Imagine putting weeks (or months) of hard work into an event. The flowers are delivered, the decorations are hung, and the food is hot. Now imagine, while plugging in your audio, there are not enough outlets! If only you had a power strip or an extension cord. Then, more people show up than RSVP’d, so you’re out of name tags!
One of the most important things an event organizer needs is an emergency toolbox. A box you take to every event with all of the essentials in it to keep the event running smoothly and your sanity levels calm. It is critical to have certain items at hand in case of an unexpected issue or if something breaks. Below are the top tools every event planner needs.
Tools
- Tape measure
- Glue gun
- Hammer
- Flathead and phillips head screwdrivers
- Pliers
- Zipties
- Nails and screws
- Super glue
Office Supplies
- Scissors
- Stapler
- Duct tape
- Pens and pencils
- Rubber bands
- Notepads
- Double sided tape
- Extra nametag supplies
- FedEx envelopes and labels
- Hole punch
- Paper clips
- Post-its
- Safety pins
- Sharpies
- Ruler (also doubles as a straight edge!)
- Extra cardstock
- Label maker
Electronics
- Batteries (AA is common, but have some AAAs, Ds, LR44s, and 9 volts for extra preparedness)
- Extension cords
- Power strip
- Mobile device chargers
- Mobile devices (cell phone, tablet, and laptop)
- USB drives
Health and Cleaning
- First aid kit
- Disinfecting wipes
- Stain stick
- Large and small ziplock baggies
- Paper towels
- Sewing kit
Personal Care- Even though we all get busy during the time surrounding an event, always take care of yourself! Without you on top of your game, the event could suffer.
- Sunscreen
- Reusable water bottle
- Snacks
- Aspirin
- Feminine supplies
- Eyedrops
- Extra contact lenses
- Glasses and glasses case
- Nail clippers and file
- Cough drops
- Mints
- Floss
- Clear nail polish
- Shoe polish
Don’t be afraid to add or remove whatever you feel is necessary! This is a completely fluid list and is not meant to be exhaustive.
Each event is different, so each kit should be different.
Sources:
The knowledge and personal experiences of Jared Morrison
http://eventjuice.co.uk/the-event-managers-survival-kit-checklist/
https://blog.planningpod.com/2014/08/14/43-items-in-event-planners-on-site-event-kits/