Imagine the event. Imagine that it is incredibly successful, beyond your wildest dreams. See it happening - See people's reactions afterwards.

Now write down a description of the event: the key features or qualities that it had. Who was there? What were they doing? How were other people reacting - and what factors made them react that way? Where was it? When? Any other important details? No detail is too small if it contributes to success.

'Wouldn't it be great if _' Now complete that sentence in as many ways as you can.

Now ask yourself some more questions about it and write down the answers:

• What was the point of that event? Why was it worth doing? What did it achieve?
• How could you tell it was successful?
• What factors made it successful?

Now imagine the same or a similar event going all wrong,a boring failure, an outright disaster.

Ask yourself these questions about it and write down the answers:

• What crucial things were missing?
• What features were present that had a bad effect?
• What factors, events, things said or done made people react badly? How can we avoid those actually happening?
• What are our limits on what is all right: 'It's okay, as long as _.' what? 'People can do whatever they like so long as they _' what?
• Do we need to communicate that somehow? How? Or can we set things up so those things don't happen? Or create a plan in case they do?

Your now well on your way to knowing exactly how you want your event to run, your learning from your mistakes without having to have to physically make them.