From an Event Newbie — What I Wish I Knew

Event 360 is a strong and established partner for nonprofit organizations to bring their fundraisers and events to the next level. Many of our team members have been in the event world for years, some for decades, and the collective knowledge and experience is what guides us through every event.

In 2025, I had the opportunity to join this group of mission-driven and dedicated people in the event planning and fundraising world. This opportunity required me to start at the most daunting and exciting place possible – at the beginning!

When I joined Event 360, I entered the professional event production world for the first time. In other words, I was an on-event greenie, a noob, a youngin’; in other words, the new kid on the block. Through my first year in the saddle, I’ve picked up a few things I wish I would’ve known from the start.

Utilize the resources you’re given.

As a newbie, the week leading up to the event can be full of nerves and anticipation. It’s helpful to steer that energy into preparation for the role you’ll be filling that weekend. Event 360 has tons of amazing resources for new teammates, including in-depth training videos, checklists galore (check out our recent blog post!), and experienced people you can talk to for help. Absorbing this information will help you feel more prepared, and ready to tackle any challenge that comes your way!

You’re not working alone.

When thinking about working your first event, the idea of diving into it by yourself can be daunting. You might feel intimidated by the responsibility of executing an event, or by meeting more experienced event pros. Luckily, you’re not showing up to an event alone – you’re showing up as a member of a cohesive and dynamic team who you share the load with.

Working events is the ultimate exercise in teamwork and collaboration. Communication is across all channels, all the time, which means you’ll always have someone to guide you in the right direction, regardless of the task. No decisions are made in a vacuum, and trusting your teammates to have your back can relieve the pressure of a solo job. This can be through pre-event morning meetings, calling your command line for help, or simply asking a teammate for insight. Executing an event is a big responsibility, but it’s one that’s shared by an entire team of professionals.

There will be times when a voice in your head says you’re asking too many questions. Don’t listen to that voice!

Questions show that you’re thinking critically and you have an interest in doing your job right. My teammates at Event 360 are happy to provide as many answers as they can. The collective knowledge in the brains of long-time event pros is unparalleled, so take full advantage of having direct access.

At the end of the day, nobody expects you to have all the answers. Asking others for guidance is the quickest and easiest way to get a job done right and learn a thing or two in the process.

The sun is hot, and rain is wet….

In other words – don’t underestimate the power of weather! On event, you’re working in the elements all day for multiple days at a time, whether that’s heat, cold, rain, or a combination of all three. Working outdoors in weather conditions means that you really need to take care of yourself. Take weather forecasts seriously and pack just-in-case items like extra socks, shorts and waterproof layers to make yourself more comfortable. It might be tempting to ignore your water break when you have a checklist to complete, but staying aware of your physical limitations keeps yourself and others safe.

Events present their own unique challenges and unexpected circumstances. If I’ve learned one thing of most importance, it’s to roll with the punches. Your team is composed of many different people who all lean on each other to create something to be proud of. If you’re showing up and getting it done, the rest comes naturally!

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