When you plan an event, of course you want it to go off without a single hiccup, but it’s still smart to be prepared for the unexpected. No one likes to focus on what could go wrong, but having an event crisis management plan in place can arm you with an effective protocol if something goes awry.

Identifying potential risks and how to respond is essential for every event and can help you act with a clear mind, maintain a semblance of control, and give you the tools necessary to prevent, mitigate, and handle threats.

Let’s look at some effective strategies you can implement before a crisis and during a crisis. Creating a spreadsheet is a good way to organize the information listed below.

1. Identify risks (threats and disruptions) that could impact the event, including road closures and construction, renovations, hazards, location, weather, disasters, no-shows, cancellations, safety, food poisoning, security, technology, bankruptcy, operational, theft, and more.
2. Analyze the risks by assessing the impact. Determine which risks are more likely to occur and which are the most important. Include who will be most impacted by the risks (i.e., clients and/or guests).
3. Diagnose possible scenarios and outcomes each risk could pose. Call a team meeting to brainstorm anything you think could happen.
4. Develop detailed response procedures to recover from the scenarios and prioritize solutions. Include a list of important contacts and their phone numbers. Answer these questions:
   • What actions should be taken?
   • Who will lead the actions?
   • Who needs to be notified?
   • What resources are required?
5. Create communication protocols.
   • What messages should be communicated?
   • Who will disseminate the messages?
   • What methods will be used to communicate?
6. Practice the plan with your team. Hold a training meeting to review or simulate scenarios and their early warning signs and follow the strategies you put in place. Emergencies are unpredictable and your plan must allow for flexibility and out-of-the-box solutions for adaptability.
   Giving your team permission to use their best judgement can serve you well if faced with an under-pressure scenario you hadn’t accounted for. After this meeting, document your results.
7. Revise the plan to improve your response after testing.
8. Distribute the plan to your team, so everyone is on board and keep a copy handy and accessible during the event.

If you use your event crisis plan, apply any lessons learned to your next crisis plan, so you can continue to be prepared in the future. Now that you’ve created your plan, consider partnering with Markel for your event insurance needs.

To learn more about Markel Insurance, join their free newsletter! Learn more and sign up here.

This post is sponsored by Markel Service, Incorporated

Markel Event Insurance is an easy and affordable solution for your clients, with liability coverage starting as low as $75.  A free event insurance quote takes only a few minutes online or on the phone. 

Get more information now on the Markel Insurance website on how easy it is for event planners to recommend event insurance to their clients.

This blog is intended for general information purposes only, and should not be construed as advice or opinions on any specific facts or circumstances. The content of this document is made available on an “as is” basis, without warranty of any kind. This publication is not intended to be legal, underwriting, or any other type of professional advice.  Persons requiring advice should consult an independent adviser.  Markel does not guarantee any particular outcome and makes no commitment to update any information herein, or remove any items that are no longer accurate or complete. Furthermore, Markel does not assume any liability to any person or organization for loss or damage caused by or resulting from any reliance placed on this content.  Coverage is provided by one or more of the insurance companies within Markel and policyholder services are provided by the underwriting manager, Markel Service, Incorporated, national producer license # 27585, in California d/b/a Markel Insurance Services, license # 0645481. Insurance and coverage are subject to terms, conditions, availability and qualifications and may not be available in all states.  *Markel Specialty is a business division of Markel Service, Incorporated, the underwriting  manager for the Markel affiliated insurance companies.© 2026 Markel Service, Incorporated.  All rights reserved. Markel® is a registered trademark of the Markel Corporation.