Event Planning
Program Summary
An event planner's primary goal is to provide consumers and event-planning professionals with the most valuable and comprehensive source of event planning information. This includes not only clients, but:
- Special events producers and managers
- Owners and senior managers of special events companies
- Meeting and corporate event planners
- Venue and operations managers
- Technical directors and technical service providers (sound, light, audiovisual and other specialists)
- Caterers and food service suppliers, decorators, florists, and specialty entertainers
- Allied industry associates: exhibitions, festivals, incentive travel, convention and visitors bureaus
- Hardware and rental suppliers (tents, linens, props and other providers)
- Event public relations and marketing managers
- Event designers
Planners need to know how to communicate with all vendors. They must have a working knowledge of catering, photography, lighting, tents, floral, contracts, and so forth and must be aware of all the latest innovations in these industries as well.
Beyond overseeing the hundreds of little tasks that accompany planning an event, consultants is also trained in the area of etiquette. For example, a wedding consultant would probably be able to diffuse a situation involving the invitation of divorced parents or an old family dispute. Corporate event planners should be able design a trade show floor where direct competitors are not face-to-face.
Perhaps, most important of all, event planners must be accomplished salespeople. Professional event planners say that the bulk of their time is spent finding new business -- developing prospects, writing proposals, rewriting proposals, and convincing a client to buy.
Employment Trends
- Corporate work is possibly the most lucrative and the most difficult to get. Corporate planners work largely by referrals from other in-house corporate planners or public relations agencies.
- Start small to build experience. Work on a volunteer basis and/or on various sub-committees. You should work as hard as you can to build your own bank of knowledge and a reputation. Eventually, if you do well and feel you would like more responsibility, then, you can take on bigger challenges.
- Don’t give up your “day job” right away. Event planning is not a business you can jump into overnight. Be prepared to work nights and weekends. If you have a "day job," you might want to keep it as you build your client base and/or experience. Remember, many in-house planners are paid based upon experience and education, so build a strong portfolio and resume.
- Remember, even if you were to start working on a project today, you might not actually finish the project for three to six months from now or longer. That means you don't get paid until then. You may have deposits from your client, but you need those to give deposits to the other vendors and order supplies.
Program Objectives
- Successful completion of each course earns a Certificate of Completion
- Skills development and preparation potentially leading to professional credentialing
Program Curriculum
Event planning courses are designed to stand alone. There is no fixed curriculum or program requirements.