Event planning is the process of planning a festival, ceremony, competition, party, or convention. Event planning includes budgeting, establishing dates and alternate dates, selecting and reserving the event site, acquiring permits, and coordinating transportation and parking. Event planning also includes some or all of the following, depending on the event: developing a theme or motif for the event, arranging for speakers and alternate speakers, coordinating location support (such as electricity and other utilities), arranging decor, tables, chairs, tents, event support and security, police, fire, portable toilets, parking, signage, emergency plans, health care professionals, and cleanup. Event Planning is a relatively new career field. There is now training that helps one trying to break into the career field. There must be training for an event planner to handle all the pressure and work efficiently. This career deals with a lot of communication and organization aspects. There are many different names for an event planner such as a conference coordinator, a convention planner, a special event coordinator, and a meeting manager.
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Breaking into the Business
In order to break into the event planning business young people are advised to take business courses. At the very least a Bachelor’s degree is required; in some event planning businesses more certification programs are required. The main skills needed are English-speaking and writing skills, communication, and organization. Also strong leadership qualities and management skills will be helpful in this career field. Other event planners in the business are also successful because they have acquired well developed marketing skills, sales skills, and have a background in public relations. [1] This career field is face paced and demanding at times. The hours for the job are not a typical nine to five job. This job goes beyond a normal day job and most are likely to find work through networking with their past client. If you are looking into going into the event planning career field some skills you might want to have are problem solving skills, creativity, motivation, people oriented person, marketing skills, communication skills, attention to detail, and working on a tight schedule. [2] The career of event planning involves working a lot at the last minute if something goes wrong or problems occur. One must be able to handle these problems and manage them in a calm and assertive manner. There are 10 things to consider when wanting to break into the business:
- Learn about the Profession
- Take note of personal talents
- Educate oneself
- Develop materials
- Find out who’s hiring
- Prepare for the Interview
- Possibly set up own business
- Find clients
- Network [3]
Steps to Planning an Event
The first step to planning an event is determining its purpose, whether it is for a wedding, company, birthday, festival, graduation or something else. From this the event planner needs to choose entertainment, location, guest list, speakers, and content. The location for events is endless, but with event planning they would likely be held at hotels, convention centers, reception halls, or outdoors depending on the event. Once the location is set the coordinator/planner needs to prepare the event with staff, set up the entertainment, and keep contact with the client. After all this is set the event planner has all the smaller details to address like set up of the event such as food, drinks, music, guest list, budget, advertising and marketing, decorations, all this preparation is what is needed for an event to run smoothly.An event planner needs to be able to manage their time wisely for the event, and the length of preparation needed for each event so it is a success.
Working Conditions
Event planners work is considered either stressful or energizing. This line of work is also considered fast paced and demanding. Planners face deadlines and communicating with multiple people at one time. Planners spend most of their time in offices, but when meeting with clients the work is usually on-site at the location where the event is taking place [4]. Some physical activity is required such as carrying boxes of materials and decorations or supplies needed for the event. Also long working hours can be apart of the job also. The day the event is taking place could start as early as 5:00 a.m. and then work until midnight. Also weekends are sometimes requried, which is when many events take place [5].
Networking
Pleasing clients is very important and can lead to more business for the event planner. Customers can be introduced by word of mouth and if the client continues to be pleased then the business is expected to grow and may even lead to branching out of a certain company. If an Event planner creates private functions such as weddings, birthday parties and graduation parties then they will flourish in this area, because pleased clients always tell a friend in need of a good event planner
References
- "Event Planner Career" Career descriptions and jobs 2007 <http://www.career-descriptions-and-jobs.com/event-planning-career.html>.
- Jackson, Lee Anna "Want to be an event planner?" Nov 2005. <http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1365/is_4_36/ai_n15890925>.
- "Meeting and Convention planners" Bureau of Labor Statistics 2007 <http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos298.htm>.
