Event planning is a marketing tool organizations of all sizes use to communicate with current and potential clients and employees. It is the process of planning a festival, ceremony, competition, party, concert or convention. For many industries, nothing beats a hands-on experience created by personal interactions. Whether your event is big or small, the overall attendee experience needs to be good enough for them to want to come back next time.
Many large companies, organizations and individuals are now hiring event planners to handle the planning and socializing of their events. These events can range from a wedding to a small office meeting and anywhere between. If not properly planned, any event could have hitches and bumps along the way.
Generally speaking, there are two markets for event planning services: corporate and social.
Corporations host trade shows, conventions, company picnics, meetings and holiday parties for employees, members or stockholders. Social events may include weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, parties and reunions.
The Ever Important Event Planner
Finding a purpose or specialty is one of the first steps in succeeding as an event planner. There are many types of planners (weddings, large events, parties, etc.), so finding a niche may be the easiest task.
There are many reasons to hire an event planner when planning an event or a party. Event planners coordinate all the necessary details of these events. And face it, event planning takes, well, planning. So, why not hire a professional? An experienced event planner should be able to realize anyone’s vision of an event successfully.
A good event planner must have a passion for detail to succeed.
They also need drive and perseverance to stay in this competitive environment. Event planners play many roles during an event. In addition to being designers, they need to be leaders, problem solvers, innovators and strategists. It is also important to appreciate different cultures, religions and traditions.
Those seeking this line of work are encouraged to obtain a degree or certificate before starting this vocation. Most experienced planners agree that jumping in head first is a bad idea as there is no foundation to stand on. Many encourage shadowing or volunteering with an experienced planner to develop the necessary rapport and tools.
Event planning is a highly competitive profession, and anyone considering this line of work needs to show up with a loaded tool belt. Equip this belt with the ability and skill to determine a great and inviting theme and find vendors and suppliers to make any event go smoothly.
Finding Your Tool Belt
Event planning is about managing events intended to achieve unique and individual objectives. Many event planners just starting in the industry spend most of their time marketing themselves and finding clients. During this time, they should also get to know local vendors.
Vendors useful for any event planner are people or places such as florists, caterers, photographers and different venues. A good vendor can always play multiple parts in any event. This list will grow as successful events are accomplished and can be used to maintain that necessary tool belt.
Effective communication is an essential key to successfully researching, designing, planning, and coordinating any special event. Event planning can be overwhelming if the correct tools are not readily available. Knowing all available resources pays off and will help when delegating responsibilities in advance.
Any time people gather together for a purpose, whether it is a conference, a formal dinner or a grand opening, someone needs to manage all the event details to guarantee its success. These details should also include any vendors such as caterers, photographers or speakers, depending on the particular specialty.
Hosting an event takes time, talent and perseverance.
To be a successful event planner requires a focus on these talents. It also requires getting to know the correct tools and how to use them. Merely having an eye for detail helps, but doesn’t complete the task of having the proper tools.
Utilizing the proper tools allows creativity to flow more naturally and create the perfect atmosphere for any event. Let the juices flow and soar above the rest by having these tools readily available for any need. Take steps to make your event a success, and they will come back time and time again.
All themes for significant events can develop from great ideas, but making them come together, work well and have great attendance can be a grueling and daunting task. When an event is well organized, it guarantees a good impression. This first impression is sure to leave a lasting impact. It can also help to set the current trends in event planning.
Expanding Your Event Planning Tools
An important vendor is for custom credentials, name badges and lanyards. As many events require some sort of admission or identification, it is worth investing in these items. A good event planner knows that name tags and other supplies help guests understand where they need to be and who is in attendance.
Identifying Each Visitor
Many corporate events require that attendees wear name tags to be easily identified. These name tags can include names, titles and companies. When everyone is identified clearly at events, it can help ease introductions to others so that attendees can move on to more important activities during the event.
While most name tags are worn at corporate events, they are also used at social events. Remember, identification is critical. Use a name tag for a table number or a descriptive sign for food items. Make sure your attendees know and understand your purpose, who they are, and why they are attending your event, not the one down the hall.
Associating Each Visitor Appropriately:
Identify sponsors, presenters or speakers with different colored ribbons. Add a promotion or an advertisement to make someone stand out. Or, use these ribbons to differentiate guests and organizations from staff or volunteers. Customize each ribbon to express any desired effect. Choose from an abundance of stock titles or create a new one.
Every event can use some flair. Show style and preparation through packaging and presentation. Use ribbon rolls to illustrate the product’s benefit. Tell people more about the event at first glance with a highly personalized ribbon. Use it to wrap business or calling cards for a unique touch. Create a wall of ribbons that hold the name tags for the event.
Promoting Those in Attendance at Any Event:
Use custom lanyards to add a sense of identity to work functions, conferences, trade shows and other events. When people are flowing through an event venue, keeping track of them using credentials becomes necessary. Lanyards can add value to the event when customized with the convention name, sponsors or logo. Event planners often order the same design on different colored lanyards for different attendees or officials.
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