How to Become an Event Planner

Event planning professionals are experts who take care of planning and management for any occasion; be it a wedding ceremony, a corporate function, an informal gathering, or a public meeting. Due to the income potential of this profession, many youngsters are opting to enter this industry.

Job an event planner includes tasks like:

• Discuss budget with client.
• Procure all material required for running the event as planned.
• Schedule the event with the client and ensure all parts are carried out as per schedule.
• Look after the lighting, sound, photography and video recording services hired.
• Take responsibility of the security at the event.

When it comes to becoming an event planner, it is not a mandatory requirement that you need a formal degree or certification. However, there are some colleges which do offer courses or degrees in event planning and management for enabling professionals to get into corporate careers in this domain.

You need to have general management skills in areas such as marketing, personnel management, and financial management. Some usually start their own business, while others work under an event management agency.

Alongside obtaining valuable work experience, you can enroll in a course. This would provide useful and in-depth understanding about how events are to be planned, arranged, managed, and made successful.

Notable certifications include Certified Special Event Professional (CSEP) and Global Certification in Meeting Management (CMM). Once you are familiar with this domain; the skills and abilities; and what it takes to become one, you should make a portfolio.

Your portfolio would include recommendation letters, good service notes from previous clients, and records about your work. This is where your work experience plays an important role.

If you are planning to start your own event planning firm, you will first need to obtain useful hands-on experience under an agency in the same field of work. Get to know all that is required for planning and managing an event and develop those skills.

You can even offer your services and participate in informal events such as arranging birthday parties, small weddings, group trips, or fundraisers.

You will also need to get to know the licensing formalities from your respective state authority and apply for a business license. Arranging for an office and hiring personnel are the next steps.

In order to get business, you will need to build a good rapport among potential clients which could be commercial businesses, hotels and resorts, corporate bodies, people in your neighborhood, etc. For a business to be commercially successful, it is necessary to provide the best services and maintain good business relations with the entities around.

Overall, the role of an event organizer is hands-on and often involves working as part of a team. They must work well under pressure, ensuring the smooth and efficient running of an event.