Ever wondered what event managers actually do — besides looking calm while everything’s on fire?
Let’s crack this one.
The first time I really thought about it was during the lockdown of the lockdown of 2020 – the year the entire event world crashed overnight. Like many of us, I lost everything.
When I tried to get a “normal” job, I was told two things:
“You’re overqualified” and, somehow in the same breath, “You’re underqualified.”
Translation: You scare us.
One recruiter even said, “Well, I planned my grandma’s birthday too, what’s so hard about events?”
And that, dear reader, was the moment I realized — people truly have no idea what event managers actually do.
So let’s fix that, shall we?
Are We Event People Just Having Fun?
I’m pretty sure the answer to this question really depends on which group you belong to. If you are one of us or have worked with us, you know the magic. On the other hand, as someone being far away from the world of events, you might need a little inside info to really feel it out. So, here it is!
We Don’t Plan. We Orchestrate Chaos.
We’re not checking boxes on a to-do list. More often than not, there is no time to check the checklist.
In reality, we’re choreographing a thousand moving parts — timelines, suppliers, floor plans, talent, tech, travel, and one very nervous client.
While others see chaos, we see patterns.
When others panic, we color-code.
HIRE US AS:
Project Managers, Executive Assistants, Travel Agents, or Operations Coordinators — that’s basically our side hustle.
We Live in Risk Management Mode
Picture this: your keynote cancels, the caterer forgets the vegan menu, and a storm turns your outdoor event into a mud festival.
For most people, that’s a breakdown.
For us, that’s Tuesday.
We think in backups of backups. Risk assessment isn’t a task; it’s a lifestyle.
You’ll find us fixing crises before you even know they exist.
HIRE US AS:
Crisis Managers, Risk Analysts, Operations Leads.
We’re People Whisperers (and Therapists)
Events run on caffeine, chaos, and human emotions — a dangerous but addictive mix.
Our teams are exhausted, clients are anxious, and vendors are one phone call away from a meltdown. That’s where we shine.
We talk CEOs off cliffs, patch up crying interns, and convince vendors to do what physics says they can’t — all while smiling like we slept last night.
Not only we manage very diverse group people; we translate panic into dance.
HIRE US AS: HR Coordinators, Client Relationship Managers, Sales Wizards.
We Make Budgets Behave
We can stretch a dollar (euro or pound) until it squeaks.
Give us a shoestring budget and we’ll deliver an experience that looks like it cost a fortune — and no one will ever know where the duct tape is hiding.
HIRE US AS:
Budget Analysts, Procurement Officers, or your next Financial Miracle Worker.
We Read the Fine Print (and the Energy in the Room)
Contracts? Sure!
First, we negotiate, then re-negotiate some more, and still spot the hidden traps faster than legal ever will.
We catch the “tiny clauses” written in invisible ink — the ones that bite later when no one’s looking.
Because in events, what you don’t notice will cost you.
HIRE US AS: Contract Administrators, Procurement Specialists – but honestly, just let us run the show.
We Lead (Even When Everything’s on Fire)
Leadership in events isn’t about titles. It’s about holding the line when the schedule’s gone to hell and everyone’s looking at you.
We guide, motivate, and occasionally bribe people with snacks (or other treats).
Our job isn’t to boss — it’s to inspire calm in chaos.
HIRE US AS: Team Leaders, Project Leads, Department Managers, or “The One Who Fixes It.”
We’re Tech-Savvy, Fast, and Slightly Addicted to Solving Problems
We troubleshoot sound systems, adapt to new platforms before the team’s even downloaded the app, and somehow make the projector work again.
We are your in-house tech whisperers with better playlists.
HIRE US AS: IT Coordinators, Tech Support, Software Trainers.
Creativity Is Our Default Setting
Show us a blank space and we’ll see a story.
Give us a problem, and we’ll see ten creative ways to fix it (three of which involve glitter and duct tape).
Event pros don’t just think outside the box — we build the damn box, decorate it, light it, and turn it into an experience.
HIRE US AS: Creative Directors, Marketing Strategists, Product Developers.
Oh Yeah, & We Are Fun!
We know how to laugh in the middle of a meltdown.
Just like that, we turn tension into teamwork, problems into punchlines, and deadlines into inside jokes.
With us, energy is high, spirits up, and somehow we still manage to deliver perfection under pressure.
Hiring an event manager isn’t just smart — it’s like giving your team an energy shot that can also build a spreadsheet.
So What It Is That Event People Actually Do?
We do it all.
We’re the brains, the glue, and sometimes the emotional support humans holding the universe together with coffee and backup plans.
Event managers aren’t “just planners.” We’re strategists, psychologists, negotiators, and creative problem-solvers with a sixth sense for disaster prevention.
Yes, the stress and burnout is real — but so is the joy.
So next time someone asks what event managers actually do, tell them this:
“They make magic happen. On budget. On time. With a smile — even when everything’s on fire.”
At Vyctorias, we don’t avoid the fire — we run it, light it, and make it part of the show.
Wanna give it a try?
