I'd been around many cycling events before making it a vocation. On the surface, I don't think many people think much about the planning, logistics, staffing, and running of even a single-day event, let alone a multi-day event with hundreds or thousands of participants. Unlike most work, when tomorrow is another day, with events, you have one shot: one time to get it right and short windows to adjust. A year of planning boiled down to a day of execution. You have to be on top of your game from a marketing and branding position and even customer service—one shot to connect the dots and hit your mark.
What has this work taught me? Focus on details. Let go of what doesn't add to the goal. Plan for what you can control and prepare for what you can't. Nothing focuses you like lost riders in the wilderness, six inches of snow in August with 50 campers, or any curveball that comes your way.
Like my print and publishing work, staying calm when things go wrong is vital. Whether it's a downed Printing Press at $30K an hour or a participant with a heart attack —panic and flailing arms don't help anyone.
I've been lucky to work with many awesome events and series. These stand out.
American Criterium Cup.
US Pro Cup.
Wasatch All-Road.