Event Planning and the Democratic National Convention

stage and screen set up at the Democratic convention

Photo courtesy of vard

Unless you reside in a cave with no access to technology you know the Democratic National Convention is going on in beautiful Charlotte, North Carolina. And as it should be, it seems right now everything we hear and everywhere we look it’s all about politics, speakers, party nominations, the country moving forward and making the best choice for the USA. As some have said this is “The election of a lifetime” and no matter which side you lean towards when November rolls around the most important take away is we all have to care about the country and vote.

A couple of nights ago, as I was working on a floor plan for a client’s upcoming welcome reception and listening to the First Lady, Michelle Obama speak (yep, multi-tasking) it got me thinking. With six thousand convention delegates attending the Democratic National Convention (and with over four thousand convention delegates that attended the Republic National Convention last month) I wonder …what does it really take to pull off such a high profile event with all planning eyes on you?

Event Planning and the Democratic National Convention: What’s Going On…

So with the participating convention delegates from every state, media correspondents and journalists covering the convention and thousands of other visitors, that’s a whole heck of a lot of critical eyes. Between September 5th and 7th there are well over 130 “featured” events going on. That’s over 130 events that require attention, effort and hands on work. Now time for full disclosure, for the last twenty five years or so that I have been active in this industry I am always thinking that I work a lot, plan a lot and really don’t have much quality personal time. While now is the time for me to stop gripping since I have been lucky enough to make living planning approximately 250-300 events a year. So nowhere near the 130 events in three days that the planners for the DNC are responsible for.

Event Planning and the Democratic National Convention: Numbers, Numbers, Numbers!

With a variety of “featured” events ranging from group runs and yoga to breakfasts and lunches to receptions and parties and so much more in between there is an exciting selection of suitable and relevant as well as cultural events on hand. And we’re not even taking into consideration the days and events prior to the media coverage of the DNC or the over 1000 non official hosted events or the bus shuttle required to get everyone where they need to be. And like with any conference this is outside of all the educational and speaker events. In a word – Exhausting!

Rumor has it:
• Approximately 6,000 delegates, 15,000 media and 14,000 visitors and attendees will participate
• The DNC Host Event Planning Committee held over 150 venues on first right of refusal with the hopes to utilize as many venues as possible
• The DNC Host Event Planning Committee will be responsible for planning and executing 25 events by the end of the DNC
• Over 10,000 volunteers assisted in the execution and logistics at the DNC
• 13 planning companies managed 12 welcome events
• 250 coaches were utilized for the transportation shuttle