Event planning

Event planning is the process of planning a festival, ceremony, competition, party, concert, or convention. Event planning includes budgeting, establishing dates and alternate dates, selecting and reserving the event site, acquiring permits (alcohol permits, insurance licenses, etc), 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, catering, police, fire, portable toilets, parking, signage, emergency plans, health care professionals and aid stations, and cleanup.

Steps to planning an event

The first step to planning an event is determining its purpose, whether it is for a wedding, company, festival, graduation or any other event requiring extensive planning.

From this, the event planner needs to coordinate with the client to choose the date. Once that is set the location, guest list, speakers and content need to be discussed as well. There are endless possibilities for the location of the event(s), but it would likely be held at a hotel, convention center, reception hall, or outdoors depending on the event and the date. Once the location and date is chosen the event planner needs to plan with the staff and always keep in 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.

Event planning as a career

Event planning is a relatively new career field. There is now training that helps one trying to break into the career field. This training helps an event planner learn how 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, event producer, and a meeting manager. To read more about people involved in event planning and production, see Robert (Bob) Jani, Tommy Walker and Andrea Elizabeth Michaels. There are also colleges that help you major in Event Management and receive a Bachelor's Degree. One of the colleges you can receive this degree is Johnson and Wales University.[1]

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. 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 a part of the job. The day the event is taking place could start as early as 5:00 a.m. and then work until midnight. Working on weekends is sometimes required, which is when many events take place.

Sustainable event management

Sustainable event management (also known as event greening) is the process used to produce an event with particular concern for environmental, economic and social issues. Sustainability in event management incorporates socially and environmentally responsible decision making into the planning, organization and implementation of, and participation in, an event. It involves including sustainable development principles and practices in all levels of event organization, and aims to ensure that an event is hosted responsibly. It represents the total package of interventions at an event, and needs to be done in an integrated manner. Event greening should start at the inception of the project, and should involve all the key role players, such as clients, organizers, venues, sub-contractors and suppliers.

Publications and resources

Many business-to-business trade publications exist, like Stand Out magazine to help event planning and production professionals become educated about the issues and trends in their industry. Many are controlled circulation publications available at no cost to qualified event professionals. Qualification is based on multiple variables like job title, company type, industry segment or geographic region, and is at the publisher's discretion.

See also

• Corporate anniversary
• Event scheduling
• Meeting and convention planner
• Party service
• Professional conference organiser
• Project management software
• Sustainable event management

External links

• bls.gov "Meeting and Convention planners" Bureau of Labor Statistics 2007
• How to Become a Certified Event Planner - Wiki article from wikiHow