDesign, you can save some money by designing your event programme yourself. It’s also possible to use Microsoft Word in a pinch.
Here is a video showing you how to create an event programme using InDesign:
3. Use a template
The cheapest and least time-consuming option is to use an event programme template. There are many free ones available online, and you can customise them to suit your event and brand.
Here are some websites that offer free event programme templates, which you can download, edit, and print:
Conclusion
It’s not rocket science to structure and design an event programme, but it can be an incredibly valuable asset to your event.
Make sure your attendees don’t miss a thing by handing them an agenda when they turn up to the festivities.
Got any tools for designing an event programme that we’ve missed? Share them in the comments section below!