Event Planning: Solving It Like a Rubik's Cube
“Event management is like mastering a complex puzzle—six major components, each with its own set of pieces that need to align perfectly.”
How many people have conquered the legendary Rubik's Cube? If you’re one of the few who can solve it, hats off to you. But here’s the exciting part: the same strategy that works for solving the cube can be applied to event planning and management. It’s all about cracking the code of complexity, one piece at a time.
In essence, solving the cube is a series of logical moves: start with a white cross, align the corners, complete the middle layer, form a yellow cross, and then carefully place the final pieces—red, blue, green, orange—until it all clicks into place. And guess what? Event production follows the same logic. You’ve got six key areas, each with its own moving parts, and when you fit them together in the right order, the result is a flawlessly executed event. It’s not rocket science—it’s Rubik’s Cube science.
The Blueprint for a Winning Event
Event production is a journey, beginning with the first spark of an idea and continuing through the planning, execution, and post-event phases. It’s like building an intricate puzzle—but here’s the kicker: you only need to focus on six core pieces to master any event, no matter how complex. These six dimensions are your keys to success:
Leadership & Management
Customer Experience
Space
Stuff (Equipment)
Staff
Support Services
When solving a Rubik’s Cube, the first step is to create a white cross on one side. In event planning, this is your foundation—the event’s leadership. Just as the cross holds the cube’s structure, strong leadership holds the event together. From defining clear goals to creating the perfect strategy, this is where the event’s story begins. It’s not just about logistics—it’s about vision.
Leadership also means having the right tools to manage stakeholders, budgets, and operations. But there’s more. Successful events don’t just have a strong foundation; they have a leadership culture that drives everything forward, from planning to live execution. This is where you make bold moves, steer your team, and watch your vision take shape in real time.
The Final Challenge: Wow Your Audience
The hardest part of solving the Rubik’s Cube? Getting those last pieces into place without undoing all your hard work. In events, the real magic happens when every action is carefully planned to create a memorable impact. It’s about crafting moments that stick in your audience’s minds long after the event is over. Perfect technical execution is worthless if your attendees leave disappointed. Exceptional events are all about the customer experience.
Here’s where it gets exciting: your toolbox includes everything you need to create those unforgettable moments. By defining your audience segments and understanding what drives them, you can design an experience that resonates deeply with your attendees. It’s not about trying to please everyone—it's about nailing what matters most to your key audiences. And if you really want to make waves, jump into your customer’s shoes and design their experience using service design tools that go beyond expectations.
One of the most powerful tools in your arsenal is the customer journey map. This lets you pinpoint the exact moments where you can wow your audience. These aren’t just touchpoints—they’re your opportunities to sprinkle magic across their event journey. I like to call these "Wow moments"—little surprises that exceed expectations and leave lasting impressions. Forget about marketing hype that doesn’t match reality. Instead, let your event’s story drive your marketing, communications, and sales efforts. A strong event narrative becomes your most powerful marketing asset.
Event Production: It’s All About the Puzzle Pieces
Forget the glamorous image of event production—it’s all about hard work, attention to detail, and coordination. The best producers aren’t just good multitaskers—they are experts at seeing the big picture and knowing how even the tiniest details can affect the outcome. If you’re one of these rare event geniuses, congratulations! But for the rest of us, there’s a smarter way to manage the process by focusing on four critical resources:
Space
Staff
Stuff
Service
Imagine your event’s parking area. To make it work, you need the right space, personnel to manage the flow, equipment for payment and traffic control, and support services for maintenance and logistics. These four building blocks allow you to create every customer touchpoint with precision, regardless of complexity. And the best part? This simple framework can guide you through the entire event management process, allowing you to maintain clarity and control from start to finish.
Breaking the Cube—And Thinking Beyond It
When you master these six elements of the Event Magic Cube, you unlock the ability to produce any event—large or small—with confidence. Once your event is up and running, you’ll find it easy to "break the cube" and start thinking outside the box. The pieces always fall back into place, just like a Rubik’s Cube—and if you’re feeling ambitious, you can solve multiple cubes at once, adding complexity without losing control.
Good luck solving your event puzzles, and remember: event planning is a craft. The more you refine your approach, the more you’ll become a better event professional 🤓