Small Magical Events.
London Workshop
Back in September 2008, we were 12 hours away from doing our first ever Do Lectures.
- We didn’t have a website.
- We didn’t have any event experience.
- More importantly, we didn’t have a stage.
The speakers and the attendees were heading our way, and Tom was on the rain-flooded floor building a stage from leftover wooden pallets.
And so begun the learning…
Yup, running an event from a cowshed in the middle of nowhere is not without its challenges.
Now, The DO Lectures is acclaimed to be one of the best events in the world.
There is now a DO Book Co with nearly 40 books.
There is a DO Radio station.
The DO has taken place in Australia, USA and Cost Rica.
Rarely does a week go by without another country asking us if they can hold a DO Lectures.
Almost daily, speakers now approach us to speak.
It wasn’t like that at the beginning.
The mistakes we made have been many.
The learning has been tough at times.
Looking back, every single obstacle we had to face made us more interesting.
It’s been an incredible journey.
In this one-day workshop, I share the lessons learned along the way.
If you are interested in running events, this one is for you.
It’s going to be a full day.
There are 16 years of learning to share in just one day.
You will walk away with more than just inspiration.
You will have a practical, little series of templates that will give you real examples.
So you will know how to write to a potential speaker, how to sell the event.
You will have a template for a budget.
You will have examples of our process and procedures and lots more.
This course is very practical. Not just a fine dose of motivation. (It will be that too.)
In this workshop you will learn
How to truly understand why you want to do it. (It may be different to what you currently think.)
Why rules can make it more fun.
Why purpose and meaning matter to your event.
The importance of being for something.
How to be clear on what need you seek to answer.
The importance of venue.
Know who is it for. Know who it is not for.
How to create a safe space for a transformative attendee experience.
How to turn your weaknesses into strengths.
How to not fall flat.
How to prime your community for change.
Learn which details don’t matter. And which ones do.
How to build an engaged community.
You'll also learn
How to do a budget.
How to approach speakers.
How to dress an event.
The importance of awkwardness. Why uncomfortableness creates magic.
How to create defining moments.
How to create desire to attend.
How to sell tickets.
How to curate a set of talks.
How to do a release form for speakers.
How to understand the importance of song, fire and the best coffee.
Learn the importance of the start and how to shape the event at the beginning.
Learn how to finish well.
The importance of saying thank you.
And, so much more.
This workshop is for you if
You run events, small and big, but want to go to another level.
Yes, a big event can take ideas about defining moments and apply it to an event at scale.
You are on the cusp of doing an event and want to learn the finer details of running it.
You did an event and it didn’t quite go to plan. But want to get the next one right.
You occasionally hold events and are curious to know how to do them better.
This workshop isn't for you if
You want to know how to do a better dinner party.
You are planning your wedding and want a few tricks.
You are only interested in creating an online community.
You are only interested in events to make money.
You are not answering a true need that you have and you think your community have.
Who's running it?
Useful information
Friday 21 November 2025.
9.30 am – 4.30 pm
Cecil Sharp House, 2 Regent's Park Rd, London NW1 7AY.
60 attendees only.
Tea, coffee and lunch are provided.
Bring your favourite pen and notebook, and yourself.
We've got the answers
Copyright 2025. The DO Lectures All rights reserved.
Registered in England & Wales. Company Number: 06772325.