Ahhhhh. Its over.
Celebrate, Rest… Not in the real world.
1. Have a reconciliation meeting before the event.
Know who will be doing the reconciliation, collect all expense receipts and enter into database, and have a plan for when and how you will be counting all that cash you rake in.
2.Have those sponsor and key volunteer thank you notes prewritten.
Leave room for final details, but they can be addressed, clustered with thank you gifts and waiting in cue. Consider giving your board gifts before the event, this acts as a motivation and a time saver.
3. Have a set of volunteers that you keep fresh for breakdown and wrap up.
Bring in a clean up crew to arrive for the last 1/2 hour of the event, and keep a few volunteers to make those inevitable runs to return supplies and drop off sponsor thank yous.
bonus. Select next year’s date and location before this year’s event.
You can advertise it in posters at the event, your attendee receipt, and any follow up thanks you’s. It keeps the momentum rolling, and requires significantly less energy than a full stop and full start.