After a long day of event planning, your couch and Netflix is exactly what you need to decompress. Whether you’re looking for a feel-good comedy, an educational documentary, or a gripping thriller, some streaming therapy is sure to help you unwind.
Here are 12 shows that are perfect for viewing when you’re off the clock from planning events.
1. The Tiger King
This new docuseries revolves around the crazy world of big cat captivity in the United States. Featuring some really eccentric characters that need to be seen to be believed — the true story somehow involves cats, captivity, conservation, presidential campaigning, murder, money, sex, drugs, and rock and roll… and a touch video marketing?
The event professional within will not be able to resist wondering what these truly insane individuals could have achieved with a good event planner by their side.
2. Dirty Money
The popular investigative series Dirty Money has returned for a second season, providing an up-close and personal view into untold stories of scandal, financial wrongdoing and corruption in the world of business.
While you probably shouldn’t be taking tips from these guys when balancing your event budget… you could certainly take some pointers on what NOT to do.
3. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Nothing can break an event manager’s sunny attitude. But if you ever need a reminder to keep your spirits up, look no further than this comedy starring Ellie Kemper as Kimmy Schmidt.
Kimmy hilariously navigates living, dating, and working in New York City after being held captive underground for 15 years. When you’re stressing about rain on event day, remind yourself that it could be worse.
4. Living With Yourself
If you’re looking for a laugh, wrapped up inside a thought-provoking journey, accented by a double-dose of Paul Rudd — check out this new series of 8 short-episodes. It’s obviously a must-watch for Paul Rudd fans (he clones himself and plays both characters at once, wonderfully) but also has a bit of a dark side, asking pertinent questions about identity and happiness that a deep-thinking, hard-working event planner may find interesting.
5. Fyre
No matter how bad things may seem when you’re in the thick of planning your event, at least this documentary shows that it could always be worse. Fyre, the Netflix documentary, shows in cringe-worthy detail how the 2017 Fyre Festival failed — from the ripped-off guests staying in tents to no-show celebrities and not enough working toilets (eww). If you’re in the music festival space in particular, it’s a must-watch.
Related reading: The Event Preparedness Playbook: How to Avoid Common Festival Failures
6. The Kindness Diaries
Kindness makes the world go round — just ask the former-broker turned documentary host Leon Logothetis. This Netflix show follows Leon’s journey as he devotes himself full-time to giving kindness to unsuspecting Samaritans and relying on the kindness of strangers to help him make his way around the globe.
Some real feel-good content after a stressful day, the motivational speaker, philanthropist, and best-selling author might also inspire you with his unofficial mantra: There’s nothing a little kindness won’t fix.
7. What / If
If you’re stressed about a partnership or sponsorship contract at your event, just wait until you see the troublesome contract struck between a desperate bio-tech startup owner and a mysterious investor in What / If. This thrilling new series may have event planners re-accessing your personal definitions of “at all costs”.
8. GLOW
This fictionalised series based on the 1980s women’s professional wrestling circuit is about what goes on behind the scenes of live entertainment. While there (probably) aren’t illicit love affairs and backstage bodyslams going on during your events, you might pick up a lesson or two on how to give your audience what they want.
9. Tidying Up with Marie Kondo
What better binge for an event planner than a show that celebrates finding joy in your surroundings? Event organisers love tidying up and closing the loop on loose ends. If you’re someone who feels bogged down by inbox or office clutter, you’ll feel liberated and inspired by the KonMari method.
10. Losers
Sometimes you can learn more from failure than you can from winning. That’s the premise of this sports documentary series that interviews athletes on what it means to lose.
The lesson is to accept defeat as a part of life, and figure out how to turn things around. It’s great inspiration for the next time you have to overcome things beyond your control, whether poor attendance due to weather or a public transit strike right outside your entrance.
Related reading: How to Bounce Back From An Unsuccessful Event
11. Ozark
This thriller/dark comedy about a money-laundering scheme gone wrong will be totally alien to your life as an event planner — at least, we hope. But watching the Byrde family try to navigate life in a weird, new town might remind you of the time you had to scout new event locations. Or at the very least, you can view it as a cautionary tale for when you’re exploring unfamiliar territory.
12. Stranger Things
When digital marketing and event analytics make your head spin, you might long for simpler times. This show takes you back to when hanging out with your best friends after school was the biggest event in your life.
Of course, for the teens on this supernatural science fiction hit show, navigating “the upside down” is anything but simple. Watch (or rewatch) the series before the season 3 premiere this winter.
Get in that downtime — and kill it in the morning
Your monthly subscription fee to Netflix is money well spent if it helps you unwind from a crazy day of event management. And if you fall asleep on the couch, you can always replay and catch up tomorrow.
To fight event stress before it starts, download The Event Planner’s Ultimate Productivity Handbook.
