- The best way to become certified as an event planner is to enroll in a university and receive either a degree or a certificate in event planning. Many aspiring event planners will also look to get additional certification, including a Certified Special Events Planner certificate or a Certified Meeting Planner certificate, which is granted by the International Special Events Society and Meeting Planners International, respectively. Many companies and organizations look for these certifications to ensure that any event planners they hire are experienced professionals.
- There are two main types of clients that may require event planning. Corporate clients include businesses and corporations but also include such organizations as non-profits and charities. These clients will need planning for fundraisers, conventions and company meetings. Social clients tend to have more personal needs, such as weddings, birthday parties and other types of gatherings, such as reunions. Because these types of gatherings can widely vary, some event planners will specialize in just a few types, such as weddings or birthday parties.
- Part of becoming an event planner is being well prepared. This means figuring out who your potential clients are and what kinds of services they will need. Its also important to communicate with potential vendors and service providers to develop a relationship with them and get an idea of their costs. This will allow you to approach future clients with a complete list of what you can provide as well as a detailed explanation of what all of the costs will be. Being well prepared is one of the most important things that prospective clients will look for.
Comments
TarangelaSpyder said
on 3/15/2009 The Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) designation is conferred by the Convention Industry Council (CIC), not MPI. For more information about the CMP program, visit www.conventionindustry.org.