Whether you’re planning on hosting your first or fiftieth event in 2015, we’ve lined up our favorite ways to up your event game this year.

  1. Always Be Learning. To put it simply, learning is the key to success. As soon as you decide you’ve learned everything there is to know about event planning, you’ll lose out to a competitor who has a passion for learning. Even the most seasoned events warriors are always learning and always improving. Learn from others by attending workshops and conferences. Learn from yourself by A/B testing everything — from the subject line of your email invite, to the location of the signage directing guests to the bathroom. Need a good starting point? Check out our Event Academy. Eventbrite.com/academy
  1. Follow the Events Industry. Like most industries, the landscape of the event industry  is always changing. What might be considered cutting-edge one month can very well be considered a snore the following. Obviously there are many different blogs, publications, and newsletters out there — we’ve listed two of our favorites below. Be sure to subscribe to their newsletters, too!
  1. Attend Events. We might be biased here, but we think live events are pretty awesome. It can be a nice change of pace to be able to enjoy an event and not be running around behind the scenes. Additionally, attending events can be a great way to keep your pulse on the latest industry trends and get inspired by the visions of other event planners. Don’t know where to start? Check out our directory of events happening near you: Eventbrite.com/directory
  1. Find a Mentor. Sure, event planners can be a little bit Type-A, and often have trouble asking for help, but trust us here — having a partner in crime or someone you can learn from, bounce ideas off of, or call at 3 in the morning when you realize you ordered the wrong color of pipe and drape can keep you from completely jumping off the deep end.
  1. Cut the Fat. Are some of your marketing efforts falling short? Are you using a clunky technology that is more of headache than a help? Have you been sticking to the same process for years, just because that’s how ‘you’ve always done it’? Don’t be afraid to say goodbye to what isn’t working for you. Change can be good, so go ahead and embrace it!
  1. Plan Ahead and Visualize. On Day 1 of planning for your event, write down exactly how you want the event to look, how you want guests to feel, and what the benchmarks that spell out success will look like. Once you know what the most favorable outcome will look like, you can work backwards and map out the days, weeks, and months leading up to your event. Be sure to make note of milestones along the way and hold yourself accountable to them to keep yourself on track during your planning.
  1. Sleep! Perhaps the most important tip? Make sure you’re well rested. It’s impossible to be your best and give 100% when your batteries are in serious need of a recharge. Close your laptop, put your phone on silent, and make sure you’re clocking those much needed zzzzzzz’s. Your body will thank you later!

What tips would you add to the list? Tell us in the comments below!