Getting your message across: Events for different audiences Hazel Burke Realities, NCRM/University...

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Getting your message across: Events for different audiences Hazel Burke Realities, NCRM/University of Manchester Presented at: Research Methods Festival, St Catherine’s College, Oxford, 8 July 2010

Transcript of Getting your message across: Events for different audiences Hazel Burke Realities, NCRM/University...

Page 1: Getting your message across: Events for different audiences Hazel Burke Realities, NCRM/University of Manchester Presented at: Research Methods Festival,

Getting your message across: Events for different audiences

Hazel BurkeRealities, NCRM/University of Manchester

Presented at: Research Methods Festival, St Catherine’s College, Oxford, 8 July 2010

Page 2: Getting your message across: Events for different audiences Hazel Burke Realities, NCRM/University of Manchester Presented at: Research Methods Festival,

Realities, part of the ESRC National Centre for Research Methods

Plan of action

1.How to organise a good event

2.How to organise really good events for:

• Research audiences

• Normal people

Page 3: Getting your message across: Events for different audiences Hazel Burke Realities, NCRM/University of Manchester Presented at: Research Methods Festival,

Realities, part of the ESRC National Centre for Research MethodsPhoto: Peter Kaminski from flickr

Always ask yourself three questions:

1. Is an event the best way to get my message across?

2. What is the purpose of my event?

3. Who do I want to come?

Page 4: Getting your message across: Events for different audiences Hazel Burke Realities, NCRM/University of Manchester Presented at: Research Methods Festival,

Realities, part of the ESRC National Centre for Research Methods

How to organise good events

Page 5: Getting your message across: Events for different audiences Hazel Burke Realities, NCRM/University of Manchester Presented at: Research Methods Festival,

Realities, part of the ESRC National Centre for Research Methods

Your safety net….

• www.esrcsocietytoday.ac.uk – search for “communications toolkit” and use the section on Events.

Page 6: Getting your message across: Events for different audiences Hazel Burke Realities, NCRM/University of Manchester Presented at: Research Methods Festival,

Realities, part of the ESRC National Centre for Research Methods

Ask an expert

• Speak to a colleague with experience of organising a similar kind of event (good for insider info!)

Page 7: Getting your message across: Events for different audiences Hazel Burke Realities, NCRM/University of Manchester Presented at: Research Methods Festival,

Realities, part of the ESRC National Centre for Research Methods

Project management!

• Make a task list, with headings for dates, names and comments…

Page 8: Getting your message across: Events for different audiences Hazel Burke Realities, NCRM/University of Manchester Presented at: Research Methods Festival,

Realities, part of the ESRC National Centre for Research Methods

Page 9: Getting your message across: Events for different audiences Hazel Burke Realities, NCRM/University of Manchester Presented at: Research Methods Festival,

Realities, part of the ESRC National Centre for Research Methods

Project management cont…

• Use the task list…

Page 10: Getting your message across: Events for different audiences Hazel Burke Realities, NCRM/University of Manchester Presented at: Research Methods Festival,

Realities, part of the ESRC National Centre for Research Methods

Troubleshooting common problems

• Finding and booking venue and speakers

• Start early, check the venue in person

• Going over budget:

• Get firm quotes from suppliers early

• Save money on non-essentials (flowers, freebies), get alternative quotes

• Organiser burnout:

• (large budget) Try paid conference services

• (small budget) Try free options: www.oxfordabstracts.com

• Set up a new email address if it’s a big event

• Put as much information as possible online

Page 11: Getting your message across: Events for different audiences Hazel Burke Realities, NCRM/University of Manchester Presented at: Research Methods Festival,

Realities, part of the ESRC National Centre for Research Methods

The Prophet of Doom trick

• What if…

• The venue has double-booked?

• The caterers go bust? Or get the day wrong?

• The computers don’t work?

• Your main speaker cancels?

• The fire alarm goes off in the middle of a session?

• The weather is so bad nobody can get to your event?

• You are ill on the day of the event?

Page 12: Getting your message across: Events for different audiences Hazel Burke Realities, NCRM/University of Manchester Presented at: Research Methods Festival,

Realities, part of the ESRC National Centre for Research Methods

How to organise really good events

Page 13: Getting your message across: Events for different audiences Hazel Burke Realities, NCRM/University of Manchester Presented at: Research Methods Festival,

Realities, part of the ESRC National Centre for Research Methods

It’s all about the audience

Page 14: Getting your message across: Events for different audiences Hazel Burke Realities, NCRM/University of Manchester Presented at: Research Methods Festival,

Realities, part of the ESRC National Centre for Research Methods

Mission 1: Delegate at researcher training workshop

• How do you attract this kind of audience? (publicity)

• What information do they need (before they book and after they register)?

• What can you do to make their life easier/better?

Page 15: Getting your message across: Events for different audiences Hazel Burke Realities, NCRM/University of Manchester Presented at: Research Methods Festival,

Realities, part of the ESRC National Centre for Research Methods

Mission 1: Delegate at researcher training workshop

• Email lists (which ones?), websites, posters, leaflets, adverts, word of mouth

• Programme, date, venue, directions, times, how to book, speakers, course objectives, fees, booking deadline.

• Before event: Clear information confirming booking with note of contact details, basic event details, reminder with same details, receipt, links to accommodation/travel etc

• At the event: Programme, map, food.

Page 16: Getting your message across: Events for different audiences Hazel Burke Realities, NCRM/University of Manchester Presented at: Research Methods Festival,

Realities, part of the ESRC National Centre for Research Methods

Burke’s Hierarchy of Needs (apologies to Maslow)

Signs: to venue, to rooms, to lunch, to toilets etc

Correctly-spelled name badge

Enough breaks

Good programme

Food. Especially tea, coffee and biscuits

Page 17: Getting your message across: Events for different audiences Hazel Burke Realities, NCRM/University of Manchester Presented at: Research Methods Festival,

Realities, part of the ESRC National Centre for Research Methods

Mission 2: Guest speaker at research event

• What extra things do they need/want?

Page 18: Getting your message across: Events for different audiences Hazel Burke Realities, NCRM/University of Manchester Presented at: Research Methods Festival,

Realities, part of the ESRC National Centre for Research Methods

Mission 2: Guest speaker at research event

• A bit more TLC!

• Details of AV facilities

• What to do with their presentation

• Water, cups

• A thank you.

Try putting all the information on a special “Information for speakers” info sheet

Page 19: Getting your message across: Events for different audiences Hazel Burke Realities, NCRM/University of Manchester Presented at: Research Methods Festival,

Realities, part of the ESRC National Centre for Research Methods

Stealing isn’t always bad

Page 20: Getting your message across: Events for different audiences Hazel Burke Realities, NCRM/University of Manchester Presented at: Research Methods Festival,

Realities, part of the ESRC National Centre for Research Methods

What ideas would you steal?

Page 21: Getting your message across: Events for different audiences Hazel Burke Realities, NCRM/University of Manchester Presented at: Research Methods Festival,

Realities, part of the ESRC National Centre for Research Methods

Putting theory into practice: A case study

Exhibition about Family Resemblances project:

• Purpose

• Audience

• Why an exhibition?

Page 22: Getting your message across: Events for different audiences Hazel Burke Realities, NCRM/University of Manchester Presented at: Research Methods Festival,

Realities, part of the ESRC National Centre for Research Methods

Audience focus

• Not held at university

• Easy to get to

• Accessible, not stuffy. No jargon

• Family-friendly (timing, content)

• Informative (layers of information), thought-provoking, relevant

• Fun

Page 23: Getting your message across: Events for different audiences Hazel Burke Realities, NCRM/University of Manchester Presented at: Research Methods Festival,

Realities, part of the ESRC National Centre for Research Methods

Borrowed (ahem) ideas

Page 24: Getting your message across: Events for different audiences Hazel Burke Realities, NCRM/University of Manchester Presented at: Research Methods Festival,

Realities, part of the ESRC National Centre for Research Methods

Toolkit about exhibition at www.manchester.ac.uk/realities/resources