“If you want it done right, sometimes you have to do it yourself.”

Recently, I led the 2026 K-Tourism Connection in Alexandria for about 140 industry guests. What many didn’t know is that there was no external production agency. I was the planner, the designer, the copywriter, and the AV technician—all in one.

If you are a planner preparing for a small-scale B2B event and find yourself managing AV logistics alone, here is how I pulled it off.

1. The Toolkit: My “Agency-in-a-Box”

Without an agency, I leaned on tools that allowed for speed, consistency, and professional output:

• Design & Visuals (Canva): I used Canva to design everything from the Key Visual (KV) to the LED screen slides. Its template system ensured that the branding was consistent across the presentation deck and event signage.
• Script & Flow (Collaborative Docs): I created a master cue sheet on a shared cloud document. This acted as the “single source of truth” for the internal team and the hotel staff.
• AV Control (Resolume Arena): This was the game-changer. I personally managed the video output using Resolume Arena. It allowed me to control smooth transitions between promotional videos, presentation slides, and real-time branding elements during the gala dinner.

2. The Master Cue Sheet: Small Event AV Protocol

For those organizing smaller events, AV complexity is your biggest enemy. My strategy was to minimize points of failure by keeping the cue sheet dead simple.

[Download My Small-Event Cue Sheet Template]

• Tip 1: Synchronize your transition timings with the technical team at the venue.
• Tip 2: Always have an “Offline Mode” for your video files, just in case the software lags.
• Tip 3: Use clear color-coding in your cue sheet (e.g., Red for Technical cues, Green for Program flow).

3. Why I Chose to “Do It Myself”

Handling the AV and design personally wasn’t just about budget efficiency—it was about real-time operational agility. When I saw a transition on the LED screen that didn’t feel right during the rehearsal, I could adjust it instantly using Resolume without going through an agency’s communication loop.

Final Thoughts

Being a “Solo-PM” is exhausting, but it gives you a granular understanding of your event that you simply can’t get otherwise. If you are starting out or managing a small-scale event, don’t be afraid to take the reins.

Have you ever had to handle AV operations yourself at an event? What was your biggest challenge? Let’s share tips in the comments.

#EventManagement #SoloPM #MICE #EventTech #ProjectManagement #KoreaTourism