When you walk into a seamless, high-impact event, it’s easy to focus on what’s in front of you – the atmosphere, the energy, the experience. What you don’t see is the fast-paced coordination, quick thinking, and countless moving parts happening behind the scenes to make it all feel effortless.
At Tigerlike, our event managers are at the heart of that process. From early-morning briefings to last-minute problem-solving, no two days are ever the same. So, what does it really take to bring an event to life?
We sat down with Operations Manager, Emily Preston, to get a behind-the-scenes look at a day in her world – uncovering the challenges, the unexpected moments, and the details that turn a well-run event into something truly memorable.
What does a typical day look like for you when you’re managing an event – or is there no such thing as ‘typical’?
There is no such thing as typical on event day! As Event Managers, we plan the day to the minute, but there are always things cropping up requiring attention and changing the course of the day.
How do you communicate with your team during a live event to keep everything aligned?
I try to communicate in a level-headed way, instilling confidence in the team and empowering them to deliver an event to the best of their ability, whilst also enjoying what we do. I ensure everyone has access to all the event plans and information they need to support the client and delegates throughout the event for a seamless experience.
What’s your approach to handling last-minute changes or unexpected issues on the day?
The best approach is to be calm and collected, evaluating all the information we have in that moment and the knock-on effect it could have on the rest of the event. What tools do we have to hand to mitigate the change or issue, and what is the best course of action to either resolve it or work with it.
How do you know, in real time, that an event is going well?
Attendance is high or as expected, sessions are full, and the client is enjoying the event and actively participating instead of feeling they have to manage the event alongside you.
What’s your favourite part of the day when you’re onsite at an event?
Looking at the plenary or agenda highlight and thinking, ‘we made that happen’. Reflecting on often months of planning and logistics management and seeing it come to life is a feeling that can’t be beaten.
From early-morning setup to the final guest departure, it’s clear that delivering a seamless event is anything but simple. It takes experience, instinct, and a team that knows how to adapt in real time – often before anyone else even notices a change is needed. If you’re looking to create an event that feels effortless for your guests, but is expertly managed behind the scenes, get in touch with the Tigerlike team to start the conversation.
