How to
Become an Event Planner
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Jobs in Event PlanningWhy are Event Planners Needed?
When producing or hosting regular events plays an important role in their business, corporations, associations, and organizations will hire event planners. These events may be meetings, product launches, conventions, seminars, customer appreciation events, PR events, and so on. Planning an important event can be an extremely labor intensive and time consuming endeavor if it is to be done well and if it is to have the desired impact. Often times other employees within the company, organization or association simply do not have the necessary time or expertise to involve themselves in planning events for the organization. They are too busy doing their own jobs and cannot afford to be distracted with what really amounts to an entirely separate job in and of itself. Having someone who is able to devote the time and attention necessary for planning successful events for the company or association can be valuable asset, and can often increase a company's bottom line. Consider a company sales meeting for example. If planned well it can be a valuable motivational tool which noticeably increases employee productivity - and that drives company profits up. Many companies recognize that having one or more full-time staff members with the talent and skills to plan events is precisely what is required to have the job done right. An event planning specialist can ensure that all planning goes as smoothly as possible, and that it is done as efficiently and affordably as possible. With the cost of producing corporate events steadily rising, companies, associations and organizations are realizing that hiring a specialized event professional who has the ability to focus on planning will, in the long run, save them money and improve the "bottom line". What Types of Companies Hire Event Planners?As mentioned, more and more companies which regularly host events as an important part of their business operations are recognizing the need for hiring their own in house event planning staff. Obviously, a corporation which can afford to staff it's own in-house event planners must be in good financial health. Typically these types of companies are found in large metropolitan areas with healthy economies, however there are always exceptions. Corporate events (company events) can be broken into two categories - internal and external events. Examples of internal events would include a large training meeting for a company's employees, or a meeting of company executives and members of upper management. In other words, the intended audience at the event is made up of individuals from within the company. On the other hand, an event whose intended audience consists of either prospective or existing clients or customers - people who are not a part of the company - would be an external company event. A department store fashion show would be an example of an external event. Events often play an extremely important role in a company's effort to effectively communicate with its intended audience. Examples of the Types of Employers Who Hire Event Planners Include:Government Agencies Educational Institutions Corporations Associations Labor Unions Non-profit Organizations Sports Clubs Political Parties Religious Organizations Trade Show Management Firms Radio Stations Department Stores Convention and Visitors Bureaus Hotels Resorts Banquet Facilities Event Planning Firms The Event Planning FirmSome companies or associations do not have enough ongoing need, or may not be financially able, to hire their own in-house staff to plan their events. This is where the event planning service comes in. An event planning service is a firm which specializes in planning events on behalf of its clients. Companies can out-source all of their event planning needs to an event planning service which will take care of all the organizing, details, and planning. Event planning firms make their event specialists and staff available to clients on an 'as needed' or contract basis, saving their clients from having to invest in full time planning staff. Currently, event planning companies are springing up all over the country as the demand for event planners continues rise and the industry continues to grow. If, however, a company requires a significant amount of time be devoted to planning events during the year, it will usually find it more cost efficient to hire its own in-house event planning staff, rather than using an event planning firm. Why Do Private Individuals Hire Event Planners?Private individuals hire event planners when they lack the time, interest, skills, or aptitude for planning an event themselves. Let's face it, in the same way many of us would have no clue where to begin when, say, building our own house, not everyone knows where to begin when planning their own event - and many have little interest in finding out. They would rather hire someone to simply "take care of it" for them. So many details, so many vendors... food, flowers, invitations, venues, decor, music, lighting, equipment, and the list goes on - it can all be a little overwhelming for someone who doesn't do it often, or who isn't genuinely interested in these areas. And so they call in a professional event planner to handle all of the details for them. A moment ago we likened planning an large event to building a house, and the similarities really need to be emphasized. In both situations there are endless important details to over-see, large numbers of vendors to coordinate, contracts to be negotiated, and many hours of careful planning to be invested. And in both cases there are plenty of opportunities along the way for things to go wrong, and the consequences can be expensive if mistakes are made during the process. And so, just as many people would never dream of acting as their own general contractor to build their own house, many would also prefer not to tackle all of the intricaices involved with planning an important event. What Types of Private Individuals Hire Event Planners?So, what is the profile of the average individual who hires a professional to plan a private function? Typically event planners are hired by people who are in the mid to upper income brackets; these people have a minimum household income of $60,000 (USD). Such individuals frequently reside in more affluent neighborhoods or upscale suburbs, and are often career people who do not have the time to plan their own parties, weddings, bar mitzvahs, bat mitzvahs, sweet sixteen parties, and other similar events. Individuals in lower income brackets typically plan fewer, smaller, and less elaborate events, and therefore generally handle the planning of any events they host for themselves. Financial necessity also often excludes those in lower income brackets from using the services of professional event planners, who, in the world of private social events are sometimes still thought of as an 'extravagance', a 'luxury' item or 'status symbol' for the elite.
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