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Write the post-event report
your boss actually reads

4 min readUses Debriefs

The short version

  1. 1Agree what success looks like before the event. You can only score an event against targets someone wrote down.
  2. 2The first three lines of the report matter most. Everything after them is proof for anyone who keeps reading.
  3. 3End with what changes next time. That's the part of the report people act on.

Five moves, from brief to PDF

1Step 1 of 5

Write the targets down before the event

Before doors open, agree a few targets with whoever signs off the budget. For example: how many guests take part, how many share their contact details, and one question you want answered.

MyWrap's debrief scores the event against those targets, so writing them down also sets up the debrief. Keep them plain, like "find out if people prefer the new flavour".

The debrief scorecard: album visitors, people who took part and sign ups against their targets
2Step 2 of 5

Build the report around one answer

Your boss will read the first three lines and decide whether to keep going. So those lines need to say if it worked, the biggest win, and what you'd change.

MyWrap writes the debrief as a two minute read, big wins up top and ideas for next time at the end. Check it, sharpen the opening lines and add anything only you know.

A festival crowd in front of a smoky stage
One photo the reader will remember.
3Step 3 of 5

Put a guest's voice next to every number

A number on its own is easy to forget. Put a guest's words beside it and people repeat it in the next meeting.

Pull quotes word for word from poll answers and the guestbook. Specific quotes beat glowing ones: "the tasting bar queue was too long" is more useful than five people saying it was amazing.

The album’s Guestbook, with a note from the host pinned at the top
The guestbook: the quotes for your report are usually already in here.
4Step 4 of 5

Keep counted and estimated numbers apart

Guest uploads and opt-ins are counted. Online reach is estimated, so label it that way. One inflated reach figure makes readers doubt the real numbers next to it.

If someone hands you a figure MyWrap couldn't see, like venue footfall or till sales, add its source in brackets.

5Step 5 of 5

End with three changes, then send the PDF

Close with what worked and up to three things to change, each one something a person can do. For example, move the QR sign to the bar or start the poll earlier.

Share it as a PDF with your team or client, ideally within the week. Once you've run a few, compare each new debrief with the last ones to see if you're improving.

The debrief cover for Dotti Spring Launch, Sydney, prepared for the Dotti team
The debrief, built from the album, ready to send as a PDF.

Your take

Three quick ones. Tap an answer to see how everyone else replied. We read every answer, it shapes what we build next.

1 of 3

When does your post-event report usually go out?

2 of 3

How much of your debrief does your boss actually read?

3 of 3

What's the worst part of writing a debrief?

What you wish this guide covered, what drives you mad about event photos, anything. Read by the people building MyWrap.

Steal this

Templates for the summary, the covering email and the closing section. Fill in the brackets.

The three-line summary

“[Event] hit [2 of 3] targets. The biggest win was [win], backed by [number]. Next time we change [one thing], because [guest evidence].”

The covering email

“Hi [name], the debrief for [event] is attached. The short version is in the first three lines. Happy to talk through the rest on [day].”

What we'd change

“1. Move [thing] to [place], because [what guests said]. 2. Cut [thing], because [number]. 3. Keep [thing] exactly as it was.”

Fair questions

What should a post-event report include?

Lead with whether the event worked, then the proof: participation, opt-ins, content collected, what guests said and how it did online. Finish with what to change next time.

How long should an event debrief be?

Short enough to read in a couple of minutes. If it needs a table of contents, it's too long.

When should I send the debrief?

Send it within the week, while people still remember the event. Waiting for perfect numbers usually means nobody reads it.

What if the event missed its targets?

Say so in the first line, then explain why and what changes. Being honest about a miss earns trust and helps you win the next budget.

Can I send the debrief to a client?

Yes. Debriefs share as a clean PDF, so you can send it to your team or client without building slides.

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