Event Planning

Event Planning is the process of planning a party, wedding, ceremony, festival, promotion, commemoration, fundraiser, or conference. Event planners handle the details of location, budget, lodging, decorations, entertainment, food, beverages, transportation, activities, invitations and the like.

To become an event planner you can obtain a degree from a college or university in meeting and event planning, hospitality, or tourism; or another option is to take part in a certification program and become a certified special events professional (CSEP) or a certified meeting planner (CMP). There are also numerous books and guides on the market that can teach you the basics of event planning. Some training programs only take a few months to complete and cost as little as $800.00.

To start your home based event planning business you’ll need a computer, printer, telephone, fax machine, business license, basic party supplies, and a truck or a van. You will also need to find ways to market (advertise) your event planning company; building a website is a great to promote your business and show off your portfolio. It is helpful if you specialize in a specific niche, such as baby showers, weddings, charity events, or corporate events.

So, if you’re creative, have good verbal and written communication skills, excellent organizational and time management skills, and you like to budget, plan, and negotiate, a home based business in event planning may be your calling. See our resources listed below, to help you get started.

Click Here to Discover How to Become an Event Planner

Event Planning Resources

Association for Wedding Professional International (AFWPI) is an organization that provides resources for Wedding Planners. This site offers membership and a Wedding professional newsletter.

BizBash offers Event Planners inspiration, marketing tools and strategies, resources and the latest news. Check out new trends and ideas or sign up for a trade show or event.

Event Marketer Magazine offers the latest news, trends, event strategies & logistics for Event Planners.

Event Solutions offers news, resources, tradeshows and conferences for event professionals.

Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) offers resources, news and networking for professionals in the tourism, travel, and hospitality industries.

International Special Events Society offers professional membership for event planners, which includes resources, discounts, networking and education. Also offers Certified Special Events Professional (CSEP) certification test.

Meeting Planners International offers resources, education, and a community where you can network with other planners. See site for membership details.

National Association of Catering Executives offers professional membership and certification to all aspects of the catering industry. Great place to network, get education and to find resources.

Special Events Magazine offers the latest event planning news and resources. This site offers a free Event-line E-newsletter.

Event Planning Schools

QC School of Event Planning offers a comprehensive home study Event Planning course which includes lessons, guides, professional organizing software, a personal organizer and a business start up kit. QC School of Event Planning is a member of the Canadian Better Business Bureau. Course cost around $1048.00 and can generally be completed in 6 – 8 weeks.

The Association of Bridal Consultants offers courses for wedding and event planners. The Association of Bridal Consultants has been in business since 1955. Also offers professional membership for $24.00 a year. See site for more details.

The Association of Certified Professional Wedding Consultants (ACPWC) offers a professional training program for wedding consultants that cost $895.00. Course can be completed in 3 to 4 months.

US Career Institute offers an online Wedding/Event Planner program. The program can take as little as 4 months to complete and total program cost is $887.00. US Career Institute is a member of the BBB.

Start a Home Business as an Event Planner for Love and Money

By Siriol Jameson

If you love people, parties, and planning, why not start a home business as an event planner. Everyone is throwing events today and there are not enough planners to go around. Plus that, you can have fun and make money.

According to the International Special Events Society (ISES), the event planning business has annual sales of about USD$500 billion. Dr. Jose Goldblatt, founder of ISES, says that profit margins are 30% to 40% and they continue to rise. There is room for your endeavor.

An event is a one-time occasion that is put on for a specific reason. The three most common reasons for an event are weddings, fund raisers, and cocktail parties.

People also hold events for graduations, birthdays, anniversaries, debutant coming-out parties, and baby showers.

Companies and institutions often hold events. They include political rallies, fundraisers, in-house parties, team homecomings, award ceremonies, product launches, fashion shows, and reunions.

Full time event planners can make $80,000 to $120,000 a year. The start up costs can be as low as $2500 including insurance.

Recommended skills and training for an event planner include classes and certification. Particularly valuable are classes in sales and management as well as accounting.

To help you make money fast, it is important to become certified. As a Certified Special Events Planner, or CSEP, you have the benefits of education, networking, and a list of jobs available. The same is true if you become a Certified Meeting Planner, or CMP.

Consider membership in The Event Planners Association. They offer insurance, legal assistance, marketing help, and job search services. They also have a forum, marketing tools, and networking resources.

Other organizations to join are the International Special Events Society (ISES), the Chamber of Commerce, and the Better Business Bureau.

As an event planner, you have to actively market yourself to find new clients. Set up a Web site. Do some direct marketing. Spot ads on the radio, an ad in the Yellow Pages, and word of mouth all help drive business.

An event planner’s work is to make sure an event goes off as planned. After conferring with the host, the planner chooses the venue, sends out invitations and publicity, arranges for food, music, entertainment, decorations, flowers, and guest accommodations. The planner is in charge of all personnel, vendors, caterers, photographers, wait staff, security staff, and clean up.

Here are a few helpful tips from experienced event planners:

1.Work with an established event planner before starting out on your own.

2. Know the goals of the host and make them your own.

3. Stay within budget.

4. Make a written agreement with the host.

5. Send a gift and thank-you letter to the host after the event.

Becoming an event planner is a great way to make money – but it also takes being a cool-headed organizer. Event planners are in demand so this is the perfect time to start a home business as an event planner. You can make hundreds of new friends and a lot of money while you have fun.

Siriol Jameson helps you make m0ney from home. Drop by Siriol’s Web site and choose from over 40 terrific home businesses. You are sure to find one that makes you m0ney forever. Visit http://www.easy-home-businesses.com/work-from-home-businesses.html

Plus get free money tips at http://www.easy-home-businesses.com/newsletter.html

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

How to Break Into a Fab Job as an Event Planner

By Jan L. Riddell for FabJob.com

A village feast to welcome home hunters in the wilds of Borneo and a glittering fund-raiser soiree at a swanky New York hotel may not sound like they have much in common, but they do have at least one similarity.

Someone, somewhere, got the ball rolling and using a little resourcefulness, creativity and sheer determination successfully pulled off a spectacular event. (Well, someone had to figure out how much food and drink was required at the feast and where the chief would sit!) That person is an event planner.

If event planning sounds like it could be your dream career, here are 7 steps to become an event planner, based on the FabJob Guide to Become an Event Planner by Jan L. Riddell, Carol Palmatier and Peter J. Gallanis.

1. Assess Your Skills

Before you quit your day job to become an event planner, take the time to honestly assess your current skills to ensure you have what it takes to succeed as an event planner.

Event planners must be creative and well organized, but they must also have excellent interpersonal skills. Events are about people, so successful event planners must be able to effectively listen to what clients want, develop relationships and negotiate with vendors (companies that supply products and services for events).

TIP: If you’re creative and have great people skills, but could use some help getting organized, event planning software is available to help you keep track of event details.

2. Learn How to Plan Events

Almost all events have common components such as some type of meal or refreshment, a form of entertainment or speaker, invitations or registrations, etc. The event planner is the person who pulls all of the components together.

There are excellent resources available to help you learn how to plan events and assist with each stage of event planning including how to: choose a date, decide who to invite, budget, create timeline schedules, work with vendors, and market events. If you want a formal education, many colleges offer degrees or certificates in event planning. If you would rather break into event planning without a formal education, you can quickly learn how to plan events with books such as the FabJob Guide to Become an Event Planner.

3. Get Hands-On Experience

The easiest way to learn about the steps involved is through personal experience (i.e. planning events for family and friends).

Non-profit groups are always looking for help with their fundraisers and galas, and you’ll get the double benefit of helping a worthy cause while you hone your skills. This is also an excellent way to make contacts in the community to help you land a paying job when you are ready.

You could also volunteer to organize events at your own workplace, if you have one. For example, if your company has a public relations department that is notoriously short-staffed, offer to help them out. The beauty of this plan is that you will be learning a new career while still being paid at your old job!

4. Create a Portfolio

A portfolio is a collection of samples of your work, plus any other documents that can show people why they should hire you. A portfolio helps you stand out from other applicants, and prove that you have the skills to do the job. Your portfolio might include pictures, recommendation letters and anything else that shows prospective clients and/or employers what you have done or can do.

Material for your portfolio can come from any event you have organized (such as a family reunion, birthday bash, etc.) or from ideas and themes you have for future events. Show your best work and don’t worry about giving away your great ideas. People will believe you have many more brilliant ideas that you haven’t yet divulged.

5. Get Hired as an Event Planner

Getting hired as an event planner (even if you plan on opening your own event planning business) will give you invaluable contacts and referrals for the future. Meeting and convention planners are projected to have faster than average job growth in the coming years. This is good news for the industry and for you.

Companies that hire event planners include hotels or resorts, non-profit organizations, convention centers, country clubs, and even fun destinations like theme parks!

Some people work their way into a position as their company’s event planner just by volunteering to organize internal events such as company picnics and meetings.

6. Start Your Own Event Planning Business

If the idea of being your own boss and earning up to $100,000 or more per year as an event planner sound appealing, it may be time to take the plunge and set up an event planning business. Many event planners have home-based businesses, which makes this type of business inexpensive to start. With the wealth of information available on starting a business you should be able to get your own event planning business off the ground quite easily.

When starting your own business, you should consider what types of events you want to plan. If you have a flair for the spectacular you may want to tackle proms, charity events and galas. If you prefer planning corporate events, you may choose to plan meetings, conventions, and the like.

TIP: Unsure of what type of event you’d prefer to plan? Consider interning or working for a number of companies whose specialties are quite different.

7. Develop Relationships with Vendors

You’ve probably heard the adage “it’s not what you know but who you know”. The most important relationships you will build as an event planner are with the vendors for your events. These are companies that supply products and services for events, such as caterers, florists, equipment rental companies, hotels, photographers, etc.

Learn about each one’s business by conducting informational interviews and ask about discounts they can offer you. Be polite and courteous with the owners and their staff and always follow up afterwards with some sort of acknowledgement or thank you. You can also arrange to have vendors refer clients to your event planning business.

Further Your Career

You can continue to learn and grow after you have become an event planner. One of the best ways to succeed as an event planner is to look upon every social occasion or event you attend as an opportunity to learn. Make a mental note of what worked well and what bombed. Attend tradeshows, read everything you can related to event planning, and watch for what’s hot. Seek out the advice of trendsetters and don’t be afraid to try something a little different. You may start a trend yourself!

This article is based on the FabJob Guide to Become an Event Planner. The complete guide gives detailed advice on how you can break into a career in event planning, get hired as an event planner, or start your own event planning business.

Click Here to Discover How to Become an Event Planner

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