Corporate Event Planning|Event Management|Event Planner

Throwing a company picnic involves more than just setting a date, hiring a caterer, and choosing a location. Yes, that's the list of basics if you just want a routinely boring event. Your company picnic offers the opportunity to do more than provide some food in a relaxing atmosphere. To get more from your picnic, there are a few things that must happen before the big event.

Goals of Your Company Picnic

First, let's decide what you want to accomplish with the company picnic... do you just want to say thanks to your employees, give employees the chance to get to know each other on a personal basis, to honor an employee, or to celebrate a company event. If you know what you want to accomplish, before you begin to plan your picnic you'll be much more likely to create the atmosphere required to get the desired actions.

Once you know what you want to accomplish choosing the theme for your company picnic becomes much easier. The theme of your company picnic can be centered on the season, a holiday, or it can be company related, such as a new acquisition, or increased performance, or whatever positive event has occurred within the company. Your imagination is the only limit when choosing themes.

Let's say your goal is to provide time for your employees to get to know each other in a more personal way. Team events are a great way to evoke open communication and build unity. Friendly competition gives your employees a chance to be in the limelight and gather support from co-workers. So be sure to include a team event at your picnic.

Location

Choosing the location also plays an important role. Using the previous example, the attendees are much more likely to converse and enjoy each others company if they are in one specific location. Let's say you have decided to hold the company picnic at a local park. Rather than just say come to the park and lunch will be served at twelve. Set times for specific events, like slow pitch softball beginning at 10:30, trail walk for the kids at 11:15, volleyball game at 1:00.

Choosing activities and entertainment for your company picnic also needs to revolve around the theme and your underlying goals. In addition, you need to be sure to keep the needs and tastes of those attending in mind as you plan this aspect of your company picnic. Planning for employees only, versus employees and family results in different types of agendas, so make sure to include activities for every age group within the crowd.

Allow sufficient time to give your attendees advance notice before the company picnic, so they can include your event in their plans. Make sure everyone attending knows the schedule of events and what's happening before the day of the event. This helps everyone be able to prepare and bring any necessary items.

Add the "Bling" to Your Company Picnic

Next it is time to add the "bling". To make your company picnic shine, get creative. Banners, balloons and other decorations add a sense of festivity. Music and entertainment are other components to add to the zest of the picnic.

Giving prizes also adds excitement to a company picnic. Holding a drawing for prizes serves more than one function. These prizes create a sense of employee appreciation. They will also ensure that attendees of the picnic linger and socialize.

Planning, scheduling, and finding providers for food, beverages, entertainment, and music can be time consuming. Finding and meeting with a host of providers and coordinating everything can sometimes be time consuming and put a strain the budget. Often it is easier to contact event planners and compare prices and services.

Using an event planner reduces the time involved and also ensures no detail is omitted. Event planners will assist you with every aspect of your company picnic...even suggesting company picnic ideas. All you need to do is set the specifics of what you want and they will take care of the rest. Everything is be included- food, beverages, activities, entertainment and music.

It is a good idea to confirm everything relating to the picnic plans at least two weeks prior to the event. This allows enough time to solve any problem issues without rush or panic. Even of you have chosen to use an event planner, you still want to make contact to ensure everything is going as scheduled.

Effectively planning your company picnic will create a day of fun and relaxation. Great food, fun activities, good prizes, and hopefully sunny weather along with your creative ideas all comes together for a memorable event. Ready, set...plan and enjoy!

An evening at a memorable charity event is sure to inspire attendees to donate more money to a charitable organization. And, event planners must take advantage of this willingness when setting up one of the most important fundraisers of the night-The Auction.

So, how can event planners know what will reap in the most profits? One study, which asked charity event goers what type of auction items they would most prefer to bid on, showed that unique experiences (like lunch with a celebrity) are the most popular choices with a leading 29% vote. However, over 28% of other voters said that tickets to a sporting event or a concert would be just as preferable. Beauty or fashion items, complimentary dinners, and memorabilia were the least preferred choices consecutively.

Charities should not be surprised by such data. It's already been established that today's up and coming philanthropists crave priceless experiences. And what makes a priceless experience? Being a part of something, like an event they can share with friends, that they simply wouldn't trade for anything else. Keeping this in mind, it is obvious that inert objects like memorabilia and fashion items are the last things that people are hoping to bid for at a charity event.

According to recent research done by an organization which works with successful non-profits every day and helps sell out events through their new online ticketing service, the best advice a charity organization can take is to focus auctions around getting more mileage (and profit) by offering trips, outings, and communal opportunities rather than stuff.

An essential ingredient in either being a successful leader, or a successful event planner/ organizer, is the creation of perceived value. It is important for leaders and organizers to understand that there is a significant difference between actual value and perceived value. Where actual value may be measured, for example, in monetary terms, perceived value is often far more difficult and challenging to measure. The Free Merriam- Webster dictionary, idictionary.com offers definitions for perception such as "a mental image; physical sensation interpreted in the light of experience; quick, acute, and cognitive cognition" as primary and relevant meanings. However, as it pertains to leadership, perceived value should be thought of as the value that others place on what is being offered. If addressed properly, effective and intuitive leaders make sure that they emphasize perceived value, and thus prioritize expenses, and appeals. On the other hand, in my over thirty years of working with leaders, far more individuals in leadership positions tend to minimize emphasis on perceived value, and offer spend monies on items that others do not feel provide value.

1. Members perceive open communication as providing significant value. While the leader who reaches out and emphasizes communication, by be disciplined enough to consistently write and communicate their Blog, make telephone calls, jot little personal notes, and use personalized (or at least appearing personalized) emails enhance members perception of being offered something valuable, because perception is to a large degree, experience and attitude based.

2. Event planners need to really emphasize the concept of perceived value. In order to attract potential attendees and sponsors/ supporters to an event, those individuals need to feel that their involved has a true value. This must be a combination of highlighting the benefits and needs of the event, as well as the "what's in it for me" perspective. As a professional event planner and conference organizer, I am convinced that perceived value is certainly not strictly based on what is being spent to put on the event. Rather, it is based on how attractive the schedule or flow sheet appears, how this event compares to the competition (yes, organizations, especially not- for- profits, must realize that there is lots of competition for time, involvement, and monies), how well the negotiator negotiated, proper prioritization, and a keen eye on perceived value. Free (to the organization) items like certain games and activities, walking tours, etc., go a long way towards giving the appearance of value. Event organizers must understand that from a perceived value perspective offering more included Food and Beverage functions (for the price) makes far more sense than spending excessively on costly (but not perceived value) items such as spending lavishly on one event, spending a fortune on speakers, excessive comps, etc.

Leaders who think about perceived value almost always set priorities that the majority of potential and actual members (and in the case of events, attendees) consider valuable. One cannot over- estimate the perceived value and tone that friendly and helpful people create, and the potentials obstacles that are avoided when individuals are made to feel welcome and wanted.

As any planner will tell you, planning and organizing an event is incredibly stressful and time-consuming. With so much on your plate, from scheduling speakers to booking vendors, it's easy to forget about one of the most basic yet most essential parts of your entire event: the arrival, registration, and check-in of your guests. Yes, the actual event or fundraiser should be the primary focus of your efforts, but too much chaos and confusion surrounding the arrival and introduction can quickly evolve the greatest event into a head-spinning mess full of angry and unsatisfied guests and customers. Thankfully, with some careful preparation and intuitive foresight, these "pre-event" disasters can easily be avoided. Here are a few key things to think about when planning for the arrival of your guests and organizing your event's registration and check-in:

Make it Obvious!

Your venue may be small and the route to the registration table may seem unmistakable to you, but one or two confused guests can quickly turn into a larger number, so make sure to clearly label and post signs directing incoming traffic. Taping or hanging colored arrows, for example, is a simple and effective way to corral your guests towards the registration table. If you have the extra workers or volunteers, assigning people to help direct arriving guests is a great way to not only facilitate registration but also to greet guests and sponsors and make them feel welcomed to your event. Though this may seem like overkill to some, the preliminary time spent hanging up signs and designating traffic helpers pales in comparison to the time spent managing a madhouse of confused, upset, and, possibly even, lost guests.

Check Internet Connectivity

It' no secret how reliant and dependent many people have become on their smart phones or tablets, so its important to check the internet connectivity at your venue before the day of the event. More importantly, vendors and speakers may need the internet for various reasons so making sure your location has WiFi or a strong 3G network is crucial to making sure your event runs smoothly. For event hosts using an innovative ticketing application like Ticketbud to sell tickets online for their event, the power of the internet will allow guests to simply display their tickets from their smart phones while the hosts scan them with smart phones. Additionally, the connection will allow the hosts to use Ticketbud's guest check-in feature on their computers instead of checking people off with pen and paper. Whatever applications you use, a strong internet connection is key to ensuring a quick and painless registration process for both the host and the guests.

StreamLINE Registration

In a perfect world, arriving patrons and guests of your event would calmly and orderly make their way to the check-in table and patiently wait for their turn to register. Unfortunately, this is rarely the case with many external factors, and event guests anxious to get through the registration process can easily become agitated and angry. To help prevent a mad dash to the check-in table or an argument over who was in front of who, creating a marked and organized line is a simple yet incredibly effective way to maintain order and avoid any confrontations before the event even begins. Additionally, situating your registration and check-in table in a location with enough space to operate without interfering with other parts of your event is vital to keeping the event on time and running smoothly. If your registration table is too close to the bathroom or the line blocks other vendors tables, for example, the entire check-in process could get backed up, wasting valuable time reserved for the main part of your event.

While these tips may seem obvious and even unnecessary, it might surprise you how many event planners overlook such basic yet essential tasks. The time it takes to plan ahead and prepare for such issues is minimal and, in the end, allows you to avoid unneeded distractions and focus your efforts on the main part of your event. The overall key in planning for the arrival and registration of your guests is to account for everything, no matter how trivial or unimportant it may seem. Little problems become big problems incredibly fast, so planning ahead for issues such as the ones mentioned in this article is a great way to keep your event as dilemma-free as possible and your guests arriving untroubled and leaving delighted.

Not only used for protection against the elements, tent rentals supply an instant venue for festivals, weddings, concerts, parties, trade shows, sporting events, ceremonies, fashion events and more.

Planning

As special event planners, tent rentals give you the freedom to design an open space suited to the event's size and purpose, the number of people attending and the structures essential to the event. Tents allow you to set up and lay out the event according to your needs, without the confines of a traditional roof top venue.

Since each event is unique, research and planning will help determine the type, size and number of tents you will need to carry out the event.

Size Matters

Size is the most important consideration when choosing a tent and requires common sense. Rent a tent large enough for guests to move freely without overcrowding. Oppositely, do not rent a tent too large for a small group because it will seem empty and desolate if there is unused room. Try to find a size that fits a little larger than your needs; that way, you will have the extra room if necessary.

Tent size also depends on the nature and magnitude of the event. Take into account all aspects of the occasion. If you are planning a small graduation celebration, you may need extra space for a dance floor and bar in addition to chairs and buffet tables. For a much larger celebration, such as a festival or fashion show, estimate the amount of people planning to attend (tickets sold), the space needed for food and beverage areas and the approximate room needed for entertainment, stages and dressing rooms. Keep in mind all these factors when selecting a tent for your occasion.

The tent's purpose dictates the number and style of tents you will need. If it is going to serve as the main venue, you will require several pole or frame style tents. If the tent is needed for a trade show booth with two or three people occupying it, a single popup shelter will suffice.

Whatever your occasion, it is best to consult a tent rental specialist to help you decide exactly which style and size tent is right for your event.

Indoor and Outdoor

Tent rentals are used for both indoor and outdoor functions as a way of organizing space. Arranged according to different stations, such as food vendors, merchant stores, first aid tents and stage crew covers, tent rentals add structure and organization to a large auditorium, stadium or park and helps guests navigate their way in unfamiliar facility or open field.

Tent rentals are not only limited to summer months and can be used outdoors throughout the year. This is due to in-tent heating and cooling systems that control the temperature inside the tent. In winter, heating systems protect guests against the cold, and in the summer, air conditioning systems keep guests cool and comfortable.

And of course, in the event of poor weather, such as rain, wind or snow, your guests, equipment and refreshments will be sheltered from these seasonal elements. They will all thank you for consulting an event rentals company.

All Purpose Venues

The versatility and practicality of tent rentals - large or small, indoor or outdoor, winter or summer - give you the freedom to build an authentic venue tailored to your event. By creating a space customized to your event needs, it permits greater flexibility and control, whereby increasing the odds of a more successful occasion.

There are many private event insurance companies, who would offer easy and affordable solution to meet your needs and protect your business or organisation if it is held liable for property damage or bodily injury. They offer a superior combination of coverage quality, purchasing convenience, as well as affordability. The cover is usually provided against cancellation, rescheduling or any mishaps occurring while arranging the event or during the actual event. With the right type of insurance, you can feel confident that while your event's success will be great news, an event gone wrong might not cause any big financial damage. You can also get the insurance cover that would extend to providing cover for you as an employer should your staff make a claim, as well as cancellation insurance, which will recover the money lost if the event has to be cancelled due to something beyond your control. In the case of an outside event this could be something like poor weather.

• A private event insurance event can vary so much and be so hard to understand at times, clients can experience frustration trying to find the coverage that will satisfy their various requirements, including venues etc. This can lead to dissatisfaction with the venue itself for making things really difficult.

• This cover offers your business or organisation coverage and can be a primary coverage if both you and your client are named in a claim and your client is found to be solely at fault. It can be extended to the family members involved or taken as a group insurance scheme for the lives of the entire group. You must however, choose this insurance policy with great care, just like the way you would choose a life insurance for your loved ones or even regular car insurance.

• Private event insurance is ideal for many businesses and organisations planning dinners, meetings and other smaller functions, who are looking for an alternative to the more comprehensive liability products designed for high-risk productions like concerts and sporting events. You can have the coverage of reduced attendance or critical mass loss, sporting event insurance, one day event insurance and several forms of special event insurance like special event liability insurance.

• It is especially designed for those who need liability coverage for a one-time event, and is available to facilities, event planners, and private individuals as well as to other insurance agents. There are many insurance providers in the market these days and it is always a best idea to get quotes from as many providers as you possibly can.

• It's quite easy for the event holder to purchase affordable, broad, commercial general liability insurance with a proven non-admitted event insurer. They can analyse your exposures and are quite skilled to provide a comprehensive insurance package to protect your event or organisation.

As the importance of private event insurance is on the increase, many people are making use of quick and easy online documentation so that no time is wasted in visiting and discussing the insurance details.

Sustainability is here to stay. So what information do event planner's need to know before making the commitment to 'Go Green'? Read on to find out what our top 5 suggestions are:

1. Many shades of Green

First of all, you need to understand that there are many shades of 'green'. i.e. people have different expectations of what exactly classifies as 'green'. While one client may be satisfied using recycled paper, another may demand an entire stage set built of sustainable material. Ensure that you do your research and understand what ethics and values are important to your client or key stakeholders, and ensure you are able to meet their needs.

2. People are not mind readers

If you make the decision to go green, you need to make it known! Be sure to include this fact in your event marketing. Show your stakeholders what you are doing to be more greener and how being more sustainable is of value for them! But make sure you follow it through. According to The Drum, 81% of consumers place more importance on what companies actually do rather than what they say.

3. Prices of premium green products are decreasing

A major obstacle for most companies in the past has been the extra cost associated with these green products. Well good news is, there are already some green products cheaper than the alternatives - such as branded paper products. A 2009 Mintel survey forecasts 19% growth for green products by 2013 based on this factor, making your goals to go green more affordable and attainable.

4. Be aware of the benefits

There are various benefits associated with going green. Some of these include; - Reduced environmental impact - Cost savings - Competitive advantage / promotional benefits - Stakeholder satisfaction. Bottom line - going green has economic, cost saving, environmental and social benefits.

5. Process makes perfect!

When going green it is important you establish commitment. Develop realistic guidelines / objectives (eg. all of our events for 2010 will use recycled conference bags) and communicate these promises to your staff and stakeholders.

In summary, it is a known fact that the events industry is often criticised for it's tendency to create waste. Therefore it is inevitable that the issue of sustainability is becoming more than just a trend for our industry, but rather a necessity.

It seems that green is the new black. By going green, you are not only ensuring the longevity of our planet, but also that of our profession.

Do you daydream about starting an event planning business? Well, today it is one the most highly paid profession. Event planning careers are gaining awareness with the speed of the wind and people find them so interesting. Whether you want to organize small events or big events if your foundation is strong then you can make every event successful.

Introduction:

Many families and corporations do not have enough time, to arrange their events, that is why they seek help from event planners. These planners can perform their duty well enough to satisfy the hosts completely as they have all the resources and proficiencies.

The event planning careers have many areas of specialization. Some are birthday parties, wedding, funerals, business meetings etc. People can choose in whichever they have interest.

An event manager has to plan an occasion according to the requirements of the client. Sometimes, the client has a tight budget or less time span to make the event come alive so the event manager should be trained enough to manage all of that.

Investment:

Although there is not much cash needed in the beginning of this business, however, it will be a good idea if you have plenty back-up cash that can cover the cost of some parts of the event in case something goes wrong.

The things important for this job are skills and quickness. Various institutions are offering courses regarding event management. You can acquire them and enhance your skills. Through these courses, you will get education and training in this field so you will have a strong portfolio. The other thing is that you have to be systematic. Usually the events take place on holidays or in evenings so you need to have high stamina and be multi-tasking so that you can handle everything efficiently.

Marketing your business:

Once you have gained some experience in event planning careers then you need to market your business so that you can get a hold of clients. Start creating banners and business cards. Later on, you can advertise your business in yellow pages or newspapers.

Networking:

Event planners need to have good connections with other services like caterers, decorators, power supply etc so that they can quickly make the arrangements of the event and indulge in bigger projects.

Conclusion:

These are some simple steps, through which you can start your very own event-planning business. Event planning careers are very fruitful and there importance is going to increase more in future.

If you are planning a party at your home then you must prepare for exclusive arrangements from decoration to the dinner. It doesn't matter the size of your party or a special dinner party; what does matters is the vitality of assembling of people at one place for enjoyment. But, if you find it difficult to arrange everything, you can hire an event management company. They can handle every task from decoration to the right party caterer in order to help you organize your event with grand style, great taste and delicious food.

Most of the people often call event planners beforehand to discuss the requirements and budget to be incurred for the event. Whether the party is grand or small scale, event planners can arrange everything as per the defined budget. They call good and reputed caterers that can d矇cor and serve food to the guests at the same time. They even pay special attention to private chefs so that they can deliver their best in order make the party stylish and worth remembering.

One of the integral aspects of your event is the sitting arrangement, event planners determine the number of guests to be invited and based on that arrange chairs and tables and other furniture. It ensures better execution of party at home with all exclusive arrangements. They even perform a short research on the food preparation, wines, bakery items, chocolates and other eateries to be included in the party. They prepare a rough menu draft before finalizing so that you can make several changes before the party. Most of the people still think that hiring an event planner is a time consuming and tiring process; however, it has its own advantages and can make a simple party to the most exclusive one under the budget.

Perhaps, if you want, you can research for the best event management company or any individual party planner that can handle the task and arrange everything responsibly. You can check references and call the local event planners and discuss your needs. However, you must hire the most experience company having substantial experience and expertise in organizing and creating special events. Renowned companies are also engaged in green practices and presentation for more exclusivity. Their depth of experience in special event planning, production and coordination make sure that each event they produce is an outstanding success.

These companies have special attendants and representatives that can determine your exact needs and show their honest and realistic approach towards party planning and organizing.

So how do you find out what your time to complete is? A few of the leading edge online registration software packages now provide integrated analytics reports with their standard registration package. However, if you don't currently use a system like this, or are locked into a restrictive contract with another company, then you may be able to implement a free tracking program like Google Analytics to help you determine your time to complete. But the easiest way to get this information is to use an event registration company that has already done the work for you to give you the right stats.

What you really want to know is how long the entire process takes (introduction to confirmation) as well as how much each page of the form contributes to the total time. This is one of the great advantages that web forms have over paper forms: you can virtually be sitting over your registrants' shoulders watching their progress through the form.

Once you know the total average time to completion you can use it immediately to help increase completed registrations. By adding a line to your introductory page stating that "Registration Takes Only X Minutes" you can help your registrants better plan their time. This in turn will make them more likely to commit a specific block of time to your registration process.

The next step you should take is to break the registration process down into the specific components. This will help you to identify where there are specific sticking points within your registration process that can be improved. Are registrants spending 15 minutes on your lodging page? Maybe you can pare down the options a bit. Are they looking at the pricing options for an inordinate amount of time? Maybe you should look into providing more or less options so that they don't need to work around your system.

Finding out how long it takes your registrants to complete your form gives you great insight into where you can make improvements, and can also make your registrants more comfortable with the registration process. Putting it all together makes great improvements in your form.

Audiovisual technicians set up, maintain, repair, and tear down audio visual equipment used to enhance events, from microphones, video recorders, and projector and screen rental, to sound and lighting rental equipment. They may record meetings and presentations with video cameras, operate spotlights, adjust amplifiers, coordinate graphics, and provide technical support. In addition, AV techs may edit, copy, and store digital media, track inventory, and order supplies. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this industry should have an 13% job growth through the 2008-18 decade, which is faster than average compared to other job categories.

Education

There is no one standard. At a minimum, employers usually require a high school education or GED. Some require an associates degree in audio visual technology, while others insist on a bachelor's degree. Credentialing, such as a Certified Technology Specialist, is offered through InfoComm International. When selecting an audio visual company, you may wish to request what educational level and certifications the technicians have at that organization.

Skills

According to Education-Portal.com, audio visual technicians must be able to transport, assemble, maintain, and repair equipment used in a sales meeting or event. Knowledge of camera and light equipment rental techniques are essential, as is familiarity with editing equipment and software. Audio visual technicians must be creative, flexible, have strong communication skills, and be able to interact with co-workers and clients. Here is a list of skills conference and event meeting planners may wish to keep on file when renting audio visual equipment from an event meeting services company. Does the AV company and/or technician perform the following?

* Repair and clean the equipment

* Notify supervisors when equipment repairs are needed

* Diagnose and resolve media problems on a timely basis

* Understand interactive technology tool rentals from iPads to audience response systems

* Compress, digitize, duplicate, and store data

* Obtain, set up, and load digital media for scheduled events

* Mix, regulate, and control sound and lighting rental inputs and feeds

* Maintain inventory of equipment and supplies

However, the primary reason event planners should consider renting corporate audio visual equipment from an event services company is because seasoned audiovisual technicians can determine approaches, content, and mediums that will effectively meet your objectives within budget constraints -- utilizing research, knowledge, and training.

A special day of course needs special arrangement which includes perfect decoration, delicious menu and provision of entertainment. It requires proper planning to make each thing perfect such that the guests in the party can have moments to cherish forever.

If you are planning to throw a corporate party, then you must be thinking about the best possible ways to make a fantastic party. Besides offering fun-filled atmosphere to employees, corporate events are a way to symbolize the position of the company. By organizing events, you can break the monotony of daily working routine and also can strengthen business relationships with business partners.

Are you thinking of various ways to make your event successful? Here's a short list that won't disappoint you for organizing corporate events:

• Party Venue: For organizing a corporate party, you can consider choosing a venue that has separate sitting arrangement, a platform for live performance, a dining area and other areas for entertaining activities. Along with that, you must leave some space to move around as everyone doesn't like to occupy one seat for the whole party.

• Decoration: After making a selection of the venue, the next thing to consider is the decoration. In order to give elegant look to the corporate event, you can consider decorating the venue with flowers, ribbons and candles. Besides these, lighting arrangement is the major thing to concern. For flawless lighting, you can seek assistance from companies which provide high-quality electronic lighting equipment on rent.

• Food: Be sure to have quality catering services that have provision of variety of cuisines including soft and hard drinks. You can try the food before you finalize the caterer for your event.

• Entertainment: To make the corporate party interesting, you can think about entertainment activities such as discotheque, magic shows, orchestra, dance floor etc. The entertaining aura in the party will help your employees to experience a change from the routine life.

Organizing corporate events need lots of planning. In order to have your party arranged in a comfortable manner, you can think about contacting professional event planners of your area as they have experience in organizing parties for business, wedding &special events in the best manner. They can also suggest you variety of ideas to make the event an extra-ordinary one. So, get in touch with reliable and experienced party organizers located near your area and start planning to make the event special for everyone.

For event planners, timing is everything. Sometimes hundreds of different variables have to come together to create one seamless beautiful function. It takes a great deal of skill, patience, and excellent communication skills. Planners are like conductors in an orchestra, keeping the pace for everyone else to follow.

The problem is you can be the very best at what you do, and yet if no one knows it, all of your talents are pointless. You need to build your business just as any other business would even if your business is you.   Since you are the very essence of your business, anything you do to build that business has to revolve completely around you.

Your skills and your talent have to be at the forefront. A great way to start is to partner yourself with other business that you would use or solicit as an event planner. For instance, let's say your area of expertise is as a wedding planner, a good business builder for you would be to introduce yourself to local bridal shops, florists and bakeries.

Use the old if you scratch my back I'll scratch your approach. Simply make a spoken agreement that you will use them for their services whenever possible if they agree to promote you. Get them to allow you to put flyers or business cards in their shops and make sure they know how to get a hold of you if they come across one of their customers that my need your services.

Just remember regardless of how you do it, the key to you success is that your customers see the value of having you in their corner. You must make it seem like you are an absolute necessity to anyone planning an event. Use these business-building tips for event planners to strengthen your hold on the marketplace.

Make the most of free online tools that can help you promote your business faster than ever before. Start today to learn about social media tools that millions of your potential clients use. Your clients are shopping for services like yours online everyday. Will they find you?

Benchmark Hospitality International, which operate 30 hotels, resorts, and conference centers throughout the world, announced their trending list for 2011 based on the observations and feedback of their staff. Here is what they predict:

Trend #1: Business travel is back. Booking pace for most of the Benchmark properties are outperforming 2010 results.

Trend #2: The tried and true are back. Insurance, financial, consulting, technology, health care, and education markets have supported the conference services industry over many decades. The projection for 2011 is that companies within these industries will be stepping up hiring and training, thus making the need for meetings more prevalent.

Trend #3: More heads in beds. 2011 will find the hotel industry with growing occupancy and the ability to maintain rate integrity, which is generally comparable to last year. To win business though, properties are going to have negotiate value-added options with their event meeting services planners.

Trend #4: They want to be entertained. Properties are seeing a return of recreation and entertainment as part of the meeting experience. Benchmark is seeing inquiries for options such as theme parties and comedians for the first time since the AUG fiasco. Here are some ideas on how to make your meeting fun and interactive.

Trend #5: Team-building is in. Demand for team building is back and planners want unique programs delivered within tight budgets.

Trend #6: Cost trumps green. Being green remains important to many event meeting services planners who look for properties to have these initiatives in place. However, when asked to choose between being green or providing maximum cost savings, budgets will still take precedence in 2011.

Trend #7: Social Media and Connectivity are key. Social media usage is beginning to take hold within the meeting industry. The widest use among event attendees includes LinkedIn for networking and contact reasons and YouTube for videotaping sessions and posting them on-line for the colleagues back at the office.

Connectivity is key when an event services company is planning an event, as well as, for the attendees once they are there. The Internet will be used to for site selection, group recommendations from LinkedIn, and email communications. Attendees will be bringing their own laptops and/or smartphones. Meeting planners may rent iPads or rent Tablet PCs if they want a consistent platform.

Trend #8: Planners want choices. Meeting planners want all-inclusive packages, a la carte pricing, and everything in between. They want the property and their suppliers to provide maximum flexibility to suit their clients needs.

Trend #9: Planners are making a comeback. Planner positions have been streamlined or eliminated over the past several years, but with a recovering economy and improved business conditions, 2011 will provide a renewed focus on these positions.

Any event, wedding inclusive can be a day one would like to remember, but this can only be if it has been well planned and coordinated. Those who have wedded have said that their wedding day is the greatest day of their lives. Despite this, some of the minor things that may have been ignored can cause much havoc and dissatisfaction, some of which can be long-lived. One may not want to imagine what would happen if during the d-day, the photographer or the driver does not turn up. Another tragedy can be if another group had already booked the venue that had been planned for.

An event coordinator does the work of organizing and coordinating public or private events, appearances and events. This entails organizing participants, securing appropriate venues, notifying those who may attend and organizing them, acquiring the relevant tools, equipment and materials and finally to organize and delegate duties to those assisting him or her during the day of the event. On the other hand, the wedding planner also referred to as the wedding consultant is the mediator, the money manager and the facilitator.

There are several character traits that a planner should posses. Obviously, he or she should be patient and calm even when things seem to be going asunder. He also very importantly should be a good negotiator as he would be the one who does all the orders and the purchasing on behalf of the bride and the bridegroom such as buying the gown and the other attire, get the catering team, hire the venue, musicians, public address system, photographers and so on. This is because only the best is required but at the cheapest rate. He must also be somebody who can network meaning that he or she handles differently people and issues at the same time. A good wedding planner should also be one who has a sense for proper fashion, which includes the color, the flowers, the music and the clothing. It would be so embarrassing if there were no color coordination in the clothing or the flowers and the decorations. This means that they must take their time in studying on the topic from the magazines or the internet.

The event planners must be prepared to work for long hours especially just before and during the event which may include much traveling and moving up and down to make sure that the purpose of the meeting is achieved. Therefore, the first thing that the planners need to know is the nature and the purpose of the meeting. That would then motivate delegates or the audience. All the work ranging from bookings, reception, stationery issuing, vehicle parking, accommodation, decorations among others should be done focusing on that aim.

One of the companies that specialize on the Sasha Souza of the United States that offers services such as, destination weddings and the green They have a large team that can handle different events at the same time.

Today, companies are unable to find quality wholesale florists due to the changing economy. Corporations are merging with others, there are many technology changes and products suffer from these complex issues.

Below are some tips in finding the right wholesale florist in your area.

Florists provide their customers with knowledgeable, consistent sales staff. "Four out of five wholesale florists have salespeople who have been with the company for more than five years," according to the Wholesale Florist & Florist Suppliers Association (WF&FSA).

Retailers value the individualized attention, expert knowledge and efficiency that this provides. Wholesalers know their retail customers' favorite products and supplies. And they save their customers' time by offering wide-ranging inventory and are able to obtain specialty items easily.

So when it comes to reliability and added value, retail florists know where to go-to their local wholesale florist. For years, wholesale florists have provided exceptional supplies, service, and expert knowledge to retail florists, event planners and wedding planners. Their customers keep coming back because of the reliability, quality, and convenience that florists provide and the feeling their wholesaler knows them and knows what they want.

In a survey of 358 retail florists conducted by the Florist & Florist Supplier Association, retail florists ranked florists as the best source of high quality cut flowers, as the most reliable supplier, and as the best value for their money. More than 90 percent of those surveyed praised florists for their courteous and professional salespeople and the long-term relationships that have emerged between retailers and wholesalers as a result.

In selecting a florist, there are four things to remember:

1. Open communication-retailers need to talk about their ideas and be open to
suggestions. Keeping an open mind will help the communication go smoothly.
2. Have a budget in mind-the florist can then help clients stay within monetary limits. Much
time can be wasted without a preliminary budget in mind.
3. Choose someone who is detail and service oriented-they should provide both in-store shopping for perishables and hard goods, and they should have delivery capabilities.
4. Quality and best selection of products-make sure the quality exceeds your expectations, and that there is a wide variety of choices.

In conclusion, keep in mind these key points when selecting a florist to build a relationship with. Many companies claim they are service-oriented or can handle large orders. It is recommended to interview several wholesale florists in your area before deciding. It may take some time to do this upfront, but well worth it in the end. The ultimate goal is to have a long-lasting, reliable relationship with your wholesale florist.

"Alright, everyone, grab a coffee and head to the conference room," you say brightly, trying to manage enough excitement in your demeanor to herd the sheep into what they've routinely come to believe is probably another tedious and meaningless waste of time and productivity. Ugh....

Why do people typically dread attending meetings? Maybe there are too many unfocused discussions, or extraneous action plans, or a lack of engagement or inspiration. Perhaps they don't believe the team is getting anything out of these meetings but endless droning and mind-numbing monotony. With so many unnecessary or unproductive meetings in the schedule, how can anyone accomplish their tasks? According to an MCI Conferencing White Paper titled Meetings in America, "Most professionals attend a total of 61.8 meetings per month."

As we are all short on time these days, here are some tips for making your own meetings more productive:

•Identify the purpose of the meeting - People are busy. Far too busy to sit in a meeting that has no real purpose or relevancy to them. So identify why you need to meet. What do you hope to achieve with the meeting? The clearer you are about your purpose and goals, the more successful the endeavor will be.

•Organize the plan for the meeting - Now that you know where you want to go, you must create the necessary roadmap to achieve your goals. Is it goal-setting, brainstorming, problem-solving, team-building or educational? Regardless of the type of meeting, being organized will capture the attention of your participants and help keep them fully engaged in your subsequent outcomes.

•Communicate effectively - You have taken the time to prepare for the meeting, and now you must let the attendees prepare, too. It is best to distribute the agenda and any relative handouts 48 hours in advance of the meeting. This will allow the guests to think about the issues at hand and prepare appropriately to be productive participants.

•Preparation - As the organizer, plan to arrive early to set up the space and address any problems that might arise. I know of one event where the organizers had arrived the day before to set up the meeting room, and it worked to their benefit when they were locked out of the building the next morning. Once everyone got inside, the room was ready to go, so the event hosts were able to hold the meeting without a glitch.

•Punctuality - Set an agenda and stick to it! The fastest way to lose interest in your meeting is to let it run amuck. Do not wait an extra 10 or 15 minutes to start your meeting because not everyone has arrived. You need to begin promptly when you say you will and end when promised out of courtesy for those guests who made the commitment to be there promptly. This will build a strong rapport with attendees and maintain valued respect from your audience.

•Eliminate Distractions - Encourage all guests to turn off their electronic devices at the start of the meeting. It is important that all attendees are engaged in the session and courteous to other members by offering their undivided attention for the pre-determined timeframe.

•Stay on Topic - We all know what it's like when that one person in the audience takes the whole group way off-topic. As the meeting organizer, it is your job to reel the discussions back in and keep them relevant to your goals. Phrases such as "perhaps we could discuss that next time," or "we're getting crunched for time, so we need to move on to XYZ" will help you stay on point.

•Clearly Outline the Execution Plan - As part of your meeting wrap-up, it is important to identify the action items and who will be responsible for each item. Clearly communicate the due dates of each phase of the project so that each committee member understands the importance of upholding their end of the bargain.

•Next Meeting - Identify when the team will come together again. How will people communicate in the interim? These things will help keep tasks on target and ensure that deadlines are met.

Meetings are a valuable means to accomplishing more than we could ever hope to do individually. As a manager, leader or group organizer, you are the influence - you must structure a game plan to create the energy that motivates and incites the action. Following these tips will help you build long and lasting relationships with your team members, and you will take them far on the road to success.

Why rent Tablet PCs or iPads for your next meeting or event? There are many reasons, but one of the most compelling reasons to consider this slate technology because it is environmentally friendly, cuts costs, and saves resources.

Today's blog will focus on energy usage and paper reduction; this is where event and meeting planners can see immediate improvements as the result of adopting the Tablet PC or iPad technology.

Energy Usage

Traditionally, attendees and meeting planners bring their laptops to events. The problem with laptops is:

• They require you to be sitting at a table or hard surface in order to ensure stability


• They can weigh up to 7 or 8 pounds


• They create a barrier to conversation because of the screen


• The battery life is limited up to 5 hours so you need to be make certain you are near an outlet


• Many are not energy efficient, up to 45 watts of energy and


• You most certainly cannot walk around, or stand and navigate applications on a laptop

Now, think about the benefits if you rent Tablet PCs or rent iPads:

• They can be used standing, sitting, or walking around


• They weigh as little as 1 pound


• Meeting and trade show information can be downloaded to rental unit


• No barriers because you can carry it just like a paper notebook


• The battery life can be up to 10 hours, so the recharging is at night


• The latest iPads and Tablet PC have EnergyStar ratings, using around 15 watts of energy

Reducing Paper Usage

Tablet PCs are suitable for cutting down on all kinds of paper, including note taking, reading documents, filling out registration forms, and surveys or other reports.

Architectural design firm, BCRA, adopted the iPad to lessen impact on the environment and decrease printing costs. The company uses the iPads to showcase presentations, designs, and maps to their clients. The iPad has reduced their paper need by 41 pounds per month, representing over $1,500 per month in printing and paper savings.

By the end of 2011, the firm estimates printed brochures will be reduced by 80%, as those brochures and video displays will be on the iPad. According to BCRA officials, the estimated savings for the year will be over $15,000 on printing and paper costs.

Bottom Line

Looking at interactive technology tool rentals, such as Tablet PCs and iPads make sense for any event planner. However, this requires looking at the total picture, including energy output, paper, printing, copying, your time and your staff's time, and green initiatives within your organization and your client's.

1. Think Big

Over the past 14 years, I have held DJ residencies in some of the top clubs around the world, and played at fashion shows, celebrity weddings and at wrap-parties for several big-budget Hollywood movies, at home and abroad. For a good DJ, the potential is unlimited and your market is as big as your imagination and your work ethic. Your DJ career can take you around the world as it has done for me and many others. Remember, great music is universally in demand. So if you have a valid passport and willingness for travel, the world can be your stage!

2. Find a Niche

I can tell you that there are tons of opportunities out there for good DJ. However, It is extremely important for a DJ to find a niche, and to develop a good reputation amongst the event planners, party promoter, agents and club owners that operate in that niche market. Make sure that the niche market you choose is something you like. The more you look forward to your gigs the more motivated you will be to perform well, which will take you very far as a DJ. Likewise, the more you practice to perform well, the better DJ you will become, which again will make you more marketable. There is absolutely no substitute for hard work in this industry. So find a niche and get to it!

3. Keep an open mind

Making a name for yourself as a DJ in a particular niche can leverage your DJ success for years to come. But while looking for a niche, remember to keep an open mind. Outside of the clubs, DJs are often in demand for weddings, fashion shows, special events or wherever there is a need for good music. In addition, opportunity, for money success and future career advancement can lay in some very surprising places. Deejaying in strip clubs, for instance, can be quite lucrative. Several famous DJs have gotten their start playing in the strip clubs in Vegas, Atlanta and Miami, which eventually led them to fame and fortune. Remember, success often requires us to think outside of the box, so keep an open mind.

4. Stay on top of your game

For most of us, deejaying is not only our passion, it is our business and like any other business the information you operate on can make the difference between success and failure. Networking, like in any other business can create pathways to success. Therefore you should cultivate relationships with other DJs, promoters and agents in your area, or in the area in which you are seeking to score gigs. Furthermore, whether it be through DJ blogs, forums, videos, magazines or books, in order to rise to the top of the game, you will need to seek inside knowledge from those who possess it.

People are competitive. They like to win or at least feel like they have won. Activity organizers have long known that giving people the chance to win something is a great way to generate more participation.

Look at online auctions. You don't buy things; you "win" things. A basic commercial transaction has been transformed into a game. It's like going to a casino except that if you don't win, you get your money back!

Not only do people like to win, but they like to have something tangible to show for it. Inexpensive acrylic awards are a great way to give participants a unique symbol of their victory. The desire to win a fantastic recognition award can drive up attendance and make your event even more successful.

Here are some examples of how using acrylic awards can turn an average affair into a huge success.

Company Parties

The ongoing dilemma of employee morale is: how do we get people to participate? Giving the option of attending results in a handful of people showing up and an anemic celebration. Forcing people to attend may mean that you get a bunch of guests who watch the clock more than they watch the speakers.

Instead, give people an incentive to show up. Plan some kind of competition with recognition awards for the winners. A karaoke contest is a fun and popular way to get people to relax and have fun. Or try an office Olympics or a baking competition. Any way that your employees can compete in a friendly way can provide the fun factor that makes them want to be there.

Community Efforts

Trying to get locals to help out in programs like recycling drives, graffiti cleanup, or canned food collection can be frustrating. People mean well but they are busy and make lots of excuses not to help out.

Turn it into a contest with a prize for whoever is most successful at whatever task you set for them. No matter what your budget, there are spectacular acrylic awards you can hand out to the winners. People appreciate the recognition and you'll be surprised at just how high the turnout is.

Fundraisers

Schools, charities, and hospitals have known for years that giving people something to win drives up donations. Good fundraisers appeal to our desire to help, but the best fundraisers also appeal to the "what's in it for me?" part of our character.

During a fundraising drive, have a prize for the top fundraiser in the organization. Spending a few dollars on acrylic awards for your top performers pays off in a big way. The drive to succeed translates to increased donations well beyond the cost of the award itself.

No matter what type of event you are planning, appealing to the spirit of friendly competition drives up interest and participation in your cause!