Steps in Becoming an Event Planner
If you'd enjoy a job where you get to interact with people on a daily basis while producing events for clients, become an event planner. It's not a job that's appropriate for everyone because it requires significant organizational and people management skills. Investigate the basic steps required to become an event planner so that you can get started right away.
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Instructions
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Compile a list of the types of events you wish to produce in your career. For instance, you could become a wedding planner or plan holiday parties for companies in your area. Focus on events you're familiar with to increase your chances of success in the field.
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Learn more about the business by talking to experienced planners. Join a network of veteran event planners online (check social networking websites for event planning groups). Contact SCORE, a group of business mentors, to find someone who has experience with event planning.
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Find a job as an event planner's assistant to learn more about the business. Even if you have to accept an unpaid internship, this is a simple way to get hands-on training and knowledge of what's required to plan an event.
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Write a business plan for your event planning operation that discusses your strategy for producing events, dealing with clients, charging clients and promoting your services around town. A business plan will help you determine if you need to hire people, seek funding from other sources to get started and guide you toward establishing alliances that can help you grow your event planning operation. Business author and owner Tim Berry describes a well-thought-out business plan as a vehicle to drive you toward your goals.
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Write a standard event planning contract with the help of a lawyer that you can use with all of your clients. An event planner contract is a guide that sets terms and conditions between a planner and his client. It's important to conduct your event planning operation professionally to avoid disagreements and confusion when working in this field. Modify your contract template with specific details related to each event per the wishes of your client as well as fees and hourly estimates of the time required to produce the event successfully.
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Create a website, business cards and flyers to advertise your event planning business. Provide information about your experience and any events you've helped plan in the past. Post your advertising materials around town. Hand them out to friends and family to start bringing in clients. Offer your services as a discount to the first few clients, if necessary, to win business as a new planner.
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