The crazy life of an event manager
Author: Cathy Treasure
Back in the day when I was Festival Director for Parkes Elvis Festival - a very hectic year-round role. Pictured here with three special guests from the USA: Jeff Lewis, internationally acclaimed ETA Taylor Rodriguez and Elvis’ former tour manager, Charles Stone
Don’t get me wrong—I absolutely love working in events. But let’s talk about the one question that never failed to make me cringe as an event director: “So, what else do you do all year?”, or worse, “What’s your real job?”
Here’s the thing: when you do your job as an event professional really well, no one notices you. People go to events to enjoy a game, see their favourite band, eat incredible food, catch up with friends, or view incredible art forms. They don’t stop to think about the logistics, the planning, or the sheer number of moving parts that had to align to make the magic happen.
When’s the only time anyone notices the event team? When something goes wrong! Long queues. Dirty toilets. Bad sound. Not enough food. Those are the moments when people suddenly realise that it was somebody's job to avoid this happening.
What most people don’t see—especially when it comes to regional events—is the insane variety of skills an event manager has to bring to the table. It’s one of the rare jobs where you’re required to understand and apply so many skill sets. One moment you’re coordinating entertainment, the next you’re deep in health and safety compliance, managing budgets, pitching to sponsors, planning marketing strategies, and making sure the whole thing doesn’t fall apart.
It’s a bit like being a circus performer. Event managers are the ones spinning all the plates—and if even one crashes, the whole show feels it. But that’s also the thrill of it. You’re always juggling, always problem-solving, and always creating something unforgettable.
As we wrap up for 2024 let's celebrate those fabulous (and slightly crazy) individuals who work in events. We may not be famous or seen, but we sure create lifetime memories for thousands of people. Cheers to that!