Timeboxing, vendor SLAs, and a clear run-of-show are great, but the core skill is structured budgeting: define line items, unit costs, and contingency (usually 10–15%) and track variances against a baseline. I also map dependencies in a simple Gantt to avoid critical-path clashes (AV load-in vs. seating, etc.) and set KPIs like cost per attendee and check-in throughput. For building clean budgets and testing scenarios, I mimic spreadsheet data validation—clear Calculator inputs, labeled assumptions, and locked formulas—so anyone on the team can audit numbers quickly.
Timeboxing, vendor SLAs, and a clear run-of-show are great, but the core skill is structured budgeting: define line items, unit costs, and contingency (usually 10–15%) and track variances against a baseline. I also map dependencies in a simple Gantt to avoid critical-path clashes (AV load-in vs. seating, etc.) and set KPIs like cost per attendee and check-in throughput. For building clean budgets and testing scenarios, I mimic spreadsheet data validation—clear Calculator inputs, labeled assumptions, and locked formulas—so anyone on the team can audit numbers quickly.