What are the different types of events?

As an event planner, you may be faced with a variety of event assignments. If the objectives remain the same, organizing a successful event (of course), it turns out that the stakes differ according to the type of event and especially according to the audience that will be attending.

In order for you to be at the top, we have prepared a short reminder of the different types of events you could organize. Let’s go!

CORPORATE EVENTS

The study day

The study day brings together the employees of a company in order to train, inform, motivate and convince them on a specific subject, around a theme that could be useful every day. But far from the school benches, I can guarantee you! In fact, this has absolutely nothing to do with “studying” in the literal sense of the word, but rather with an in-depth analysis.

The study day is structured around a presentation, with several speakers and experts in their field, which will set the tone for the day. The different opinions and points of view will be presented in order to trigger the debate among the participants. And that’s what we want! The participation of the audience guarantees that this day, rich in new information, will be well remembered! It is also a good way to let the different personalities express themselves.

Discover all our tips for organizing a study day!

The seminar

The seminar, which is well known to companies, aims to bring employees together and create a unique bond. It focuses on human beings and their qualities. It is also an excellent way to thank employees for the work they do throughout the year. It is a management tool in its own right!

The company seminar can be organized to encourage exchange within a team, but also to review a period that has elapsed. It is also the ideal place to discuss the future and define new objectives.

Organizers often decide to hold the seminar outside the workplace, but it all depends on the type of seminar. Integration seminars, which promote the arrival of new employees, often take place on site. On the contrary, motivation seminars aim to stimulate employees. This is why it is recommended to do them outside the daily routine of work, by proposing creative and original activities!

Sometimes team-building activities are added to a company seminar in order to vary the pleasures. 

We talk about this in detail a little further on ;)

The conference and congress

Conferences often attract large crowds, at least 100 people, most of whom are truly passionate about the theme. The objective of the conference: to debate a particular subject and raise awareness on a specific issue. After this, a phase of debate around a related topical issue is born, with the aim of stimulating change. 

Often, one or more speakers who are experts in their subject speak before an audience that may be made up of professionals or people interested in a common topic.

Unlike a conference, a congress attracts people from all over the world. In this type of event, speakers from outside the country share the stage.

Conferences or congresses can take place over half a day, a day, several days… It all depends on the size of your event. :)

All our tips for organizing a successful conference are listed in our article! So don’t wait any longer!

The product launch 

A purely professional event, the product launch (or kick-off for intimates) is in charge of promoting a new product. After months, even years of work, the long-awaited moment has finally arrived! You plan to launch your new product or service on the market and to do so, you gather:

— Your best customers: those who will easily promote your product on social networks and to their friends and family.

— Your prospects: you have to convince them that your product is what they need. 

— Journalists: so that they can write an article about your product and tell people about it

Often highlighted, this event usually takes place in the evening, in a prestigious location. As we have said, the audience is often made up of journalists, so we have to be careful not to overdo it! This target is particularly demanding and difficult to seduce, which is why product launch organizers rely on originality and surprise.

Steve Jobs, founder of Apple, is the one who has revolutionized product launches in recent years by organizing grandiose events that attract professionals and enthusiasts as well as the curious.

Do you want to have all the keys to a successful product launch? Check out our article!

The team building

This is an event that organizers often like to be entrusted with: team building. Its purpose is simple: to give a good time to your team of collaborators by reinforcing the cohesion between them and, above all, by motivating them. You have to keep in mind that the objectives can vary according to the clients. For example, it could be the resolution of internal problems through creative and enriching activities, or the improvement of a team’s performance through collaborative and unifying activities. 

Team building is often organized at the request of the director or team leader. It is held over one or two days, but rarely extends over a longer period.

In short, it is a fun event that combines work and play activities. And that is the magic of team building! Mixing original activities, which allow learning while having fun, while fostering the spirit of competition and teamwork. 

Also, team building is a way of rewarding employees other than by giving them a bonus. And yes, between treasure hunts, murals, escape games and virtual reality activities… There’s plenty to motivate the troops by giving a bit of pep to their daily work. 


Are you about to organize a team-building event? Discover 10 team-building activities that you could propose to your guests!

OTHER TYPE OF EVENTS: PUBLIC EVENTS

Festivals

Festivals are often culturally dominant. Among them are music or film festivals, which are the most widespread. Sometimes with a charitable aim, the festival is meant to be convivial and festive! So let the volume on!

Organizing a festival requires a lot of preparation beforehand, with a communication phase that is essential to be sure to attract a maximum audience. This is also why it is essential to have a top-notch programme.

Another important point to note is that organizing a festival is a rather risky project, as it is an event that requires a substantial budget. The only way to balance the finances is and to plan a good strategy by planning your budget from A to Z in order to guarantee a high ROI. So don’t hesitate to call on local and regional partners who can help you communicate more widely.

Trade fairs or exhibitions

We are talking about a larger event, a trade fair or exhibition that often takes place over several days, once a year. The objective of this type of event is to promote a sector of activity as a whole.

Trade fairs are the ideal playground for companies or freelancers, but may, in some cases, be open to the general public. On the contrary, trade fairs are open to everyone. This type of fair is often very popular and tends to attract several thousand people.

In addition, trade fairs are an ideal networking place for entrepreneurs, as it is a very good way to fill your address book and find new customers. As an exhibitor, it is also a good way to improve your reputation and visibility! The goal is to appear on a show that shares the same theme as your business. For example, if you are developing innovative POS marketing displays thanks to digital and technology, VivaTech is for you!

Sports events

Another event that requires a number of regulations to be followed is sports events. This type of event can be local, on a city scale for example, but can also have a national or even international dimension. The best example is, of course, the Olympic Games!

Even if you don’t have to organize sports events, you should know that they are still quite frequent. The main difficulty lies in obtaining all the necessary authorisations to set it up. 

Tip of the day: don’t forget to take out a good insurance policy that will protect you in the event of an accident.

The particularity of a sports event is that it can last from a few hours to a few days depending on its size. 

Find out all you need to know about organizing a sports event.

A MULTITUDE OF EVENTS TO ORGANIZE

I think you’ll agree with me, an event organizer doesn’t have time to be bored with the variety of events he could organize! Chances are you have your preferences between the different types of events, but know that the more you touch everything, the more you learn. The challenge and the unexpected are the parts that make this job unique and that makes us vibrate on a daily basis. :)

And if you’re looking for info on a specific event, don’t hesitate to consult our blog which is full of resources!

Gather a maximum of guests for a successful internal seminar!