{"id":6202,"date":"2021-05-28T11:50:00","date_gmt":"2021-05-28T16:50:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/?p=6202"},"modified":"2021-06-07T09:53:04","modified_gmt":"2021-06-07T14:53:04","slug":"how-to-deal-with-difficult-event-planners","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/how-to-deal-with-difficult-event-planners\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Deal with Difficult Event Planners"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"last-updated entry-meta\">Last updated on June 7, 2021<\/p><br>\n<p>Maintaining a positive and happy relationship with your clients isn&#8217;t always easy, especially in the events industry. Planning special, once-in-a-lifetime moments adds extra pressure for both the vendor and the planner which can stir big emotions and create tension. When issues arise, it can turn an amicable client into a difficult one. Here are a few tips to help you navigate those situations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:40px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-always-ask-what-s-really-going-on\">Always ask, what\u2019s really going on?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Every difficult client has a reason behind their behavior. They could be dealing with the general stress of planning an event or handling a personal issue that&#8217;s completely unrelated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you find yourself in situations like these, try engaging with your client to see if you can figure out the source of their unhappiness. Check in with some simple questions, like: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>How are you doing today? <\/li><li>How is the event planning going?<\/li><li>Is there anything I can do for you?<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>It might not have anything to do with you or your event, but showing you care and are willing to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/listening-most-important-habit-to-master\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">listen<\/a> can go a long way in diffusing any potential issues. It will also build a lot of trust between you and your client.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:40px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-kindness-goes-a-long-way\">Kindness goes a long way<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When dealing with difficult event planners, whatever you do, don&#8217;t retaliate with anger or frustration. When someone is raising their voice or sending seemingly rude messages, the worst thing you can do is respond in the same way. Remember to take a deep breath, stay calm, and listen. Your clients are your customers, and although you won&#8217;t always see eye to eye, it&#8217;s important to remember that this is <em>their<\/em> event and <em>their<\/em> memories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Express&nbsp;to the client that you understand their frustrations and needs. Practice <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/4-tips-for-improving-your-communication\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">excellent communication<\/a> skills by being respectful, positive, and a great listener, no matter what the situation is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:40px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-prevent-problems-with-clear-communication\">Prevent problems with clear communication<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Do your part to stop issues before they happen. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/4-keys-to-effective-communication\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Effective communication<\/a> throughout the <em>entire<\/em> booking process can keep problems at bay. Be available and quick to respond to questions, and try to anticipate your client&#8217;s needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It&#8217;s a good practice to set reminders for yourself to reach out. To avoid problems, be proactive and plan to contact the client a few weeks as well as a few days prior to the gig. Showing that you&#8217;re organized and on top of things will offer relief to clients&nbsp;who may be prone to worry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:40px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-remember-to-stay-humble\">Remember to stay humble<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Sometimes, mistakes happen. We all mess up. When you&#8217;re at fault to any degree, the best thing to do is own it. Be honest and take responsibility. Don\u2019t let ego and pride get in the way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When dealing with a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/how-to-handle-reviews-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">bad review<\/a> from a disgruntled client, use it as an opportunity to show how you rectified the situation. People are usually quick to forgive when confronted with humility and honesty, and that shows other potential clients your character.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:40px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-be-honest-about-your-capabilities\">Be honest about your capabilities<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Managing your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/creating-and-managing-your-clients-expectations\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">client&#8217;s expectations<\/a> in advance can help deter unreasonable demands later. Be thorough when describing the service you intend to provide and explain any limitations you may have. Don&#8217;t overpromise or exaggerate for the sake of making the sale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sometimes a client becomes difficult simply because they do not understand and need more help. Be patient with them and offer direction. Remember that you&#8217;re the expert on your own service and it&#8217;s up to you to guide them to a successful event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:40px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Knowing how to deal with difficult event planners or prevent them from becoming difficult is an essential skill for growing in the events industry. Showing kindness, listening, and creating positive relationships with clients is how you collect more glowing reviews, referrals, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/how-to-get-repeat-clients-and-why-it-matters\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">repeat business<\/a>!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Last updated on June 7, 2021 Maintaining a positive and happy relationship with your clients isn&#8217;t always easy, especially in the events industry. Planning special, once-in-a-lifetime moments adds extra pressure for both the vendor and the planner which can stir big emotions and create tension. When issues arise, it can turn an amicable client into [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":24456,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[9,1402],"tags":[1477,1476],"class_list":["post-6202","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gig-business","category-using-gigsalad-members","tag-client-relationships","tag-communication"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.3 (Yoast SEO v27.4) - 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