How to Become a Meeting & Party Planner
A meeting and party planner, otherwise known as an event planner, must manage large amounts of people and coordinate all the minute details of an event to make sure it runs successfully. Event planners often work hectic schedules, in a variety of different settings, and must often race to complete fast deadlines. However, the reward is an opportunity to make from $34,480 to $57,820 a year. Outgoing and detail oriented people are good fits for the field.
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Instructions
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Gain experience in a relevant job or organization. A meeting and party planner should be comfortable dealing with lots of people and organizing all aspects of a particular event. They must also be detail oriented, be able to meet tight deadlines, be computer proficient, and have the ability to make sure all the different components of an event are scheduled. Consider getting an entry level event planning job with an event planning agency or by searching job boards. Entry level jobs such as creating time-lines or assisting event planners with registration details, require little or no experience and can help you become established in the business. You can also consider working in the service industry, joining an organization such as Toastmasters, or becoming acquainted with the local Chamber of Commerce to better understand how to serve businesses and establish friendly relationships.
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Earn a relevant college degree. A degree in hotel administration, hospitality management, or a related field can give you credibility as a meeting and party planner. While in college, you can also gain valuable experience organizing events for student organizations.
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Become certified. Though certification is not required to officially become a meeting and party planner, obtaining certification can give you more credibility and possibly open up more job opportunities. The most popular and widely recognized certification is the Certified Meeting Professional, or CMP certificate from the Convention Industry Council. The Society of Government Meeting Professionals also conducts Government Meeting Professional certification for people interested in planning events for the government.
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Determine whether you wish to work for a company or open your own business. Several event planning companies hire event planners to work for them, and you can find jobs by searching through job boards or classified ads. Or you can decide to open up your own business and directly work with companies and individuals that need a meeting and party planner. This will require you to establish contacts with business people from hotels, cruise ships, casinos, and tourism bureaus. Try joining the local Chamber of Commerce to gain valuable networking contacts. After securing clients, ask them to recommend you to others so that you can gain more business and experience.
You'll be entering a market with growing demand for your skills, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which projects job growth through 2018 to reach 16 percent. That rate is faster than all other occupations, the BLS says. This growth will come despite the ever-increasing electronic alternatives for communications through avenues such as teleconferencing, the agency adds. "A face-to-face interaction is still irreplaceable. In fact, these new forms of communication which foster interaction and connect individuals and groups that previously would not have collaborated actually increase the demand for meetings by these new groups and individuals," notes the labor tracking agency.
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Tips & Warnings
If you open your own meeting & party planner business, make sure you follow all the rules for opening a business in your state, including taxes and licensing. Check your state's government website for more information.
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