Real Stories From Real Clients
We've worked with event organizers across Western Canada since 2019. Some needed help with festival budgets, others were planning corporate conferences. Each situation was different—and that's what makes this work interesting. Here's what they actually said about working with us.
Finding Your Situation
Most clients come to us with one of these scenarios. See which sounds familiar—then read what others in similar spots experienced.
First-Time Organizers
You're planning your first major event and need clarity on where money actually goes. Budget unknowns keep you up at night.
Growing Events
Last year's event worked, but this year it's twice the size. Your old spreadsheet isn't cutting it anymore.
Budget Overruns
Past events went over budget and you're not sure why. You need someone to spot the leaks before they happen again.
Multiple Events
You're juggling several events with different sponsors and funding sources. Tracking becomes a full-time job.
Sponsor Reporting
Your sponsors want detailed financial reports. You're spending more time on spreadsheets than actual planning.
Seasonal Challenges
Calgary winters or summer festivals bring unique cost variables. Weather contingencies eat into your buffer.
What Actually Helps
After reviewing feedback from 83 clients between January 2023 and March 2025, patterns emerged. Not everyone needs the same thing—but certain approaches kept coming up as genuinely useful.
- Breaking down vendor quotes into comparable line items
- Building contingency buffers based on event type and season
- Creating sponsor reports that don't require accounting degrees
- Spotting where previous budgets went sideways
- Adjusting projections as circumstances change mid-planning
The stuff that didn't help? Generic budget templates. Cookie-cutter advice. Telling people what they should have done differently last year without context.
Common Themes In Feedback
We asked clients what made the biggest difference. Here's what they mentioned most often—in their own words, not ours.
Actually Understanding Numbers
Several clients mentioned they finally understood where their money was going. Not just categories—actual line items. One festival organizer said she could explain the budget to her board without panic.
Realistic Contingencies
Calgary weather is unpredictable. Clients appreciated having buffers that made sense for outdoor versus indoor events, summer versus winter, and first-time versus repeat occasions.
Adjusting Mid-Stream
Plans change. Vendors back out. Attendance projections shift. Clients valued help recalculating on the fly without starting from scratch or losing track of commitments already made.
Clear Sponsor Reports
Multiple organizers mentioned their sponsors actually read the reports we helped create. That's apparently rare. Clean visuals and plain language beat dense spreadsheets every time.
Learning For Next Time
Several clients said the real value showed up in their next event. They'd learned what to watch for, what questions to ask vendors, and where padding actually mattered.
Honest Conversations
Clients appreciated being told when their initial budget was unrealistic for their vision. Better to adjust expectations early than run out of money mid-event.
In Their Own Words
Direct quotes from clients who worked with us in 2024 and early 2025
Torsten Beckmann
Calgary Folk Festival Coordinator
"We'd run this festival for three years but kept ending up $8K-$12K over budget. Couldn't figure out where. Dygar walked through our vendor contracts line by line and found we were double-paying for some services and underestimating permit costs. The 2024 festival came in $2K under budget. First time ever."
Linnea Faulkner
Corporate Events Manager, Tech Startup
"I needed sponsor reports that didn't look like tax returns. Our CFO wanted detail but our sponsors weren't finance people. The reports Dygar helped create actually got read—sponsors could see exactly what their money funded. Made renewal conversations way easier."
Planning Something For Late 2025?
If you're organizing an event between September 2025 and early 2026, we're taking on new planning projects now. Coffee meeting to discuss your situation—no obligation, just conversation about what you're trying to pull off.
Start A Conversation