The planning for a pop-up event should start 3-4 months before the pop-up date. The following table provides a list of decision points and actions from initial planning through to post-event evaluation. An approximate timeline is provided based on how long the action is expected to take and what future activities are dependent on earlier decisions. While we have indicated that  the first interaction with service providers is three to four months before the pop-up date, we encourage planning teams to begin connecting with local service providers as early as possible, especially at the management level; organizational buy-in will support service providers to participate.

Download a printable version of this checklist here.

Task

Notes/Suggestions

Date/Duration

Select date and venue

  • Consider space needed for desired number of service providers, private spaces
  • Check for any major scheduling conflicts with other  trainings/events
  • This is typically done at the Working Group meetings

3-4 months out

Schedule rehearsal for service providers

  • Select rehearsal date at the same time the pop-up date is chosen if the orientation is to be held at this same venue (this is ideal).
  • Request a three hour time slot (1 hour for set up, 2 for orientation)
  • Arrange with Working Group

3 months out

Invite service providers

  • Send a ‘Save the Date’ to previously participating service providers/managers so they are aware it is coming and can start planning
  • Go to the list of services providers from the last pop-up, send an email to the organizations with highlights and stats from the last event.
  • Discuss service gaps from the last event with the WG
  • New service providers are to be invited by a member of the WG (may want to invite new service provider organizations based on the location selected – so in the school, more of a focus on child- and and family-serving organizations)
  • Include the date of the orientation/rehearsal in the email invite
  • See invite email template

3 months out

Confirm service providers

  • Create a spreadsheet to track who has confirmed
  • Confirm with them what services they will be providing on-site
  • Update the website with confirmed service providers and other organizations
  • See confirmation email template

Ongoing

Begin communications plan

  • Develop this internally or recruit the support of a communications expert from one of your supporting organizations
  • Identify which one person will give final approval of marketing materials before they are sent to print

3 months out

Finalize communications plan

  • Approved by designated person

2 months out

Finalize poster design

  • Order posters (we ordered 200)

2 months out

Finalize postcard design

  • Order postcards (we ordered 5000 when they were going to be distributed in school backpacks)

2 months out

Submit Pop-Up details to school newsletters

  • If this is an appropriate means of marketing the pop-up, contact the schools or school district to find out when their newsletter is published

2 months out

Distribute postcards in school (to be sent home with students)

  • If this is an appropriate means of marketing the pop-up, contact the schools or school districts to find out when would be a suitable time to distribute postcards

1.5-1 month out

Begin social media campaign

  • Create a Facebook event
  • Send link to the Facebook event with pre-written tweets and Facebook posts to the service providers
  • Tweet regularly using an appropriate Twitter account

1 month out

Confirm food sponsor

  • Approach local grocery stores or other food sponsor for gift card or food donations
  • Seek corporate sponsorship for food donations from local businesses
  • Ask at the Working Group for other ideas

1 month out

Host rehearsal

  • Allot time for service providers to introduce themselves and talk about the service(s) they will provide at the pop-up
  • Discuss some of the key strategies for engagement
  • Plan for extra time at the end for discussions to continue
  • Update presentation from last rehearsal as needed. Include updates on what has changed for the upcoming pop-up based on feedback from the last event

1-3 weeks out

Create map of service provider tables

  • See template for a pop-up map
  • Get a floorplan from the venue representative to create the map
  • Have space for unexpected service providers who may show up on the day

1 week out

Purchase sandwiches, cookies, juice from food sponsor

  • Purchase based on number of attendees from last event

28-48 hours out

Prepare welcome table materials

  • Print for service providers: wifi password, venue map, table numbers, photo consent forms as needed
  • Bring a scanner or iPad, laptop, extra black paper and extra copies of forms and maps in labelled folders

24 hours out

DAY OF THE POP-UP

Set up tables and chairs with table numbers

  • Set up based on the venue map created with the services providers

1 hour prior

Set up a food table

1 hour prior

Set up a welcome table between the service provider space and the food table (ideally)

  • Have two volunteers at the welcome table
  • For service providers, remind them about the passports and how they are used.

1 hour prior

Set up private spaces for service providers who require them

  • Communal private space that can be available to any service provider throughout the pop-up as required.
  • Service providers such as physicians may require a dedicated private space

 

1 hour prior

Place sandwich boards and other signage outside the venue

1 hour prior

Collect ethics and photo consent forms from service providers

  • Use the service provider tracking sheet to determine who needs to sign these forms. They only needed to be completed once, not at each pop up.

1 hour prior/all day

Count attendees

  • Count attendees at the welcome table and also have service providers keep a tally.

All day

Enter attendees in the draw (if applicable)

  • If you have a service provider or sponsor who would be willing to provide a prize for a draw, set up a ballot box near the pop-up entrance.

All day

Photocopy/scan or take a photo of attendees’ passport

  • When attendees leave, ask if they are comfortable with their passport being used for data collection. Make a copy by photocopying/scanning/or taking a photo on an iPad, and give them the original.

All day

Collect notes from service provider debrief discussions

  • Service provider debriefs are executed by welcome table staff/volunteers/working group

End of day

Tear down and clean up

End of day

AFTER THE POP-UP

Email a thank you and summary of the pop up with highlights, stories, and stats to the service providers and their managers

Within one month of the pop up

Send a thank you card to the venue

 

Within one month of the pop up

Summarize notes from service provider debrief discussions
  • Service provider debriefs are executed by welcome table staff/volunteers/working group

Within one month of the pop up

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