This can be for a variety of purposes such as:
Birthday parties Business events Fundraising events Baby gender reveals Conventions Holiday celebrations
Typically, an event planner will work with a client to discuss their requirements and expectations for their event before the organizational responsibilities begin. They will then work on behalf of the client to book venues, select entertainers and musicians, choose caterers, organize decor and arrange every aspect of an event according to the client’s requirements and budgetary constraints.
Niches For Event Planners
When people think of event planners, most of them will bring wedding planners to mind. But there are different kinds of planners depending on the event being organized. Many will be able to turn their hand to a variety of different niches but will specialize in one area, where their expertise lies.
Ceremony and Wedding Event Planner
One of the best-known types of event planner is the wedding planner. These individuals are responsible for working with a couple to arrange every aspect of their special day. A wedding planner will often work closely with an engaged couple, visiting venues on their behalf and arranging caterers, entertainment and decor. If required, they will also attend cake tastings and outfit-shopping trips with the couple to offer advice. A wedding planner will often be involved in a wedding up to and including the big day itself. They will attend the ceremony to ensure that everything runs smoothly, allowing the couple to completely relax and enjoy their special day. Sometimes, wedding planners will offer additional services such as honeymoon organization, looking after the gifts and ensuring that thank-you cards are sent after the event.
Convention and Conference Event Planner
Convention and conference planners need to be highly organized individuals as they are often responsible for organizing events that last multiple days and involve large numbers of people. They will be responsible for arranging venues, speakers and participants as well as additional details such as vendor booths. It is important for a convention and conference organizer to fully understand the industry or niche for which they are organizing an event. A conference for a business client will have very different needs from a convention for a popular television show.
Not-For-Profit and Fundraising Event Planner
For many charities, the success of their fundraising events is vital for them to carry on providing their valuable services. This is why they will often hire an event planner for their biggest fundraising events of the year. Fundraising event planners will be on-hand to help with deciding themes, organizing venues and catering, and ensuring that every aspect of the event runs smoothly. They will often negotiate deals and discounts with vendors so the charity can save money and make more profit from the event.
Corporate Event Planner
Corporate event planning is a great option for those who don’t want to become too emotionally involved in the events that they will be organizing. Events within the corporate world usually involve bringing companies together and marketing new or existing products to clients. You could be responsible for organizing a wide variety of events such as:
Product launches Employee seminars Press conferences Annual award ceremonies Team-building events
Sometimes, a company will employ individuals as full-time event planners. This can mean the potential for employee bonuses and benefits packages. Alternatively, you could work with companies on a freelance basis, organizing events as and when required.
Children’s Event Planner
A growing area of event planning is children’s events. This will often start before the birth when parents hire a planner for their gender-reveal party. It will then include events such as baptisms, birthday parties, bar and bat mitzvahs, and other important events in a child’s life. A children’s event planner needs to be highly adaptable as the needs of each child will be slightly different. No two parties for a nine-year-old will be exactly the same, and trends and fashions are constantly changing. Children’s event planners work with parents and families to decide themes, locations and entertainment to put together events that will always be remembered by their clients.
Step-By-Step Guide: How to Become an Event Planner
Get Some Experience
Experience can come in many forms and it doesn’t have to be purely paid, professional experience for another event-planning company. It is possible that you already have some experience through events that you have organized for yourself. When you are first starting out, consider offering to plan events for friends and family members. You could also volunteer for your local church or place of worship’s fundraising events. They are often looking for members who will help to arrange events. This can help you to learn the best places to purchase props and decorations, build a good contact base and provide the opportunity to cater for different types of events. You could also consider an internship or apprenticeship with a larger event-planning company. They will often offer training and opportunities to learn while you work. This is a particularly good idea if you are hoping to get into a specific niche such as corporate event planning.
Consider Certification
Although certification isn’t a requirement, it can be useful depending on the type of events you are hoping to plan. Some clients prefer you to have paperwork to back up your portfolio. Certification can help you to attract bigger and better-paying clients. Most certification programs will require you to have between three and five years of experience working as an event planner before you can apply. If you are thinking about certification, the most popular, widely recognized certificates are:
Certified Meetings Professional – Convention Industry Council (CIC) Certified Meeting Planner – Meeting Planners International (MPI) Certified Special Events Professional – International Live Events Association (ILEA) Certified Government Meeting Professional – Society of Government Meeting Professionals (SGMP) Digital Event Strategist – Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA)
Make sure that you take photographs of every event you plan, even if it is a free party you organized for a family member. The images should be of high quality and showcase the kind of event you aim to achieve. If you are planning on choosing a niche, your portfolio should highlight this. For example, if you wish to specialize as a baby and children’s event planner, it would be best to include plenty of examples of these types of events. If your portfolio mainly showcases business events, that is the type of client you are likely to attract. A good way of maintaining a portfolio is via a professional website and social media pages. Not only does this keep all of your images from past events in one place, but it will also help to improve your reach and will often be the first place that clients look for you. It can also be useful to have an album of images to take with you to meetings and networking events.
Start Your Business and Apply for Target Roles
Once you have begun building your portfolio, the next task is to launch yourself as an event planner. This may involve advertising your services on local community groups and social media platforms as well as marketing yourself in other ways. Initially, you may have to apply for roles rather than having clients come to you directly. It takes time to build a brand and become well known within your industry. When applying for roles, only apply for those which are most appropriate for your niche. While others will help to pay the bills, they won’t develop your portfolio in the way that you want and can inhibit you from getting more desirable roles in your chosen niche in the future.
Insure Your Business
Insurance is a MUST. Mistakes will always happen in life and this is just as true when working as an event planner. No matter how carefully you organize an event, there is always the potential for an error or accident to occur. It is vital to be insured. It is a good idea to hold both general and professional liability insurance. This will help to ensure that you are covered for professional errors that cause financial loss to the client, as well as covering you for damage to property or injured guests. If your business is very new, consider specific event planners insurance. This covers both types of liability insurance you need. Some kinds of event planners insurance allow you to take out the policy for the duration of an event rather than over a whole year. This can be a more affordable option for small businesses.
Network and Join Professional Trade Groups
Networking is vital for an event planner. This is how you will build a database of businesses to use for events. It also provides an opportunity for clients to find out about the services you offer. It can also be a good idea to join professional trade groups. These work as a database for businesses listing the services that they offer. When someone is looking for an event planner, they may choose to go to one of these groups and find your listing. As well as helping to get your name ‘out there’, networking and professional trade groups can also be a great way of helping you find out about events that may require a planner, or discover potential clients who might not have considered hiring someone for their events. Think of these events as an opportunity to market yourself. You are selling your business and the services you offer, so it is important to maintain a professional demeanor while being friendly and engaging. In fact, there are very few colleges which offer degrees in event planning. Most people find that previous experience within hospitality, marketing or communications is much more useful than formal qualifications. If you do choose to pursue qualifications before becoming an event planner, it is a good idea to take courses in customer management, marketing or business management. These will give you the skills you need to manage clients and start your business. If you can develop a good client base and network of resources, the sky really is the limit when it comes to working as an event planner. If you choose to work for yourself, the earning potential can be enormous. The most important factors will be how well you market yourself and your ability to attract high-paying clients. The average annual salary for an event planner in the United States is $50,000. If you already have some experience organizing events for family and friends, you can use these as your initial portfolio. Then, you just need to set yourself up as a business and start marketing yourself. If you choose to be certified, this will often require you to have a few years’ experience, so you can work and earn before certification. If your event-planning business becomes very popular, you might find it useful to rent an office space where you can meet with clients, or a storage facility to house decor from previous events which could be repurposed. As an event planner, you will be responsible for helping clients to achieve their dream events and making memories that will last a lifetime. Your role in organizing an event will take the pressure away from your clients so that they can truly enjoy their party or event in a way that wouldn’t be possible if they had organized it themselves. You will also be offering a set of skills unique to you. After all, nobody will think of an event in the same way as you, so no two events will be the same. The most important thing to remember when starting out as an event planner is that your portfolio will be the first thing clients will see. This will be what guides them into choosing you or someone else. Taking the time to present yourself professionally can be what makes or breaks your career.
