So You Want to Be Event Tech Savvy? Here’s Where to Start.
Let’s be honest—getting comfortable with tech in the events world used to be a bonus. Now? It’s basic. Whether you’re freelancing, in-house, or running the whole show, being tech-savvy makes you more effective, more flexible, and way more in demand.
In one of our recent Event Tech Pull-Up episodes, Tess and Keith broke down 10 ways to boost your tech skills without getting overwhelmed. No, you don’t need to learn how to code an app from scratch. But if you even try half of these, you’ll be the person everyone wants on their planning team.
Here’s the breakdown:
1. Set Small, Achievable Goals
Trying to master a whole platform in one weekend? Been there. Don’t do it. Start with one thing—like learning to cut and export video clips—and build from there. Progress over perfection.
2. Be Curious
Watch tutorials, try new tools, click around. YouTube is basically a 24/7 tech university. Whether it’s Notion, Cvent, or just a random Google Calendar trick, learning how something works is more important than becoming a power user.
3. Don’t Be Afraid to Experiment
Play with new software. Test platforms on different devices. Set up a dummy Gmail account and click all the buttons. The only way to get confident is to tinker.
4. Lean on Tutorials (Seriously)
If you’ve ever fixed a dishwasher from a YouTube video (hi, Keith), you can figure out how to update your website or automate an email. Watch a five-minute video. Try the thing. Repeat.
5. Ask for Help
Got a tech-savvy teammate? Ask questions. Follow smart folks on LinkedIn. Subscribe to this podcast (wink). There’s no shame in learning from people who already figured it out.
6. Learn How to Google Better
If your searches are still “how do I zoom,” it’s time for a glow-up. Learn search operators. Try AI tools like Perplexity. And be specific in your queries—it makes a huge difference.
7. Master Email Communication
No one wants to talk about email, but if you can’t find a message, automate your OOO, or sort through your inbox efficiently, you’re wasting time. Learn your platform and get organized.
8. Stay on Top of Social Media Tools
Even if you’re not posting TikToks, you need to know how the tools work—especially for event marketing. Subscribing to something like Social Media Examiner will keep you in the loop without drowning in updates.
9. Learn Keyboard Shortcuts
This one’s a secret weapon. Keyboard shortcuts = speed = confidence. Whether you’re editing video, running a show from the production table, or just switching slides in PowerPoint, shortcuts are game-changers.
10. Get Comfortable With Light Programming Concepts
No need to become a developer, but understanding basic concepts (like what HTML or scripts can do) gives you more power and flexibility. Bonus: your kids or coworkers will think you’re a genius.
The bottom line? Tech doesn’t have to be scary. You just have to be willing to poke around, mess up a little, and keep going. We’re not trying to turn planners into IT pros—we’re just trying to help you keep up in a fast-moving world.
Give the episode a listen, and if you ever get stuck…you know where to find us.