Corporate Event Planning|Event Management|Event Planner

Live video streaming services have become one of the biggest net sensations over the last couple of years. You can remember growing up as a child with your father watching George Foreman winning championships in boxing on pay per view. The days of mega millionaire companies and pay per views will likely never go away as subscriptions grow by the millions every year.

However, earning revenue from putting on a pay per view event is no longer relegated to just the largest media companies in the world. Now, a small start up sports league, fight league or extreme sports league can afford to host a pay per view online with live video streaming services.

Not only can live video streaming be a success for sporting leagues, it can be a success for musicians who wish to put on a concert for their adoring fans and it can also be a great way to broadcast special events like a wedding. We all know that there can be times when it's not feasible to have every loved one at an event so offering the ability to stream an event over the internet is a great way to ensure everyone can be included in your special event.

With live video streaming services, it's now become possible to literally film and stream recorded and live events of any nature online for anyone you want to see it or anyone you want to pay to see it. This technology truly takes the capabilities of tomorrow and puts them in your lap today!

It's important to find a service company that will partner with you by tailoring to your needs. It's important to find a service company that will allow you to host your Pay per view on their server. They should be willing to handle the monetary transactions while hosting your web space so you can focus on your event. They should offer technical services to make sure that everything goes off without a hitch. They should also be able to direct you to camera operators that have the capability to interface with the technology needed for live streaming of your event.

Few companies offer this level of service but it is important when making a decision that the company you partner with to broadcast your event is trust worthy and that they are there to ensure your event's success. If a company offers all of these things to you it will be easy to have confidence that your pay per view event will go off without a hitch and your event will be a financial success.

There has been a steady increase in the demand for professional Event Planning in San Francisco. Planning any sort of event is a laborious task because there are far too many aspects that make an event a success. And a successful event is a memorable event. The food, the service, the music, the lighting, the seating everything must be organized well so that it can all work together in tandem to contribute to a spectacular event. And who better to do this than a professional.

An event management company caters to many different kinds of events - birthday parties for all ages, engagement, wedding and baby showers, reunions, anniversaries and retirement parties not to mention Halloween, Christmas, and New Year parties and well as corporate dinner parties and gala events. These companies co-ordinate every minute details of the event. They give suggestions and tips in relation to themes and d矇cor as well. They are experienced enough to avoid obvious hiccoughs and apt with dealing with major disaster situations if required.

These companies are tied up with the best caterers, bands, and party supply stores. They have working for them an army of people who are creative and artistic who can take your ideas and make them into a fantastic event. Using an event management company can help take most of the pressure off, leaving the hosts to enjoy their own events. Many a times, if you decides to organize the event on your own, you practically spread thin trying to manage everything and totally unable to make any real time for your guests. Also, there are times when you get so caught up in the food or music you tend to disregard certain subtleties like decoration and lighting which tends to be a major faux pas, becoming sometimes the only thing people remember of an otherwise spectacular event.

Choosing an event management company has become fairly simple in San Francisco as most of them can be found online. A few things to remember while choosing an event management company are - looking through their previous events, references and success rate. In an industry such as this word of mouth can be extremely helpful. Also if they have done enough of events you can be assured that you can rely on them because of their experience. Be very careful to tell the company exactly what you are looking for in the event and what your budget is so that they can keep that in mind during the planning period.

Selecting the perfect menu and ordering the right amount of food is crucial. Your objective for the event should determine what type of food you provide and how it is served. When you goal is fun cocktail receptions are the most popular choice. Food stations or mini meals circulated by servers work best. However, there is nothing worse than being at a party and finding yourself with a plate of food in one hand, a glass of wine in the other and no way of actually getting the food to your mouth. Add a handbag to the situation and a woman could starve. High cocktail tables scattered throughout the venue can help alleviate this situation. Finger foods are another option eliminating the need for a plate and fork.

For more formal corporate events, or when there is to be a presentation, it is advisable to have your guests seated at a table. Plated meals, where meals are delivered to the table, avoids the distraction of traffic going to and from the buffet, and ensures that your guests are all served at the same time. Buffets, however, are usually less expensive and offer your guests a wider variety of menu items.

Most corporate events will require renting at least some equipment, table wares, glasses, linen, tenting and more. It may be tempting to lower your costs by coordinating the rentals yourself and thereby saving the make-up charged by caterers and event planners. However, although it seems a simple task, getting it right is vital to the success of your event and if you don't know what you are doing you could end up in the kitchen washing glasses or driving to the gas station for more ice in the middle of your event. Coordinating rentals is not a simple task and is best left to the experts.

Similarly, cutting staff can seem like a way to reduce costs especially if the venue is smaller. Keep in mind the number of staff required is dependent on the number of guests and the menu not on the size of the space. A good rule of thumb for cocktail receptions is one server for every 20 - 30 guests and one (beer & wine only) or two (full bar) bartenders for every 80 - 100 guests. For buffet dinners one staff for every 20-25 guests, and for plated formal dinners one staff for every 10-20 guests.

Recruiting volunteers can be a great way to keep your budget in line as long as their responsibilities are made very clear well in advance. Too often well-meaning volunteers pitch in enthusiastically at the beginning of the event and then wander off to chat with other guests leaving the skeleton staff with more work than they can handle. If you want to use volunteers have a formal meeting in advance of the event and hand out a detail list of the tasks they will be expected to perform and clear start and finish times.

Clearly hosting an office party is a massive undertaking and, if not planned properly, they can be just as painful to attend. Choose an experienced corporate caterer to help you plan an appropriate menu and work through the details of service, rental and entertainment.

Around the world this region is best known for its produce champagne, than its other numerous charms such as its excellent game, out of which many delicious meals have been thoroughly enjoyed. However as well as its appeal to the discerning palate, this region in France has a number of interesting and fun festivals throughout the year.

1. Elektricity Festival, Rue du Docteur Lemoine, Reims Cathedral, 20th to 24th March 2013
You could be forgiven for assuming that this festival had something to do with electricity; it is however the name of a music festival which combines urban and contemporary music. Taking place in front of the Reims Cathedral, you can expect to experience new types of electronic music however, as well as a promising line up, put together by the festival organisers.

A firm favourite in the Reim festival and cultural world, it has a good track record (excuse the pun) and visitors can expect to attend some good performances.

2. Europuces Fair in Reims, Reims Exhibition Centre, 2nd to 3rd March 2013
A massive amount of antique lovers attend the Europuces Fair in Reims. Whether you are a seasoned antique dealer, an enthusiast or a bargain hunter, this is the place to be!

European antique sellers have a range of treasures on sale, from furniture to fine art objects, to apparently ordinary every day items. Come to the treasure trove that is the Europuces Fair.

3. M矇li'm繫me Festival, Place de l'Hotel de Ville, Reims, 22nd March to 8th April 2013
Move over Mummy and Daddy, this festival is all about the children! This festival has grown in popularity since its inception back in 1989, and it offers a colourful combination of fun and expressive genres which will be sure to engage your child or children.

From story telling to dance, from song and dance to puppet shows, the entertainment offers a range of magical and delightful shows for the younger family members.

4. Festival Bernard Dimey, May awaiting dates 2013 (10th to 13th May 2012)
A festival dedicated to the memory of Bernard Dimey, the Nogent poet. There are prizes awarded each year from a spring-board event, for the younger talented people.

Born on 16th July 1931 in what was then Nogent-en-Bassigny, and now Nogent, Bernard Dimey was a French poet and songwriter. The festival focuses on poetry and songs with the younger folk in mind. He died in Paris, on 1st July 1981.

5. Sedan Medieval Festival, 3rd week May, (19th to 20th May 2012)
The Sedan Castle Fort was built almost 6 centuries ago and is the largest in Europe, with a size of 35,000m2. Making it a splendid place to enjoy a medieval festival, it is located right in the heart of Sedan city.

The festival takes place both in the castle fortress as well as in the town, and each year the event planners come with a new themed surprise. In 2011 a full size dragon who spat fire was produced and in 2010 came the giants of the north.

Cast yourself back into medieval times and watch the medieval sports and activities take place, such as jousting, flag throwing and cavalry tournaments. Enjoy street theatre, soak up the medieval atmosphere, feast, drink and be merry!

You can also find plenty of beautiful medieval arts and crafts, plus watch medieval artisans at work.

6. Joan of Arc Festival, early June (2nd to 3rd June 2012)
Joan of Arc festival is one of the most historical events which takes place in France. The city of Reims celebrates its heroine.

It is a marvellous sight, as around 2000 people dress up in historical costumes to accompany Charles VII and Joan of Arc, in a parade.

The patron saint of the city, who freed it from the English in the 15th century, is celebrated by a range of shows. If you are British and visiting this festival, you can enjoy some fun French-English rivalry, given the occasion. So take local banter in the good spirits of the occasion!

Wander around the medieval market, enjoying the historical epics that are part and parcel of this festival, as well as the atmosphere and the surroundings.

7. Les Sacres du Folklore - The Rites of Folklore Festival - Reims, 21st to 25th June 2013
This folk festival takes place in the interests of friendship and peace in Reims. You can expect to hear some of world's best folk groups, and enjoy a folk-filled programme of events. More than three hundred musicans, singers, dancers and actors take part in this large folk festival.

8. Ay Champagne Festival (every 2nd year, 1st weekend July, next year 2014)
Also known as Henry IV Festival

Considered to be the best champagne village in the whole region, Ay is the home of the likes of Bollinger, Gosset and Ayala, as well as Deutz & Gelderman.

This festival combines lots of bubbly champagne and plenty of bubbly entertainment. Consider putting a few days apart in July 2014 for this marvellous event.

9. Clin d'œil Festival, Reims, 5th to 7th July 2013
Running since the European Year of People with Disabilities, 2003, this festival is a huge European deaf cultural event. In fact it actually started off as a one off event, but like a stone gathering moss, it has developed into a superb event that now continues to run.

Here is where you can enjoy experiencing the showcasing of the numerous exceptionally talented deaf people. It is a festival that bridges the gap between the deaf and hearing communities through the medium of artistic expression. A variety of forms of art and creative expression include painting, sculpture, design.

10. Fête des Sorcières - Witch Festival, Chalindrey, October
Whilst today there are many practices witches who live happily in various countries, a few centuries ago they would have been burnt at the stake. During the 16th century the Fort of Cognelot was the area of a witch hunt, and since then it was given the name Devil's Point. This, as well as the area's Celtic roots have combined to make it a location rich in supernatural heritage.

The Witch Festival has been running for around a century. Celebrations evoke this heritage and visitors can enjoy dances which are haunting, til the wee and more eerie hours. The festival includes exhibitions, movies of a fitting genre and face painting.

Listen to the local ghost stories, marvel at the beautiful scenery, learn about true roots of witches and of course have lots of fun!

Hiring an event management company for a multinational technology conference or an evening party is the best option to make it memorable and mesmerizing. Event management companies not only give guidance and advice during the initial conception and planning of any event, but help to make it a perfectly successful event also. Event managers and staff members have exceptional skills and relevant experience in event planning and organizing.

From conference planning to any other event or party management, corporate events planners can handle everything in a professional manner. They can easily manage, plan and organize necessary stuff before time and design an impeccable itinerary/plan of action to make it as fluent and hassle-free as possible. Their planning and organizing service are designed to delivers an inspiring, passionate, creative and innovative experience. They lavish close attention to details. They tend to create a picture-perfect platform for enterprises to communicate effectively with their audience.

They organize and deliver an organized and streamlined event on time and within budget. They deliver professional services for conference arrangement. Some of the most vital services offered by event management companies for conferences are:

1. Venue finding
2. Incentives and reward programs
3. Corporate hospitality and tickets
4. Corporate team building
5. Trade shows
6. Audio and visual Services
7. Product launches
8. Conferences and award Shows
9. Event theme building and branding

Venue Finding - Most of the event management companies provide free venue finding services for the grand conference or events. In fact, it is the most necessary thing to consider before taking any further actions. They first consult with the organizers and marketing executives in order to understand the needs and overall objectives of the conference.

Conferences and award Shows - Event planners work with the company marketing experts to take time to understand what they're exactly searching for. They create your bespoke response document that will give you all the answers for your next event.

Trade shows - There is no better and striking way to showcase product or service to the market place than by getting the live feedback from the audiences. Event management companies can effectively organize a trade show, or any product launch ceremony.

Audio & Visual Services - Event planners provide with the complete AV system. They provide the inclusive technical assistance for the event and make appropriate arrangements.

In essence, event management companies help in refining the conference and event experience for the organizations, employees, corporate partners and its other associates.

Are you contemplating changing careers? Mary's story warns us that we need to be thoughtful and cautious when making a dramatic change like this. Here is Mary's story in her words.

"I identified the job I wanted, my dream job. I went back to school full time, and racked up a lot of debt. By the time I graduated several years later, the economy tanked, and my dream job was no longer hiring. And the jobs that are similar pay so much less than what I was making before. I'm broken hearted and deeply discouraged. How can anyone suggest people go after their dream job when it only leads to disappointment?"

Mary's story makes me sad, and she is not alone. It happens more than we'd like to know. (It is also the reason I do what I do, to help people find their way without becoming another Mary.)

Mary's story is one most people fear will happen to them, isn't it? So how can you avoid Mary's experience? Do you have to throw away your dreams, and just take what comes your way? Or do you put everything on hold until the economy turns around, whenever that may be? No. If you do your research and careful planning, you can have a job you love and a thriving career, and you can have it now.

Rhonda worked hard to unearth the strengths and skills she loved to use, along with where and how she loved to use them. She also identified her ideal working environment, and the roles she preferred when working. It is from that list that we began to brainstorm different job titles she could go after. Rhonda's list included Project Manager, Executive Director (for a Non-Profit), and Event Planner/Party Planner. Before Rhonda chose one of these to pursue, she did her research.

First Rhonda met with at least 3 different people who held each title, so 3 Project Managers, 3 Event Planners, 3 Executive Directors. She conducted an informational interview with each one, to find out what their day to day responsibilities were, what the major challenges of the jobs were, and what the job market was like for each of them. She learned that in her area, Event Planners were losing jobs, and struggling to find work. She learned that Executive Directors needed a bit more experience than she currently had, but that she could easily get that experience volunteering.

Next Rhonda did some research online to learn about the salaries associated with each position. She learned that Event Planners didn't make as much as she needed. She began to rule out the Event Planner idea, and narrowed her research to focus on Project Manager and Executive Director jobs. Both still appealed to her, and after doing more research, she discovered there were more Project Manager jobs available, especially if she pursued certification.

Since Rhonda wanted a change sooner rather than later, she decided to pursue a Project Manager position now, and keep her eyes open for any Executive Director opportunities that might be available later.

Rhonda is now on a new path, one that works for her financially, and provides her with the security and future she desires. She ruled out the options that wouldn't work for her.

Once you know what types of jobs appeal to you, I encourage you to do your research. Find out as much as you can about the reality of those jobs and careers. Are they growing? Do they pay what you need? Are there certifications or training required? What are the real day to day responsibilities of the job? How hard is it to break into that industry or area? If you research all your options, you will find one that will work for you, now. You can end up like Rhonda, not Mary. And that story has a happy ending.

If you build it, they will come. Unfortunately, this axiom does not necessarily work in the event venue world. Not all conference spaces are created equal, nor are they branded equally - or effectively, in many cases.

A successful event venue has a defined "personality" and ably addresses a need or void within its space. A branding process is vital, especially when establishing new conference space. This article addresses five steps to creating an identity and securing an audience for an event venue.

o Create a visually appealing brand

What a conference center communicates through its outbound materials helps define the experience attendees' will have. For instance, is the space better for interactive meetings or educational symposia? Does the facility have more appeal to corporate executives or to customer service staff? Will attendees be treated to a plush experience?

Don't forget the power of the Web to communicate a venue's "vibe" as well. A custom-built website allows event planners to learn about the facility and its configuration options. A great website is a key marketing tool, with the ability to provide updated facility news, including floor plans and photographs, and interactive tours of the facility.

o Identify the audience

The best meeting space matches its attendees' needs perfectly. To get to that point, a venue must identify primary users of the space. If the key audience is IT professionals, the venue should have the latest technology: wireless hot spots, great A/V and more. If the audience leans toward scientific groups, ensure the conference center has breakout rooms, poster presentation areas and lecture-style auditorium.

o Illustrate value to prospective audiences

Technology, design, flexibility - a great conference center offers many things to many people. As with any investment, showing a positive return is important. Does the technology inside a venue meet the needs of the most demanding presenter. With so much competition for events business, building great technology and design into a conference space and delivering a positive work environment to attendees is vital for "state-of-the-art" venues.

o Communicate an identity

Having a great facility and attracting qualified meetings to it are not necessarily linked. Event planners have an array of tools to identify meeting space that fits their specific criteria. With the Web, industry publications, trade shows, advertising and direct marketing, there are many ways to find a facility and many ways to market one.

Using a multi-pronged approach of direct marketing, public relations and advertising, an event venue can saturate key audiences with news before and after a facility has opened.

Marketing initiatives to communicate a brand include:

o Conducting "hardhat" facility tours during its construction phase to build pre-opening interest.

o Building a direct marketing database.

o Creating partnerships to add to the richness of the venue's offering and to create a referral source community for the facility, by targeting collaborating with continuing education programs, hotels, travel agencies, destination management companies and exhibition companies.

o Participating in meeting industry trade shows.

o Hosting charity events and industry association events, especially those that attract potential users of the space.

Public relations initiatives target meetings publications by securing venue listings and placing news in industry association publications, such as Meeting Planner International's Meetings.

o Ensure structure exists to support the offering

It's vital to deliver on what you promise. Managing an event facility is time consuming. Having the proper support systems in place, and automating as much as possible, eases the operational side of venue management. Administrative details to firm up before attracting an audience include:

o Determining pricing for all audiences and types of functions (day vs. night, poster session vs. lecture series, corporate vs. non-profit, full facility use vs. partial, etc.)

o Creating catering packages

o Identifying additional elements, such as security, staffing and parking

o Building a comprehensive sales kit and contract

o Selecting venue management scheduling technology

o Deciding whether to keep A/V technical staffing in-house, or to outsource it

Great branding isn't the only strategy that makes an event venue work, but it certainly helps create an individual personality to drive success.

If you're planning an event or researching entertainment options after a bad experience in the past, there are a few important factors you need to keep in mind.

Here's a short guide to determining which entertainment options are best for your next event:

Think About the Type of Event You're Planning

A new product launch has a very different feel and environment than a yearly board of directors meeting. The entertainment that you select should fit the "feel" of your event. For formal events it's appropriate to have something more conservative and low key. Having a small singing act or magic show is going to be a lot better received than something on the "spectacle" end of the spectrum.

Alternatively, if you are launching a new product, trying to get your audience excited and "pumped up," or wanting to bring a high level of excitement, you'll want to have entertainment to match. A cirque-style acrobatic show, a Broadway song and dance review or a high energy industrial rhythm show would fit the bill.

Consider Your Events Timeframe

Your entertainment should be the centerpiece of one night or afternoon during your multiple-day event. If you're running a one-day event, you'll need to have your entertainment on that same day. When you select an event entertainment option, you need to consider how long the show will last and whether you have room for it in your schedule. It may be better to book entertainment that takes a little less time if you've got your attendees on a jam-packed schedule.

As you consider entertainment options, ask the corporate event entertainment experts what they suggest. Many can customize their shows to meet your existing timeframe so you can get the quality of show that you want in the time that you have.

Understand Your Entertainment Budget

Your entertainment options will be affected by your budget, so it's important to get that nailed down as soon as possible. When you are creating your budget for your entire event, keep in mind that the entertainment can be the "make or break" part of your event plan. It's the thing that people are going to remember the most since it normally takes place at the end of the event.

If you want to keep your audience talking - and excited to come back the following year - it's important to create a budget for your event's entertainment. Don't leave your entertainment as the last item on your list. You can either get quotes from event entertainment companies and use that to create your budget, or set a price and shop around to find an event entertainment company that will work within your budget. Keep in mind that while you shop, you may need to adjust your budget to fit the actual costs of professional event entertainment.

Find Something Unique for Your Audience

Entertainment has to be memorable so it's important to find something unique. This is even more important if your event audience attends a lot of trade shows and other industry gatherings. Giving them something fresh and exciting can really make a difference in their appreciation of your event and their attendance next year.

Thinking outside of the box and trying something beyond a typical comedian or keynote speaker can pay off in the long run.

Choosing a party planning checklist will naturally be based upon the kind of function you plan on throwing. Your event planner will want to know exactly what your theme, budget and likes are in order to create a custom party planning checklist based on your individual needs. However, if you are planning on doing the organising by yourself, then you will have to do more than just buy party decorations - you will have your plate full with the intricacies of organising a fun and entertaining bash for yourself. If you do go it alone, then your party planning checklist will have to be a very good one.

It is not necessary to wrack your brain trying to think of everything that needs to get done so that your function is a success. You can always pick up a ready-made party planning checklist that will guide you through the process in a step-by-step way. Each party planning checklist is made out for specific events. Although most parties will have features in common, depending on the occasion, the actual content of each event will differ. For instance, the music, decorations and catering will be radically different for a six-year old's birthday party from that of a bridal shower. Knowing the right items to look for and to buy can easily be forgotten in our rush to get the party planned properly. However, with a party planning checklist you will not have to worry that you might forget to buy the party decorations.

Even your event planner will make use of a checklist to stay on track and under budget. However, event planners tend to make up their own party checklists that run on for pages and are broken down into several categories that most regular folks may never need when organising their own party. An event planner checklist is a professional grade list that is mostly used by people who have to track several events at once.

When it comes to your own party planning checklist, make sure that you choose the right one. Find a checklist that suits your purpose. Next make sure that the party planning checklist you choose has all of the major event categories listed on it including: venue, food/drink, music, guest list. As long as you have the basic categories on your checklist, you can then modify it to suit your particular needs. However, you can also find complete party planning checklists that are already made up for you and to which you do not need to add anything.

Throwing a party is a fun affair. It is not only fun for your guests, but it can be a wonderful time for you as well. Parties are creative endeavours where you get to show your family and friends just how much you care for them by how much thought you have put into your preparations. Naturally, planning the perfect party does take time and that is why breaking your tasks down using a list is the best way to stay on target with your vision for your party.

An event management career can definitely take you sites provided you are serious of building a career of arranging events and organizing them on large scale basis. In the past decade many companies as well as educational institutions recognize event as management profession. And now the leading universities offer degree programs in the event planning to a number of individuals who are actually consider event planning as career option.

Event planners are famous by different names such as program mangers, conference coordinators, event mangers and many more. It all heat down to the event coordinator doing all the preparation for the event whether a conference, fete, marriage party, trade show. Number of big business organizations has started hiring them on full time basis since their organizations have been growing so do their needs for the communication. And when we talk about organizing different conferences and meetings in a short span of time then event planners sounds great asset to the company.

Event coordinators usually earn good by establishing their own event planning company. There are individuals who are just searching for the trustworthy people to outsource the needs of event management. Many weddings, parties or birthday parties are mentioned on a small scale then there is large scale event planning series such as arranging large trade shows and several grand functions related to corporate world.

Event coordinators have actually made a mark in the ground of management by arranging trade shows successfully on international level. One such example of event planning is auto trade show. Many things need to be learnt while making your career in event planning. It deals with lot of traveling and meeting the top brass of the business world. Management skills are comparatively important then the communication skills.

Event management professional should have the ability to handle the logistics as well as invitation after exploring the location for the event to happen. The ability to handle and achieve things brings successful event planners.