Event Planning Lessons from a Pre-Primary Party: What Small Businesses Can Learn
Planning a movie night for a group of five-year-olds might seem worlds apart from organising events or managing business operations, but you’d be surprised at how many lessons carry over!
During the school holidays, my daughter decided to host her friends for a movie night. With rain forecast and children to entertain, I decided to go all out and make it special. I designed Happy Meal-style menus for the kids to fill out, complete with pictures to make it fun and easy. As someone who loves event planning, I thought I had it all covered.
But let me tell you, children have a way of humbling even the most experienced planner!
Here’s what happened:
Happy Meals aren’t as universal as I thought. Half the kids didn’t even know what they were.
Tick boxes can be confusing. Some children ordered three drinks and no food, while others wanted everything on the menu.
Names? Apparently optional! Most of the kids skipped filling that part out, leaving me to guess who ordered what, cue the chaos of mismatched apple juice poppers and Coke bottles.
It was a hilarious and chaotic evening, but it reminded me of some timeless truths about planning, whether it’s for small events, corporate projects, or managing your business.
Key lessons for event planning and business success
Don’t assume everyone knows what you mean.
Just because something seems obvious to you doesn’t mean it’s clear to others. Whether you’re planning an event, crafting a marketing message, or delegating tasks, clear communication is key.Test your ideas on a wider audience.
My daughter gave the menus the thumbs-up, but I didn’t test them on anyone else, and it showed. In business, this translates to gathering feedback from a diverse audience to catch blind spots before you launch a product, service, or event.Details matter.
When one child received the wrong drink, it nearly brought the evening to a halt. It’s a small but powerful reminder: even tiny details can make or break an experience.
How these lessons apply to small businesses and associations
As a Virtual Assistant, Online Business Manager, and marketing professional, I see these lessons in action every day. Whether you’re planning a company event, launching a new service, or streamlining your operations, attention to detail and clear communication are essential for success.
Small businesses and professional associations often juggle competing priorities, and that’s where support makes all the difference. I help businesses by:
Simplifying processes so nothing gets lost in translation.
Bringing a fresh perspective to test and refine your ideas.
Managing the details, so you can focus on the bigger picture.
A little chaos, a lot of fun!
At the end of the day, the movie night was a success. Sure, there were mix-ups, but the kids had a blast, and I had a great reminder of why I love events and planning so much. Whether it’s a pre-primary party or a big business project, the goal is the same: make it memorable, get the details right, and enjoy the journey.
If you’re a small business or professional association looking for Virtual Assistant, Marketing, or Online Business Manager support in Australia, explore the ways I can help right here on the site. Let’s work together to take the stress out of planning and bring your vision to life!