Corporate Event Planning|Event Management|Event Planner

So you adore planning parties and your friends have been telling you for ages that you should start up your own party or event planning business. It's something you're seriously considering but aren't sure exactly what will be involved. Here are a few things to think about before accepting that first job.

1. Start Small. If the thought of planning a large event overwhelms you, start with a small get-together. Offer to plan your friend's bridal shower or a niece's baby shower at no charge, to get a feel for just what is involved with planning a party for someone else.

Another option is to volunteer at a couple of large social events or shadow an established party planner for an evening. Write down your questions to ask when the party winds down so you're not interrupting during the whirl of activity.

2. The Name Game. Creating a clever and catchy name for your business is essential. Sue's Party Planning Business simply won't cut it. Ask for opinions, brainstorm, even do some research to come up with a name that not only encompasses your business, but is easy to remember, particularly when you create a website for people to check out.

3. Costs involved. This really depends on the size of the parties you intend on planning. In most cases, the supplies will be paid for by the client, not by you. If anything, you may need to pay for the items and get reimbursed for them later. For birthday parties, showers, and small gatherings, these supplies will mainly consist of items purchased at a party store, florist, or grocery store. For larger events, you may need to hire outside vendors and services.

You may also choose to invest in specific party props, equipment and decorations that your clients will be able to use. Whether or not you charge for each one individually or include your items in the overall fee is up to you. Another option is for you to rent specific items as needed.

The nice thing about party planning is you are providing a service, not a product. Besides a computer and a good organizing system or planner, your costs are minimal.

4. How much to charge. Again, this will vary, depending on the amount of work involved. You may want to set a standard flat fee per event type (such as bridal shower, kids birthday party, etc.) and add the necessary additional costs. The client will be responsible for all of the party supplies and items, and will pay you to ensure that everything is set up, arranged, and runs smoothly. If you choose to charge by the hour, be sure your rates are competitive. While you don't want to be the most expensive in town, your time and expertise is valuable. It's great to offer deals from time to time but don't regularly undercharge so that when all is said and done, you end up earning a mere $4 an hour. This sets you up for word getting around that you are willing to do a lot of work at an extremely low cost. Burn-out, not to mention disappointment, are inevitable.

5. Do your homework. There is no such thing as too much research. Cover all of your bases when it comes to technical things like taxes and contracts. Call around to local vendors you may need to call at some point. Inquire about prices and the exact products and services each company offers. Have all of this information available to show potential clients. The more you have to present, the more professional you will appear and the more appealing your service will be.

The party planning business can be fun and lucrative. And starting a successful business will give you an excellent reason to celebrate!

Difference Between Formal and Informal Invitation Etiquette

When planning an important event, celebration, or party, it is beneficial for the host to be mindful or proper invitation etiquette. There are some distinct differences between formal bridal and baby as compared to casual party etiquette, but there are also common traditions you'll want to follow when hosting these events and considering etiquette for invitations. Personalized invitation cards not only need to communicate important event-related information clearly, but they also should serve as a form of persuasive communication.

Every invite should grab the attention of the invited guest so the event will be appealing enough for the guest to want and plan to attend. By adhering to socially accepted customs, you can demonstrate respect for your guests while simultaneously illustrating your core values and impeccable character through reciprocal correspondence.

Understanding Invitation Etiquette for All Occasions

When you, and the event planner, chooses your invitations announcements stationery cards, it is imperative that the cards complement the theme of your celebrated occasion. Themed invitation announcement stationary conveys the event type and the level of formality associated with the upcoming occasion. The actual appearance of the custom card lets the guests know what they can expect from attending the event. The unique invites can convey whether or not the occasion is formal or casual by the way they appear and the wordings that are chosen.

Regardless of the type occasion, general etiquette includes the need for clearly, concisely, and accurately conveyed information. Invitations should not include spelling errors or incorrect details. Whether you are planning for a baby shower, birthday party, or bridal showers, each invite should detail the time, day, date, location, the guest of honor, and the type of upcoming event. You'll also want to include an RSVP reply date, your contact information, and details about the appropriate attire, if applicable.

Etiquette for Invitations - Not Just a Good Idea, But it is Expected

When adhering to traditional means, in most cases, the invitation wording should be written in the third person so that the information is clear and easy to understand. When conveying dates, days, and physical addresses, wording is spelled out, not abbreviated. To ensure the formality of a wedding is known, you should spell out the street addresses and the current year. Conversely, for a casual event, you can simply include the year, numerically.

Basic general etiquette suggests that you send out invitations six to eight weeks before your formal occasion, and you should allow your guests two to three week to RSVP to the invite. Alternatively, if the occasion is a casual get together, like a non-formal birthday party, you'll want to mail the invitation cards about four weeks in advance and allow for a week for responding.

Since it is a good idea to send out invite announcing stationery cards in advance, your reliable invitation etiquette calls for advanced planning by creating a guest list, ordering stationery, proofreading the invites, and having them properly prepared and addressed beforehand for a timely delivery.

When a company finds themselves in need of a corporate event planning expert, they usually look towards the professional services of an event planner. This represents a highly smart decision as a result of all the advantages a company could utilise with the services of these experts.

Through a planning professional, a company could access quality individuals whose expertise and experience proves invaluable in running a successful event. Their established connections with area vendors can normally save business cash, when looking at the bottom line. Their years of service often provide them with resources to high demand locations, where they're given preference. One of the most advantageous factors for you when you are trying to succeed with the corporate event planning is an event planner.Whilst many advantages are used with the services of these people, there is a misconception which exists with the event planners. Many companies have the confidence that utilizing a professional is essential when using corporate event planning in themed functions, awards ceremonies, dinners, parties and other social events.

Though, they usually do not think to use these same individuals when looking to plan events that incorporate Annual Meetings, Business Summits, Corporate Training Sessions or other more business like events. For a company, the opportunities that exist with the services of an event planner are far beyond the party atmosphere and can prove essential in the professional environment of the corporate world.

When you break down the differences between a corporate event and a social business event, there are some differences. Your company will still need an ideal location where your associates and participating members can easily attend. The corporate event planning will still include seating, podiums, technological demands, and event dining opportunities.

Flair and presentation are even factors which are essential in impressing attendees and capturing their attention. Matter of fact, when you look into the corporate event planning of a business event versus a social event, the only considerable difference is entertainment. Rather than looking towards musical groups or DJs, you will be assessing the need of keynote speakers and professional orators.

A company seeks several advantages when you turn towards the services of an event planner. So take the chance to pass that social planning advantage into the corporate environment and educate you on the advantages of business oriented event planning. This will provide your business with the best resources available while even ensuring your event, irrespective of its nature, is managed by an actual expert.

Finding the perfect venue for your wedding day is really one of the things that should be given attention to during the planning and preparation stages. A lot of people still prefer to be wed in churches and other places of worship, but these days there are couples who would want their wedding day to be held somewhere unique and romantic at the same time. Fortunately though, there are event planners that specialize in these matters and are capable of acquiring the most suitable wedding locations for the ceremonies.

Engaged couples nowadays choose destination weddings over other any type of wedding because they see it as a more romantic and more memorable way of tying the knot than the usual exchange of vows. These wedding locations can either be in a secluded beach, on a hilltop, or even under water. Everything needs to be perfectly planned though in order for the ceremonies and the reception to proceed without a hitch, and this is why people often hire wedding planners and specialists to take care of the details.

There are hundreds of event planners that can be found in local listings and over the internet that cater to almost any occasion, and it seems relatively easy to just pick one from the many and hire them on the spot. However, as with all companies providing services, you have to make sure that what you're getting is really worth it in terms of the amount that you invested and the memories that will be created during the event.

A lot of wedding planners provide different packages for any type of weddings. This will include all the necessary aspects such as the food and wine list, entertainment, the guest list, and the wedding locations depending on your budget and the number of people expected to attend. Since these people have teams that handle each stage of the wedding preparation, it is better to choose the ones with the most experience in planning weddings and receptions.

An excellent wedding planner will consult you with the list of wedding locations where you might want to tie the knot, and most of these will surely be excellent spots, like in a grand hotel, a reception hall, or even an old church that still looks magnificent. Getting a hold of these locations is easier and more cost-efficient. Since these wedding locations often provide the seats, sound systems, and lights, there would be no need to spend an additional amount of money paying for equipment rentals.

After the ceremonies will of course be the reception, and a lot of the wedding locations being advertised have their own reception areas with various seating capacities to make sure that everyone is accommodated. Event planners may suggest that the ceremony and the reception be made in separate locations to add more flair to the festivities, but it would be really up to you to choose whether to tie the knot in a particular place and have the reception held in another venue or have the wedding and the reception done in just one location.

Many couples opt to plan their wedding and do all the wedding arrangements themselves, or with just the help of their parents. This is not the only way to go in today's world. In today's world, you have another choice-hiring a wedding planner or event co-ordinator. Couples today do not realize that a wedding planner can be essential in helping to save them time, aggravation or even money. Here is a checklist to see if a wedding planner might be right for you:

* You both work full-time jobs that may interfere with many of the things you need to arrange for the wedding, like appointments in meeting with vendors (florists, bakers for your wedding cake, photographers, etc.)

* You don't have anyone to help you with the wedding planning, like parents who may be deceased, no brother or sisters, helpful Bridesmaids or knowledgeable friends

* You don't know which vendors to choose, which are reliable, which are the most cost efficient for your needs

* You are planning a destination wedding and you need someone to help set it up at the destination end

* You may be having difficulties with personality conflicts between yourselves, your parents or other people. A wedding planner can help smooth the relationships with regards to the wedding choices, or offer alternatives.

* You may not be a good planner, or a person who is capable of dealing with everything involved in planning such an important event (let's face it, not everyone can do this type of thing.)

* You have fallen behind on your checklist, budget or scheduling

* You may have a very short engagement period and you need to expedite the wedding process

* You have a very clear vision of what you want your wedding to be, but no idea of how to bring it about

* You feel over-whelmed by all the tasks involved in preparing for your wedding

* You need leadership in the wedding planning process

Although hiring an event planner can be a life-saver when it comes to planning your wedding, there are a few things to watch out for when choosing one. First, you need to be able to contact your the person easily. Watch out for those who do not return your phone calls in good time, or those that don't seem organized. Also, some wedding planners get kick-backs from certain vendors so make sure the one you choose is not taking you for a ride with their vendor choices and just lining their own pockets. It is also a good idea to find out if your wedding planner's taste and style is in line with your own. You want your wedding day to be what you want it to be, not what your wedding planner says it should be.

When hiring a wedding planner make sure that you outline everything you expect in the contract, their duties, costs and expenses, deposits, payments schedules, etc. Everything should be spelled out clearly within the contract clauses. Ensure that both parties are in agreement with what is expected, and what happens if the wedding planner fails to meet their obligations.

The cost of wedding planners can vary significantly. Some are very expensive and some can be very affordable. You can hire a wedding planner to do the whole event, or one to do just a portion of it. For a wedding planner to orchestrate the whole event, expect to pay about 10-20 percent of your total wedding budget. If you hire a wedding planner just to help with the day-of-the-wedding, typically expect to pay a flat fee of about $500 to $2,000, depending on their experience, the size and scope of your wedding and respective charges in your local area.

When planning weddings, people often begin by purchasing a book to use. A book like this will have everything in it that a person needs to know to accomplish planning a successful day. There are hundreds of different things that need to be thought of, and if you are not good at this, you could always hire a planner for the event. Event planners are professionals at doing this, and they will take all of the worries out of your hands. People often do not hire planners though because they are expensive. If you can get by without hiring one, you will save money but you will have more work to do on your own.

Some of the first steps in planning weddings are choosing the date and the location. If you are part of a church, you can talk to the church about having the ceremony there. If the church is available on that day, they will schedule your ceremony. This is one of the first steps and it is important to do this as early as possible so that you can make sure you have a place for the ceremony to take place. The second part is choosing a place for the reception. You will want to make sure that the reception is located relatively near the place where the ceremony took place. As long as it is within 20 to 30 minutes away, it is usually alright. The reception will be the fun part of your day, and you will want to choose a place that will accommodate all of your guests. You will also want to make sure that it is elegant, if that is the type of reception you are hoping for.

The catering of the reception is another huge part. Most halls offer on-site catering services. When you book your hall, this is one of the first things you should ask. You will also have to make sure you put a down payment on the hall to guarantee that your party will have that room on the night of your wedding.

In addition to these main things, there are many little things that you should begin thinking about. All weddings have beautiful gowns for the bride and tuxedos for the men. This is something that a bride will spend a lot of time picking out, and that is because it is an important part of the day. Flowers are also an important part of weddings. You should choose a florist that specializes in this particular type of flower arrangements, and find one that offers delivery services.

Planning a honeymoon is probably one of the greatest parts of the planning efforts. This will be a time for a bride and groom to get away and spend time alone together. Honeymoons can take place anywhere, and they can be as few or as many days as the couple chooses. Weddings are exciting, but they take a lot of work to plan.

Canceling or rescheduling a party is a very unfortunate event but often it happens as the result of uncontrollable circumstances. Knowing how to deal with the situation is of uttermost importance.

Party cancellation is disappointing and difficult to handle but a number of reasons will demand it, regardless of your intentions. Here are a number of reasons for the cancellation or rescheduling of a party and some information on addressing guests and cancellation etiquette.

People Can't Make It

You will have to reschedule or cancel your party if too many guests are incapable of attending. Everybody wants to share big events and beautiful moments in life with dearest friends. If these people have difficulties making it to the party, choosing another date will certainly be the wisest move.

You may consider informing people about the change in person. Call everyone and you may even inquire about another date for the party to be held on.

A Storm is Coming Up

Weather can play a trick on you. It may interfere with your party planning attempts. You should reschedule your celebration in case a severe storm or another kind of meteorological disaster is expected - intense rain or snowfall, thunderstorms. It certainly is wiser to organize the party in the future than to put at risk the health and life of your guests.

Personal Tragedies

? personal tragedy that you or one of your dearest friends has experienced is another reason for the cancellation of a celebration. Postpone the party in the case of death or illnesses of family members. It will be inappropriate to have fun while somebody you care for is mourning or feeling sick.

That Major Event

A major event taking place on the date when you plan to have your party will be yet another reason for cancellation. Postpone the party if somebody else is getting married on that date or if it is the anniversary of a couple you love.

Important city events - concerts, gatherings or sports finals may have you thinking about moving the party to another date, as well.

Illness

Cancel the party in the case of an illness or a medical condition. This is yet another unexpected and uncontrollable factor that will interfere with your plans and the organization process.

It could be a personal condition or a disease affecting someone you love and respect. You should better have the celebration after that person gets better - this way you will have two reasons to bring people together and to party.

The Reason for Partying Has Disappeared

Sometimes, things fail going according to plan. Such sudden changes and unexpected turns may call for the cancellation of a party.

A baby shower will certainly be cancelled in the case of a miscarriage. This huge, personal tragedy changes plans and demands for rapid reaction.

Party planners should always have a backup plan. Very often, life handles us surprises that we have difficulties coping with. Party cancellation or rescheduling may be tough but it certainly is needed in various instances. Knowing how to be flexible will help you deal with the situation.

The Sesame Street gang is extremely popular among children and therefore, it's very often considered as a theme for hosting kids birthday parties. If your child happens to be a fan of this expressive and educational show, consider hosting a Sesame Street birthday party for him. Apart from creating a festive atmosphere and organizing some educational activities for the little ones, you need to give away some extraordinary favors that will let your guests have fun even after your party is over. Here are some Sesame Street birthday supplies that would be a valuable addition to your party bags.

Bert's Bouncing Balls

The Sesame Street audiences are mostly kids aged 2 to 8. Therefore, a bounce ball would be a perfect age-specific favor for them. Give away individually wrapped bounce ball and name them as Bert's Bounce balls.

Bert's Goldfish

Bert's pet goldfish Lyle and Talbot are perfect favors for slightly grown-up kids. Buy two goldfish, put them in glass jars, and tell your guests that Bert has asked you to take care of his pets. These fish are sure to keep reminding your guests about the fun time they had at your party.

Cookie monster cookies

Edible favors are always a big hit among the little ones. So dedicate some of your Sesame Street birthday party to cookie monster by giving away cookies. Either buy them from your nearby bakery or make cookie monster shaped cookies at home. Wrap them individually to give them a special look.

Play dough

The little ones attending your party would enjoy molding the dough and coming up with creative shapes; therefore, play dough is an ideal favor for your party. This non-toxic modeling clay is sure to keep them busy for days to come.

Crayons and coloring books

Since Big Bird loves coloring, crayons will be wonderful favor bag fillers for your party. Depending on your budget, you can also include a Sesame Street coloring book along with a pack of crayon in each of the bags. Use them to organize a coloring activity and, later, give them away as favors. Tell your guests that their favorite Big Bird wants them to color these pages as neatly as possible.

Finger puppets

This is sure to be an extra special treat for your little guests. Add these Sesame Street finger puppets to your favor bags and let the kids enjoy the company of their favorite character for months to come.

While assorting your favor bags, make sure you choose age-appropriate Sesame Street birthday supplies that fit well in your budget. This way you will be able to assort the perfect favor bags for your little guests.

The importance of an events calendar is irrefutable. Think of the many times that clients approach an events planner, requesting their services. It is only natural that he would document their various requests somewhere.

This is an ideal way to keep the clients well attended to and making sure that he does not disappoint them by any delays or giving them a different experience from what they expected. The calendar of events acts as a guide to the planner, who is able to schedule his work and employ more help in case the job involves more than one person can handle.

A calendar to keep track of upcoming events is much more like an ordinary diary; it aids the modern event planners who are under pressure from their job related demands. It is an important planning tool, which many use. Older versions of calendars involved manual work and one having to look back at the pages constantly to avoid missing events, yet the modern calendar is more sophisticated.

Courtesy of technological advancements, the special events planner just lists everything in the calendar-enabled gadgets. The reminder enabled gadgets act as good prompter tools and one can set the time to be reminded of an upcoming event.

An events calendar usually acts as a deterrent to forgetting any approaching event. To have an effective calendar, a planner should strive to type in complete details beside the event entry. The details should include the date and nature of the event, the client's preference for the venue, such as a garden for an outdoor wedding, the client's specifications on entertainment and food, as well as guest speakers.

The planner can ease his job by listing all the requirements he will need for securing the location and getting everything in order for the event, as per the calendar entry. If the ordinary calendar provided in the cell phones or PCs cannot handle as many details as the planner wants, he can opt for event management software. The program is custom made specifically for the busy professional.

Every entrepreneur who owns an event management company knows the value of satisfying the needs and demands of paying clients, by providing superior services. Apart from building a solid customer base, an events calendar helps in planning and organization, and to establish the company as one that provides superior services. Apart from that, the calendar allows the planner ample time to consult with the client about details.

Events and different affairs are integral parts of a growing business organization. Success and failure of the events can produce positive or negative effects on the industry position of a firm. Knowing how to prepare one social gathering is very vital; whatever type it is - massive, fancy or simple events must be prepared to please the guests.

The guests in a company affair can differ in size and in the types of attendees. It can have thousands of guests or just a handful of important dignitaries. The guests could be people of the high echelon of the business firm such as board of directors and investors or they can just be simply the workers, customers and suppliers. The aura could be lavish or just intimate.

But the variety does not extend to the result. There should be just one outcome - a successful gathering. This will largely depend on the planners. There are companies that assign their employees to do the planning, with occasional consultation with the boss. But this could be a risky approach. Even if the employees are good and talented, the approach of an expert is very much different and more reliable. It is then advisable that every company should consult a company event planner. Experience and talent of these professionals are always a guarantee for a successful social undertaking.

Celebration of any company affair entails a number of things -the theme, the purpose and the general objective of the event. The expert planner will be able to devise the strategy to make the event conform to the said theme and objective. They suggest the venue options, the food and the activities.

The food usually is one important aspect of any party's success. The event planner will meticulously attend to all the details of the catering. This does not only involve the food, but the crew as well. Past experiences disclose that failure of social events happen because catering fell short of the expectation. In any party, small or big number, there must always be enough or even more than enough food for all the guests. The timing of serving the food is also crucial.

The venue should also be just right for the number of people -not too big to disperse the guests. It should be noted that there should be enough room for them to circulate and socialize. The decorations also create an impression. Therefore, these should conform to the chosen event theme. As a party coordinator has expertise, she can synchronize the decorations, the theme and the program of activities.

Event designing has much to consider and only an expert in the field can do the job perfectly and flawlessly. If the company consistently hold social functions, it is best to have a regular events planner. This way, the company is sure to render variations in style which will make their parties enigmatic. Thus invited guests would come to savor another experience extraordinaire.

Bowling parties are great fun and a terrific way to celebrate one's birthday. Even with no planning a party that include bowling is sure to be lively and filled with laughter. But with a little bit of planning you can take your party from 'ordinary' to 'spectacular'!

Start with the Invitations: Of course a bowling themed invitation is a must. It sets the scene and guides your guests to dress appropriately. You can probably find themed invitations at your favorite party store or store such as Target, however, if you want to choose from a large selection the internet is your best bet. Simply by typing "Bowling invitations" in your search bar you will have a slew of fabulous options at your fingertips. I especially like the large selection offered at impressinprint.com and zazzle.com.

Move on to Decorations and Refreshments: For both of these a quick call to the bowling alley will let you know the leeway you have with both. Most alleys are more than happy for you to put up banners and streamers to let everyone know that a birthday is happening. Heck, offer to leave the decorations for them when you are done to use for other parties and, as long as they are in good shape and of good quality, they could be thrilled (bowling parties are very lucrative to the alleys).

Refreshments are a bit trickier since bowling alleys make money from the food and drink they sell. A couple of ideas here:

• Ask them what their policy is. If they have a strict 'their food and drink only' policy, ask if you could bring in just the dessert (a birthday cake or wedding cake, of course - most will allow that). If you are forced to order the rest for them, ask if they will discount prices for your group.


• If you are allowed to bring in your own food then, of course, it's up to you. Try to buy the beverages from them at the very least - it's a good-will gesture to the bowling alley and they most likely offer pictures of pop and beer at lower costs than individual servings. Do check out their menu (they can probably fax it to you) to see if there is anything you would like to order from them to round out your menu.


• Make sure that they are set up with tables for you to serve the refreshments on.

It is always thoughtful to send your guests home with a party favor and guest LOVE being given these little 'presents'. I'd love to tell you that there are tons of these theme favors available but there really aren't. Most are in the form of edible favors (cookie favors, etc.) but there are others to be had with a bit of searching. A unique and fun gift is to hand out 'trophies' to your guests with something like "I scored big at Peter's Bowling Birthday Bash" engraved on it. Sites such as www.crownawards.com have trophies, with engraving, available for less than $4 each (a quick search using the term "cheap trophies" will provide you with more options). Another great gift is to give each of your party goers a coupon for one free game in the future (and the alley might be willing to give you a price break on this).

Diva Entertains- Copyright 2009

Throwing a celebration of any kind can be a daunting task for most people. Knowing how and when to use an event planner can make the experience less intimidating and more enjoyable. When planning a party, you should think about your personal schedule, party size, event date, your party throwing experience, being creative, and your support system.

Are You a Busy Person?

What does your daily schedule look like? If you are like most people, you have many things on your plate. Juggling everyday responsibilities while trying to not overlook every aspect of a special event can consume a lot of time, especially if you have a busy schedule. Having an event planner to take on the task of planning your party is a great resource because they are experts in this area. In fact, you can simply tell your event planner the type of party you want, your budget, number of invitees, etc. and they can do the rest. In addition, you can tell your event planner how often you want to be updated on your party's progress. Using an event planner can give you time to attend to your normal busy schedule without the extra burden of planning a party.

How Big or Small is Your Party?

Smaller parties (5 to 8 people) might be easier for one person to plan on their own. However, if you are planning a bigger party, you should look to an event planner to help. Event planners can help with decorations, invitations, catering, equipment rental, and entertainment. Many event planners also have a database of reliable vendors that they can go to to make sure your party is a success. In reality, any size party will benefit from using an event planner.

When is Your Event?

Is your event in 2 months, 6 months, or a year? Depending on the amount of time you have to plan your party, using an event planner might be a valuable option. Most event planners can help with the biggest or smallest of details. Many event planners can offer guidance with every aspect of your special event time frame. From, developing your party timeframe to day of event timeline, your event planner can help you no matter the amount of time you have before your party.

Do You Have Experience Throwing Parties?

If you have thrown a party or two in the past, then you have good insight into the amount of time that might be needed to get a party together. However, you also know that this is usually very stressful, especially when it comes to those last minute errands. Throwing a party on your own can also get in the way of your personal enjoyment of your own event. That is why it is good to know that many event planners also offer Day of Event Management. This type of management helps to make sure that the party is a smooth event and allows you time to actually participate and take pleasure in the party you are throwing.

Do You Need Some Creativity?

Even if you have experience throwing parties, it might be beneficial to utilize an event planner for party concept and theme development. A fresh perspective is good to have when you are planning an event that is special such as a weddings and receptions, milestone birthday, anniversary, bridal party, child's birthday, etc. Event Planners can offer you unique ideas on themes, decoration, party giveaways, favors, music, and other activities. If you prefer to plan your own party, you can still look to an event planner for development of theme ideas that you can do yourself.

Who Do You Know?

Having a group of people to help you with planning your party can be a good idea. If you have a few people (friends, family, neighbors, etc.) you can trust you can assign party planning tasks to them. However, if you don't have this resource available to you, an event planner might save the day. Event planners have staff and vendors they can go to to ensure your party is pulled off with flair.

An event planner can eliminate the pressure that you have when planning an event. No matter what your event needs, and a planner can make it a hit.

If your child is inspired by Speed Racer, the 18 year old boy who is professionally and passionately involved in automobile racing, taking up this theme for hosting his birthday party would be the best way to cheer him up. Turn your party venue or house into a race track and let it be a race day! With these useful Speed Racer party ideas, you would surely be able to please all the racers attending your party!

Race track decorations

Your child's racer party would be incomplete without having a racetrack! Use old tires available with car repair shops or else use black and yellow duct tapes to build the track. To give it a realistic look, make some banners and put them across the track. The orange cones will also be a great addition to this. If you have a good amount of space for the race track and are inviting young kids, let them enjoy racing each other in their ride on cars. Rent or borrow these cars or ask the kids to bring their own.

Pinata decorations

Zip, Zap, Zoom! Hang this racing car shaped pinata at the entry, at the racetrack, or any other strategic place to attract the attention of your guests. Pi簽atas can quickly double up as party decorations and therefore, these Speed Racer Birthday Supplies are a great way to beautify your party area.

Checkered flag

Those black and white checked flags will surely stimulate an adrenaline rush among your guests! Why not attach two of them to your mailbox or place them crisscrossed at your entrance to help people locate your venue easily? Checkered banner around the party table, window panes, doorways, along the fences etc. will give a complete look to your party decorations.

Theme decorations

The basic Speed Racer party supplies such as Mylar and latex balloons, streamers, crepe paper, etc. are indispensable for any Speed Racer theme party.

• Tie a bunch of latex and Mylar balloons to your child's toy car and use it as a centerpiece.


• Use the themed tableware such as lunch plates, cups, napkins, etc. to serve food to the hungry racers.


• Buy some old issues of racing magazines, cut out pictures of various drivers, and use them for decorating the walls around the party area. You can even have a quiz on these posters as a part of your party game.

Ask the little speeders to come dressed up in their Speed Racer costume so that they can enjoy to their fullest. These Speed Racer party ideas along with a bit of imagination will surely help you to throw the best racing theme party of the town.

When a lady gets married or even whenever a company hosts a sizable event they want every thing to look great without it all costing too much. One of the things that can cost the most is the decor for the venue. There's two options the event planner will have to look at, buying the decor and decor hire.

Buying your own decoration

Purchasing decor is not necessarily the most affordable choice though it will depend a great deal on the event the decor is being purchased for. If the event is going to be a recurring event then purchasing the decor the first time round and re-using it for subsequent events might save a great deal in decor hire expenses. Nevertheless, if the event is a once off event, buying the decor might cost more than hiring the very same decor would cost. Then there is the problem of having to source and get and set up the decor your self which you would not face if you hired it from a organization that specialises in event decor. You would likely have more freedom though as you are in complete control of the decor.

Decor hire

This really is generally the option that most once off event planners opt for. The decor hire choice is generally simpler and less expensive than buying the same decor. It also has a tendency to cause less trouble since it is the responsibility of the organization which rents the decor to you to set up and take down the decor before and after the big event. You also won't have to worry about storage for the decor as you simply have it returned to the company you hired it from. Obviously, if you are going to have the identical event a number of times over the course of a couple of years then it may work out cheaper to buy the decor and have it set up each time by your own staff. Once you hire decor you wind up paying a portion of the purchase cost as well as for the time it requires to setup and take down the actual decor.

There are advantages and disadvantages to both buying and leasing decor for your event. You are likely to need to take a look at the nature of your event and make your choice from there. If you require very special decor you might have no option but to buy it your self which means this would take the choice out of your hands to some extent. The generally rule of thumb would be to look at costs as well as chances of recurrence. If the price of hiring the decor is actually less than the cost of buying the decor for a once off event, then rent! If the price of buying the decor is actually less than the cost of frequently renting the actual decor for a recurring event, then buy! If you just think about your event logically the solution should make itself evident within a short period of time.

Marketing managers may find it more effective to organize their own marketing events. When you do it yourself, rather than hiring an event planner, you have more control, and you more clearly see how effective your event was. Organizing your own event allows you to identify what works and what doesn't, better gauge the impact on clients and guests, and better coordinate your event with your overall marketing strategy.

1. Control is an important issue for managers in general. When planning a marketing event, a marketing manager makes all the decisions. They don't have to wait for contractors or service people to get an answer for them. They are in direct communication with all service providers and can better coordinate the event planning process.

2. Organizing your own marketing event also saves money. Saving the cost of a professional planner allows you to invest more in the facility, the decorations and accessories, and in your entertainment or speakers. You may even want to reinvest your savings into other areas of your marketing strategy.

3. It's much easier to make changes when you organize your own marketing event. If you've signed a contract with an event planner, you're tied into the agreements you made with them. When you are the event planner, you have greater flexibility to make adjustments in your schedule, furnishings, entertainment, and food and beverages. You can respond more quickly than can a contracted service to changing conditions and requirements.

4. You have "creative" control over the event. Often, event planners interject their opinions and tastes into the event. These may not reflect your company's policies or image. When you plan the role of organizer, you can rest assured that your organization's goals will be reflected in every aspect of your marketing event.

5. When you organize your own marketing event, you can create and place advertising that reflects your company's message and intent. Leaving that task to a professional event planner may result in mixed or confusing messages that do not support your organization's goals. The consequences of possible miscommunications like this are lost revenues and bad feelings.

6. When you are the event planner, you have the reassurance of knowing that everything is being done properly. Even when you hire a professional event planner, you are still responsible for the results, and you are the one who is accountable to your stockholders and senior management team. Organizing your own marketing event is a form of career control - you protect your status in the organization by making sure everything works as it's supposed to work. Be aware, though, that failures are YOUR failures. You can't blame the professional event planner for your mistakes.

7. As the manager and event organizer, you can chose to delegate as much or as little of the work to your subordinates. You can assign minute details to your staff and reserve the serious decision-making for yourself. Since they report to you, you will still know the exact status of every activity taking place to make the marketing event a huge success. You won't have to "trust" the professional event planner who assures you that everything's all right. You will know it's all right.

8. One popular theme in business today is "no surprises." When you organize your own marketing event, there will be no surprises. Of course, in an event, there will be last-minute changes and the momentary crisis. But as the event planner, you will be in a position to learn of problems immediately and resolve them quickly. You will also be able to communicate with your stockholders or senior management team about problems from an informed, assured position. You won't have to depend on the promises of a professional event planner who is, in the end, not accountable to you except through a contract.

9. Being able to adjust your spending to meet contingencies and changing requirements is the final, but not least important, reason you should manage your own marketing events. When you contract out every aspect of the event, your budget is committed to specific purposes. Whether you under- or over-utilize a particular service is irrelevant. You've made the agreement to pay a specified amount. When you are the event planner, you have more flexibility to shift funds from one area to another.

Deciding whether to organize your own marketing event is not easy. You already have a mountain of responsibilities in your role as marketing manager. This article summarizes for you some of the advantages of doing it yourself. Hopefully, it will make your decision-making easier and help you produce a better marketing event.

The urgency involved in planning current events can make the exercise taxing physically and emotionally. An event planner is under much pressure especially when trying to meet a deadline. By preparing well in advance, event planners can avoid the last minute rush that will add undo pressure. Early preparations include identifying and reserving the events venue, applying for a permit if the law requires one to do so, evaluating the budget and getting entertainment, food and drink that will be sufficient and within the budget.

To make the work easier, the event planner must define the event. Will it be a formal or informal affair? Will it need an outdoor or indoor venue? Next, knowing when the event will take place will help the planner determine when to start scouting for a suitable location and then making reservations.

By knowing why the event is happening, the planner can focus on giving it a suitable theme. Themes for sporting events are very different from the themes a planner would use for weddings. By describing why the event is happening, the planner is also able to focus more on the details that will highlight the purpose of the event.

A current events planner needs to be cautious about spreading the budget evenly in all the areas that need to be paid for. Usually, big corporate companies have bigger budgets than a small business or a personally sponsored affair. The event planner should know exactly how much money they have to work with, and then prioritize on what needs to receive which budget amount.

Usually, higher priority is given to the things that hold the most meaning. In a wedding for example, the venue is of much importance to the couple, so the appearance and convenience of the venue is important. On the other hand, only the pitch and the ability of the venue to accommodate a huge audience are considered for sporting events.

Seeing that entertainment is such a vital part in current events, the planner should decide whether to provide recorded music or live music for entertainment. Alternatively, he can opt for performing arts acts. Drink and food are equally important and the planner must ensure that everything is in order by hiring a dependable staff. A clear understanding of the guest list, what the event is for, and the available budget are things that even the most seasoned event planners need to know to avoid getting bogged down in the planning details.

Football spiral party themes are an excellent choice for little guys who love playing this game in the backyard and watching the NFL with their dads. If you have a son who eats, drinks, and sleeps with this game, go all out to throw a football theme party on his upcoming birthday. This simple, but thrilling party idea will surely please the rowdy group of young football fanatics. Here are some useful ideas for planning a successful party:

The invitation:

• You can use the ready made invitation cards that can be easily bought from any party supplies stores.


• A football ticket invitation will make the kids jump out of excitement. Design them on your computer and print them.


• Inflatable footballs can also be used as an invitation. Use a permanent marker and write your party details on it.


• Make this a costume party and ask the boys to dress up as softball players and the girls as cheerleaders.

Party decoration ideas:

• Buy life-size cutout of your child's favorite sports player and place it at the entry. This cutout can later be used as a photo prop.


• Take some printouts of renowned softball players that your child and his friends like and paste them on the wall. You can paste these closely on a single wall to get maximum attention.


• Decorate the area with themed Mylar balloons, flag banner, solid color latex balloons, etc. To complement the look of your party, buy Football Spiral Party Supplies such as paper plates, cups, cake candles, party bags, hats, blowouts, etc. Paper products would be great to prevent any damage to your dishes that can be caused by the wild crowd.

Party games:

• A football shaped pinata can increase the enthusiasm of the little players. This can serve as a party game as well as for decoration.


• Nothing can be a better game for this theme than playing football. Divide the children into two groups and let them play their dream game.


• Have a football quiz. Inform the kids about this game in advance so that they can do their preparation.


• Organize a football show in your home and play any of the popular matches. Arrange some chairs in your TV room so that the kids can comfortably sit and enjoy watching the show.

Party menu:

• Popcorn, burgers, hot dogs, and anything that you get in a stadium will work best.


• Have a football shaped cake and cupcakes for the kids to relish. Decorate the cake with themed candles that are shaped in the form of softballs.


• For drinks, you can serve fruit punch, lemon-lime soda, carbonated beverages, etc.

Favors:

Let everyone be the winner by rewarding them with real footballs. Even though this will be an expensive favor, kids will love this. Write your thank you message with a marker pen on these balls to make them serve as memorabilia. A book on football rules and game tricks will not only please the kids but also the moms.

These exciting Football Spiral Party Ideas will surely make your party score a winning touchdown.

Your wedding preparations and the wedding itself is done. But if you think you can take a break now, think again. You still have to accomplish something: the perfect honeymoon with your wife!

Careful preparation must be accomplished in order to omit any mistakes or errors that will threaten the outcome of the whole essence of your honeymoon. The next big step before you start a new life as a family man is your honeymoon. Just like wedding preparations, honeymoon planning should always be treated as a special event and should be considered as the prelude of your life as a married individual. Spending a few days with your beloved can be as intimate and will help strengthen your bond together.

Although you have planned everything out, problems can sometimes happen without warning. Even careful planning has its flaws and something might still go wrong in the middle of your honeymoon. To lessen this dilemma, it is always advisable to plan your honeymoon ahead of time (a few months before the target honeymoon date). Planning can work like wonders and can even free you of any hassle along the way. Doing this can save you more time to think about the best plan and will even eliminate stress caused by rushing of things and ideas.

The first step you need to do in order to fully enjoy your honeymoon with your wife (or your husband, if that's the case) is to decide which activities will definitely fit your schedule. This is the right time to decide whether you both want to explore a foreign land or you just wanted to be in the company of each other. Is the honeymoon trip targeted for learning new things? Sharing your ideas with your spouse will make it a lot easier to determine how to create the perfect honeymoon plan. You can even create a list on what to expect in your trip with your spouse.

What couples fail to realize when planning their honeymoon is whether they need to ask an expert advice from Specialist Travel Planners or not. Seeking professional advice both has its pros and cons. You can determine whether you need a travel planner or not by knowing the right budget for your honeymoon and finding the perfect destination. Additional directions on how to get to the area and where can you stay will also help. If you're planning a honeymoon outside your country, it is best that you ask for professional help.

Your honeymoon is very important. It is always safe to have careful planning of things to do to prevent any unnecessary adjustments.

If you are an event planner for your company, then you know how important marketing an event is to its success. However, you might be surprised at all of the options that are out there to help market your business's products and services.

Event Tickets

Event tickets can be a very useful marketing tool. Not only can they generate excitement about an event by giving an impression of exclusivity, but they are also a successful marketing tool. Most event tickets are designed to be separated - part of the ticket is given at the door or the gate, and the other part is retained as a form of receipt. The retained stub can be a great place to print your company's logo, sales information, or even offer a coupon for a discount off of your products or services.

Posters

Posters can serve two functions - they can be a great way to advertise and upcoming event, and they can work as a marketing souvenir from the event itself. Posters designed to market the event should be placed anywhere your target audience might visit. The message should be concise and contain the pertinent information such as the date and time of the event. You should also include where and how to purchase tickets and where to go for more information.

Posters can also be a great souvenir if you sponsor an event. As an example, your company could sponsor a local music concert. The poster could show a picture of the band, with the words "Sponsored By" and your company logo. The visitor will keep the poster to remind them of the event, and you will have lasting advertising for your company.

Banners

Banners can highlight an event more than posters due to their large size. They can be hung across buildings, entrances, and even from light poles across roadways. Their message should be to the point, highlight the main attractions of your event, and where someone can go for more information.

Stickers

Stickers are an often overlooked form of marketing. For events, however, they can be a great way to advertise. Offer stickers to anyone and everyone that comes to event. Stickers should be colorful and eye-catching so that recipients will want to stick them. You can even include a coupon or other information on them to advertise your business.

Club Cards

Club cards are another way to advertise at an event. You can sell these cards at the event, and the customer then uses the card later on to receive exclusive promotions and discounts at your business. They receive a card with your business information and the deals they will receive. If you like, you can partner up with other area businesses to offer even more exclusive offers.

If events are important to your company's success, then you need to make sure that you take advantage of every advertising and marketing opportunity. If you consider some of ideas that are off the proverbial marketing path, you can make sure that everyone at the event finds out about what you have to offer.

To understand the question "Can a DJ be an event planner?" you must first understand the overall theme of a wedding. The overall theme is to plan a perfect wedding. In the 1950's the brides didn't work, they didn't have a Facebook, MySpace account or better yet even a computer. Your typical bride was lucky to have a television that worked. All she did was cook and clean the house for her working husband. She can cook and clean the entire house in 4 hours max and still plan the perfect wedding and honeymoon for herself.

In the 1980's we experienced what some call the Reagan era. Televisions were common in everyone's household. Some households had 2 or 3 televisions. Inflation raised our economy and forced our men and women to work to cover the expenses of the booming technology. The 1980's was considered party years. Some compared the 80's to the Roaring 20's which is remembered as the best party era of all times. Along with the parties came sex, drugs and Rock n Roll. Then it became common for brides and grooms to already have kids before they get married which was contradictory to the brides and grooms in the 50s that waited to be married before they had children. Now we have a bride that has a full-time job, is addicted soap operas and TV shows and has to make sure she cooks and cleans the house. She has to make sure the kids eat, shower and gets to and from school while she helps pay all the bills.

Nowadays, the brides are just as busy if not busier than the men. They do not have the time to plan a wedding ceremony, reception more less her evening. If she does try to plan her wedding it wont be perfect like she planned since a little girl because here mind is exhausted from planning the household facilities. So to play a little part she plans which check she can use from her job to hire an event planner that can only concentrate on her wedding because she is too busy. Here is the problem. The event planner is usually a women that has the same responsibilities as the bride so how can the event planner concentrate only on the brides wedding. She can't!!! What she can do is use her knowledge and experience to take a few months to gather all the bride and grooms needs and make sure all the vendors are in place and able to deliver. This usually works for the most part. The event planner roams back and forth from vendor to vendor as a supervisor. She positions herself behind the DJ booth and reminds the DJ what announcement to make, what songs to play and when using the same written timeline that the DJ already has in his back pocket. You ask yourself. Is an event planner really necessary? I don't know. Maybe just professional vendors on the same page.

In 2010, what was once a theme "The Perfect Wedding", is now an art and happens to be a huge business filled with professionals survive off of producing perfect weddings for brides every weekend. Since 2000 couples get married every weekend in California, you can see how such business can be lucrative. I have another question for you. Is a wedding ever perfect? No, never, no wedding is ever perfect but a professional makes sure that when things do go wrong nobody either notices or cares. Present brides do have Facebook, MySpace, Reality Shows and cell phone habits that doesn't even leave them enough time to take a chance on an event planner. Our brides today are planning the wedding themselves, taking the time out of there busy schedule to meet each vendor in person to interview and see who is the best fit for there wedding.

Today this is how it works. In a wedding there are several wedding vendors. A photographer, make up artist, DJ, Florist, Cake and Caters etc. Every vendor has a certain job. The most important job is the Wedding DJ. He runs the music for the ceremony and the reception. When the music or announcement stops then the reception stops. All the other vendors work within the DJ to dot the I's and cross the T's of the event at hand. Although the Caters are important because everyone must eat. The Wedding DJ is working for the bride and groom every second of the wedding from beginning to end.

The bride of today take ample time to select the right DJ organization. She interviews and hires a professional DJ that can not only play music and make announcements but is knowledgeable and has a lot of experience in DJing. A professional that has had success DJing weddings for years. That person becomes the DJ and Event Planner of the entire Wedding. That is how how brides and grooms are saving money on there weddings in this tough economy. Not everybody who is a good wedding DJ can act as a DJ and an event planner. It takes professional DJ's who have been trained by successful organizations to run events, plan them and correct any technicality that my occur in every area of the actual wedding.

A good example of a Wedding DJ company that houses great DJ's that are also used as event planners is Extreeme Entertainment (extreemeentertainment.com). This company has been running for 15 years and has so much business and reoccurring business from happy brides that they are able to provide the best wedding entertainment on the West Coast at prices that are so low they look like a misprint. These company sends out the best wedding DJ's you will see for an average of around $600. These DJ gives the most elaborate announcements, keeps the dance floor busy and plans all the activities in the same show.

I hope I made your outlook on Event Planners VS. Wedding DJ's a little easier. Now it is time to Select your professional Wedding DJ and pick his brain so he can plan great weddings like he does every weekend.