Business Plan

BECOMING AN EVENT PLANNER

An Event Planner is a person whose primary occupation is the planning and sometimes executing of private/ corporate parties, social events and fundraisers.

The Primary duties and responsibilities of an Event Planner include the following. Analyze all requirements of target audience and develop effective business strategies to obtain all business objectives and coordinate with event manager to analyze all data and event calendar. (Event Planner, 2015)
Participate in all team meetings on weekly basis in coordination with regional business groups and assist senior management to organize all events concepts and design and supervise effective implementation of same. (Event Planner, 2015)
Plan and prepare activities for all special events for various corporate and administer all client conferences and workshops and coordinate with sponsors to design an effective plan to achieve all event objectives and goals. (Event Planner, 2015)
Coordinate with sponsors to select appropriate speakers for all events and perform negotiation for all events and assist to make all arrangements for all conferences and inform local press if required. (Event Planner, 2015)
Determine all entertainment activities for events and supervise effective preparation of all invitations and prepare all budget proposals for all events. (Event Planner, 2015)

Position Requirements & Earning Potential

Event planners must undertake and complete many tasks, the most important of all characteristics needed to be successful in this type of career is to have the ability to stay organized. You will need to have the capability of being sociable and learn how to build relationships with companies, other skills needed is the knowledge of budgeting time, managing deadlines. Something that is always over looked but very crucial in an Event Planner is also being able to pay very close attention to every detail of what the client wants in order to create the best event possible. 

Event Planning is a very Broad term as many Positions can take on these responsibilities. A director of special events have many tasks assigned to them to complete when directing and planning an event. Event coordinators wear many hats and have a “variety of duties” to execute in order to create that perfect event for their client. I would consider myself an Event Coordinator as I have done more than assist a couple of the planning of their event. Some of my tasks included arranging the guest list, assembling and designing invitations, finding a 
the perfect venue to hold their event, designing their theme, choosing linens, photography and making centerpieces. A level down from an Events Coordinator would be an Event planner and their responsibility would include taking phone calls from clients and scheduling appointments so they are able to meet and assist in creating the ideal event for the client. An Event Planner is one of the ideal images of hospitality because they are there to cater to the client from all aspects of their event. Although some may seem it is not necessary to hire an event planner in all honesty is it within their best interest that they do so because all tasks done are in favor of the client; once hired is it the planners responsibility to find venues, select and interview catering companies within clients budget for food tasting, listen and choose bands, and plan the proper room layout for the event at the same time making sure these tasks are completed by manageable deadlines.

When it comes to education in order to become an event planner, education and training is needed. I knew I always had a creative side to me but I never knew it would lead me to Event Planning as my main goal for a career. In high school I was always interested in art classes, a skill that became beneficial to me when it came to having the capability of drawing a sketch to give my clients a visual of my ideas. A college degree is also required for any Event Planner to work for a company or corporation.

Employment of meeting, convention, and event planners is projected to grow 33 percent from 2012 to 2022, much faster than the average for all occupations. (Bereau of Labor and Statistics , n.d.) As globalization increases and businesses continue to recognize the value of professionally planned meetings, demand for meetings and events is projected to grow. Job opportunities should be best for candidates with a bachelor’s degree in hospitality or tourism management.(Bereau of Labor and Statistics , n.d.)

            
Honestly it has always been my dream to one day start my own business. My family owns an Event Company in the Caribbean but its not MINE. After I came back from a 5 year term in Iraq I took a long time trying to figure out what career I wanted to take and what path I should follow. Im thankful for the time and experience I have from the military but after my deployment overseas I fell into a serious depression that no one could pull me out of. I never left my house, medication couldn’t help and for a while I questioned my reasons to live. Being surrounded by death and paranoia for so long changes anyone and it definitely changed me. Trying to go back to a normal civilian job was not an option for me and I hated the thought I may have to deal with it. My VA Counselor after a few sessions told me the best thing to do to start feeling normal again was to find the one thing I loved to do as a child. So I started painting again, painting lead to taking up floral classes. I was asked by my family to decorate an event for a family friend and that is where I found love for life again, I knew this was what I was meant to do. It was then after considering my options and weighing in my personal interests, I decided that event planner was the right career path for me.

I enjoy working with people, making something they only dreamt about into reality, organizing large events, and networking. I knew long before I interviewed Mrs Lucas that Event Planning was the right thing for me but talking to her as well as listening to the Guest Speaker from Starwood just confirmed this is where I need to be. This is not just a job to me its my calling. Hopefully down the line my long term goal will be to own and operate my own Event Consultancy or Be the Face of a Hotel Chain as their leading Catering Manager. I want to create memorable events, seeing the smile on my clients face and makes up for the endless hours I have and will work putting everything together. There’s nothing I don’t like about this Career. I am fully aware of the risks with finances and the expected labor I need to and have already put in per event and still with swollen feet and thorn pricked hands I still love this job and will make it my goal to be the best I can be in this position. I spent a lot of years surrounded by death so its time for me to spend the rest of my years surrounded by celebrations, life and accomplishments. I thank God for my skills and creativity and will be sure to put them to good use.