Corporate Event Planning|Event Management|Event Planner

Whoever you are and whatever you do in your company, there is a chance that you might be handed the task to plan out your corporate leisure activity. It might be as short as a half-day affair to as ambitious as a weekend getaway.

If you are tasked to plan for your corporate leisure, the rule of thumb is -- decide according to the company's resources and preferences. Also, you must have an idea on how much time the company is allowing for corporate leisure and the time your team is willing to spend on it. How many and who among you are going? How much is the budget? Are your fellow workers willing to pitch in? You need to know the answers to these questions before you start planning.

Tips to Remember When Planning for Company Leisure Activities:

1. What gives the ultimate experience? The best tour package offers a great balance between how much you enjoy the place and how fun the activities are.

If you are focusing on the sights of the destination, check out the top locations which offer the widest range of scenic spots. Thus, you can visit as many sites as possible with the shortest possible travel time. If your trip is more about the activities, and let's say that most of you love the beach, enjoy surfing and like clubbing, a beach party might be the best idea. You then veer towards destinations which give the most awesome beach parties in the land.

2. Having a specific destination or a to-do-list in mind now, round-up all the pertinent information about your destination.

Read about its peak seasons, events and festivities, must-see spots, most affordable to top-rated hotels and inns, native delicacies to die for, etc.

3. Decide whether you are going to take advantage of one-price packages, or booking accommodation and air/land travel separately.

Going with travel agencies might take your money further. That is if they can score you great discounts. Just remember never to get swayed by tempting low-cost packages. You are in this for the experience value. So get all the details of each package first. Compare apples to apples (e.g. hotel A vs. hotel B from tour package 1 to 2, and so on). This will help you get a better idea on which package gives you the best value for money.

4. Tailor-fit the package to your goal.

Does it meet your corporate leisure's objectives? What Fun activities are you going to do? Do they imbibe your company's principles?

5. Prioritize flexibility.

When you choose a package, you also have to check whether it gives you some flexibility. Packages that include travel insurance offer such flexibility. They would help you avoid incurring extra charges in case of detours and delays.

Keep the above tips in mind when you are making your plans and expect to be congratulated and thanked for planning your great company leisure activities.

So you've been placed in charge of planning your next corporate banquet. Here are 5 tips to make that corporate banquet planning go smooth and the event an amazing success and to have your boss smiling ear to ear at you for a job well done.

The first step to corporate event planning is to determine an approximate budget. Some considerations are location of event, meal expense, corporate entertainment expense, and awards or recognition costs. Keep in mind this is to be approximate so you have a rough idea of what management is at least minimally going to agree to spend. This can always be negotiated with them down the road once your ideas are in place.

The second step is to survey the people at your company to find great ideas of what they'd like to see or have at your upcoming corporate banquet. Simply send out a short email blast with a survey form asking your fellow employees what they'd like to see in the event.

Some typical categories for a survey are: banquet location, meal choices, corporate events or corporate entertainment. By soliciting ideas from all employees from the top to the bottom, you've given everyone a chance to take some ownership over the event, which can help boost attendance.

The third step is to select potential locations. Most banquet and convention centers will have package pricing with a variety of meal choices to choose from. Some companies have outdoor events that require a catering company to provide the meals onsite. Whether you choose an outdoor location such as a park or an indoor convention center, talk to past clients of the service providers to ensure you go with a location, and catering group that has a track record of successful events under their belt.

The fourth thing to procure is corporate event entertainment. Some ideas to consider are djs, bands, and live entertainers such as stand-up comedians, magicians, comedy hypnotists, or motivational speakers. Budgeting in this area can sometimes be tricky. Many planners think you can get by with spending a few hundred bucks on this area. Some will even make the disastrous mistake of trying to have all the corporate entertainment be done in-house. Nothing spells a bored, disappointed group of mumbling and upset employees than when a convention planner tries to skimp in this area. You should plan on spending at least $2000 - $5000 in this area to ensure you get quality entertainment.

Another mistake is to do the same thing every year - such as having the same dj or band every year. Try something new, such as a corporate comedian or a corporate comedy hypnotist - mix it up to help ensure you always keep your events fresh and exciting to attend.

To find a good live entertainer can also be a challenge - especially if you think you have to get the local guy or gal. You may have to bring an entertainer in from another state if there are no good local choices available. You must also make sure the entertainer is squeaky clean and politically correct. While you can't always make everyone happy in every audience, do your best to find someone clean and funny. It can make your job simpler to work with an entertainment agency that has many years of helping companies just like yours bring good entertainers in for events.

The fifth and final tip is to make sure you present the choices for your event to your final budget approval team correctly. Never simply go in and pitch your ideas simply on price - especially if you think management may balk on the total event price. Always sell your ideas with the benefits to the company. This can be especially true when it comes to corporate entertainment. Common benefits for brining in good quality entertainment are: 1) an entertained crowd is a happy crowd, 2) exciting events boost attendance - because people like to go have fun 3) it's a lot easier for management to make employees feel good about their jobs and companies, when they've seen that management actually cares enough about them by letting them know it's not all about working together but they can actually play together too.

The only thing that is constant in life is change and problems! Do you ever dread picking up the phone, turning on the television or accessing the Internet or your email for fear of what crisis, natural or manmade, you will encounter today? Similarly, meeting planners often face a plethora of problems and concerns that must be addressed in order to execute successful meetings.

Earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, fires, even political controversy - it seems as if crisis will always make for some titillating headlines and cause real challenges for many, including planners when their meetings are headed to affected areas. When you have invested significant time and money, and will be held accountable for advising your staff and attendees on doing business and holding meetings in disaster areas, you want an accurate and direct source of information. You need to be able to separate fact from fiction and determine how unexpected events will impact your meeting and attendees.

Who can be trusted to advise with so much on the line? Planners with a meeting scheduled in a destination experiencing any kind of issue can receive up-to-date, accurate information from their destination expert: the Convention and Visitors Bureau. The CVB has access to local officials and agency representatives as well as on-the-ground response teams, all who can provide important, precise and timely information to the planner.

Times of crises often fuel media frenzies, so precise, useful information can get lost in translation. All events are subject to interpretation and interpretation leads to confusion, even before spin and political objectives get layered on top of any type of reporting. A planner does not have to rely on the media as their primary source of information when in a destination. They can get the most informed details by speaking with their CVB, a trusted, local point of contact for calm reassurance and reasoned course of action.

Trouble-shooting and facilitation of manmade problems is also another area of expertise for CVBs. Being well connected in the communities of local government, politics and the entire hospitality network gives them the unique ability to use their contacts to give you the means to solve any kind of problem or assist with a special request in the destination. Additionally, CVBs have homegrown knowledge and insight into what is on the horizon, which can lead to proactive problem solving and avoid many mishaps.

Think of the CVB as the ultimate "destination buster," especially in times of crisis and concern. Whatever the roadblock, they can be called upon to assist you in finding real solutions and organizing the many different sources you may need to call upon in the destination.

"Trouble-shooting is another expertise of the CVB. When it didn't look like we would get our rebate on the Convention Center space due to pick up the CVB took our attendance lists and polled all of the hotels in the area. We found out that the attendees stayed all over the destination, outside of the block, and we were able to get a good count for the next contract". - Patricia F. Zollman, CMP, Senior Director, Global Accounts, Helms Briscoe

A recent study shows that more than 35% of event attendees register through some kind of group registration process. Yet group registration is one of the most overlooked parts of event management. In fact, most group registration processes are difficult to maneuver for registrants and difficult to manage for event planners.

After an extensive usability study, "The Five Keys to Easier Group Registration" were identified to reduce registration headaches for event planners and attendees.

Key #1: Handle group registration in normal registration process. It's all too common for event registration systems to handle group registration with a separate, often confusing process. This technique requires special instructions on the front page that are often ignored, leading to frustration for registrants and organizers. Group registration should be handled using the same track as standard registration. Though, it is very important to make sure users are made aware how and when to enter multiple users.

Key #2: Orient your registrants throughout the process. When a registrant gets lost in your registration system it leads to frustration, dissatisfaction and abandoned registrations. To better orient your customers you should display a progress bar at the top of every registration screen, letting them know how many steps they've completed and how many are still to come. In addition, a good group registration platform will always display the name of the person currently being registered by the user. These simple additions will reduce anxiety for your registrants, and you'll reduce errors that lead to confusion for your event planners.

Key #3: Always populate standard information before and event. In most cases, group registrants share contact information like company name, address and phone number. Yet most registration systems require the registrant to re-enter that information for every attendee. Our studies found that registrants are much happier when their organizations information can be pre-populated after the first registrant. Again, it saves time for your registrants and reduces the amount of errors that event organizers have to deal with.

Key #4: Provide simple, flexible merchandising options. When providing up-sell options, registration systems often require registrants to check out after each registration or they only provide an option to order items that must be applied to every registrant. So, in the second scenario you would have to order 10 t-shirts if you had 10 registrants. Registrants are happier -- and therefore spend more money -- when they can use the merchandising section like a catalogue shopping cart, selecting quantities once for the whole order.

Key #5: Provide follow-up communication to all attendees: While group registrations are better handled by one person you should always communicate with attendees as individuals. Don't rely on the group leader to communicate to each attendee. Make sure your confirmations and reminders are sent to everyone on the list. To be most effective in your communication, personalize your emails with first name, too.

Regardless of the type of event by following the steps above you can reduce the time and stress involved in group registration.

Many companies are taking advantage of the growing momentum in the environmental movement by claiming to be "green" or "zero-waste". However, most of these claims are not supported by actual data. In order to truly understand the environmental impact of an event, an analysis of the waste stream or a "waste audit" must be conducted.

A waste audit is a way of collecting detailed information about the waste generated by an event. The procedure can quantify the different types of waste being created as well as the effectiveness of a given waste management policy. One of the most important pieces of data resulting from a waste audit is the diversion rate. The diversion rate is the percentage of material generated from an event that is being diverted away from a landfill (i.e. the percentage of waste being recycled or composted).

A high diversion rate means that most of the waste generated by the event is staying out of the landfill. An event with a 100% diversion rate is considered to be zero-waste. If composting and recycling is an option at your event then a diversion rate between 65-75% should be easy. With proper planning and an educated staff, a diversion rate of 75-85% percent would be quite good. A rate above that, approaching true "Zero-Waste" or 100% diversion, would take full cooperation of event planners, staff, and participants, and would be considered outstanding.

There are three categories of waste in a typical waste stream: compostable material, recyclables, and trash. Compostables are any food items that are no longer fit for human consumption (food waste) as well as other items which must be marked biodegradable: bags, napkins, plates, cups, and tableware. These compostables are sent to a facility to be broken down into organic soils and fertilizers. Recycling is a concept that most people are familiar with and includes the processing of bottles, cans, cardboard and paper products for reuse.

Trash is the material that cannot be processed or reused, which must be sent to a landfill. The ultimate goal of a "zero-waste" event is to divert 100% of the waste away from a landfill. Throughout the event, waste is sorted into the three distinct categories by trained staff. After the event, the different waste categories are analyzed in a variety of ways to come up with accurate information that reflects the waste management policy specified at during the planning of the event.

This will result in detailed information regarding which waste management policies are working well, and which have large room for improvement. Consequently, one can then use this information to invest more time and energy into the areas where they can improve the most, and create a comprehensive policy that will be mutually beneficial to both the environment and the organization. In this way, an organization can ensure that the waste is being disposed of in the most environmentally responsible manner. In addition, an organization can promote the data of the waste audit in order to show a quantifiable commitment to sustainability.

To prevent "Convention Disasters", "Sleeping Rooms and Meeting Space" are the names of the game. Once you have them, you can do anything, but if you have not confirmed rooms and specific meeting space, convention disasters happen. So, you have negotiated your convention sales contract and finished "Step 1". Now, what is the next step? Your best move is to get to know your Convention Service Manager - "Step 1a."

You might ask the question, why? Because your Convention Service Manager or CSM can and should prevent disasters from happening. Their goals are to make sure your convention goes off flawlessly and make you happy in the process.

The Sales Manager does the contract, but the Convention Service Manager is the person that services your convention. While your Sales Manager is still involved with the convention, your file is turned over to the CSM to finalize all the details needed to prepare a convention resume. The resume along with banquet event orders are the main means of communicating to the hotel staff everything you want to accomplish.

Do not wait too long after that contract is signed to find out who is handling your group. Ask the question early. Start communicating with your Convention Service Manager and set up an appointment to meet personally. You have a contract that lists rooms and space, but your hotel service contact needs to know everything about you and your convention. Contracts do not tell all. They are a start, but most groups have something peculiar about them that needs to be passed on to the CSM.

Now, let's make sure you know what CSM's do and why it is so important to get to know your Convention Service Manager.

Convention Service Responsibilities - first, the Convention Service Manager will be your main contact from this point until the convention is finished. While they represent the hotel, it is their responsibility to make sure everything you have requested in the contract is successfully implemented. However, please do not take for granted that, just because you have a contract, everything including rooms and meeting space have been set up properly by your Sales Manager.

Let's go back to the contract and really think about a Sales Manager's goals and duties. They look at conventions and clients in a different light. Their goals are to sell rooms while maximizing revenue and they are judged on the amount of business they book. Hopefully they are doing it right, but many times they take risks by sliding in a piece of business when meeting space and sleeping rooms are very tight. Most of the time the space works out and the sleeping rooms become available, but not always.

Confirm Sleeping Room Block - in comes the CSM and starts working with you. Great Convention Service Managers review the contract once it is turned over to them and they confirm sleeping room blocks, suite requirements, special blocks for VIP's and any special needs that have been requested in the contract. They make sure that not only are the rooms set aside in the contract, but the rooms are set aside in Reservations and all specific arrangements for making reservations have been set up. Again, they don't assume that everything is correct. They double check to make sure all the sleeping rooms are confirmed. This is to protect you.

Confirm All Meeting Room Space - the CSM's next step is to confirm all convention and meeting space arrangements. Your contract lists a certain number of meeting rooms per day and those rooms are supposed to be able to handle your meeting requirements. But will they? Most contracts do not specify the names of meeting rooms. Your contract will state a meeting for 300 persons to be set classroom style from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. So, you assume your Sales Manager has blocked a room that will take care of your group. But, has he? Remember that the Sales Manager's goal is to book the convention and he gets credit for total room nights and convention rate. Hence, sometimes he takes shortcuts on the meeting space in order to book the convention. He might assume that you have over estimated your numbers and will only show up with 250 persons. So, if the meeting space blocked in the contract will only hold 250 persons, but 300 show up, you have problems. It becomes the responsibility of the CSM to prevent disaster and make sure it works. Granted, that is not fair, but it happens. Again, who is really protecting you from convention disaster?

So, now you realize "Rooms and Space" are the names of the game. You have completed "Step 1," and have a contract in hand. Now, you are ready for "Preventing Convention Disaster - Step 1a - Get to Know Your Convention Service Manager."

Granted, there are many, many more steps in the process to protect you from "Convention Disasters," and those will follow, but "Step 1a" starts with getting to know the person that will take care of you. Get to know, communicate and develop an understanding with the one person that will make sure you look good, your Convention Service Manager.

Warning: If you ARE a caterer, you will be offended, if you are a Mobile Bartender, chances are you have been offended BY a caterer!

In my experience as a Mobile Bartender, I have often noticed that myself and my bartending staff has always run into problems with caterers. It seems that there are power struggles and ego-trips at play with both parties...especially when YOU have been hired by the Host, NOT the caterer.

Caterers and party planners like to have full control of everything and so they may start telling you how to do your job or treat you like one of their employees.

This quick article is intended to help YOU (the Mobile Bartender) "deal" with caterers during your events. So, let's ALL put our egos aside and take some advice that does work:

1. Caterers ARE Control Freaks! - They have to be, that's why they are so good at what they do! So you must accept that fact and understand how their mind works if you want to have a pleasant night while working with them

2. You BOTH want the Same End Result - Both you and the caterer want the event to be as spectacular as possible. As long as you aware that you and the caterer/party planner want the same outcome, you can begin to work better together.

3. Be Proactive-Introduce yourself! - As soon as you arrive at the event (or even a few days beforehand) introduce yourself to the caterer or whoever is in charge. It is also good to meet any staff that the caterer may have brought along)

4. Offer Your Assistance - Do your best to finish setting up your bar-area early so you can offer help and assistance to the caterer. They will appreciate this.

5. Kill them with Kindness! - If you find a caterer that is being rude or treating you poorly, react by "killing them with kindness!" Compliment them on their work, their staff, their attention to detail. They LIVE for these compliments,so shower them! hint that you are looking for caterers to refer to your clients-take their biz cards

6. Use Leverage! - You are the MOST-desired bartender in your area (or at least you present that image!). Ask your caterer for some of his/her business cards and mention that you have A LOT of clients always asking for good caterers so you want to refer them business! http://www.BartenderforProfit.com

Planning and organizing an event is not a simple task. A lot of planning is required for a successful completion of an event. Taking help from a catering contractor can prove very helpful in this regard. It will make your job very simple.

It is not a simple task to plan and organize an event on your own as there are many things that need to be planned and discussed. Where are you planning to organize the event? How many guests will be invited? How to make food arrangements? These are some of the questions that usually strike your mind before you start your event. The best answer for your event planning and catering related needs is to hire a professional catering contractor.

Catering contractors are experienced people who deal with all kinds of events starting from personal to corporate. No matter whether you are looking for corporate catering, wedding or birthday catering services, they have the right expertise to provide you with the best possible services in the shortest possible time. If you are hiring a professional contractor for your event, you would not have to compromise on the quality and level of service.

Major benefits of hiring a professional contractor for all your catering needs include:

Experienced and polite staff members

No doubt, high-quality personal service creates a better impression on your guests. If you are handling an event on your own, you might not be able to pay equal attention to all your guests. But, if you have hired experienced caterers, you need not to worry about this. They are experienced, caring, well-mannered and deal with all guests in a professional way. This creates a better impression on guests and they leave from your party happy and satisfied.

Experienced in handling all types of events

Whether it is a business lunch, corporate event, birthday, wedding, barbeque, funeral or a family occasion, an experienced event catering company is capable of offering the appropriate type of service for all events. Moreover, an expert caterer also provides suitable advice and guidance.

Special offers and deals

A professional contractor also provides special offers and deals to customers depending on the type of meal ordered and the number of guests.

Important services

The entire event is handled by professional experts as per the client's needs and requirements. They plan the whole event which includes budgeting, setting up date and alternate date, selecting and reserving the event site, transportation and parking facility, etc. Apart from these services, they also carry out the final clean-up of the event site.

These are some of the major services rendered by the catering experts to help individuals organize and manage their events in a proper way. Hiring such an expert can help you organize successful events.

"Couples want to give their guests a great meal and memorable experience so they are still ordering nice entrees and wouldn't dream of cutting out the cake," says Katie Grace, Director of Catering for the Grand Hotel Minneapolis. When it comes to saving money at the reception, brides and grooms are opting to limit the open bar.

"It is nice to offer guests complimentary beverages, however, one can still host a memorable event without doing so," Grace continued. "Many brides are hosting just one hour of open bar, a champagne toast and/or wine with dinner, and a cash bar is available for the rest of the evening. Most wedding guests do not mind paying for their own alcoholic beverages." This move can save thousands of dollars without sacrificing the quality of the event.

What to tip your vendors

Your vendors are responsible for making your wedding day great and many couples wonder what the standard is for tipping vendors and who normally gets a tip.

Catering Coordinator: Most couples aren't aware that their catering contact doesn't get any of the mandatory gratuity tagged onto their bill. They do a lot of work for you, so it is really nice to thank them with a gratuity. Standard gratuity ranges from $50 to $2,500, but the average is $100-$300.

Wedding DJs: Your DJ is working hard for your gratuity and typically the majority of their compensation comes from a tip. Fifteen to twenty percent of the show price is standard.

Hair and makeup: Just like if you were to go to a salon, your hair and makeup artists do expect a tip. The standard amount is 18-20% of your service price.

Photography: Unlike DJs and hair and makeup artists, photographers do not rely on a tip as their compensation. However, most couples do tend to tip their photographer. The typical tip for photography is anywhere from $100-$1000 per event. Some couples prefer to wait and see their photos before giving their photographer a tip.

Videography: Five to fifteen percent of the service price. They get tipped less than photographers, but they definitely deserve it. Some couples do wait until they see their video.

Event Planner: Typically event planners see 10-15% of the price as a gratuity. If you have hired a planner, you know how invaluable they are to your wedding success!

Officiant: Fifty to $200 is the standard gratuity for your officiant.

Transportation: Fifteen to twenty percent of the price. They also rely heavily on tips for compensation and many transportation companies automatically add gratuity on to the package price.

Florist: It is not typical to tip your florist. However, if you have extensive floral, a small gratuity would be appreciated.

Cake: No gratuity necessary.

Photo Booth: Fifty to $100 is the average tip.

It's not the goal of this article to explain the technical details of what cookies are and how they work; all you really need to understand is that cookies are small files than can be created by web pages. The files are stored on a user's computer and can be accessed later by the website. Cookies are generally harmless, but like anything (software, cars, guns) when people use them inappropriately, they often get a bad name made for them.

So what does all this mean to meeting planners?

Online registration software packages have recently started to include the ability to track visitors throughout the entire registration process. This is accomplished through the use of harmless tracking cookies that are placed on a registrant's computer. These cookies allow you to answer questions like:

How many potential registrants viewed the form?

Where did the registrants come from?

How long did they take to fill out each part of the form?

How many visitors actually became registrants?

Where in the process do most of the visitors leave the form?

As you can see, this is valuable information to know about your form. Online registration saves you time by automatically sending out confirmation emails to your registrants, processing payments online, running and emailing reports and much more, so that you can concentrate on improving and adding value to your event.

This added information allows you to use the time saved using the software to improve your registration form. Reevaluate the spots where registrants get stuck, find new partners via referral stats, or provide incentives for your promoters to send you more registrants by running your own affiliate program.

Clearly, the addition of cookie technology to online event registration software for the purpose of tracking visitor behavior is very valuable. Even if you've never used web tracking software before, it is very easy to get started and the potential rewards are very high for those willing to take advantage.

Horse racing is not just about big bucks and loads of galloping but also about high-end fashion and glamour. Fashion is a huge and vital element of the horse races. Each year the horse racing season brings out the fashionista in everyone and attendees fish out all their chic finery to drape and be noticed. Horse racing news and information dissipating publications do special features on racing fashion. No racing news or review is complete without a mention of the fashion and glamour at the event.

Fashion is what builds a connection of such events with the general audience because good looks never go unnoticed and are one of the most commonly discussed topics among people of any taste. There are several competitions also held to judge the glamour quotient at the event. Not just the horse racing news magazines partake in these competitions but popular fashion magazines also use these events for promotion and a way to engage with their audience.

So if you are planning to go for a racing event you need to ensure that you dress right and be at your glamorous best to let the shutterbugs come rolling in. Here are a few tips to help you dress perfectly:

Be sure of the dress code- Most of these events like to have a standard dress code and ensure that it is followed to the "T." If any attendee does not abide by the dress code, event planners posses all the right to turn such guests away. So it is always better to read that invitation enclosure carefully and thoroughly to avoid any embarrassment later.

Keep an eye on the season and the weather- Before choosing what to wear for a race always check the weather beforehand. Dress according to the weather for the day and always be ready for any weather emergency. Make sure that you read the weather section of the horse racing news publication before heading out. Dress keeping in mind the season and time of the day as well. If it is a bright sunny day of spring then go for bright tones of colors and prints while for a race in the autumn season go neutral with your color choice.

Be classy- For such events "less is more" norm is followed. Well-cut dresses with elegant falls and flow teamed with stylish and bold accessories help you to stand out. Classic suits with a quirky bend are also befitting for such occasions. But most importantly wear what suits you the best, compliments your figure and accentuates your looks, even if it is not the "it" trend for the moment. In most cases fashion victims in horse racing news and fashion magazines are the ones who follow the trends too closely.

Planning an event can be difficult. There are a mountain of things to be done and not enough time to do them. You will be rushed and anxious much of the time. Remember, though, that nothing will ever be perfect. When planning a big event, assume there will be problems, and plan to accept and solve them with grace.

Murphy's Law says that anything that can go wrong will go wrong. Event planning is no exception to this rule. Successful event planners accept the fact that there will be last-minute problems. Their plans include enough time and resources to deal with the problems that arise.

As when you go to the grocery store, you'll always forget something. Even when you check and double-check your schedule and plans, something you didn't think of will rear its ugly head at the most inconvenient time. The best way to meet this challenge is to allow extra time for quick fixes and identify people who can help you at a moment's notice.

The first question you will have to ask yourself is: "Is it really that important?" Problems arising from an unfortunate choice of colors or a centerpiece that is just a bit too big may not be serious enough to bother with. When an issue comes up, ask yourself if it's critical to the success of the event. If it's not critical, perhaps you can afford to let it go.

One way to avoid these ankle-biters is to make a comprehensive checklist. The list will include every action, every product, and every person you need to assure a successful event, in the order you need them done. As they are finished, you can get the self-satisfaction of checking them off your list. And the checklist will help others who are involved in the event preparations as well. If you're not available for questions, they can consult the checklist.

Especially in those last days and moments before the event, you'll have to be flexible and creative to solve problems. Again, ask yourself how important it really is. If you can let it go, let it go. Better to skip a small detail than to sacrifice something critical because you were involved with the little hitch. Keep your mind open to innovative and unusual solutions, too. And take advantage of the people around you. You don't have to come up with all the answers to find the appropriate solutions.

If the event's already underway, try to find a solution that doesn't disrupt the flow of the event. Certainly, you won't want to draw a lot of attention to a problem that might not have been noticed. Make a judgment call - will anyone be injured in any way if the problem isn't solved? Does the problem have the potential to ruin the occasion? Is there someone available who could fix things quickly and quietly? Rely on your co-workers and friends to help you catch potential problems before they develop. And trust them to solve them. Don't feel that you are the only person in the room who can do it. That's simply not true, and maybe a very costly assumption.

The most important thing you can do when a problem pops up during your event is to keep cool. If you panic, you will be much less likely to find a solution. And if you panic, your guests will know something's up. They may even become anxious or overly concerned. If you stay cool, calm, and collected, you'll be in a better position to judge the severity of the problem. Is it something that will likely go away by itself? Is there, in fact, an urgent need for you to take action?

The biggest thing that you need to do when you see that something is going off course at your event is to not get upset. You want to be able to stay calm and use your resources that you have to fix the problem. Keep your perspective. One mis-step will not ruin an event. Don't over-react. Relax and let your intuitive side take over. The answer will come, if you let it come. It's really very simple. Don't sweat the small stuff. Fix the big stuff. And have fun! The number one ingredient to a successful event is that the person hosting it has a good time!

When it comes time to throwing an event, one of the things that you have to remember to do is work on the food that will be delivered or even catered. If you are having a get together with friends, families, or coworkers, it's vastly important to consider a menu for them to utilize while at your home or wherever your event is going to be held. Food is a vast important piece to any major event, unless you absolutely want to cook for many guests in your kitchen, you might want to look into catering services.

These services can provide a variety of meals, drinks, and social services that event planners can rely on to move forward and mingle with their guests instead of being trapped inside the kitchen. Consider the following 3 things to remember when hiring a service of this nature.

1. Size - You need to consider the size of your party and the size of your space. Catering services most likely need to plan out a menu that is weighed heavily on the space that you're going to use and how many people are going to be expected. By having a good estimate of this nature, you will be able to hire someone that has your specifics in mind.

2. Food Options - The second thing that you need to consider is food options. Will the party serve only appetizer type goods? Or will you ask for main courses, and desserts? This type of planning is vastly important because of set up, pre-cooking, and many other nuances that are specific to creating a full menu to feed many. If you're not throwing a formal get together, finger foods could always work, but if you're looking to have a large gathering, full courses on the bill of fare is important.

3. Drinks - The drinks that you choose for a party is important, and careful thought should be taken. Make sure that your service allows for alcohol or soft drinks, or even both. If you have both options, consider the cost that is involved, and whether or not there will be a fully stocked bar, or if it will only be wine and beer, or just wine. Sifting through the beverage choices will allow you to move forward with relative ease on options for your party, making it an event of epic proportions.

Catering services can be utilized for more than just parties and get togethers. They can be utilized for wedding ceremonies. Weddings are one of the most important parts of a society, and getting the right food for the reception is one of the crucial elements of planning. Make sure to look at the above options when you're booking a caterer for your event, party, or reception. Without some preplanning, consideration, and time, a person will not be able to get the right kind of food, drink, and seating options. Consider the venue, the amount of people that will be there, and your budget. If you can keep that in mind, you will end up moving forward with simplicity.

In producing an event, sound quality is of the highest importance. It takes a lot of time and attention to coordinate all the audiovisual elements of a successful business meeting, presentation, or corporate event. Great sound services during an event or conference can improve the interaction between the presenter and the audience.

The sound equipment most frequently used for events consist of microphones, mixers, and speakers for amplification of sound in the room. The microphones used most often are either (or mixture of) the following: lavaliere, wireless, or cabled. These mics send their system to the mixer. The size of the mixer depends on the number of microphones or sources of sound expected during the event. A mixer allows the audio visual technician to adjust the volume and characteristics of each sound input, mix the signals, and resend them to the speakers.

The basic objective of a professional sound service is to "amplify" the:

* Voice of the presenter,
* Music playing,
* Presentation services audio visual,
* Video,
* Internet demonstration or
* Video conference.

The intent is to make it easily audible to all persons present in a meeting, conference center, or event room.

If the event takes place in a small room, that has no or little outside noise, the speaker's voice is loud, and there are 25 or less attendees, a sound system rental may not be necessary.

However, if the room is large, there is a lot of environmental noise, the speaker is soft spoken, and there are more than 25 persons at the meeting, a sound system should be considered.

Additionally, if the meeting is large and Q & A is expected, your event or meeting should have at least 1 wireless microphone for every 40 participants. It is also possible to use wired microphones placed throughout the room in strategic areas.

The main question event meeting planners need to ask is this: "Is what is being said, or listened to, important to be heard by all"? If so, use a microphone! The event audio visual company can inform microphone users -- where to stand, how to use the mic, and set up microphone stands exactly to the height of their mouths. The presenter needs to take the time to adjust the mic stand if necessary and speak clearly into the microphone. Many novice speakers think they are speaking too loud and back away from the mic which causes more problems because people cannot hear them.

It is very important that sound systems provide clear, clean, and reliable amplification. Feedback or noise in the signal may go unnoticed by the presenter, but can be very uncomfortable and annoying to the attendees if it is constant. The equipment and the advice of the event services company can provide resources that event planners should leverage to avoid audio atrocities.

Starting a small business takes a lot of planning and the ability to execute your business plans. Though it doesn't require a big capital for a small business however you cannot lose your capital as this will cause a serious trouble on the financial front at the same time your future expansion plans. If you have knowledge about how to run a business successfully, you won't be able to take a wrong move that can affect your business plans. Before we go on further to the small business ideas, refer to the tips for running a small business.

• Can it sustain your everyday expenses and can it profit you.

• Can it raise enough funds to get it running for a long time and can become a profitable venture.

• Is it something that is needed everyday and does it has an appeal to sell on a steady basis?

• Is it something that you know how to do and can you do it well?

• Is it something that you like to do and doesn't mind you at all doing it over and over again?

Now that we know our objective in putting up a small business let's go forward and see what are the best idea for small business this 2012.

1. Online business - this may include article writing/blogging, virtual assistant, translator, copy writer or bookkeeper, data entry, etc. This is one of the ideal business ideas for beginners would be to take advantage of various online business opportunities. By doing online data entry and online paid survey jobs, you can earn money per hour for your work. The more accuracy and consistency you show in your job, the more work you will get.

2. Mobile apps development - almost all people nowadays possesses a mobile phone and included on the mobile phone is application that people always uses. Calendars, Alarm Clocks, notepads are some example of applications that are commonly downloaded. Whether this is a businessman, a politician, an artist or just an ordinary person has a lot or even tons of mobile application.

3. Make-up artist or hair salons - Providing either makeup artist services or hair salons is yet another interesting small business idea. Makeup artists are in great demand in the fashion and entertainment industry. If you have the required makeup skills and talent, you can start your own company and do the makeup of television and movie stars. By providing good service, you can get long-term contracts which will increase your revenues greatly. The great thing about hair salons is that they are a sure thing. No matter how dismal the economic climate, women will still scrape together the money to get their hair done, even if they have to let their nails go. So hair salons with talented stylists and well-priced services will still be real money makers.

4. Cleaning services (pool, yard, garage etc.) - A cleaning service is a good business proposition for a person who relishes the idea of cleaning apartments, homes and commercial establishments. Housekeeping is an art and people are typically deterred by the prospect of getting grease, tough stains and odors out of carpets, keeping their bathroom clean and eliminating odors from their refrigerator. Hence, a cleaning service can be a steady source of income assuming that there are no immediate competitors. Otherwise, one would have to spend money on advertising and this may eat into one's profits. Cleaning services can operate round the clock since residential apartments are generally cleaned during the day while commercial buildings are cleaned after office-hours. Considering that cleaning services earn popularity and goodwill through word of mouth, a job that is well done will rarely go unnoticed.

5. Elder assistant or baby sitting - being a babysitter doesn't require you to have a license, with more parents needing to work and offering a home based child care can be a great way of starting your own business while taking care of your own kids too. The growing numbers of senior baby boomers also provide growing business opportunities for senior care. In-home care and senior residences are the obvious ones, but don't forget all the related opportunities such as driving, delivery, catering and cleaning services for seniors who want to stay in their homes. You can certainly develop your own business providing care for seniors.

6. Recycler - the best thing of being a recycler is that you're not just earning your own money and you're also helping the environment. Average homeowner doesn't always know where or how to recycle the stuff they've got. A pickup truck are all you'd need to start buying or simply offering to remove scrap metal, old computers, electronics, ink cartridges and other recyclable materials.

7. Event management/party planner - Event management or party planning can also be a good option for a small business. Event planners have to organize a particular event by taking into consideration the suggestions given by their clients. This job requires creativity, patience and ability to get work done from people on time. It can help you be a successful event planner if have a good team of creative professional that can help you organize the event under you.

8. Online selling - whether this is a pre-loved or brand-new stuff you can still earn big bucks. This is being popularized by e-bay. There are still some people who have a whole lot of money and are willing to spend it on the name products that matter. Luxury handbags, scarves, and shoes for women are still selling well, for instance.

9. Social media consultants - With the ever rising of the social media era and the giant social networking sites, such as Facebook, Twitter, and You tube, businesses have been taking advantage of this to gain more exposure for their brands and products. With more than 800 million active users in Facebook alone, business promotion in this top social networking site is now a priority for business owners and marketers. If you have the social media marketing skills that can outsource likes and follows for your client's business, then this business can help you earn cold cash on the Internet.

10. Pet related services such as pet sitter, pet cleaning and grooming services - Most Canadians and Americans loves pet especially dogs and feeding, caring for them and pampering their pooches a spending priority. Kennels, doggie daycare, dog treat bakeries and dog resorts are few of the things that you may want to venture in.

These are not necessarily ideas for businesses that anyone can start however you can get some idea on the list above. But in my opinion, these are business opportunities that are going to provide real chances to make money in 2012 and beyond. Business that is done right, in the right place and for the right people may be profitable enterprises for years to come. If you've been considering a sale in 2012, take your time and do it right. Plan ahead, research your market and stand out from the competition. Knowing the sales process is half the battle. With proper preparation, you can ensure a stress free transition and a financially successful exit from your business.

Despite the abundance of clichés thrust upon New York regarding large fruit, alleged insomnia and its status as the self-appointed capital of the world, it is impossible not to fall for a city that charms as much as this one. I love it above all others. But it is a city so well-known, even those who have never visited it feel they possess an intimate knowledge of its most arcane alleyways. Movie-makers and television producers have seemingly shown us every surprise, making it harder for meeting planners to astonish an audience. Perhaps the challenge to unearth something new is New York's greatest appeal?
 
So how do you approach a group wanting to experience New York from a new angle? As Maddie Czerwinski from Get U.S. Destination Event Management sees it: "The pockets of diversity found within the city are what makes visiting New York such a rich experience, regardless of how many times you have been. There are hidden districts within every borough. You can go from high fashion on Fifth Avenue to a neighbourhood as culturally diverse as Harlem in just a few blocks."

When looking for specifics, the overwhelming response from the NY DMCs is that local knowledge is king, and few have better insider information than Kitt Garrett of Discover New York.
 
"Nothing beats local knowledge, so choose your DMC wisely to save time, effort and money," Garrett says. "We've had planners choose a combination of a restaurant and a theatre based upon an internet map. They think that it's a three-minute transfer. The fact is that due to traffic and the season, it could be at least half an hour away. Location, meeting space requirements, distance from off-site events, service, ambiance, the price-to-value relationship - the options all need to be balanced, and without knowing the local scene, you will struggle to make informed decisions. And for all New York's many assets, it is anything but simple. Every destination needs service and venues to match the needs of the client, but in New York it is just that much more extreme."
 
Karen Shackman of Shackman Associates shares this view, and it underpins the organisation's move to provide programmes that allow guests to experience New York rather than merely observe it. "There are a number of different areas we know people look to incorporate into any event - namely shopping, theatre, dining, culture or sports," she says. "So we have worked with our extensive local contacts in each of these areas to develop exclusive customised experiences which give guests the true 'inside track,' rather than the same mass-market options they would find on the internet or through a hotel concierge.

"Depending on the demographics of the group, we could highlight alternative takes on New York - from the trendy to the arty, from classic New York to the hidden gems we save for our proposals. Clients are even visiting the amazing multicultural areas of Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx, which, not so long ago, even the locals didn't fully appreciate.
"And for those groups with more than a few days, they can get out of the city entirely to experience different aspects of New York State - be they artistic, culinary, military, historical or otherwise."
 
As with any destination, choosing a hotel to match your delegates' needs is vital, and, as with everything else in New York, the choice is huge. However, Garrett is keen to sound a note of caution. "Many meeting planners try to select a hotel over the internet, but have no idea of its service levels, the time it takes to move from place to place, or simply if it will suit their guests. Even if the DMC is not buying the hotel for you, in New York you really still need to involve them in the process."
 
New York and hype go hand-in-hand and that is especially true when it comes to hotels. Take The London NYC, refurbished and re-branded on the site of the delightful Rihga Royal. This hotel has received extensive column inches from the travel and style magazines, based predominantly on its eponymous restaurant - the New York residence of Gordon Ramsey. But is it worth it? Does the money spent on PR translate into a hotel of genuine substance? "Oh yes, The London is fabulous," says Ina Lee Selden of Manhattan Passport DMC. "We have booked it for lots of groups. Lately they have loosened up on the rules for the restaurant, making it possible to do breakfast without having to resort to private dining, which is a big plus, and of course the location could not be better for a Midtown event. Everything about The London feels five-star, but it has also been offering some good four-star prices."
 
Another property to undergo a massive facelift and an injection of cash is the legendary Plaza on Central Park. In terms of history, location and a name to dazzle it's hard to top, but since its re-invention so too are the room rates. Selden explains: "It is not easy to book a group at the Plaza. When it re-opened the rates were astronomical, and since there are no longer rooms on the park (that's a privilege reserved for the residential apartments that share the building), even by New York standards it seems excessive. But its history and tradition are still intact, and the location is simply incredible."
 
Just along from the Plaza is another fully refurbished property, The Essex House. Renovated from roof to cellar at the expense of the seemingly bottomless pockets of the Jumeirah Group, the hotel's near-perfect location right on Central Park South is now complemented by an interior that can compare with the best in the world.
 
The Four Seasons, The Pierre, The Peninsula, The Carlyle, New York Palace and a brace of Ritz-Carltons, of course, remain at the top of the hotel roster, where even the most demanding of guests would feel their appetite for luxury and service sated. These have been joined by New York's five-star international masterpiece, the Mandarin Oriental. Living up to every expectation demanded of one of the world's leading marques, the Mandarin Oriental is perfect for both groups and individuals, while rates are reportedly competitive against its five-star rivals.
 
For those wanting to take a step down from the top-end rates of the leading luxury properties, the Omni Berkshire on East 52nd Street is an often-overlooked property that knows the meetings market as well as anyone, and rarely disappoints. Similarly, those wanting the boutique style should look at the likes of Starwood's various W hotels, including The Times Square, and, in particular, The New York, where European delegates appreciate the comfort, location and, at weekends, the buzz in the lobby bar. This bar is ideal for conference groups as there are no cover charges, no minimum orders and no fear that an over-zealous doorman will mess with your reservations.
 
The perennial appeal of Manhattan is illustrated by the fact that a well-known UK-based consumer-goods brand is taking 60 top distributors to New York next month. It may be a sign of the times that the company is coy about celebrating its success and motivating its staff. The programme has been organised by Gerry York at UK-based Oxford Motivation who says that Rio and Dubai were also considered as destinations. "The former was ruled out because it was considered too far and perhaps a little risky; the latter was ruled out because it is regarded as a bit of a building site," York says. "New York won because it remains this industry's top draw - it has great shopping, great theatres, great food and the flight is not overly tiring."
 
The exchange rate is an issue - York costed the event at $1.75 to the pound - as this went to press the pound was down to $1.43 with little sign that it had bottomed out. He says: "The client is aware of the reality of the situation and will absorb the extra cost. We are flying with Virgin who gave us a very competitive rate and the group is staying at the Sofitel near Fifth Avenue - a beautiful property in an ideal location."
 
York believes that when times are tough, clients return to their trusted favourites and that in the current climate clients are looking for the 'old stalwarts' rather than venturing out to new destinations. He says: "New York has a very strong image which has been won over many years in the eyes of corporate planners, and in times of economic stress this investment starts to pay off, when they are looking for a 'sure-fire' destination that will excite potential incentive qualifiers. It is not a 'risky' destination with no track record. Clients also expect a deal when times are tough, so just quoting the going rate is no good. They need to feel that the agency has been able to broker a good deal, so offering reduced rates, complimentary upgrades and other 'free' facilities all helps to get the business confirmed."

For your growing commerce, you need a more effective way to manage registration and curtail mounting administrative costs. Increasing numbers of individuals and businesses are reaping the benefits of Event Registration Software to arrange, promote, and market their events, meetings, and conferences with just a click of the mouse.

By using an effective event management solution, organizers can easily create and handle online registration, payment system, and promotional activities. Whether you are arranging a small, medium, or large-sized event, the software comes handy to all who favors a quick and easy online access to meetings and seminars anytime and from anywhere.

Benefits

Online event registration software offers economical and competent Cloud-based solutions that companies generally look for. Besides, there are some more reasons for increasing number of businesses to rely on web-based software instead of traditional paperwork methods.

Instant Creation Of Registration Pages

You can create and publish an online registration page within minutes. Attendees can then access the page anytime and from anywhere to get all kinds of information related to the event.

Customizing the Registration Pages

Online registration solution helps to customize an event registration page to bring in the look and feel of the website of the organizer. Event managers can add their company logos and specific themes and color to generate their own modified registration pages.

User-friendly Payment Option

Handling payment processing is a big deal for most event organizers. The issue can be addressed by using online registration solutions that open up safe and secured diverse payment gateways for attendees.

Valuable Marketing Tool

Web-based event management solutions help to promote awareness among large sections of people. A large number of target audiences can be drawn toward your event by creating a profile page in social networking sites, such as Facebook, Twitter, and so on. Updating your clients about the events on a regular basis can also be done using various marketing tools, for example newsletters, email campaigns, and whitepapers, to name a few.

Decreasing Work Pressure

The event management software is a single integrated platform that does all your paperwork, thereby giving you time to focus on other important areas of the event.

Minimizing Administrative Costs

The burden of increased administrative costs gets lowered, as all kinds of information related to registration, payment facilities and promotion and marketing needs is provided online to the attendees. The web-based registration solution, thus, saves additional cost of printing leaflets or brochures.

Enhance Attendance Rates

Quick and easy sign-up and getting regular updates help to attract more attendees toward a particular event. Event planners can communicate with their clients on a daily basis and keep them informed about the present and future event and more.

A comprehensive Event Registration Software can be used by individuals and companies to ensure fast and secure online registration and payment options. It also helps to create, promote, sell, and manage events, classes, seminars, and training sessions.

Olympic organizers made a concerted effort to make the 2012 London Olympics the most environmentally friendly games in history. Event planners who want to make their affairs greener can learn from what is going on in London right now.

Recycling Starts At Home

Construction at the London Olympics made extensive use of recycled metal including abandoned gas pipes, and the complex of buildings was built using one tenth of the steel used in Beijing in 2008. Buildings were designed to use natural lighting and ventilation to minimize the amount of electricity that would be needed.

Keeping your event environmentally friendly begins well before the opening date. You need to do more than simply put out a couple of recycling containers and call it green. You don't have to build an entire Olympic village to benefit from recycled and sustainable materials. Reuse decoration or construction materials from past events. Buy compostable cups instead of plastic. Educate staff and volunteers on cleanup duties to ensure trash and recycling don't intermingle.

Make Recycling Easy For Guests

A survey found that 97% of London residents felt there weren't enough facilities to accommodate recycling efforts. To meet the new demand hundreds of new recycling containers were placed throughout London's city center to prepare for the large Olympic crowds. These containers with their bright green faces were easy to spot by people wondering where to dump a plastic bottle or aluminum can.

You have little control over how your guests dispose of waste during the event. It can be frustrating to see someone throw a plastic bottle in a trash can right next to a recycling container, but mistakes and carelessness happen. What you can do is make it easy for your guests by placing plenty of recycle bins throughout the location, especially around high traffic areas such as food vendors.

Learn From Mistakes

One problem that has been observed at the London Olympics is that, despite the presence of recycling containers, there has been significant mingling of materials. This may be due to inadequate marking of container locations, insufficient containers to meet the need, or improper education of Olympic visitors. Future Olympic organizers will have to come up with better ways to encourage people to recycle.

If your event has the same problem, then you need to ask yourself why this happened. For example, did you place recycle bins and trash cans together or separately? It is better to place receptacles next to each other so no one is tempted to throw items into the wrong container simple because it's closer. Or perhaps bins weren't emptied often enough so guests were forced to throw recyclables into the trash.

In addition to the obvious ecological benefits, recycling saves money and improves your public image. Place plenty of recycling containers at your next event to help save the environment and boost your company's bottom line.

Are you hosting a live and memorable event for your close friend or a family member? Wondering what you can use as centerpieces for the tables?

The eco-friendly trend today is not to use disposable items such as flowers or fruit. Rather, many creative event planners are choosing to decorate their customers' festive tables with gift baskets as the centerpieces.

Inside the baskets are themed items that always include a memorable item, food treats, and sometimes games and puzzles to delight specific age groups.However, at the end of the event, who gets to take the centerpieces home, is always the question.

To clarify your intentions, especially if you're going to donate the baskets to a charity, you could place a note card alongside the centerpiece that states that it will be donated to a specific charity at the end of the evening.You might even want to encourage several of your guests to hand deliver the centerpieces to a favorite charity, and then the spirit of the event would get carried forward with your thoughtfulness and generosity.

If your gift baskets contain various selections of food, you might want to consider donating them to one or more local food banks. Those organizations would be delighted to receive such an offering, especially if the items have a long shelf life like canned goods, paper goods, and boxed snacks, treats, and cereals.

Likewise, if the event is a baby shower, you could donate disposable diapers, formula, baby clothes and blankets to charitable organizations geared especially for unwed moms and women's shelters.

Welcome to the fabulous world of event planning! If you have a special event, meeting, concert, festival, or party to produce, plan, or coordinate, you have come to the right place. Events do not just happen by themselves; they are well planned, specifically orchestrated, and extremely coordinated. Preparation is the key to any successful event. Remember, a planner is responsible for the education, entertainment, feeding, housing, safety, and care of all attending or participating in your events. It is a huge responsibility and not to be taken lightly.

Event planning is a process that starts by delineating the beginning and the end of the event. At that point, it becomes a project and you are the project manager! It is not like your typical job where you go in and do the same thing every day. Your tasks and responsibilities change each day during the process and will be different with each event. You will need to be skilled in many areas of the event business. What hat will I wear today?

There is always something new or different to enhance the logistics and creativity of planning an event. Things are changing all the time, whether it is new technology, new ways to "green" your event, social media and networking services and applications, new or remodeled venues, contracts, or insurance laws; it is wise to keep up with new developments in all of these areas.

Each event is complex and diverse with unique characteristics. There can be thousands of details associated with one event. You will wear many hats, juggle a number of tasks simultaneously, and use many skills. The job of the event planner varies according to the size, the scope, and the complexity of your event. You will be responsible for any number of different tasks; including but not limited to:

• Client consultation


• Setting budgets


• Choosing dates


• Selecting and inspecting a location


• Negotiating with and choosing suppliers


• Arranging transportation


• Negotiating room rates and booking blocks of hotel rooms


• Arranging catering


• Booking entertainment or speakers


• Writing copy for publicity


• Creating a Facebook page and twitter account


• Gathering leads for potential participants


• Writing social media content


• Choosing printers


• Creating agendas


• Hiring security


• Signing contracts


• Dealing with lawyers


• Compiling participants' packets


• Gathering and directing volunteers


• Sticking on labels


• Shipping boxes

You will be interacting with chief executive officers, talent agents, general managers, waiters, house cleaners, and everyone in-between. You will meet or talk to different people every day. Therefore, communication skills are necessary!

For those of you new to event planning, finding a complete guidebook will direct your progress, help organize your time, provide you with resources and suggestions, keep you focused, and allow you to look as though you have been an event planner for years. Best of all, it may keep you from making the costly and time-consuming mistakes thousands of planners have made before you. Just one or two of the tips from an experienced planner can save you a great deal of money on one event alone and possibly save your job as well! And be flexible. One of the most important characteristics of an event planner is flexibility.