Birthday Supplies - Throw a Backyardigans Birthday Party With Pablo and Uniqua

Do you want to plan an excellent kid`s party? If yes then you have to follow some tips and instructions which we will discuss in this article. Everyone wants to plan a stress free party. You party will be always successful if you will plan everything in advance. There are two ways of planning a party. You can plan an event yourself or you can hire a event planner. Hiring an event planner is bit expensive but he can help you in every aspect of party planning. You can save lots of money by planning the party yourself. Planning an event is not a difficult task nowadays. You can easily arrange a party with the help of the ideas which are available on the internet.

You should begin planning the event 5-6 weeks in advance. In this way you will have lot of time for shopping party supplies online. It is a good idea to ask for the help of friends and relatives. You can also consult your friends who had recently arranged their kid`s birthday party. You should order the cake in advance. It is a good idea to make the list of all the guests.

The second thing you have to do is to select the theme. For picking up a theme you should know your child`s favorite color or the cartoon character which he really likes. Picking up the theme will be easier if you will spend some time with your child. All the supplies, crafts and decorations should be bought according to the theme you have selected. Every child loves to attend themed parties. It is a good idea to arrange some game ans activities related to the central character of the theme.

The next step is to prepare the invitation cards for the friends of your kid. Children like colorful cards. The cards can also be created according to the central character of the theme.

There are many party stores available all over the internet. It is a good idea to compare the prices of the supplies you want to buy. The supplies should be bought in a complete package. A package contain almost everything which you will need in the party. A package contains cups, plates, hats, table cover, napkins and many more things.

I want to recommend you one good theme. Have you heard about Backyardigans television series. This is one of the favorite television themes of many children. This package theme contain plates, napkins, cups, table covers, invitations, cone hats, loot bags, zipper pulls, center piece as well as gifts for the guests.

Have you ever gone through the customer testimonials which are provided by reputed websites. These testimonials can help you in selecting the right birthday supplies.

There are some details which should be considered while buying the supplies online. The online store you will selecting should be secure and reputed. The mode of payment should also be safe.

There are many websites and blogs which review latest themes. It is a good idea to go through these reviews before you buy something new for the kid`s party.

Make a Plan to Get Into an Exciting Career As a Conference and Event Planner

Are you looking to find your first career? Or maybe you already have a career but would love to embark in a new and exciting career path? How would you like to enter the fast-paced and exciting area of conference and event planning?

Conventions, events and meetings are one of the fastest growing segments of the economy and encompass multiple aspects of all industries. Event planning courses have as an objective to show students a broad range of knowledge and processes, administration skills and practical tools that will assist them in dealing with situations within a conference and event planning related career.

WHAT ARE THE PERSONAL QUALITIES OF A CONFERENCE AND EVENT PLANNER?

A conference and event planner is a special type of individual. It is essential to carry the qualities of being outgoing, charismatic and certainly energetic. An event planner will play a huge and dynamic role within the organization for which he/she works.

WHAT DO EVENT PLANNING COURSES ENTAIL?

A good conference and event planner program should leave graduates with the following skills and knowledge to successfully step into their professional careers:

• The knowledge and skills necessary to handle conferences and events for a variety of business sectors


• An introduction to the planning and coordinating the logistics of events


• Professional skills including how to negotiate, the decision making process, working in a team, communication skills, customer service skills, leadership, research and problem solving techniques


• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Applications

Event planning courses will usually involve the following areas of study:

• Business correspondence


• Business essentials, financial management and math


• Negotiations and contracts


• Business presentations, supervisory skills and verbal communications


• Conference and event management


• Customer service skills


• Event marketing


• Business writing and grammar skills


• Human resource management


• Intro to internet


• Employment skills


• Management fundamentals


• Marketing and sales


• Microsoft Access, Excel, Outlook


• Microsoft PowerPoint, Publisher,Word and Windows


• Project Management Fundamentals

Graduates of event planning courses can find employment in a varied number of great settings. They find exciting work in the sector of tourism, trade and professional associations. They can also seek employment in convention and conference centres, government agencies and conference and event planning companies. In addition, the skills learned in event planning courses are transferable to other sectors of employment. This makes it the ideal diploma to have as graduates can look for employment opportunities not only within the industry, but in other sectors of employment as well.

Careers that event planning courses can lead to include:

• Conference and Meeting Planner


• Conference Services Officer


• Convention Coordinator


• Event Planner


• Special Events Organizer


• Trade Show Planner

There's no reason to shy away from an exciting and new career! Event planning courses can be your ticket to get there!

How to Get the Right DJ For Your Event

Let's say you are getting married and need a DJ to do the reception. You or someone you know is a friend of a DJ and refer to him or her to do the reception. Although this person may be good, he or she may only play Hip-Hop at nightclubs or bars. Your wedding reception could be a disaster. Unless you only want to hire them to play Hip-Hop.

In any public or private performance, the disc jockey's main responsibility is to please the audience. However, in most situations disc jockey's not only cater to the audience, but also to the client, club owner, management, or promoter. Of course compromises between these considerations and the disc jockey works best.

There are many different varieties of disc jockey's and with these varieties come a different set of circumstances or skills that would be a great enhancement for the type of event your having.

While some DJ's may only play a certain genre of music, other DJ's may only do weddings or battle competitions. Finally, there are some DJ's who immerse themselves in many aspects of the art of DJing like Las Vegas DJ's or Miami DJ's due to the entertainment aspect of such cities. For example, a champion battle DJ who devotes most his or her craft to scratching and doing tricks, may not be the DJ you want to hire for your wedding or club because, the battle DJ may not have devoted a lot of time to programming music. However, keep in mind, a DJ with a certain title like "battle DJ" or "mobile DJ" doesn't mean they can't produce the type of entertainment you're looking for. Just make sure that when you're searching for one, during the interview process, ask them about the type of events they have done in the past. This will not only help you match the best type of Dj for your event, but also help you with making the distinction between the DJ as an artist and as an employee.

Here is a list of a variety DJ types along with a description of the experience they may bring, along with their skill sets to help you make your choice. Good Luck!

Nightclub DJ - The nightclub is a venue where bands where bands were once used as the prime source of entertainment, now DJ's fill that role. This can involve having to play a variety of genres of music or specific style of music on certain nights or events. The club DJ has one objective, keep the dance floor full. A good club DJ has the skill of using the most popular songs with seemless mixing of non-stop music through the use of good programming, like most Las Vegas DJ's or Miami DJ's. Most club DJ's don't M/C because another crucial skill club DJ's must have is crowd gauging. Crucial because of the need to keep the dance floor full.

Rave DJ - This is a scenario where a DJ is brought in to play a specific style of music. In this case the DJ is hired as an artist to showcase their personal taste and abilities as a DJ and producer. The rave DJ usually doesn't M/C. As an artist the Rave DJ has fans, like world famous Tiesto for example, to which their main responsibility is to satisfy their fans.

Battle DJ - The battle DJ specializes in scratching, beat juggling, and other tricks, usually in competition with other DJ's, for money, sponsorship, or a title such as "Grand Master DJ". The battle DJ, in a sense, is more of a flashy kind of DJ. Of course due to the countless hours of practicing. Unfortunately, most battle DJ's don't concern themselves much with other aspects of DJing like M/Cing or programming.

Mobile DJ - Mobile DJ's are DJ's that are more dedicated to performing at weddings, corporate events, birthday's, etc. The mobile DJ is hired to play the kind of music that is appropriate for the event, as well as satisfy the clients musical taste, and M/C the event. The mobile Las Vegas DJ has a wide variety of experiences to satisfy the wide variety of crowds they encounter in the form of wedding receptions, for which there are plenty of in Las Vegas. The mobile DJ wears many hats in the field of entertainment because mobile DJ's usually have to help with the planning of an event. The mobile DJ is also more technically sound because they may have to use lighting, set-up sound systems, or troubleshoot any problems that may arise during a performance or prior to performing.

Bedroom DJ - This DJ is more concerned with just enjoying the music as a personal venture or hobby, as opposed to playing for an audience.

Written by Edward Webb

Job Hopper Alternatives, 5 Ways to Build Variety Into Your Career

One of the reasons that many ENFPs and ENTPs become a job hopper is that they love variety and may have a low boredom threshold, so if their current job doesn't offer them some variety or challenge they end up job hopping.

One way to get round this is by building variety and change into your job or even into your entire career path. This can be a really effective way of not only making sure that you are more likely to enjoy the job, but also helping you to stay there longer.

The good news is that there are many ways to do this, and below are some that I've used and have seen work for others.

Areas that are change focused

Industries that are changing quickly, for example high growth areas, those that depend on technology and those that are very competitive, can be of interest to people who are adaptable and like change. In these areas innovation is often seen as a competitive advantage and 'the old, established' way of doing things becomes obsolete very quickly.

Project-based work

Personality Page describes both ENFPs and ENTPs as being project-oriented and there are a lot of project-oriented jobs out there that are worth looking at. Careers that fit this description can be found in many areas, commercial and non-commercial, and include business consulting, architecture, marketing, event planning, wedding planning, coaching and training.

Transfer to a different department

An intercompany transfer will allow you to do the same job in a different part of the organization, a different part of the country, or even a different part of the world. You may also be able to transfer to a different job. A transfer maybe permanent or temporary depending on the policy of the organization in question.

Work for a small company or start-up

I love working for small companies as you often get to 'wear many hats', i.e., do you many different roles so there's a lot of variety to every day. This is particularly the case if the company is growing quickly, in which case there may be the opportunity to craft a new role for yourself.

Recraft your current job

Everyone has parts of their job they enjoy a lot more than others. Why not look into delegating the parts of your role you don't enjoy as much, or arranging an exchange with a team member. If you love the bit of your job that involves getting out and talking to people but don't like doing detailed planning and reports, try teaming up with someone who likes the opposite things to you.

Not only could you both end up enjoying your jobs more and increasing your performance, but who knows what good things could come from the close collaboration.

Choosing one, or a combination of these ideas as you plan your career can be really effective in making sure that you are more likely to enjoy a job. They may also help you to stay there longer, so although you will still change job at some stage, you will probably have enjoyed it a lot more while you were doing it and will have stayed long enough to have got something out of it. And very importantly, when you come to craft your resume or CV, you won't look like a job hopper.

5 Reasons Why You Should Consider Event Management Training

There are many people out there in the world that have a natural ability to organise people and events. They think of everything and it is very rare that they leave something out. Some people may also have a special skill when it comes to organising specific events, such as children's parties, weddings, and business functions. Many of these people could have a wonderful career doing what they do best, once they have undergone event management training.

If you think that this sounds very much like you, or even someone you know, perhaps you should consider this type of training to take you down a profitable and highly enjoyable career path. Some of the reasons that event management training should be considered, include:

Enhancement - This specific training will truly enhance the natural skills and abilities that you already have. If you are already really good at organisation, imagine being even better, there will be nothing that can stop you. It will also enhance your portfolio when you are presenting it to potential clients.

Evidence - It will also provide you with evidence of training that can be used to build trust and building trust is one sure way to increase business. As with any business venture, or when applying for a job, people want to see evidence that you have the necessary qualifications, they want to know that you are professional and more than capable of getting the job done.

Experience - Practical experience where you are hands on in regards to a variety of functions can do wonders for your event management career. It will expand your abilities and enable you to take on much larger functions and events with a great deal of success. This will also ensure that your career is more profitable and will allow you to stand out among others who may also be competing for business.

Enthusiasm - Whether you are completing a course online, or in person, you will be able to bounce ideas and maintain motivation by interacting with like-minded people. Forums are great for communication and to obtain advice, and from previous experience, enthusiasm is contagious!

E-Learning - Completing courses over the Internet is becoming extremely popular these days and really is the way of the future. E-Learning allows you to complete various subjects in your own time, so you will still be able to work in your current job whilst you train for your new and exciting career. Within an event management course, there will be specific subjects or modules that will need to be completed.

People are very busy in the world of today, and regardless of the skill that is required in the planning of an event, time is short and many are willing to pay large amounts of money for others to do the job for them. You can take advantage of this situation and train in a career that is not only fun, but also extremely financially rewarding.

Get Out Of The Office! What Can Off-Site Business Meetings Offer Your Company?

If you're in charge of planning corporate meetings for your company, the first decision is likely whether you're going to have it within your own company's office or if you should use an off-site venue for your corporate event. While the right choice depends on a number of factors, including the size of your company and your meeting's agenda, here are some things that an off-site business meeting can provide your company.

Planning A Professional Presentation? Off-Site Business Meetings Can Provide Pro Audio/Visual Equipment

Have you ever attended a business meeting where more time was spent trying to get the audio/visual equipment up and running? This situation is all too common and is frustrating for both attendees and corporate meeting leaders. By holding your business meetings or corporate events at a location with professional audio/visual equipment, you'll ensure that your time isn't wasted trying to get the microphone or presentation equipment working.

Look For A Location With A Catering Staff That Can Hand Pick The Perfect Menu

Corporate events that last all day mean you'll need to feed everyone. While it's true that you can always order some pizza or call a local sandwich shop to arrange meals, this means you'll need someone to take the time out of the business meeting to set everything up, as well as provide drinks, plates, napkins, silverware and more. Instead, having your corporate meeting off-site means that the site's staff will be able to serve your employees whatever you'd like -- forget about those old stand-bys, pizza or cold sandwiches. They'll also be able to cater to attendees with allergies or food preferences, such as providing a meal for a vegetarian. Best of all, you won't need to worry about setting the food out or cleaning up the mess when everyone is done eating. If you choose the right site that has a professional chef and a full catering staff, you'll be able to provide your employees with cuisine that might just rival your city's best restaurants.

Enough Space, Whether You're A Group Of 10 Or 1000

If you're planning a large corporate event, chances are good that you just don't have the space within your location to house everyone. Many sites that are available for conference meetings will be able to handle your large group, without requiring a lot of set up on your end. These sites for business meetings can place chairs in rows for presentations or educational seminars or they can seat everyone at round tables that are perfect for meals or awards ceremonies.

If your conference meeting is on the smaller side, you don't need to worry about having too much space with an off-site event. Many sites that are used for corporate events can tailor your space if you need something for a small group. As long as you choose the right site for your business meetings, you'll still receive the same personal service.

Holding your conference or meeting at an off-site location means that you'll conduct your business meeting with professional audio/visual equipment and a catered meal that your employees will appreciate. Whether you're planning a corporate meeting for 10 or 1000, consider calling a venue that specializes in corporate events and business meetings to see how they can help.

Corporate Team Building Events

Despite some employees moaning and groaning when a corporate team building event is announced, these events can be terribly beneficial. Despite getting a bad rap from some poorly done events, these can be very advantageous.

If you put on a well-done event, these can actually be a lot of fun with plenty of benefits. An event with great energy and a selection of activities can give a group a lift in attitude, motivation, and success.

Attitude

Corporate team building events can go wrong when they tell employees to be positive. You can't infuse your staff with a great attitude by instructing them to be happy.

With fun and enjoyable activities guided by positive folks with a brilliant outlook, corporate team building events can provide an immediate attitude adjustment. Honestly optimistic leaders have an upbeat attitude that rubs off on your staff.

As the team builds a positive, upbeat approach together, they are likelier to view the event, and the associates they were there with, in a more positive manner. This outlook helps link them even more tightly as a group, helping the attitude continue long after the event is over.

Motivation

A key aim of these events is building motivation. Specifically, team building activities help to create more constructive attitudes, and they can lift morale. A group that has a positive outlook and great morale will be more driven to complete work to the best of their ability.

These activities also aid in motivating the unit by making them really feel like they are part of a group. Once they feel like a cohesive unit, they will be increasingly motivated to do more in an effort to be there for their colleagues.

Guaranteed Success

You want your team to be successful, no matter what your organization does. Team building events do that.

When you have a positive, motivated staff that feels like a team, there is an almost guaranteed chance of success for the end goal, whatever it is. This is because corporate team building events get everyone working together to achieve an end. Everyone in the group puts their mind to completing the same goal, and your team is likelier than before to be a success.

Conclusion

There is a lot you can do to help fill your team with a confident attitude, motivation, and virtually guaranteed success. For maximum results, these events are probably that best path to take. These are ideal occasion for also building loyalty, creating real alliances, and helping your crew to see what immense things they are able to do with teamwork.

Spice Up Your Event With Corporate After Dinner Games

In the corporate world you have a variety of characteristics and personality types. That is why it is so hard for a planner to come up with appealing events. Corporate affairs including corporate dinners and events are hard to plan for taking these different personalities and styles into consideration.

Company planners, usually marketing and promotions departments are knighted with the planning responsibility. The creativeness they use and the success of the event can make or break them career wise. If you are charged with planning an event and want to spice it up with Corporate after dinner games, then you are in luck. Here are a few ideas you may want to try.

After dinner games are perfect. Traditionally, after everyone has had their meal up through desert, there is usually nothing left, but perhaps a speech or two, or maybe even an award or two, or perhaps a presentation. Unless the speaker is short and quick to the point or a comedian to wake everyone up, it can get pretty boring and the guest can get restless and looking at their watches.

When you start thinking games, it's hard to determine what will go over well, be entertaining and fit all personality types. In the corporate world, you hear a lot about team work, but the bottom line is everyone wants to be number one in some form or fashion. People can get really competitive. So why not give them something to compete about.

One way to get them going is to divide guests who want to participate into 2 teams. This can be very simple. You can just divide the seating arrangements or the room half and half.

You can also divide them, if it is fairly even into women versus men. If it makes it easier, it can be department versus department or company versus company. It depends on your event and what you think will work best.

Have a big presentation projector where you can display a variety of company logos. Do your homework. Try to find a few easy logos and some hard ones for your guest to identify. Project each logo until a team names it. Each time a team names the logo they win one point. At the end of the logo slideshow, the team with the most points of course is the winner.

So there won't be confusion, each team has to work as a team, and give the captain the answer. The prop is a bell that is provided to each team captain. Once they have an answer to provide, they ring the bell. If the team answers incorrectly, the other team gets the option to answer and score.

Now, this may sound a little silly, but you'd be surprised at how many raise to provide the answer. This will get the competitive juices going, trust me. To make it fun, have goody bags or prepackaged gifts for the winning team. It can be something small but memorable that will signify that they are winners.

There are also loads of great activities and events that can be organised through and entertainments company such as the type you may find on the internet. Take your time to have a look around and find the right package for your guests, you may find that a fun casino or a giant games night is more your style or maybe an organised Wii event with teams competing against each other for a gold medal would be best suited.

The list is endless from murder mystery nights to horse racing and fully themed corporate dinner parties its just a case of making sure you please the majority of your guests and select the right venue for your needs!

Corporate Entertainment Ideas For Any Occasions

Corporate events can range from a few people up to thousands. It pays to think outside of the box for your entertainment ideas. When you plan a party, your goal is for the guests to remember it for years to come.

There are many event planners that can help you make plans or you can do it yourself, depending on the type of function and budget allotted. For larger parties, it will be well worth the money spent, leaving it up to someone else to make it all work. It takes lots of previous experience to order enough drinks, food, and the right entertainment for the type of people that will be attending your companies corporate party.

Parties are a great way to motivate a team, celebrate holidays and also a great tool to improve employee productivity. They are often very successful in strengthening relationships amongst employees and the management team also. Any party takes a lot of planning and preparation, which in turn may cause stress. Event organizers have experience and will take a lot of stress away. It lets everyone enjoy the party without the worry of making sure things run smoothly.

There are so many ways to have a party. The party can come to the corporation or the corporation can go to the party. If it is to be at the corporation, it can be done with a theme. Some ideas are county fair, circus,corporate magicians, funny motivational speakers, ventriloquists, jump houses, to name a very few ideas.

If you do decide to plan it yourself or have an employee do it, first write down every thing you can think of that needs to be done. Pay attention to the meticulous details as the party goers will know where you dropped the ball. Do not run out of time and money before all is put in place.

Most entertainment needs to be booked months ahead time for the date you have planned. If you can, go see them where they are working so you can decide it they are really what you want. Remember some of the entertainment you have seen and really enjoyed. Corporate entertainment ideas can also be found on the internet, books, and through event planners. Throwing a party is easy, but a top notch event may require some help. Not only do you need to find entertainment, food and refreshments need to be decided upon, how much to have, decorations and who will decorate and when, what time to have the entertainment and for how long. So many decisions make sure you are well prepared to arrange everything or hire someone to do it for you. These tips will help you on your way to a great and successful special event!

How to Effectively Plan For Your Green Event?

You can now stand out from your competitors by planning your event in an environment friendly and sustainable manner. Going green can not only enhance your company's reputation, but also brand value. The increased preference of people towards a more environment friendly approach has nowadays forced companies to go green especially when organizing events. Lately, it is seen that, the worlds of cost effective and eco-friendly are gradually converging in terms of cost cutting and time saving. No matter the type of event you are organizing, it is easy to go green with proper planning. Here are some steps that can help you to organize your event in an environment friendly manner.

Come Up With Something Creative

To leave an ever lasting impact, you need to come up with something creative in your promotions and marketing campaigns. You can sit with your staff and strategize on how to cut down on printing flyers and advertisements and come up with something innovative that is more environment- friendly. You can opt to market you event on various social media networking sites that allow you to promote your event in a cost effective manner and thereby connect you to hundreds of online users. You can also undertake carefully strategized email campaigns to reach out to your potential contacts. Make sure that the technology you adopt is absolutely paperless.

Creation of Your own Website

You can also enhance your event's visibility by designing of your very own website and customizing it with colorful graphics and videos that can easily draw attention. At the same time you also need to make your site immensely informative by prominently displaying your contact details. Try to achieve a balance between the two extremes so that your prospective attendees that they have all the relevant information that they need whilst surfing a user-friendly and interesting interface.

Ease of Registration and Ticket Availability

Instead of the conventional manual registrations, you can adopt various Cloud-based software products that give you the ease of online registration and ticketing. These products allow you to create as well as customize your registration page in less than 20 minutes. Prospective attendees can sign up by filling in their personal details and then purchase the tickets online.

Ease of Payment

If you are opting for Cloud-based software products then you do not need to worry about your payment norms as it comes embedded with payment management facilities. Your attendees can make their payments either through multiple credit cards or standard payment gateways. You are also able to create your own merchant account and accept payments directly. These payment norms are quite secure so attendees are prevented from any kind of fraudulent transactions.

Post Event Promotion

You can also undertake post event promotion by recording videos and photos and uploading them on various social media networking sites. This allows you to convey the nature and experience of the event to people who did not get a chance to attend it. For those you have attended, can share their experiences and feedback regarding your event which helps you in quantifying your event's impact.

Go green and make your events innovative so that it is remembered by all those who attended the program.

Top 5 Reasons Why Team Building Games Fail, and How to Avoid Them

When a Californian home security company chose their team building games, little did they know that the program would end disastrously, not just for the employees but for the company as well.

In the fiercely competitive game, sales teams were pitted against each other. Throughout the game, the competitors' name posts were fixed in strategic places to make the employees 'fight the crap out of each other'. In the end, the winning team ridiculed the losing team by making them wear diapers, feeding them baby food and throwing pies at them.

After the event, employees sued the company and it had to pay out USD1.7 million as damages! So much for honorable intentions!

A huge number of team building games fails because they share at least a few - if not all - of the elements above. They think that the best team games are those that pit teams against each other through fierce contests and throw up clear winners and losers. This is ironic because most companies desire more cooperation between employees, not fierce competitiveness. They want an atmosphere where knowledge is shared and success is achieved together. Then, where is the sense in selecting team building games where the focus is on competition rather than cooperation?

Some of the main reasons why team building games fail are as follows:

• No understanding of final goals and objectives: Many employers like to spring a surprise on their employees but this can be counterproductive. When participants do not know the end goals, there could be seriously hostility between them. Instead, companies should inform the team members of the teambuilding program. In fact, companies can go one step further and give team members the power to choose. By respecting the team's views and decisions in the matter and by giving them what they want, companies take the first step towards effective team building.


• Trying to scare employees into being a team: Facilitators sometimes push a huge challenge on the employees as the very first activity. Quite naturally, this makes more than 90% of the participants hold back from giving their best. Facilitators must design games so that there is proper sequencing of activities starting with games that address the group's current state of being. Do the team members know each other well? Is there a conflict that must be resolved before the team can work as one? The level of complexity must go up slowly to ensure that everyone is able to contribute evenly.


• Stiff competition = rivalry: Competition is not the basis for team work, cooperation is. According to studies, more than 87% of times, greater advantage goes to teams that took the cooperative approach instead of the competitive one. The reasons are not hard to find. When you try to make one team (or team member) win, everyone loses. If people get a feeling that they weren't good enough, it lowers their performance. Often, competition uncovers the inner jerk in the participants and some people may even try unfair means just so they can win. Besides, people learn much less when they are fighting against each other. Therefore, team building games must focus on imparting lessons instead of finding and rewarding winners.


• Lack of commitment: Sometimes, management makes the mistake of considering the program an exercise in futility, something that is done to keep the employees in good humor. This feeling gets conveyed to teams automatically and results are unsatisfactory. Team building is a value mission and there must be a belief at the highest level that the company thrives on the culture of team spirit.


• Working with the wrong consultant: Finally, the quality of team building games is only as good as the quality of the team building Event Company you are working with. Experts in the field have the technical proficiency to guide management in choosing the best activities for their goals. When looking for a team building consultant, it is vital to find someone who is passionate about what they do and are ready to work with you for the success of your team.

If a company has had a bad experience with team building games in the past, the reasons are likely to be one or more of the above.

Event Planning: How To Become an Event Planner

Introduction
In today's world, event planning is an effective business. If you are interested in hosting party, it will be better for you to arrange parties and earn money. For being a good event planner, you have to get good client base as well as referrals. Only after that you will get succeed.

How to become effective event planner
At first you have to figure out the fact that which kind of party you can arrange well. There are several options like wedding, corporate, birthday, business etc. At the next stage you have to calculate the starting cost. Depending on your service this cost can be small to large. You can also gain experience by getting some certificates. You can take classes regarding marketing. This will also help you. You should be professional in each and every step you are going to take. You should create the demand within people that they will want to hire you. You should never avoid any important phone calls and emails. You can pass out your business card as much as you can. You can also develop a website that will aware your clients about different offers from your country. Try to optimize your search engine. With the increased optimization of your website, people can easily find you and contact with you.

Conclusion:
Including all these, you should also create a portfolio that will include your past works. It should also include personal experience from the clients. These things are all for being an effective event planner.

Indoor and Outdoor Event Planner

If you are planning for a business event, you need to take care few things to make it a success and attracting crowd. It is imperative as when planning an indoor or outdoor event that involves exhibition setup or trade booth counter, many people are unaware of the proper management, look and feel which your product or company vision or exhibition theme requires. Most important is the time spent in setting up a stall or booth or canopy or any other promotional media. Therefore, plan your event in such a manner which ultimately turns a center of extraction for the crowd. If you have ample amount of time, which is a rare case, go for big hoardings, big budget and big size banner stands along with canopy and hefty counters. However this situation is also not the ideal case for many businesses. Only a few business houses can afford it. For the masses, the budget is less, time is less and effect expectation is high. For such businesses, moderately priced banner stands are the ideal choice.

Retractable banner stands make a great choice if you wish to use them year after year for all your promotional needs because these can add an extra mile to the aesthetic look and give a professional touch to your event. Compared to traditional wooden or MS stands, the latest banner stands can resist damage from rips and tears easily. They are turning up as highest selling commodity globally when we talk about business promotion events whether it maybe a product launch, a service startup, or company policy or slogan campaign. These are affordable, easily transportable and less in weight. Banner stand display systems can be setup in few minutes, saving considerable time for you. Latest trends in banner displays have completely eliminated all the hassles in untangling ropes, rods or threads or screws as was the case in earlier ones.

When you are away from your office or business, they still serve the purpose of your office. They continue to conduct business silently. They can easily be fit into their own carry bag and can easily be taken out at any point of time making you comfortable to reach to next business venue or event. Lot of colour and material choices are possible in Retractable banner stands. You can select black, white, silver, grey or combination of these colours. You can select Aluminium structure or chrome finished structure or bamboo structure. As more people are resorting towards natural items, with its natural look and feel, bamboo banner stands are more in demand. The shape and style is available in X banner base or L banner base. They have strong structure base to resist any wind flow when place in open space or ground. As per your size of graphics, you can select the stand which suits the size. You can even select a flexible stands that is capable to hold different size graphics.

These trendy look banner stands give your company instant name recognition and turn a major tool for promoting your company branding. Make an impact with these low budget promotional tools with style and professionalism.

Why Sponsoring Events Is a Great Marketing Strategy

Corporate sponsorship of sports events is a well-established practice. Tune your television to any auto race, tennis match, or baseball game and you'll see a number of corporate logos. Because sports events invoke excitement and such positive emotional responses in people, sponsoring them can be pivotal factors in building brand recognition. Traditional advertising has become fragmented with people looking for ways to stand out. Sponsorship is more inclusive than traditional advertising because people feel an affinity with a sports personality or team.

In a feature on corporate sponsorship in Wealth, one marketing executive noted, "Fans are passionate about sport. Advances in technology mean they can now follow sport 'live' whenever they want, wherever they are in the world - over the Internet, on mobile devices, on TV, radio, etc - which provides even greater opportunities for sponsors. Sponsorships are now an integral part of the marketing mix, and the industry as a whole looks to have a healthy future."

A recent story in the New York Times revealed that Web.com, which provides Internet services to small- and medium-size businesses, has signed on to sponsor the golf circuit for up and coming players looking to qualify for the elite PGA tour. Web.com will become the tour's umbrella sponsor in a move that combines tour sponsorship, a series of TV commercials, and an official marketing partnership with the PGA tour. "We are about to become bolder," David L. Brown, Web.com's chief executive, told the Times.

Web.com isn't the only company to recognize the value of sponsoring golf tours. Barclays Group gains heightened visibility through its sponsorship of such high-profile sports tournaments as Barclays Scottish Open and Barclays Singapore Open for golf, and Volvo Cars Corporation in Sweden is the title sponsor of Volvo Masters.

According to an interview with Wealth, Johan Bexell, Sponsorship Director of Volvo Cars Corporation, golf sponsorship efforts have many benefits: "Volvo Masters is the final of the European Tour, which makes it the most prestigious tournament on the tour. It is televised worldwide so we get lots of brand exposure. We try to incorporate all the models as much as possible and place them on the golf course. That's the way we build up the brand."

But you don't have to be a giant corporation or sponsor a major tournament to get in on the golf sponsorship game. Even small companies can take advantage of sponsorship opportunities on a smaller level, perhaps by sponsoring a local tournament or participating as a fundraising sponsor for a local charity event. Building your brand in this way at the community level can be just as significant as a major corporation's sponsorship of a major tour event.

When you sponsor a golf event, you're reaching a true cross-section of the public. David L. Brown of Web.com notes that while golf definitely appeals to an older, well-educated, and high-end consumer, it also reaches a wider audience. In the U.S. alone, 19 percent of Americans attended, listened to, or watched a PGA event in the 12-month period between 2011 and 2012.

There are many opportunities for companies large and small to sponsor golf, from sponsoring individual players to sponsoring tournaments to forming marketing partnerships with major golf organizations. A study by the European Journal of Marketing revealed that brand recall from sponsorship of golf is high. Companies whose names appear in relation to golf events are remembered by those who attend, so it is worth considering an investment of your marketing dollars there.

9 Steps to Successful Event Management

Event management is a union between project management and marketing. The secret to sensational events is early and detailed project planning. Additionally excellent communication, including keeping each key team member/stake holder informed regularly.

Planning should include 9 key elements for success:

Purpose - Why are you having the event? Is it a rare networking opportunity. To highlight exciting opportunities with new technology. To launch a new product or service.

Outcomes - What do you want to achieve from the event especially for the audience? Each outcome statement suggests a different approach to strategy, content and marketing. An example might be: "delegates will have opportunities to sample suppliers' products and services".

Size - Target market analysis will help ascertain the number of candidates you might expect. Size dictates venue, catering and logistics required as well as marketing goals. How many numbers do you need to break even and how easy will it be to achieve this given the target market, are they receptive to events like this?

Strategies - Strategies are about how to achieve your outcomes. E.g.: the theme, speaker's schedule and topics, hospitality, security, technology. Each strategy must be thoroughly planned and aligned with the purpose, the target market and key messages. Additionally a marketing strategy to attract both delegates and sponsors.

Timeline - Unlike many general projects, planning an event will have strict deadlines with little margin for error. For this reason it is vital that planning begin early.

Budget - Be realistic about how much you can afford and what you would like to receive for your investment. Research will help you identify where you can receive the best value for money. Many events engage sponsors who wish to promote their product / service in exchange for a fee to help cover the costs of the event. Sponsors can be pitched at varying levels, e.g. gold, silver and bronze sponsors with sponsor costs to reflect the level. Additionally offer a satchel insert to other participants and an entry level price.

Responsibilities - An often undervalued skill in event project management is the ability to delegate appropriately. The co-ordinator ensures there are people available when needed with skills to undertake all the tasks required to implement strategy.

Risk Assessment - No plan is complete without a detailed risk assessment and strategies to manage risks as they emerge.

Measurement - You will want to repeat a successful event, so include ways to effectively measure achievement of outcomes.

5 Steps to Plan for a Successful Fundraising Event

Fundraising events are conducted with the sole aim to support a noble cause. For a novice it might appear to be a daunting task but with judicious solicitation of sponsors and enthusiastic planning all challenges can be effortlessly overcome. As fundraising events are mostly directed towards raising money, the most exigent task however remains is to convince donors and contributors, earning their trust to support for your cause. Logical thinking and proper planning will surely spell success for such events.

Here are some tips that will help you to successfully plan a fundraiser.

Working towards the Cause

All fundraising activities are targeted towards some cause. For instance, some are either conducted for the cause of helping flood victims or cancer patients or some are directed towards teaching underprivileged children. If you have planned to make your contributions towards a great cause like teaching then all you must make all provisions to execute it successfully. Depending upon the project you undertake it is necessary to decide on the venue, food and beverages, prizes for children etc. You can recruit additional volunteers to help you in your activities.

Adopting Means to Ease Out Donation Collection

Like other organizers you also have an expected amount in mind which you would like to raise via your fundraiser. But you will not take offence if the amount exceeds your anticipated amount. So you need to gear up everything to drive maximum support for your cause. In this era, when everything is technology driven, don't resort to means that are time consuming and complicated. To draw donor attention, you can however opt for Cloud-based software that eases the process of donation collection by allowing donors to make contributions either via credit/ debit cards or through standard payment gateways

Recognizing the Audience

Identifying the target audience is crucial to planning your fundraiser. So you first need to understand to which group of audience is your fundraiser targeted to. For instance, whether your fundraiser is for everyone in general or it is focused on any specific group like business people, parents, or young professionals.

Opting For Online Sponsorship page

Sponsorships are important for your events as it offsets your cost partially. Nowadays, you can have a dedicated page on your website to generate online sponsorships. Alternatively, investing in online fundraising system will additionally help you to do that. You simply need to enter the website, set up your page and send it to everyone you know. You can also post the link on your Face book page to keep reminding people about the sponsorships.

Extensive Event Promotion

You need to strategize on the ways you adopt to promote your fundraiser. The more the people come to know about your fundraiser, greater the chances of fund collection. An effective way to do so is through social media. These active social media platforms are the latest development which helps in creating a buzz about your fundraiser. You can spread your message through any of the networking sites like Facebook, Twitter or Linked In and connect with millions of like-minded users.

These are simple steps that you can follow to successfully plan your fundraiser.

Planning Event Itinerary - 6 Even Methods To Get With The Program

Event planning is successful when guests know what to expect and then get it. You may have lined up the best caterer, the most exquisite decor, and the finest facility. But if people don't know when to sit down for dinner or when to plan a bathroom break, your event will lose some of its glimmer. For organized events involving speakers or specific activities, it's important that event program planning take into account time available, time required, and the inevitable last-minute changes. When you develop the program for your event, consider these details:

1. Who's on First?

Before you write down your event program, the agenda, make a list of every activity you want to occur. Then order everything in a way that is natural and makes sense. For example, instead of scheduling a speaker immediately after the meal, schedule something active that will keep your guests from getting drowsy. Better they dance or do the limbo than they take a nap during an important talk. Don't plan a speaker during the first part of the dinner. If you do, your speaker will have to shout to be heard about the squeaking of chairs and rattle of silverware, not to mention that get-to-know-you chatter you hope to encourage over your catered meal. Don't overwhelm your guests by presenting several speakers or presentations back-to-back. They'll get restless and stop paying attention, both insulting the last speaker in line and losing the impact of his or her presentation. Schedule highly social activities at the beginning and end of your event program. Give people a chance to see who's there at first and to say their hellos. Then let them relax and have a good time before the go home so that they take a great memory with them.

2. Timing is Everything

Once you've established a logical, smooth order to event program activities, make sure event planning includes practical timing. You have an allotted amount of time to accomplish everything, and you don't want your event to move like a freight train. Neither do you want it to progress along in fits and starts. If there's no time for relaxation or bathroom breaks, your guests will not be happy. And they'll be overwhelmed if you try to keep them engaged every minute. There's a fine art to scheduling - planning too much or too little time for each activity will leave your guests irritated, bored, or gone.

Including times on your program will give your help your guests anticipate their own choices - when to fill their plate or find their seat, when to take that smoke or bathroom break, when to corner Harry for a special favor or question. It will also help you keep things moving according to plan by giving you check points. A printed program with scheduled times keeps everyone on the same page as the event program unfolds.

3. Don't Overbook your Program

Everything you plan to do doesn't have to be included on the printed program. Keeping a special "surprise" speaker or entertainer on board will allow you to fill extra time if it should come up. Your program doesn't have to be so detailed that you have no flexibility to change things that need to be changed to keep the momentum going. Make sure you include the major activities (the meal, specific ceremonies, keynote speakers, social activities social mixing time or dancing) on your printed program, but don't include every break or announcement. Your program should be structured enough to keep things organized and flowing, but it should be open enough to meet unanticipated needs.

4. Be Prepared for Featured Guests to Go Over their Allotted Time

You may have scheduled 10-15 minutes for each speaker or presentation, but it's human nature to ramble. What if someone takes 5 minutes over their time budget? What if EVERYONE goes over? Or what if it takes longer than anticipated to set up a presentation or a stage? Keep in mind when setting your schedule that even the best plans go astray. Allow slightly more for specific activities than you think they will take. And build in some breaks so that speakers can get their breath or guests can take care of personal needs. If you find you don't need the extra time, keep a "surprise" guests or activity in your back pocket. It'll add some spontaneity to your event and make it less predictable. Your guests will be happy to be "honored" with a special appearance or activity.

5. Be Willing to Cut the Fat or Add Some Sparkle

Be flexible. Nothing will go exactly as planned. event program planning requires give and take on the scheduled program. Perhaps one of your speakers gets lost in traffic or gets sick. Maybe your entertainment can't find a place to park. Be willing to switch speakers and activities where it makes sense to keep the event moving along. Have something extra planned to substitute or add to your program if needed. One great way to accommodate unplanned timing jams is to have an emcee that can fill empty time with jokes and entertaining stories if necessary. The emcee can also drop some planned remarks to accommodate over-times. Be flexible, and don't get stressed when things don't go exactly as you planned them. Maintain your poise and grace, and no one will even know there's been a hitch in your event program planning get-along.

6. Always Have Someone Else Review your Program

Your program documents the event. Avoid misspelling someone's name, and be sure there are no typos on your program. Your program should be attractive and professional. If you developed it, you're likely to miss some errors. Run off a trial copy and ask friends, co-workers, or fellow event planners to review it for you. Very important: double-check the spelling of names. No need to insult a speaker or guest with a casual error like that. When you are comfortable with your program, get it to the printer well in advance of the event. Creating unnecessary panic by waiting too long to have your program printed is an easily-avoided problem.

Event programs can be as simple as a list of activities or as complicated as a formal schedule. In event program planning, the nature and purpose of the event will suggest the type of program you need. The more guests attending, the more structured your program should be. If you have celebrities or community big-shots, you should include their names in the program.

Most important, use your program as a guide while you're overseeing the event. Don't throw your planning away by playing it by ear during the event. Set a reasonable, well-timed schedule that makes sense and provides for both stimulation and relaxation. Be both flexible and disciplined as your event program unfolds. Be prepared to make last-minute changes, but don't turn over the program "apple-cart" by making dramatic changes. Give your guests enough information to know what to expect, and then give them what they expect. Using an event program will be an invaluable tool in making your event a rousing success.

Mexican Catering for Your Next Event

Mexican food is one of the most delicious and asked about foods in the entire world. Finding someone who has not consumed Mexican food before is pretty much few and between. When planning your next event, there are many different reasons to consider hiring a Mexican catering company that specializes in providing authentic Mexican food.

Not every catering company can create authentic Mexican food dishes. There is a lot that goes into making Mexican food. If you hire a caterer that you just find on a limb there is a big possibility that you are not going to receive the type of food that you think you are. When employing a caterer that specializes in creating different types of dishes, such as Mexican dishes it is important that you ensure that they are able to deliver on everything that their advertisements are promising.

There are a lot of Mexican catering companies that boast that their food is as close to authentic Mexican food as you can possibly get, but on the adverse side their food does not taste anything close to authentic Mexican cuisine. It is vital that you remember that there is a lot more to Mexican food than tacos. Enchiladas, burritos, tostadas, and empanadas are just a few items that should be included on any Mexican catering companies menu.

Make sure that when you are speaking with a company that claims that they specialize in making Mexican cuisine that you are aware of what items should be included in the food that is being made. Do not be afraid to question the catering company about the ingredients that they use in the food that they create. It is important that prior to hiring a Mexican catering company that you sit down and speak with the owner or a few of the workers of the company first.

By meeting with the owner or employees of the company you can generate an idea of how skillful they are when it comes to creating this specialized cuisine. The last thing you are going to want to do is invite a large group of people out to your home or event, promise them that they are going to be able to enjoy authentic Mexican cuisine and then hire a company that cannot deliver what you promised your guests. This will not only make you look incompetent when it comes to hiring a caterer, but it will also make you appear like you lied to the guests you invited.

One thing that you need to keep in mind when hiring a Mexican catering company is that Mexican food can be fairly spicy. It would behoove you to have the company cook the food that they will be serving so everyone can enjoy it. If you have guests at your event that prefer spicy food, have the company bring additional spices so the guests can add the spices as they desire. This way you can ensure that everyone is pleased with the cuisine, and that all of your guests are able to enjoy it equally.

Cruise Away For Hassle-free Corporate Events and Wedding Functions

Corporate events like dinners for an important delegation, annual company dinner or employee gratification day can be enormous tasks that take away many working hours of the day apart from countless sleepless nights. Wedding too is probably the most important stage in anyone's lives and choosing the appropriate wedding function venue is extremely important.

Weddings in today's time are no longer simple events at church followed by quiet lunch with family but on the contrary, have now become elaborate an social event no longer restricted to just friends and family of bride and groom. Rather it is a time to remember and invite everybody from their personal and professional lives. This calls for a grand affair and the right wedding function venue often decides whether the event would be marked a success or failure in the eyes of others. Wedding related stress is immense, yet with the right help a grand event can rest be assured.

A cruise for a successful Corporate Event -

Cruises can host meetings, conferences, and larger events like product launches. Corporate events such as these require high levels of professionalism and eye for detail, and experienced cruise staff offer that and more. Client satisfaction ranks high and the staff is driven to provide a smooth, elegant and successful event. Elite cruise in Sydney has been organizing various events for international dignitaries visiting Australia and is now a well-known event managing brand in its league.

The main features of a cruise hosting a corporate event can be listed as:

o Ideal for both small as well as large-scale events. Most cruises can cater for 10-400 people on board and provide personal attention to all.
o Wide range to choose from in terms of food and bar services.
o Entertainment in from of music and dance to lighten the atmosphere and provide a comfortable and relaxing setting even in business surrounding.

Cruise as perfect wedding venues -

Taking your wedding wows at sea is easily among the most romantic and unique wedding ideas that there can be. With the right cruise booking, the experience can be made most memorable.

o Decorations for the wedding function venue can be arranged to the bride and groom's individual taste, thus, making the experience more personal.
o Dedicated wedding coordinators ensure the event progresses with utmost elegance.
o The menu and gourmet services add flavor to the scenic event. Menus can also be customized to individual needs.
o Weddings would be incomplete without tasteful and exclusive wine and other drinks offered by the in-house bar.
o Small details like linen and napkins add to the finesse of the occasion.

Cruise companies offer both corporate and private boats for the above occasions, can cater at ease fro 10-400 guests, and also have conveniently located boarding stops for the guests.

4 Advantages of Using an Online Event Management Solution

In the present scenario, most working structures are having the same frame, loads of work accompanied with buzzing deadlines. This can extremely hamper you from performing effectively. With the work pressure increasing day by day, it is not possible for everyone to produce the same output efficiently. So, you must constantly look for effective ways which can help you in cutting down your workload and can manage your work efficiently. In a competitive business environment where everyone is looking effective ways to maximize profits and minimize cost, an online event management solution can help an event planner in reducing the work pressure as well as the cost.

An online event management system offers a number of advantages that can be helpful as well as fruitful for an event planner.

· Simplifies the process of data entry:

Data or information related to the attendees filling up paper forms or web-based forms for registration must be collected and stored safely. Thus the data entry process becomes time consuming as the information are collected manually and may often lead to errors and manipulation. Online event management solutions offers online registration services where the attendees can fill up the form online and registration data in directly stored from the online form and are kept in an online database. The organizer can view the information or the data about any attendee at anytime.

· Simplifies the process of mailing:

When a registrant is done with the registration process using paper form, the next job becomes mailing which is also a long process and requires money to print and mail them through courier or via emails. The online system will make the work easier, as it will automatically send the registrant, a confirmation mail, after the completion of the registration process. It also helps the organizer, in sending bulk emails to attendees as reminders and notifications.

· Simplifies the process of payment:

Maintaining the payment process manually, using credit cards and other payment modes, involves the complexities of accounting, data entry, and incorrect credit card numbers and sometimes rejected cards. Accepting cheques also involves a long process to collect the money. The online payment option eliminates all these additional problems by offering an online payment gateway where credit cards, PayPal and Wire transfer can be used for making the payment within few minutes.

· Makes easier the change work:

The confirmation and cancellation are vital part of a registration process and may often disrupt you are busy at work. Changes related to the events to be informed to all the attendees may also bother the organizer. The online system may help in updating the information related to the event online which can be easily viewed by the attendees.

The easy online event management solution will not only make your work easier but will also save your time in planning a successful event.

6 Ways to Have a Successful Event

Organizing an event or a workshop to the public is the best way to increase your company contact network, generate more sales, and get your company known to the public in the shortest possible of time.

There are 6 things that you must take note of so as to get the best results from your event:

1. Who are you inviting to your event? You must know the target audience for your event. For e.g. your event is an Internet Business focus group. Do you know the gender, age group, and income level of your invitees?

It is important to know who customers are, so that you can suit the theme of your event to the audience.

2. Make your event meaningful. Do not pitch your products and services straight away. Teach them something that they do not know. Provide them with meaningful and valuable information before you start to sell your services or products.

3. Try to get as many people to your event as possible. If your budget allows, make your event as impressive as possible, so as to add credibility to your business.

4. Get a good event management company to host the event for you. You will not want to hire someone who will screw up the whole event for you. Get a good emcee that knows how to control the flow of the event, and has the ability to repeat any product offers to your guests effectively.

5. Remember to network around! The main purpose of organizing an event is that you can network your invitees face to face. Make them feel welcome and appreciated and they will be your loyal customers in the future.

6. Follow up quickly. After the event, send a personalized "Thank You" email to your invitees. Ask them for feedback and suggestions, so that you can improve the next time round.

A good event or workshop planner will ensure that all the 6 things mentioned above get done. If you do not have time or confidence to fulfill all the above, do hire a professional event management company to help you to do organize the event.

Become a Top Wedding Planner - Calculate the Startup Costs For a Wedding Planning Business

Do you want to start a wedding planning business but are not sure how much money you would need to get stared? To calculate your costs, you have to know what you need to purchase. Here is a list of the expenses you might incur. Actual costs will be determined by things such as the fees associated with starting a business in your area and the office equipment and supplies you already own and don't need to buy.

Administrative Costs

Bank Fees

You will incur a monthly fee for a business checking account and you will need to purchase checks.

Business Insurance

Talk to an insurance broker or agent to find out how much it will cost you to get liability insurance for your business.

Business License

Check with your local government offices to find out the cost of a license for running a business in your area. If you operate out of your home, there may be some additional fees you will need to pay to your city government.

Business Name Registration

County government offices charge a fee for registering your business name. Check with your County Clerk's office to find out the rates.

Professional Services

You will need to speak to an accountant or attorney to decide on the best entity for your business. They can tell you about additional fees if you decide to incorporate or form an LLC.

Office Space and Furniture

Space

Office space can be leased space in a commercial building or you can just work out of your home. If you decide to have a home office when you first start your business, as many people do, you won't have to pay rent and you may be able to get some tax write-offs. Check with your accountant for information.

Furniture

Whether your office is in your home or a leased space, you will need a desk, chair, printer stand or table, filing cabinets and shelves. For your home, you may be able to get away with less furniture if you also have some closet space with shelving.

Technology

Computer

You will need a computer that you can dedicate to your business. You need to be able to keep client information private and you don't want the possibility of someone accidentally erasing your documents.

Software

Purchase software that allows you to write documents, keep a calendar, and create a spreadsheet, most wedding planners use Microsoft Office. You may also want to get bookkeeping software, such as QuickBooks. If you intend to create or update your website, you will need a web design program. There is also special software for wedding and event planners to use when planning events.

Printer

You will want to be able to print documents and perhaps some marketing material. There are both laser and ink jet printers available. Check the cost of replacing ink cartridges before you invest in a printer. An inexpensive printer may have very expensive cartridges.

Internet Service

High speed Internet access from the phone company or a cable company is best since you will be researching venues and vendors on the web and want to be able to do it quickly.

Phone Line with Voice Mail

It is best to have a land based phone line dedicated to your business. Many people use cell phones but the reception is not always reliable. Dropped calls will make it frustrating for people to do business with you. Also, get voice mail for your line and record a professional business greeting for people to hear when you are away.

Cell Phone

Get a cell phone for access when you are out of the office working on weddings.

Fax Machine

Contracts need signatures and are typically faxed between vendors and clients so it is helpful to have an actual fax machine. An alternative might be a printer that is also a scanner and has the ability to fax documents.

Marketing

Website

You must have a presence on the web. You will need to pay for the services of a web designer, unless you can design a professional-looking site. You will also need a web hosting company.

Business Cards

You will need to hire a designer, or design your cards yourself, and a printing company which can be found in your local area or on the Internet. You will want professional looking cards so stay away from the ones that you print yourself on your computer.

Marketing Material

Some wedding planners also invest in printed brochures and other marketing material. If you do, you will need to hire designers and printers. Again, stay away from doing them yourself at home unless you have the talent and equipment to make them look professionally done.

Hospitality Industry Resume: Welcoming Career Opportunities

The hospitality industry is considerably one of the biggest and fastest-growing sectors today, and, indeed, one of the highest job-providing areas of the global economy. As such, it embraces services entailed in several areas including entertainment, accommodation, restaurants, travel and tourism, event planning, and other luxury-based conveniences intended to satisfy customers. Since it offers a number of career opportunities, the industry itself has progressively turned out into a very competitive arena for job seekers. And in this challenging setting, what an applicant needs to have is a much convincing and ideal hospitality industry resume that will powerfully emphasize the 'information' relevant to their chosen field.

Talking about information, a resume appears to be an important, yet crucial requisite for a job seeker since it basically reveals one's goals, skills, and experiences that will give employers the chance to determine your potentialities; thus, a keen evaluation on the details to be incorporated must be observed.

One dynamic part is the career objective. This part is usually the very first thing that potential employers read since it essentially speaks of a person's utmost purpose in applying for a certain position and the value you can bring to the company. It sets the rhythm for the rest of a resume; thus, a sense of directness and creativity must be established in order to grab the attention of employers. In most cases, job seekers intend to substitute career objective statements into a qualifications profile, which highlights attributes and gives a summary on one's skills.

Education, trainings, and other certifications relatively matter for most of the companies; hence, these details are commonly brought up in a hospitality industry resume. Universities and related courses or degrees taken by the applicants are cited, along with their attended training programs and obtained awards, recognitions, and special licenses. Likewise, affiliations and activities are added up to heighten the resume.

Job experiences convey something about one's professionalism in a specific field. These generally include an outline on the aspirants' internships, volunteer works, and chronological employment history together with a detailed and clear job description on each position. Such will allow company heads to be familiar on the companies and duties that the applicant has already worked with. On top of that, an application must entail an individual's personal profiles including the name, contact number/s, existing home address, e-mail address, and a webpage link, if possible. This will allow prospective company superiors to reach and contact the applicants in the easiest way as possible.

There are a variety of positions and fields of expertise available in the sector-may it be in the food, beverage, and restaurant services, hotels and resorts accommodations, corporate or functional events planning, or even the travel and tourism sector. Despite the fact that it demands a diversified level of manpower, competition among its aspirants is still a tough thing to consider. For such instance, it is greatly a huge factor to come up with an impressive hospitality industry resume that will stand out among other job hunters.

In order to have a good application document, the candidate must consider also certain guidelines in preparing such requirement. Since the realm of the sector comprises different areas, it is a must for an applicant to initially choose and set focus in a specific field of interest he or she intends to work on, say for example, a career in hotel and restaurant management. It can be based accordingly with the essential skills acquired through educational attainment and work experiences that one has undergone. In the process of writing the document, remember to quantify and put emphasis on trainings and professional experiences related to the chosen career path, since most of the companies in the field actually use these as basis of competence. Additionally, use distinctive keywords that will suitably enhance the resume. Once done with the content, the applicant must also prepare the requirement in a clean and presentable manner by means of applying simple yet formal font style, size, and the like.

In this specific sector what seems to be a primary factor of achievement is to satisfy customers through exceptional service. But before you can actually render your service to them, you must first satisfy your prospective employers with the 'service' brought about your hospitality industry resume -and this will serve as your initial key to land and be welcomed in a career in this service-based industry.

New Career for 2011? Event Management

It may seem as though the worst of the recession is over, although the employment arena is now a very different place to how it was a few years ago. With many private companies and public services working under tighter conditions, the threat of redundancy is still there for many, and although there are jobs out there, they may not offer the job satisfaction you are looking for.

Many young people are choosing to further their education during these turbulent times, with record numbers heading to university. Gaining additional qualifications is something which can open the door to a whole host of opportunities, and could help you find a rewarding career in these challenging times.

One area which looks set to do well in 2011 is the event management industry. In the UK there are many towns and cities which thrive on tourism, and with 'stay-cations' looking probable once more for a number of Brits this year, many local tourist boards and councils will be looking to attract visitors. One way of doing this is through staging events such as Art Weeks, Literary Festivals or Historical Tours.

Event management is an exciting career, fast paced and varied. It will most likely involve working unsociable hours at times, and can be stressful, but if you perform well under pressure then event management could be the perfect industry for you.

Whether you have years of experience working in a completely unrelated field, or are fresh from college or university, there are event management courses for you. It is a competitive industry to get into, however with the right qualifications and experience, and some hard work, it is possible.

There are a huge number of event management courses available, and choosing the right one may seem a little bit daunting. There are general courses, corporate courses, wedding planning courses, some are full time, some part time, some end with a certificate, others with a diploma...

Firstly you need to decide the type of events you want to manage, and ensure that the course covers that. Next you need to ensure that the course will suitably qualify you for the job. Ask to read some testimonials from previous students, and ask about what they have gone on to do. Check to see if the course is accredited. The Institute of Commercial Management (ICM ) accredits Management courses, and is recognised worldwide.

Next you need to find a course at times and places to suit you. There are full and part time courses on offer, and the part time courses are often scheduled to permit you to keep a 9 to 5 job whilst completing your studies. Some courses will also offer an unpaid work placement, which not only will offer you the chance to put your newly learned skills to the test, but gives you some industry specific experience to add to your CV and will allow you to provide a valuable reference once you are applying for jobs.

Arranging Corporate Events

Summer is arriving and it's that time of the year again when your boss suggests having a get together to boost the company spirit. With the expansion of the company, the guest list is almost twice as long as last year and a couple of drinks at the local bar isn't going to cover it. You are going to have to plan an event and the success is going to reflect on you.

Working out a budget with the board members and deciding whether partners are going to be included or not is the first step. Once you have all your details, getting an event coordinator is essential. Set-up a meeting to discuss themes, venues, styles. They should have images or presentations of previous events to give you an idea and feel for what is available, what is possible and whether it's what you want.

With their help, choosing a venue that is capable of facilitating all your needs should be easy. The event coordinator will then take over the hassle of organising, booking and communicating with suppliers. Once the theme and style has been decided on, ask your event coordinator for a mock up of different types of set-ups. They can also organize a tasting with the caterers so you get an idea of the quality and style of food.

Where you will be extremely grateful of getting an event coordinator onboard is the few days just before the event. Having someone on site at the venue to brief and direct all the suppliers is essential. So while you sit at the office doing your thing, you can relax in knowing there is someone sorting it all out.

They can direct the set-up of the technical crew, including sound, lighting and possible staging. You can figure out the speeches of the MC and work on your other projects. Marquees will be set up and teams of set-up crew will place all the tables, lining, table centres and décor as drawn up by you weeks before. During your lunch break you can pop through and watch, as where there was once nothing, a whole other world has been created, that you designed.

Eventually the night will come and all your average co-workers, who generally just mooch about the place, will be standing tall in their gorgeous outfits according to the theme. You can watch their faces light up as they take on the experience, relishing the canapé's, sipping their welcome drinks, while the event coordinator ensures the back of house is running smoothly. Bartenders, stewards and waiters will be dressed in perfect black, little things that didn't even occur to you will have been sorted and taken care of. You can mingle and make small chat, as stewardess fly by taking drink orders and emptying ashtrays.

Unknown to you, caterers have started with creating gourmet starters, fit for the royal family in the back, while you help move the company into the main dining area. Lights will shine and centerpieces will be displayed as everyone finds their place cards. Special care to individual dietary requirements will be taken care of, as you can start with the welcome MC speech.

Perfectly lined up waiters will then start walking in an organised fashion with starters held on one hand, delivering the plates to all the guests. Throughout the evening's entertainment, main course, speeches, dessert, company plans for up and coming years and finally coffee, you will be oblivious to all small incidents, chaos and miniature disasters as you relax and enjoy the event. The event coordinator will take care of it all.

At the end of the evening, there might be a bit of dancing and socialising. Co-workers will praise you and thank you; their year's work will have felt like it was all worth it, just for this one spectacular night. Employees will feel more light-hearted as they now are all on the same page with where the company is going and having finally spoken to the person in the cubicle next door.

As people leave, you can chat to the coordinator quickly about postproduction items such as the photo's and possible DVD's of the night. Monday morning will come with you not being aware of the huge clean up and break down of the event as the magical creation disappears into once it was, just a simple venue. Stories will fly around the office about all the things that happened and everyone's outfits. Overall, everyone will agree it was the best end-year party to date and it was stunning. As you listen, you can relax and just finish up the small things, until next year at least.

How to Start a Home Catering Business

Many of us dream of earning a living doing something in which we get to use the full potential of our skills, knowledge and creativity. For many people, a catering business is the perfect fit for that dream. But how do you start a home catering business? This article will discuss some of the qualities, skills and abilities necessary to start a home catering business.

Owning a home catering business gives you the opportunity to make money doing something you love. You will be your own boss, and can set up and run your business the way you want to. The trade off for changing from employee to self employed is you will be working longer hours; and for caterers that often means working holidays and weekends.

What skills are necessary to start a successful catering home business? Most important is a passionate flair for cooking and a culinary arts background. Party planning experience for a variety of social and business events is also a must. While some clients will hire you to prepare and serve food, some will want assistance in organizing the entire party or event. It also helps to have an eye for decorating and the ability to incorporate a party theme into all aspects of an event.

When catering a formal event, you and your still will need to understand fine dining etiquette and protocol. Although there are similarities in how the various type of events are run, each event will have its own time line. This means you will need to understand how to coordinate food service around event activities, such as speeches or presentations.

Flexibility, excellent communications skills and the ability to work with a wide range of people are the most important skills for any caterer. Making your client happy is the foremost important goal of any catering job. In return for doing an excellent job, your client will be more than willing to recommend you to others or to hire you for future events.

As the owner of a catering business, your clients will be private individuals as well as event planners. When you set up your business, you will need to decide if you will specialize in specific types of events, such as weddings, or specialize in specific types of foods such as kosher or vegetarian. Will you work by yourself and hire free lance staff on an as need basis or will you have business partners? No matter what size company you wish to run, tasks such as marketing, sales, food preparation and service, staffing and client management are part of your routine business activities.

Other items to consider when you have a home based catering business is what are your office hours for managing administrative tasks such as returning phone calls, marketing and billing. Catering businesses require cooks, food servers, delivery and set-up staff, an accountant, an attorney and someone to manage daily administrative functions such as scheduling client meetings, basic bookkeeping, and keeping everyone on schedule.

Interview Questions for Wedding Rental Companies

Before meeting with a wedding rentals vendor, it's helpful to have a rough idea of what you will need, an approximate guest count, and information about the reception location. The more info you can give them about your reception, the more accurate the quote. I've included some helpful questions below to ask when working with a variety of wedding rental vendors (linens, vehicles, photo booths, silverware/dining, chairs, lighting design, floral, furniture, decorations).

Choose a Wedding Rental Company

What items are available for rent? Some companies will niche market in only one category. Others may have bundled options to save you time and money. It never hurts to ask.

What is the rental fee? Do you have a price list? Some vendors resort to an all inclusive package, while others can give you several options. The second is more flexible with strict budgets. Any company you consider should be able to fully explain the differences of their various packages.

Have you worked at my reception location before? This is a biggie for event design and rentals. Not only is logistics a factor, but also facility layout. Any reputable person that has worked the facility before will be able to give an honest recommendation on what you need. They can base this off past clients, and future accommodations. There is no right or wrong way to plan a wedding, so make sure they completely understand your vision.

Do you provide delivery, set-up and pick-up? Is this included in the cost? Once again, logistics is a biggie. Some people have a limited coverage area while others will travel to Timbuktu. They should remove the stress involved with prepping by setting up the items being rented. Their price should also include tear down. The last thing you want to be stuck with is a bunch of center pieces that are due back at 10am the next morning?!

When will the items be delivered and picked up? Get this written out in detail in your contract. I have heard many horror stories because of a communication breakdown. You know what the most important part of your wedding is right... it is the part that gets screwed up. Your wedding has to be perfect. I recently was doing a wedding were another vendor ended up being 10 chair covers short for the whole room. They realized the client added on guests last minute and forgot to tell them. They had to run across town during rush hour to pull things together last minute. Always keep your vendors in the loop.

Will you move decorations from the ceremony to the reception site if needed? This is mostly done for floral arrangements. You paid the money for them, might as well get the biggest bang for your buck! But who will transport them to the reception? All you have to do is ask.

If tents are needed, do you recommend one large tent, or multiple smaller tents at my reception location? Different sized tents have different costs. Different locations require different sizes. Tents are cool. Tents are big. Tents allow your parents to invite 3,000 people who you've never met or heard of before. Oh yeah, you have to feed those people. Tents also require a small army of people to build, air condition, decorate and tear-down. Either way factor in the labor vs. sq footage.

What is you policy on damaged or missing items? Accident happens, and linens/chair covers are notorious for getting misplaced. Knock on wood that something doesn't happen, but hey Murphy's Law. It is best to have them go over a common problem situation with you. For example, if you go with lighting design, then they might require 3.5 feet of space between the tables and the perimeter of the walls to account for guest walk space.

Who will be my contact on the day of the wedding? Make sure you have a contact person that WILL be available the day of. This person should have a good understanding of the services you reserved.

How far in advance must I book your services? Vendors that do a stellar job tend to stay busy. On average, popular dates will book from 1 - 1.5 years. Some companies can handle multiple events on any given day. It is important that they do not stretch themselves to thin. They should have a backup plan for emergencies.

What is your cancellation policy? When you book 1 - 1.5 years out, a lot can change. We don't want things to, but unfortunately thing might. Since this happens on occasion every year, they should be able to answer your questions. Just keep in mind that wedding vendors reserve your date and turn down thousands of dollars in business to set aside their services for you.

Is a retainer required? If so, when and how much? Your wedding vendor will ask for some kind of deposit and signed agreement as a sign of commitment. This fee is typically 50%, it is also common practice for the remaining balance to be due 2 weeks prior to the wedding day.

Why Opt For Online Event Registration Software?

Following the increasing competition within the event industries, the event planners are constantly finding out effective and innovative ways of maximizing their profits and minimizing their costs as well as work load, maintaining a good and positive reputation within the industry. Taking all the activities of event management online, has become an emerging trend, where event planners are taking help of the online event registration software in making the registration process easier and simpler. Below mentioned are some benefits of this software:

· Fast and convenient registering process:

Paper works for registration is a long process and initially requires the registrants to download and print out the copy of the form. The registrant needs to fill up the form according, make the payment using cheques or demand draft and mail it back to the mentioned address. But online registering is quick and convenient for the attendees as they can directly fill up the form online from your official event site. The organizer of the event can also give a new look and feel to the form and make it more attractive to generate more attendees. The software eventually stores the data or information of each attendee and maintains an online database which can be easily accessed by the organizer, whenever required.

· Secure database storage:

Storing and maintaining data or information, in a registration process is a complex task and must be safeguarded. The online software offers a safe and secure environment for storing data related to each registrant. It maintains an online database, where relevant information about payments and transactions can be stored safely.

· Auto-generated confirmation emails:

Registering manually by filling up paper forms may take days or even weeks to receive the confirmation. The organizer opting for paper forms may have to spend a huge amount of time in attending the calls or replying to the mails of the curious attendees, regarding confirmation. However, your time gets saved using the online software, which automatically sends a notification mail to the attendees mentioning their confirmation details and other relevant information. This automated confirmation mail relieves the participants as well as reduces the additional work of the organizer which would be required in attending the registrants and finding out their current status of entry.

· Quick Reports and Surveys:

The most common problem faced by event organizers is that they often fail to keep a track on the number of attendees who would actually turn up for the event at the end of the registration process. Tracking the updates and maintaining a report at the last moment becomes tiresome and can increase your work load. Online software offers you the facility of viewing the updates instantly and helps you in making a survey report about the expected attendees to the event.

Thus, the online event registration software can assist you in handling your work in a trouble-free manner, saving your time.

Planning An Employee Recognition Event: Corporate Executive Gifts, Food And More

Saying thank you to employees is one of the most important things that smart business owners do. While simply saying thanks goes a long way towards making employees feel appreciated, there are other ways that businesses can show their appreciation. If you're thinking of recognizing employees with a fun event, consider these important steps.

Deciding On A Venue

A venue doesn't have to be fancy to show employees that you appreciate what they're doing for you. If you're short on money, consider having your event in your own office. If you have a conference room, you can decorate it with tablecloths, centerpieces, and other personal touches.

If you have a little extra room in your budget, consider having your event in a local hotel. Hotels are often well versed in events like this and they'll be able to take care of everything for you. You could also call around to local restaurants. Many times, restaurants have a designated room that's available for parties or other events. You may have to pay a small fee, but if you're going to be ordering food and drinks, some venues will allow you to use their room for free.

Selecting A Personalized Executive Gift For Everyone

At the get-together, make sure you give employees a token of appreciation. There are a number of corporate executive gifts available, so it's possible to give unique executive gifts to each employee. Some corporate executive gifts include plaques, crystal clocks, pens, and watches. If possible, try to choose a personalized executive gift for each person instead of giving everyone the same thing. Choosing unique executive gifts that fit in with the reason you're recognizing each person will go a long way towards making them feel appreciated.

Some reasons for recognition include best team, MVP, best customer service, perfect attendance, and employee of the year. If you're looking to give a personalized executive gift to everyone, consider small awards and lighthearted categories like best decorated workspace and other fun categories.

Choosing Food

No event is complete without food! The type of food you need is determined by the time of day you're having your party. If you're planning something in the middle of the day, try to feed employees lunch. Something that takes place in the middle of the afternoon can probably just offer light appetizers or desserts. If you're thinking of an evening event, consider a full meal with either a dinner buffet or waiters that come around to serve a sit-down meal.

Don't Forget The Entertainment

Entertainment can be as simple as having some of the managers getting up to perform a work-related skit, but many companies choose to hire either a humorous motivational speaker or a stand-up comedian to perform. Music is also important, but if you're on a budget, you can create a playlist on an MP3 player and simply hook it up to the sound system. Music should be loud enough to hear, but not so loud that employees are unable to talk to each other.

Most importantly, make your event fun! If employees go into the venue dreading it or expecting it to be boring, they won't want to participate. Whether you're giving big unique executive gifts like crystal awards or smaller items like imprinted pens, remember that it's important to show your appreciation all year round. Doing this will help improve employee morale and create a better workplace environment even after your event is over.