After 20 years in the industry, we’ve seen firsthand how tapping into the creativity of key event partners can transform an ordinary event into an extraordinary experience. Here are a few key insights for both event planners & managers on how to harness this creative potential effectively.

1. Find Trusted Partners – It is critical to have trusted vendors and partners – because a trusted vendor will be your event partner! These are teams and individuals who not only understand your vision but are also committed to bringing it to life with you. Trust is key, as it fosters an environment where creativity can flourish without constraints. With live events back in full force, strong partnerships are more important than ever to ensure event success every single time. 
2. Bring Them in Early On – Involve your partner from the get-go. Early collaboration ensures that every aspect of your event is infused with intention, from the content down to the little details that attendees appreciate and talk about at the water cooler. This approach allows for a cohesive and well-thought-out experience.
3. Know Your Event’s Goals – Clear communication of your objectives is crucial. When your partner understands the goal, they can tailor their creative inputs to align with the event’s purpose and your vision, ensuring that the creativity serves a function and adds value. Let them know what success looks like for you.
4. Encourage Off-the-Wall Ideas – Sometimes, the most memorable events come from the most unexpected ideas. Encourage your partner to think outside the box and propose unique, even unconventional, concepts. This is where true innovation happens. As long as you are confident in your vision, the right partner can iterate on your ideas, helping you to produce a stellar event experience.
5. Don’t Settle for Only Safe and Tired Ideas – Push the envelope. While it’s comfortable to stick with tried and tested concepts, the events that stand out are often those that took a risk. Challenge your team and partner to go beyond the norm. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel. A small, iterative change on a common idea can make all the difference. Check out how we push the envelope for our clients. 
6. Find the Space After You Have the Idea in Place – Let the creative idea dictate the space, not the other way around. Once you have a solid concept, seek a venue that complements and enhances this idea, rather than limiting your creativity to fit a particular space. Starting to see the trend?
7. Keep Records of Every Idea and Who Presented Them – Documenting every idea, no matter how outlandish, is important. This not only gives credit to members of your team but also creates a repository of concepts that can be revisited and reimagined for future events.

The essence of a memorable event lies in the creativity that goes into its planning and execution. As an event planner, it’s your job to put the right minds in the room to provide that memorable experience for attendees. By fostering a collaborative, open, and trusting environment with your event partner, you can unlock new ideas and have a load of mental ideation and work taken off of your plate.