Garden Girl Party Decoration Ideas for Your Little Gardener

If your daughter loves to dig in the dirt, why not throw a garden girl birthday party for her and let her do all the gardening that she always wanted to! Your garden would be the best venue for this party and the girls would certainly enjoy the beauty of the nature. Garden parties do not require a lot of decorations. The garden setting will speak for itself; however, adding a few special touches here and there will give a glorious look to your celebration. Here is how you can use the garden girl birthday supplies to delight your guests as well as your girl.

Party table decoration:

• Use the forest green colored table cover and the garden girl birthday supplies such as tableware, crepe paper, streamers, balloons, etc. for beautifying the table.


• Buy some medium-sized terracotta pots and use them to hold your cutlery.


• A blossoming plant in a pot can be the best centerpiece; however, make sure your table is sturdy enough to bear its weight. You can also use a fruit basket or a flower bouquet for enhancing the look of your table.


• Experiment with the seating arrangements. While the standard table and chair arrangement will be the most convenient one, you can also spread out a sheet in the garden to let your little guests sit cross-legged and enjoy being in the garden.


• Attach some balloons or paper flowers to the chairs.

Tree decoration

• Hang a lot of tissue pom-poms, Mylar and latex balloons, streamers, etc. from the branches of the trees.


• Hanging a few paper lanterns or light strands from the trees will give them a nice touch.


• Beautify the trees of your garden by hanging a few wind chimes. These charming ornaments create a tinkling sound as the wind passes through them. This sound will create a whimsical environment for your party.

Garden animal decoration

Why not invite all the creepy, crawly creatures for your daughter's birthday? Make some cardboard cutout and painted animals such as butterflies, ladybugs, bumblebee, frog, snake, squirrel, and other garden animals and place them around the party area for giving your party an aesthetic look. Encourage your child to help make the decorations so that she can also enjoy doing the artwork. If your child has some stuffed garden animals, use them instead of the making the cutouts.

These ideas will surely help you to organize a perfect Garden Girl Birthday Party for your child. So go ahead and celebrate!

Corporate Event Planning - Band Booking

In this tough economy, it is not difficult to organize New Jersey corporate event planning to your budgeting advantage.

If you are considering live Band Booking, many good bands for hire will give you access to top quality party entertainers at a surprisingly affordable rate.

A band leader who has a first call band for hire knows that your corporate events need to be cost effective. In response, musicians for hire and even a normally expensive party dj will adjust their fees to secure your business with very little negotiating on your part.

The trick to securing an excellent deal is by having your event planner set up the corporate meeting during "off hours" and "off days". The most expensive time 'real estate' for caterers and music providers is, without a doubt, the weekend.

Expect then to pay top price on Friday and Saturday evenings. You can negotiate a better price on Saturday and Sunday afternoons and Sunday evenings. However, smart event planners will avoid the weekend altogether.

Why make her party planning another job? Party Entertainers could easily be booked elsewhere for the price they demand and will not be so willing to negotiate.

On the other hand, Caterers, musicians, DJs and all other special events party planner vendors are delighted to gain employment in such a time slot as Monday or Tuesday at 11AM!

Expect to pay significantly less for any evening, Monday through Thursday. If you have your event coordinator price quote for day hours, Monday through Thursday, You will secure a great entertainment package for even less.

Event planning is now a dream for music vendor availability and price at such times.

I assure you that if you set your corporate event at such times, your conference planning coordination efforts will be reduced to a few simple phone calls. Contracts will be submitted almost instantly. Your corporate team building event will be a party planning "dream come true".

Another tip would be to forestall the cost of a certified meeting planner. With such easy steps to align in vendor coordination, simply assign an in-house employee with good organizational skills.

Assign your temporary event planner with the job of "events planner for hiring and coordinating all vendors for our corporate team building extravaganza on (fill in the date)"

An office employee with decent "people skills" will bring together a corporate caterer, band for hire and/or party dj in no time.

If your assigned conference planner does run into a jam, ask her to recruit assistance from one of the vendors. Event planning tips acquired form a reputable professional could shave a lot more time off her party event planning efforts. It costs nothing.

Professional vendors are very happy to refer others who have bands for hire, corporate catering expertise and other event services specialists. These pros know who will provide the best service for your money. They also know who is easy to work with.

(Note: amiable and smooth interaction among the vendors is vital to an event coordinator. Never underestimate the importance of that fact in events planning. Vendors at an event are a team, even if just for the day.)

The vendor that you ask for advice will become a micro event coordinator by default. Be assured that other professionals are enthusiastic about recommending those that bring a high level of integrity and service to your corporate event management success.

For music in New Jersey, your event design will fall together flawlessly when contacting a band booking specialist for the entertainment.

You can have a band such as a jazz trio or jazz quartet, the DJ, Classical String ensemble or any combination with one, easy contract. Such an arrangement is very convenient and cost effective.

Any style or theme of music will be provided with one contractor. No separate lists or individual vendors to complicate your conference management responsibilities.

The Rise of Food Festivals in Wales

How times have changed in the culinary world all over the United Kingdom over the past 30-40 years. A huge change has occurred on the food festival scene in Wales in recent times. Starting with just a handful of food festivals in Wales they are now big business and have become definite dates in the culinary calendar of many.

One of the most famous food festivals held in Wales is the Abergavenny food festival. It started 14 years ago with just 2,500 people attending on a wet Sunday, it is now attended by some 35,00 people and is a firm favourite not just in the culinary world but for local businesses and trader too. The food festival brings a huge increase of trade for local businesses.

There is now a total of 15 food based festivals in Wales including Abergavenny Food Festival, Mold Food Festival, Conwy Feast and Llangollen Food and Drink Festival. A desire to know where our food has come from is believed to have increased the demand for festivals such as these with people much more interested in local produce and supporting local food producers.

All senses are bombarded as you walk along the rows of artisan food stalls and smell the aromas of freshly cooked produce, no matter whether it is a sizzling hot chilli or a traditional sticky toffee pudding. All these artisan food producers have the skill to entice customers to try some of their produce as they walk by.

Many people will not accept the processed TV dinners that have been with us for so long and are turning their backs on all this unhealthy food for locally produced fresh food from producers such as those stallholders at the Abergavenny Food Festival.

The food festival this year had over 200 producers from Wales the Marches and area close by. The Abergavenny Food Festival has something for everyone not just rows of stalls with food to taste. There are workshops for children and celebrity chef demonstrations as well as events taking place inside Abergavenny Castle. A real treat for anyone remotely interested in food and is well worth a visit, each September.

Ecat Finalists now Announced

The newly launched Event Caterers Team Challenge (Ecats) at The Restaurant Show 2012 has been announced. The Ecats was launched to bring together the very best of private event caterers across the United Kingdom. It tests them to their limits in the delivery of corporate events, weddings, outdoor events and private events.

Ecats is in association with the craft guild of chefs and this event is set to get the competition theatre bustling with expectation on the 8th October at Earls Court. The finalists include teams of 4-5 people they are from the following establishments:

Delaware
Red Anywhere
Fish Face Event Catering
CH&Co Catering Ltd
Sodexo Prestige
Purple Grape Catering
Richmond caterers

Ecats was invented to celebrate the wonderful talents of event chefs in catering, these talented chefs often wet overlooked as they do not have a restaurant or hotel of their own from which to showcase all their work. The chefs have been set the task of a real outside catering event. This event will be the perfect platform from which the talented chefs will be able to show everyone across the industry their best skills.

The competition brief is as follows:

"The catering company has been approached by a partner in a London city law firm who wants to organise a surprise birthday party for his partner in business who will be 50 years young on 31st October. As this is Halloween he has decided that it is to be themed as a black tie masked Halloween ball, with 120 of their close friends and business colleagues invited. The client requires the following, a champagne reception with canap矇s [2 hot 2 cold], followed by a 3 course meal plus wine, coffee and Petit Fours. A request has been made for themed tables in keeping with the event.

The client has arranged for the event to be held at a local stately house, which has no restriction on which caterers can utilize the facility. Entertainment after the meal has also been arranged by the client. A budget of approximately 瞿250 per person for the event caterer's costs has been allocated."

This is sure to get the chefs displaying all of their talents on the day with the prestigious award at the end of it. All the finalists will be battling it out on finals day to win the coved award.

Catering Business Information - Is a Catering Business Right For You?

If you are a business minded, creative person with a flair for cooking, a catering business might be an ideal venture for you. Managing your own catering company will give you're the opportunity to channel your creativity, energy and ideas into something you not only do well, but something you enjoy. Running a catering business, as with any entrepreneurial venture, you will encounter new challenges and be your own boss. The only limits to your catering business will be the ones you place on yourself.

What Do I Need to Know About the Catering Industry

Catering businesses prepare and serve food for social and corporate events. Corporate events include conferences, employee incentive events, customer appreciation events and meetings. Social events, such as weddings, parties or even private dinner parties are another catering market.

While food serve is a very important component, the most important aspect of any business is business development and marketing. Simply put, no clients means no business.

An outgoing, confident personality is a must in the catering industry, especially for anyone working directly with clients. Clients range from meeting planners, to stressed brides to corporate executives. In each case, you will need to not only market the food, but you will be marketing the service also. Clients must be confident in your ability to not only create a delicious meal, but you and your staff must act in a professional manner in every aspect of the event. This means the from the moment you first meet with your client until the final meal is served, the event looks seamless.

Building Your Network

All successful caterers must create a referral network in order to create and stay in business. The easiest way to do this is to introduce yourself to others in the party planning and event management industry. For example, wedding planners, party equipment rental centers, florists and bridal shops are all great connections. Local banquet halls which do not have in-house catering services are another great business lead.

Make sure you always have business cards with you, because you never know who you might run into while waiting in line somewhere. Follow up with your contacts and if you'd really like to show off your culinary skills, drop off sample appetizers or desserts to potential clients.

Catering Business Information and Tips

As with all small business, your success is directly related to your planning and executive of your plan. It is very important to understand your client's expectations and to meet, or ideally, exceed those expectations.

Keep in mind in the catering business, thirty percent of your time and labors will be related to the food, while seventy percent of your efforts will involve food delivery, equipment rental and staffing. This is why organizational skills are necessary to your success and survival as a catering business.

Enthusiasm, focus and business-savvy decision making skills are also vital to the long term success of your business. Fulfilling your client's wants and expectations will always be your top priority, and it is important to remember patience and understanding goes a long way in building and maintaining relationships.

Business Continuity Planning When Dealing With Climate Controlled Goods

If you transport goods which need refrigeration storage equipment, it is essential that you have a business continuity plan in place. Without this it is a possibility that your company could lose sales, money, customers and reputation.

Consider, for example, the recent problems caused in Europe by the volcanic ash cloud. Air traffic was grounded and delayed for a number of weeks and the impact was dramatic. Companies which needed to transport climate controlled containers in Europe had to think of alternative ways to move goods around.

Many temperature-sensitive items such as pharmaceuticals, for example, must be strictly kept at a very specific temperature, otherwise they may become less useful which can have a significant impact on finances as well as reputation, not to mention of course potentially on people's health.

Although air transport is the fastest method of getting temperature controlled products from one place to another, as the above scenario demonstrates, there are instances where this may not be possible and there absolutely has to be a contingency plan in place and alternative, sustainable methods of transportation are essential to consider.

Temperature controlled containers, such as pharmaceutical cold stores, are purpose-designed and built to transport high-value products which must be stored at a specific temperature. Examples include vaccines and other drugs. The climate controlled containers are made from refrigerated containers which have been modified. This means that the cold store can easily be shipped anywhere in the world.

For added peace of mind, you are able to monitor the temperature in your climate controlled units remotely.

This is absolutely essential as any change in temperature can spoil products. The remote monitoring systems mean that you can log in via the internet and ensure your products are still being stored in exactly the right conditions.

It is also essential that you have a back-up in place for your refrigeration system. When high-value items like pharmaceuticals and vaccines are being transported, it is advisable to use two independent refrigeration systems. This means that in the unlikely event that one should fail, the other Plan B refrigerator will kick in, so that, crucially, there is no break in refrigeration.

When choosing the company that will provide your refrigeration containers, it is advisable to work with a firm which specialises in shipping containers and also which has experience in your particular industry, such as pharmaceuticals.

If there was another event such as the volcanic ash cloud, do you have a contingency plan in place? Is your method of transporting climate-controlled items sustainable? If not, now is a good time to get a plan in place and avoid disaster.

How to Host a Successful Corporate Party?

Most of the companies have corporate parties and events many times in a year. If you need to organize many corporate events every year, then should consider hiring an expert corporate party planner, who can do this job on your behalf. To have a successful corporate party, nothing can be a better option than taking help from experts. This way, you can not only make your party successful, but also lighten your workload. Remember that hosting a corporate party is not an easy task. There are various things that need to be planned in advance to have a successful corporate event of any kind.

The very first thing you need to do is to decide a theme for your party. You can choose themes like a holiday party, private party, get together party or any other themes as per the idea behind hosting a party. Further, you can also create your own corporate party theme. After finalizing your theme, it is now time to fix a budget so that the expert you have hired make all the arrangements accordingly. Fixing the budget in advance is important for corporate party planning. It is the right way to get an estimated value that you need to spend to have a successful business party. Sit with your event planner and divide the fixed amount of your budget into different categories such as food, lighting, decoration, entertainment, etc. This can help you in getting all the arrangements done without compromising with the quality or stretching your planned budget.

The next important thing that you should consider after theme and budget is to decide about the decoration. Party supplies are a reliable source for searching for decorators that falls under your budget and also arrange for other things required for the party. You can go ahead with simple decoration, if you have a small budget. On the contrary, if you have a big budget, then you choose good decoration and lighting as well. Save your time by finding the right corporate event planning company, which can plan and make arrangements for the party on your behalf.

Don't forget to add entertainment while thinking about the successful corporate party ideas. There are various sources of entertainment available like you can book a music band, live dance band, DJ in accordance to your fixed budget. You can also organize various interesting games for the party.

The last and most important part of every party planning is the food and beverages. You need to choose the best caterer by your own, but if you have taken help of professional event planners then you do not need to worry at all. They will take care of the food and drinks that will get services at your party. They make sure that a good quality food and drinks are served at your party.

South African Function and Event Venues

Thanks to its great weather and natural beauty South Africa has become a major international function venue for corporate and special events as well as celebrity weddings. The most well known function areas are situated around the major metropolitan areas of Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg and Pretoria as they not only provide access via their world class airports and harbours, but can also provide world class hospitality services such as catering, local transport and events tents rental.

Venues by region

Some of the top special events and wedding venues by in South Africa can be listed by geographical region and provide some of the most memorable function locations in the world. These are some of the more popular ones:

Pretoria

Mokoya Lodge, Wedding & Conference Centre

The Mokoya Lodge is situated at the feet of the majestic Magaliesberg mountains and provides an enchanting bushveld venue near Hekpoort. It is the perfect venue for any type of special function and is specifically suitable as a wedding venue.

Cocomo Conference Centre & Function Venue

The Cocomo is a luxury Boutique Hotel situated in Ifafi near Hartbeespoort Dam. The setting is tranquil to the extreme and offers an exotic island within the wolds of Africa. This venue is stylish, exclusive and perfect for ant special event.

Cape Town

The Royal Cape Yacht Club

One of the most well known function venues in Cape Town, the Royal Cape Yacht Club offers customers looking for that little something different venue the chance to enjoy Cape Town at its finest. It is situated at the Small Craft in Basin Duncan Road at the Table Bay Harbour.

Chapmans Peak Beach Hotel

Located on Chapmans Peak Drive in Hout Bay, Cape Town the Chapmans Peak Beach Hotel and Banqueting facility is a firm function favourite in the Mother City thanks to its unique location and staff known for their creativity.

Johannesburg

Vilamoura

Situated in the exclusive Sandton Sun Hotel in Johannesburg, this venue exudes tranquility and splendour. It is built to revitalising ones senses and tantalise a persons desire of exploration. This venue is well suited as a corporate or product launch or wedding venue.

TSG 4 Ways

TSG is situated in Fourways, Johannesburg and offers patrons versatility and is the perfect quickly organized part and function venue. It is extremely flexible and can cater for almost any specific need.

Durban

Rain Farm Game and Lodge

Located on Esenembe Road in Umhlali (near the coastal holiday resort of Ballito) this game lodge offer visitors a slice of tropical Kwa-Zulu Natal tropical splendor. It is the perfect conference or corporate getaway and also provides full wedding and special events programs.

The Windmills

The Windmills can be found near Mount West on Curry's Post Road in the Natal Midlands. It is the perfect country retreat and has easy access to and from a major highway for ease of access.

How to Manage a Conference Using Event Management Software?

Organizing and planning a conference can be made easier and better by using the event management software. The solution offers you, as a conference manager, to efficiently manage the entire process right from inviting delegates, registration, payments, making promotions, to post- event reporting and making assessments. Taking the advantages of the software will ensure that the conference can be organized smoothly, minimizing cost and generating more attendees as well as satisfaction.

Managing a conference can be an intimidating and time consuming activity, whether it is a small one day or huge three to four days event. There are various activities that need to be performed during the planning process, and the event management software can help immensely, in making the work easier. Let us discuss:

繚 Sending Invitation to the targeted audience:

Being an event planner, you may know the accurate number and names of the invitees or delegates, which you have targeted, or you may be told to invite a definite demography based on their job, location, age, etc. This entire job can be made easier using the software, as all the corporate data and records can be easily accessed and automatically updated, and you can ultimately track your target audience and invite them to join your conference.

The software also offers sophisticated e-mail marketing tools, which can be used to send customized bulk emails to all the targeted audience or delegates, inviting them to the conference. This will also help you to find out more attendees for your conference.

繚 Communicating with the delegates, speakers and presenter:

Coordinating with the guests can speakers before the event is very crucial. Emails can be automatically scheduled, for reminding the speakers and the guests about the conference and to request them for making presentation slides for the delegates. Thus, the software enables you to connect directly with your guests and delegates and get their updates accordingly.

繚 Conducting registration:

An easier way of conducting registration is, taking it online. This will be convenient both for you as well as your attendees. It is quick and effective process and is increasingly becoming a standard method of event registration. The event managers can simply create the registration form online on his or her event page and the interested delegates can directly visit the page and fill up the forms. They can also add the company brand and logos in the form, for making it more creative. Taking your registration on external site may create trust issues. However, the delegates will be trusting and are more likely to sign up if the forms are within the same site.

The software is free and safe for using, which can save your time and money as well as help you in conducting a conference, in a convenient way.

The Best Virtual Jobs for Moms

If you're a stay-at-home mom, a virtual job can help you find that balance between raising a family and earning a steady income. Moms who want to contribute financially to their family while taking care of their children can find work as virtual assistants, customer service representatives and telemarketers. Home-based positions tend to be more flexible and allow you to create a schedule around the schedule of other activities.

Working from Home

In order to work from home, you need to be able to dedicate enough hours each day to complete a shift or accomplish all daily tasks required. If you have small children, you may need to hire a babysitter or consider daycare options so you aren't distracted during your shift. Many companies have specific criteria that require employees to work in a quiet environment in order to better serve their customers.

For most work-at-home jobs, you will need a computer, Internet connection, dedicated phone line, and other items including a printer, fax machine, or transcription equipment. When applying for a virtual position, you should ask if special equipment will be needed. You may have to attend on-site training for a week or longer to learn how to use special equipment or to learn more about the company's customer service procedures.

Types of Virtual Jobs Available

Depending on the job experiences and training you already having, obtaining a work from home position may be easier than you think. Virtual secretary jobs are best for those who have worked in business administration or those who have typing and other office skills. You can start your own virtual assisting business, or you can work for a virtual assisting service. Common job tasks include typing documents, transcription, email monitoring, meeting planning, event planning, and maintaining business calendars. You may also be asked to edit reports and other documents, create spreadsheets, or update web pages.

Work-from-home customer service positions require prior customer service experience in many cases. Because you will be answering customer questions, taking reservations, and processing orders, you need to have excellent typing and data entry skills. You should also be able to talk to customers easily and be able to problem solve quickly in order to maintain quality customer service. If you enjoy helping others and are able to maintain a professional demeanor in any situation, this position may be for you.

At-home telemarketing positions are best for those who feel comfortable speaking with others and selling goods and services over the phone. Some companies prefer hiring employees that have sales or telemarketing experience, but others are willing to train the right people.

Other virtual positions include appointment setting, reservation services, concierge services, and help desk services.

Where to Find Virtual Jobs

There are many places to look when trying to find a virtual job. Paid online classifieds (and a few free classified sites like Craigslist), job boards, and company websites are some of the best places to look. If you're interested in starting a virtual assistant service, you should ask former employers, former co-workers, place an ad in trade newspapers or local newspapers, and join a small business group in order to meet people who may be in need of your services.

When you find a virtual position that interests you, sending a professional resume either by mail or email will make a great first impression. The competition for virtual positions can be tough, but if you approach your search in a professional manner, you should be able to find a few potential employers in a short amount of time.

An Event Planning and Marketing Guide - Increasing Event Attendance

When promoting trade shows, meeting or seminars to past customers, or repeat attendees, an event planner often encounter objections or reasons why these potential customers will not attend.  An event planner may learn of objections to registering during a promotional telephone call to a prospective attendee.  In other instances, advisory board members may express objections. Some event planners might use an online survey to determine why potential customers are not enrolling.  Other providers might ask their customer service representatives to keep a record of the most frequently stated objections.

To increase attendance at seminar and conferences, event planners must be aware of various objections to booking and must think of ways to overcome the objections.  In many instances, event planners will find that prospective attendees have registration objections in common.

To lift program attendance, event planners must overcome the nine most common objections.  Usually, an objective can be resolved by supplying sufficiently convincing information to prospective customers.  Convincing blocks of information are often called copy components; therefore, event planners need to consider creating certain copy components to overcoming the objections.

Let's look at the individual objections and at some of the unique copy components that might be used to switch a dubious prospect into a paying customer.

Objection #1: "The Event is not in the Scope of our Objectives"

Event planners relatively new to the seminar/conference business may encounter this objection. To build credibility, a provider might take the following steps:

• Establish a unique identity, such as an institute or center whereby a provider creates credibility.


• Establish an advisory board of the most important people in the community/industry.


• Get a credible co-sponsor or sponsors and list the sponsors at the web site and on promotional material.


• Provide a list of past participating organizations or associations.


• Use big-name speakers or co-chairs with photos at the web site and on the front of promotional brochures.


• Make sure the size of the direct-mail promotional package, paper quality, and color build credibility.


• Base the program on a best-selling publication.

Objection #2: "I do not believe I will Get Anything (Or Enough) Out of This Program"

• Collect and publish testimonials from attendees and from approving managers.


• Offer to provide names/phone numbers of past customers.


• Have a section titled "What you will miss by not attending."


• Mention that you will follow up after the program is over to answer any unanswered questions.


• Have a seminar title or conference theme that captures the key benefit of attending.

Objection #3: "These People Cannot Tell Me Anything I Do Not Already Know"

• On seminars, use recognizable faculty and stress their practical experience.


• On conferences, have representatives from key/well-known organizations as speakers and moderators.


• Offer to provide a list of job titles and organizations that have already registered.


• Include a pledge of satisfaction from the instructor or sponsor.


• Have a self-assessment at the web site or on the brochure so that the prospect will realize he/she needs to attend.


• Have a 100percent satisfaction or money-back guarantee listed at the web site and on the promotional materials.

Objection #4: "The Event Looks Comprehensive But it Will Not Help Me With the Problems I Have Today"

• Tell prospective customers that as soon as they book, they will be supplied an on-line questionnaire so that their specific questions will be addressed during the program.


• Include a detailed, blow-by-blow agenda... at least 30percent of a direct-mail brochure.


• List job titles of past attendees.


• Offer to provide names of past customers who are specialists in the field and encourage undecided prospects to call them.


• Use up-to-date terminology, such as "cutting edge," "new," "advanced," "latest," and "just-released research."

Objection #5: "The Event is Nice for Everyone Else, But it is Not Geared to My      Specific Needs: Most of it Will Be a Waste of My Time"

• At the web site and on promotional copy, list ten benefits prior attendees have taken away from the course.


• At the web site or on brochure copy say, "If you are not sure this seminar addresses your specific concerns, call or email an the speaker or conference chairperson for more course details."


• In the promotional copy, stress the interactive activities whereby attendees will share their specific concerns at the start of the course so that the program leader can address those concerns in the presentation.


• Provide "topic specific" round table networking sessions at lunch and have "50ideas in 50minutes"   sessions with all speakers at the end of the day.

Objection #6: "I Do Not Have Time to Attend"

• Offer multiple dates/locations of a seminar to give customers choices.


• Take an annual conference or expo and offer regional events rather than one national event.


• Provide an online, distance education, asynchronous learning option.


• Market videos, CDs, books, as well as papers and proceedings to prospects who do not want to attend.


• Note that the prospect will save time in the future if he/she attends now.

Objection #7: "I Cannot Afford to Go"

• Provide discounts for team attendance... "Send three, the fourth is free."


• Allow scholarships such as half price for not-for-profit attendees.


• Allow a "register now, pay later" option.


• Allow payment on the installment plan... half in this fiscal year and half in the next fiscal year.


• Make sure that the price fits the target audience, topic, competition and image in the marketplace.


• Offer discount for customers who register for several events at the same time.


• Create a certificate program and offer a sizable reduction in price for registering for the whole series.

Objection #8: "This Event is the Same Old Thing"

• Add new activities to the program, such as pre or post-conference workshops, plant visits, and hands-on training.


• Change the cover, layout, format of brochure and the web site from year to year to denote change.


• Change conference speakers from year to year.


• Change conference titles, topics, and themes each year.


• Use the word "new," "revised," and "updated" in the promotional appeals.

Objection #9: "The Event Location is Not at a Convenient Time or Place"

• Survey the market to find the best time and place.


• Have a strong in?house or customized training statement so there is an alternative to taking the public program.


• Improve access by providing complete transportation information, maps, and free limo service.


• Take the course on the road and offer sessions in locations convenient to prospective attendees.

After reviewing the objections and ways to overcome them, a event planner might ask...  "Which copy components should I use?" Owing to space limitations, not all of the copy components can be included in a direct mail brochure; therefore, a provider must prioritize the reasons or objections why prospective customers are not attending and include the appropriate information in the brochure and/or brochure and cover letter.  On the other hand, providers can elaborate at length on objections at the web site.

At the web site, event planner might have a navigational bar called "frequently asked questions."  Visitors clicking on this link could see a list of potential objections in the form of questions.  Following each question would be a suitable explanation or message to overcome the concern.

At the same time, event planner can have navigational bars devoted specifically to copy components that might overcome certain objections. Some of these navigational bars include links to (1) testimonials, (2) speakers, (3) who should attend, (4) a list of confirmed delegates, and other copy components that a provider feels are most important to getting people to book.

After establishing various navigational bars at the web site, a event planner might use web site analysis software to see which copy component seems to receive the most attention and produce the highest number of registrations. Copy components with very low viewing times could be replaced with other components that might have a greater influence on getting site visitors to book.

Getting people to book for seminars and conferences is a constant challenge. By knowing the common objections and how to overcome them, event planners can feel more confident about how to go about building attendance from prospective customers who might otherwise not attend.

Use Event Planning Software for Organizing Your Business Event

Organizing a big or small business event or function can be much easier and convenient using software. Online features and functionalities can be used for marketing the event, conducting registration and preparing reports that can help the organizers in getting more information, related to the participants or attendees. There are many event planners who are not yet accustomed with computer software. They still manage, coordinate and handle each task of planning a seminar, workshop or conference, manually. But dealing with the entire process manually might be ineffective, as there are often chances of discrepancies and errors.

Here are a number of factors that will explain how the software can benefit you by helping and managing your upcoming business or corporate event, easily.

Factors to be considered:

Organizing a corporate event or conference or seminar will obviously demand more than just choosing a venue and caterer. You will have to work on the budget, the deadlines, the accommodations and the other floor plans. You will also have to sell the tickets, register the participants and send email confirmations to your registrants.

Depending on the category of the event you will also have to select the best speakers and the entertainers or performers. A great amount of coordination is also required for lining up the vendors and the suppliers. If you are planning to organize a trade show, then you have to take care of the sale of floor spaces also.

Making your plan successful will certainly require managing multiple tasks, simultaneously. Your responsibility is to ensure that every single activity is coordinated and complements the other. As, meeting up all the requirements single-handedly is becoming a complex task with the running time, event planning software, which is often termed as a luxury is likely to turn up as a necessity for event planners.

Why opt for the software?

The main aim of a corporate event organizer is always to maximize the number of attendees. But the problem is that doing this in a virtual way is impossible, if the above mentioned activities are performed manually. Online software will simplify the burden, as the attendees can register online anytime. They can enter their details on the online form and an automated confirmation email reaches the attendee, after the registration process is over. Additionally, the software will also allow you to create reports that will help you in evaluating how well is the sign up process, progressing. You will have an updated report about the number of enrollments and can ultimately predict the number of participants attending your event.

Thus, event planning software can play a vital role in hosting business and corporate events in a professional way.

What Is Perceived Value?

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

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

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

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

Company Anniversary Marketing Events - There Is No Substitute

Creating company anniversary marketing events may be the most important thing you do to celebrate your organization's history.

Electronic media and all the forms of social media can nurture a connection, suggest a connection, facilitate a real connection but are still like talking to your loved ones through plastic screens at the county lockup. Meeting in person with no barriers is the surest way to actually make a connection.

Anniversary events can create bonds between people. There is simply no substitute for being in the same room with people who are buying your products, using your service, donating to your cause, selling materials to you, working for your organization, investing in your venture, supporting your presence in their community, and making regulations that affect your business.

Many organizations have their 'inside sales' people meet clients at events, such as conventions, trade shows, etc., because they understand the value of face to face contact to establish, build and reinvigorate a relationship. Social media is beneficial, e-mail is effective, phone conversations are indispensable but looking into someone's eyes when you are in the same room, enjoying a shared experience is worth, as my dad used to say, all the tea in China. It's worth a lot.

Despite what you see on 'reality television,' people generally are polite when they meet in person, which opens the door to build a relationship that includes shared experiences, common interests, and personal responses. Events also can lead to rebuilding a tattered or neglected relationship. So get into the room together.

Events come in all sizes, shapes and colors

Just one of the things that Harley Davidson did in celebration of its 100th anniversary was its Open Road Tour - a nine-city traveling festival billed as "The World's Largest Rolling Birthday party," giving people a chance to interact with the Harley-Davidson brand.

The culminating event of Honda's 25th anniversary of making motorcycles in Marysville, Ohio, was a three-day dinner, attended by a record 16,742 visitors, who helped kick off Honda's 25th year of building motor vehicles in Ohio.

The Kellogg Foundation sponsored a series of six program-related seminars designed to advance the impact of philanthropy.

Peet's Coffee and Tea, celebrating it's 40th company anniversary, invited customers to visit their neighborhood stores for in-store tastings, home brewing workshops, lectures, and complimentary beans and beverages.

Who to invite, what to say

Most important, when you are planning your corporate anniversary event, know what messages you want and need to deliver and to whom. And consider incorporating a major listening component into the event.

Red Hat, which bills itself as "The world's most trusted provider of Linux and open source technology," following its 10thanniversary, undertook a world-wide tour to meet people interested in Red Hat and to spread the message of open source, as well as to hear from customers all over the globe.

Invite to your company anniversary events those persons who mean the most to the future success of your endeavors. Listen to what they have to say. Tell them about your plans, and tell them how you figure in each other's lives going forward.

Don't go it alone

How do you determine the specific marketing objectives for your anniversary events? How do you develop marketing objectives embraced by all? How do you convince your employees that these events are important to their future? How do you irresistibly convince your sales force to follow up on the leads that are generated by your events? Find a marketing partner.

What strategies are you going to use to guarantee significant ROI on your events? How do you determine the best ways to promote your events? How do you shape your events from start to finish for maximum impact? Find a marketing partner.

Don't go it alone. This is just too important to fold into the assignments of an already overworked staff. Get assistance in determining the best events to use for your audiences and help in both developing and executing those events. This will pay you enormous dividends.

Should You Hire or Buy Your Exhibition Trailer?

Exhibition trailers are useful for just about any event you could plan out doors, from souvenir and food vending to street fairs and other temporary out door attractions. If you are planning on using an exhibition trailer for your event or business, you might already know that you have a few options in acquiring your trailer. Specifically, you might hire, buy new, or buy used. The most sensible course for you depends on your individual situation. Use the questions below as guidelines to help you decide what is right for you.

What are your goals-short-term, long-term?

Think about not only your goals concerning the exhibition trailer, but for the entire enterprise of which the trailer will be a part. Are you planning a corporate event? An open-air fair? A permanent exhibit? A mobile business? Each of these enterprises involve a different set of goals and different needs concerning your trailer. If all of your goals are short-term, for instance, you will probably just want to hire your trailer.

How will the trailer be used?

Similar to considering your goals, consider how you will use your exhibition trailer. Will you use it on a regular basis? Will you use it in one permanent spot, or do you plan to travel with it? Will it be used be several people or just by you and your staff? Generally, the more permanent and long-term your uses, the more likely that a purchase arrangement will be more economical over time.

Where (and under what conditions) will you use it?

You will also want to consider the conditions to which it will be subject. If you will be located someplace that requiring a sharp appearance, for example, you will probably need a recent model. Although it is possible to purchase or hire a used trailer in good shape, you might be better off purchasing brand new. If you need something dependable but aesthetics are not necessarily important, a gently used model might be ideal.

Where can I turn for more information?

Of course, everybody's circumstance is different. It's a good idea to consult someone who is knowledgeable about exhibition trailers. Your local retailer is an excellent resource. Enter your location and the term "exhibition trailer" into your favorite search engine to determine local retailers.

What are my next steps?

Contact a variety of retailers in your area and explore your options. Now that you have a clear idea of why you need the trailer and how it will be used, your retailer should be able to provide a more valuable consultation.

Online Registration Analytics Tips For Event Planners - Privacy is Paramount

Topping the list of privacy concerns associated with doing business on the internet is payment information and personal information. Payment information is sensitive for obvious reasons: an unscrupulous person with access to credit card or banking information is quite dangerous.

But personal information (name, address, mother's maiden name, etc.) can be equally as dangerous with identity theft being one of the top concerns. It is the fear of losing control of this information which has led many people to oppose various technologies that make life easier on the web, but that might not necessarily be good for personal security.

But what about tracking programs that use cookies?

There has been much discussion regarding what information website cookies reveal to the website owner about users. While most web users are not particularly concerned with the practice of using cookies to collect information, there is a group of users who are very suspicious of websites that use cookies.

However, improvements in event registration software are bringing analytics to the event professional and it is important to understand how your registrants' privacy is impacted by the implementation of web analytics on your registration form.

First, it is very important to note that the point of web analytics is to study the behavior of web users in aggregate. This means that you won't necessarily be singling out registrants to gather information.

Sometimes the intent of analytics isn't enough to deter critics, and so you should also be aware of what information is collected by your system. To give you a few examples, Google Analytics protects users' privacy by not logging individual IP addresses. RegOnline's Analytics Reports do not allow the event planner to view any personal information about users unless they complete a registration.

To further insulate yourself against privacy complaints you should carefully evaluate the registration software you plan on using. Some things to look for include HackerSafe security checks, Payment Card International certification and a verified privacy policy.

By taking a little time up front to understand how analytics and cookies work you will be able to patiently explain to registrants that their data is being handled responsibly.

Identifying Your Core Competencies

If you want to begin to teach other people what you know, get the applause you want and get paid for teaching others what you know, you must first be able to identify and know your core competencies. From those, you can begin to craft your message, recall the anecdotal stories about your personal life that personalize your message, build your speech, and ultimately have people pay you for your presentation.

The most important first step to take in systematizing the booking process is to identify your core competencies. You don't have to have a life changing event that makes headlines and saves lives in order to begin to get the attention of an organization seeking speakers and trainers.

Everyone experiences turning points in their lives, makes choices and grows from those experiences. From those experiences, you develop your strengths and you may also realize the things you need to do to improve your skills and overcome hardships.

Do you know your core competencies? If you cannot identify your core competencies instantly and concisely, get busy. You and possibly a colleague or friend may want to work on this together since you may not remember all of your accomplishments.

When you or your representative calls on a prospective meeting planner who hires speakers, everything that you or she says about you should clearly reinforce your core competencies. In order to build your I AM, I DO statement which defines the value that you would have to any particular group or audience, examine your life and your successes.

A core competency for an individual is something that that individual can do well and meets the following three conditions:
1. It provides benefits to the individual and others
2. It is not easy for others to imitate
3. It can be leveraged widely for multiple endeavors

A core competency can be applied to one or more fields of expertise or achievement. including technical/subject matter know how, a reliable, duplicatable and transferable process, and/or close relationships with customers and suppliers. It may also include product development or culture, such as employee dedication.

Below is a list of core competencies that may trigger thoughts about your own life experience in a way that can serve others. After all, meeting planners hire experts, leaders and inspiring individuals who can serve others by teaching success principles and systems.

For example if you're a top producer in real estate who has exceeded customary sales averages, you're probably very disciplined, willing to follow established daily systems suggested by experts like Mike Ferry or David Knox, willing to invest in training for yourself, dedicated and committed to your goals, a visionary with clear goals and principles for building business and able to communicate in a way to which others relate in a positive manner. Those are your core competencies.

Examine your successes. Here are some examples of core competencies that may trigger yours and resonate with ideals that match your own.

Handling difficult people
Life insurance sales
Residential real estate sales
Financial literacy for young adults
Traffic conversion for on-line sales
Weddings on a dime
Humor in the workplace
Real estate management
Foreclosures
Tax lien certificates
Baby boomer trends
Cost-cutting measures in hard times
Employee health benefits
Debt reduction
Event planning
Reducing work place accidents
How to find an agent to publish your first book
Hybrid leadership for the 21st century
Male/female gender differences
Reading body language
Effective communication styles
male and female leadership characteristics
Women in corporate America
Minorities in the workplace
Performance acknowledgment
High performance leadership
Increasing sales
Reducing credit card debt
Inspiring others daily
Integrity in the work place
How to cook 20 minute meals

In short phrases, list your core competencies. You're on your way to your signature speech! The next step to take is to craft your expertise clearly using 1-2 sentences.

Hiring an Event Organizer

The planning of an event takes a lot of patience, dedication, and perseverance in order to be able to pull off a huge success without anything going wrong. One needs to figure out how many people have been invited to the event, how much food to order for the event, how many seats to set up, where the event will take place, as well as finish other various small jobs that need to be done. The main reason that many people choose to hire an event organizer is because there is so much work to do that they absolutely cannot handle the job themselves; event organizers can help with everything from booking a hotel or event place to ordering the exact number of cookies that are needed for everyone attending.

Where to Find Event Organizers

The big question comes when one actually needs to find an event organizer to help them plan and carry out a large party or event. It can often be difficult to actually choose a party organizer if there are too many to choose from or too few to choose from as well. However, the best way to start out finding helpers and event organizers is to start looking in business and phone directories. If you live in a big city or metro area, chances are that there are going to be plenty to choose from.

The first question you'll want to ask a potential event organizer is how much experience they've had, if they have taken any educational courses in event planning, and how long they've been planning events around the area in which you live. Of course, the price that they charge matters as well, but first you'll want to make sure that you're comfortable with their level of experience and expertise.

What Event Organizers Can Help With

Of course, an event or party organizer can help from everything large to every small matter, but if you don't need a full event organizer to plan the whole engagement or party then they may also be available just to supervise or consult with as well. Many types of event organizers usually offer up their services as a complete package to individuals, but they may also offer simple consultation sessions as well.

On the other hand, one alternative to hiring an event organizer can simply be an assistant for the party planning as well. If you don't need to or want to pay the full service price of an event organizer then hiring a planning assistant can often be a tremendous help as well. For example, an assistant can help set up the event the day that it's happening, call around to check prices for catering, and do all of the other small jobs that you don't have time to do.

All things considered, event organizers and planners are very useful individuals if a lot of help is needed. There are all sorts of places that these individuals can be found, but one thing that needs to be considered is whether they are absolutely needed for the price that they charge. Some event organizers oftentimes inflate the fees that they charge for their services, but they can truly be a good help if one needs it for planning an event.

Events Planning: Tips to Market Your Booth in a Commercial Event

Your company may be planning to be a part of a commercial event to get your brand out there. But in order to be successful in this endeavor, you need to make a checklist of the things you need to plan for and accomplish. It is said that in order to have a successful event, you need to focus on three things, pre-planning, event itself and the follow-up. Most will focus on planning for the event itself but you must know that events planning and follow-ups are crucial in making your event a success.

Being part of an event can be costly that is why you need to make sure that the money you invested in is worth it. You will even have to spend money on all your advertising and marketing materials as you will talk to many customers in a commercial event. To ensure a successful event, make sure to include all these tips in your events planning endeavor.

The first tip in events planning is to prepare for the event by choosing a space you want. The best booths in an event is near the entrance to ensure that visitors will get to see your booth at least twice and another good space is near the food and drinks. Decide what size of the space you need, bigger booths will catch more attention and interested customers. Also make a checklist of everything you need to bring in your booth like laptops, your marketing materials and other necessary things.

Part of your events planning is also to let people know what you will be part of this event and they can visit you there. You can advertise through sending e-mail invitations and by posting RSVP events in your social networking profiles. It will also help to hold a raffle for people who will be coming and registering in your booth. You can also offer a free drink or a free gift for visitors in your booth.

The next thing in events planning is to prepare for is to get your marketing materials ready and printed. Make a design and put the appropriate content on all your marketing materials at least months before the event, this way, there won't be any delay in printing and producing the materials you will need. It is better to produce in excess rather than just enough. You can still use them in other events anyway.

Now, apart from all these things, you will also need to train your staff that will handle the booth. You should assign employees that will handle giving out flyers, goodie bags, free drinks and snacks and employees that will do direct selling. It is best that you make a shifting schedule for all your staff members to keep them focus on the event. Always remind your staff to show a friendly vibe to customers so they can be easily approached. They should be very welcoming to anyone who approaches your booth. Furthermore, they should have good knowledge on what they are selling and marketing. A good interpersonal skill and sales talk is a definite advantage.

And lastly, make sure you keep tabs on all the visitors and possible customers you have talked to. It is important that you do a follow-up to check on how your marketing efforts fair. With proper events planning, you can successfully promote your company and get more clients interested in what you have to offer.

Corporate Event Planner For Sponsors

Are you setting up for any events which also involves sponsors?, then it is necessary to choose a professional Company Event Planner. When you are selecting an event planner it is necessary to prefer a accurate organization who will not only project plan each step of the way prior to the event but one that will also carry out a great brilliant company event to ensure you meet up your sponsors wishes.

For many companies the confidence on company investors or sponsors often makes the difference between a company staying afloat or to stink in failure. This is why it is very important that when you are managing your business you confirm that you set aside the time to recognize your sponsors.

One of the best ways to respect the persons or organizations who assists your company to achieve something is through the use of a corporate sponsor event. These events differ in style and size depending specifically on the quantity of sponsors that you have plus the interests that your sponsors have. Planning an event of this magnitude can often prove to be overwhelming for the business owner and that is why one of the first suggestions placed on planning a sponsor event is to make the most of company event planning services.

Corporate event planning will present a company the furthermost opportunity to focus on accomplishing its goals as these companies specialize in this method of event. When a sponsor event runs very well and connects with its key audience, it will support the relationship building process that the organization has with its sponsors.

When a sponsored event does not goes well due to inadequate development and lack of professional assistance of a corporate event planner it has a negative result on the investors.

Sponsor funds are one of the most vital financial factors of a lot of companies and this is why it is so important to invest in a professional when you are dealing with with sponsor events. With the services of a corporate event planner you will be able to have an event that is tailored to your sponsors and with an professional organization planning the event, leaves you time to focus on networking with your sponsors. In addition, many of the connections that corporate event planners have with vendors will provide you with the chance to save money on the event expenses.

Without a corporate event planner you may be left dealing with unfamiliar vendors who are looking to profit off of your novice experience. Or you may be spending too much time worrying about detail rather than top line objectives.

New Wedding Planners - 7 Items You Can Include in Your Wedding Planner Portfolio

If you are a new wedding planner and have only planned a few weddings, you might only have a few photographs from them and be hesitant to start your portfolio. But you can't just hand potential clients a stack of photographs. You want to be able to nicely present your photos to brides and vendors who can refer you. So go ahead and start your portfolio anyway. Just get a high-quality binder or album that lets you add and subtract pages whenever you want so your portfolio can grow and, when you do have a lot of photos, you can pick and chose which ones you want to include at a meeting with a potential client.

Here are 7 things you can include in your portfolio when you haven't yet collected a lot of photos:

1) Certificates

If you have completed a wedding or event planning course and received a degree or certificate, put a copy in your portfolio. Also, wedding and event planner associations issue certificates of membership that you can put in your portfolio to let potential clients know you are well-connected in the industry.

2) Licenses and permits

A copy of your business license will show potential clients that you are a serious business person, not someone engaged in a hobby. If you also offer catering or other services that require permits or additional licenses, you should include them.

3) Publicity

If you had a press release written when you launched your business, add it to your portfolio. If it got you some publicity, perhaps in a local newspaper, put that in also. If a wedding vendor has written about you in their blog or allowed you to be a guest blogger, print a color copy and show it off.

4) Samples of your organizational skills

Include any floor plans you sketched, checklists, budgets and timelines you created so brides can see that you are well able to organize their weddings. (Hide or black-out any clients' names that might be on these forms.)

5) Testimonials and thank you notes

Include any notes previous clients (even ones you worked for without pay) have written to you thanking you for your work and complimenting your wedding and event planning skills. If vendors have written to you saying how much they appreciated working with you, include those also.

6) Photographs of anything you created for a wedding

If you created gift bags for out-of-town guests, favors or any other items, be sure you have photographs of them in your portfolio along with the weddings that you planned, they are examples of your creativity.

7) Photographs of your wedding day emergency kit

Let a bride know how prepared you are by showing her photographs of your kit and talking about your ability to anticipate and handle emergencies.

Please leave out photographs of your own wedding. That is a red flag to potential clients that you do not have experience working with other brides.

After Event Planning Courses: Securing Your First Job

You've learned a lot in your event planning courses, but none of it will matter if you can't land yourself a job after graduation. Fortunately, increasing your chances of finding a job you love as soon as you finish your event planner courses is easier than you may think.

1. Show appreciation for your teachers.

The teachers in your event organization courses are your closest ties to the professional world. They are the people who have taught you everything you know about your soon-to-be career. Before you think about how it is that you will move on after event planner courses, take a little time to show your respect for the faculty at your college. Write letters of thank you, or better yet, team up with other students to organize an event in honour of the teachers in your program.

2. Get a part-time job in the industry.

Your event planner courses are preparing you to occupy a leadership role in event planning. But why not get some real-life experience while you are still enrolled in event planner courses? You could:

• answer phones, hand out flyers, or manage a social media campaign for an event planner


• work as a server for a caterer


• work for a florist or some other service that is on the periphery of the event planning industry

3. Organize some events on a volunteer basis.

Offer to plan an event for someone in your family or for a beloved charity. This gives you a chance to fine tune the knowledge acquired in your event planning courses and will give credibility to your job applications as you seek employment after finishing your event organization classes.

4. Take an internship position.

Do your event planning courses include an internship program? Taking advantage of internship event planning classes can go a long way to advancing your career. It will make your more attractive to recruiters and potential employers.

5. Work on your CV now.

As you are taking steps to boost your employability after event planning courses, set up a master resume document that you can use to track all of your accomplishments, so that you won't have to scramble to build a CV from scratch when you finally do finish your event planner courses.

6. Ask for letters of reference early.

Avoid the end-of-the-year rush: approach the teachers of your event planning classes early in the year to ask for those all-important letters of recommendation. Doing so is kinder to them and will only increase your chances of having strong recommendation letters when you finish your event planner courses.

By taking a little care now, you will increase the likelihood of finding a job immediately after you graduate from your event planner courses.

Corporate Team Building Events to Boost Company Morale

A growing number of companies are beginning to realize the importance of company morale in boosting efficiency. It has been proven that the company with the greatest morale among employees has the advantage on being successful. This is because employees are happy to work at their best when their needs are met.

As part of boosting company morale, participating in a corporate team building event can bring about a whole new attitude among your staff. Being that people who work together spend so much time together on a daily basis, there is reason to build on that relationship. A good way to do this is to spend time outside of work doing an activity as a team. Finding an activity that everyone can participate in can be a challenging task, but it does not have to be. If you think about it, what is one thing that everyone does on a daily basis? Everyone has to eat. Cooking is one activity men and women alike can participate in together and enjoy.

In addition to inviting employees to your cooking event, clients and special occasions can be celebrated in your corporate team building event. Individuals will greet each other upon arrival in a reception like atmosphere complete with hors d'oeuvres and beverages. An instructor is present to help guide the entire event and process. Once everyone has arrived and is ready to get to "work", it is time to separate into teams and replace coats with aprons and chef hats. Each team is responsible for a part of the meal. The goal is for each team member to participate. After each team has completed their creation, the time comes for the ultimate reveal. Now the participants can enjoy their culinary delight. At the end of the meal, each participant will leave feeling full and accomplished.

Corporate team building events are beneficial for more than one reason and can be adapted to any occasion. Choosing to host an event of this type can provide the company morale you are seeking and even impress potential or current clients at the same time. All in all, it is an experience that can bring about many smiles and great conversations.

Team Building - Employee Morale-Building Programs

Company Celebrations and anniversaries can have a dual purpose, where as you can get the most "Bang for the Buck".  I will elaborate.  For Decades Smart Companies have used the efforts of coordinating Company Events as a tool to promote Employee Morale.  A worker who feels good about themselves and about the company they work for will produce more...This is a known Fact...

Many Companies use in house methods to get Employees smiling among the work environment monthly.  Remember an angry employee is a Cancer among the rest of the work force!  Although small monthly programs with small budgets are effective,  Events twice a year creates memories, camaraderie's and laughter for months to come after a Successful Corporate or Company Outing, Special Event....Holiday Parties are okay but very commonplace among the business world without programs for morale building such as the holiday Xmas Party....However having a well organized company picnic with professionals who know what they have to achieve for the company is priceless...There are many Event Companies who are well aware of the impact a successful Company Picnic can have on a Company's employee work force....Most Companies make the mistake of just having a BBQ without Entertainment geared towards achieving Company Morale among Workers and their families....Having an event just catered is wasteful to a Company's betterment. 

These Events are a great place to subconsciously create good feelings among the work environment ...Not everyone who attends needs to be participating directly with the entertainment provided to have an impression ...Watching others enjoying themselves in a silly relay Potato Sack or Flipper race has lasting memories months and even years after an event....A successful picnic will have Employees talking about the happening during the work day therefore promoting good feelings in the work force along with their co-workers....A Unified workplace is a productive workplace!  T-E-A-M (Together Everyone Achieves More)  

It is important when planning a Company Event to choose an Events Company that has many years experience, references and one that "does it all" Catering, Entertainment and Party Rentals...Examples of these services are on site grilling, Relay Races or inflatable rides and Tents.  A One Stop Shopping Center makes the difference between a successful run event and a flop.  Also the Events Company you choose to create this yearly event makes the Human Resources Manager in charge of running the event, look like a star to their superiors!   Remember, Fun, Creates lasting memories about the company you work for...Have Fun with planning and attending your next Company Event!

Company's Must-Corporate Event Planners

Result organising companies provide their services for conducting a variety of events including corporate events, marketing programs and special corporate hospitality events like award ceremonies, concerts, film premieres, fashion shows, launch/release parties etc. These result organisers render their creative, technical and logistic services for any event. Events can be divided into four main categories based on their objective:

Organisational result
Leisure events
Cultural events
Personal events
Corporate Event Organisers

An integral part of any business is to educate people about the importance and goal of the company in the industry and also strengthen the company internally. One of the tried and tested ways is to have variety of corporate event programs in the organisations.

Some of the common event services these event organisers provide are:

Training and Development: The result includes activities for the subordinates to get to know one another, inspire juniors to take up responsibilities or for managers to test their managerial skills. Few examples of such events are: Improve Team Effectiveness, Unleash Hidden Strengths, Success Through Teamwork etc.

Conferences and Hotel Venues: This result ensures fulfillment of all the services to host the conferences and to provide quality venues and competitive rates. Also, they arrange for the comfortable accommodation for the members attending conference. Few examples of such events are: Corporate Hospitality, Ice Breakers, Conference Centres, etc.

Team Building: An event to allow the employees of the company to spend a day of fun with activities, enhancing confidence, collaboration and communication of each player. Few examples of such events are: Cocktail Making, Murder Mystery Evenings, Crystal Challenge, Treasure Hunt etc.

Company Fun Days: This event is to bring the entire workforce at one place and it's a get together of all the employees, departments and divisions of the company. This result is mixture of lots of activities, party, food, dance etc. Few examples of such events are: Exclusive Family Fun Days, It's a Knockout, Dragon Boat Racing, etc.

Activity Days: This event is to bring your employees on their toes, all charged up for the most active, activity day. This event helps to break the monotony of the day to day work life and do something for fun other than partying and dancing. Few examples of such result are: School Sports Day, Abseiling, Assault Course, Canoeing, Climbing, Kayaking etc.

Parties, Evening Activities and Theming: This result is for arranging parties, evening activities and corporate themed parties for either the business clients or own employees. Few examples of such events are: Corporate Summer Parties, Casinos, Race Nights, and Christmas Parties etc.

If you are in UK, you can contact many event organisers for conducting variety of result for your company.

Top 5 Online Techniques to Manage Your Offline Events

Event organizers keep hosting one or more events throughout the year to meet new prospects and build strong connections. Organizers need to do a lot of work right from an event's creation till its completion. Whether you plan to host an event online or onsite (offline), you need to promote your events well so that it gets maximum attendance and in turn generates high revenues to meet your business goals.

Let's check out the top 5 online techniques to manage offline events.

Explore Social Media

From Facebook, Twitter to the more recent Google Plus, open accounts on these social media platforms to post your event details. These platforms are being explored by millions of professionals and business houses to instantly reach out to more people. Social media sites provide easy access to viewing profile pages of potential prospects and sponsors. You can search for like-minded people and gradually build up a network with the industry experts. You can create Facebook events to know what your attendees are expecting from your meeting or seminar and likewise adjust your events to satisfy them.

Blogging

Create and maintain a professional blog to regularly post everything related to your event(s). You can write a short and highly engaging post on your upcoming fundraiser or post videos of your previous conference. In this way, you can attract millions of readers to your blog, giving them a chance to comment on your article. Provide instant replies to all comments to gradually bond well and build a relationship with the readers.

Live-streaming

Sometimes, it may not be possible for an individual to attend your event due to inevitable circumstances. In that case, you can arrange for live-streaming to let those attendees who were interested in the event to still be able virtually participate. These attendees will still be able to experience the event and therefore will definitely try and attend the same next time.

Photo Streams

Flickr is a popular photo-sharing site, where lots of people share their most liked photos with other users. You can open an account on Flickr to start uploading multiple photos of your previous functions and gatherings. Ensure that the uploaded photos are of high quality and brilliantly depict the different moods of your occasion. The goal of uploading the photos is to share the experience with others and develop a liking for your event. Who knows they might decide to attend your concert or meeting next time because of it!

Recorded Video Content

Remember those live-streams you offered during your live event! You can record those as videos to share the same afterward on YouTube. In this way, you can share your events with others and generate a positive feedback from like-minded business professionals. People who felt like they missed out on an awesome event will surely access the content they missed out on.

Event Planning: Seven Best Practices Successful Planners Use

Do you plan events for the corporate world like product launches, conferences, seminars, etc? If so, check out these seven practices of successful event planners.

It's easy to dismiss these points thinking they're trivial. I thought so too, once. I learnt better when I had events come apart because I chose to ignore these simple guidelines.

#1: Ensure that information flows freely across your team

You rarely do event planning in isolation. You'll almost always have a team of people to whom you've delegated various responsibilities.

It's very easy to make assumptions that everyone knows what the event is all about and how what they're doing ties in with what everyone else is doing. Both assumptions can be totally incorrect.

At the very beginning of the event planning effort, take the time to share your event's objective and your overall plan for executing it with every single one of your team members. It's best to get them all together to do this explaining.

On an ongoing basis, have regular meetings to assess the progress so that everyone is aware of all aspects of the event.

#2: Double check on speakers and all other performers

Sometimes, you come across events where the main speaker delivers his message wonderfully well, except that what he said had nothing to do with the purpose of the event!

Network with other event planners, find out who would be a good speaker for the event you're planning. Someone might be an excellent speaker for one event, but not necessarily for another.

Ask the speaker for references. Find out as much as you can from those references. Ask them how many times they've heard him speak. What did they like about his performance? What did they not like? Do they have any particular relationship with the speaker (which might color their opinion)?

#3: Do detailed planning with a timeline

To attempt to organize a big event in a haphazard manner is to flirt with disaster. You must have a written schedule of all pre-event tasks, with specific dates for completion and specific persons responsible for completing them.

That may sound very basic, but this is one of the things that cause events to fail.

#4: Read the fine print, know all details

As an event planner, you may be exposing yourself to serious financial and other risk if you are not entirely familiar with all aspects of the event.

That includes all contracts you sign, all written instructions, orders and more. Since you are the event planner, you're expected to be the expert on all these areas.

#5: Have a crystal clear purpose for the event

Have you attended a seminar where the topic was too broad and the speakers seemed to talk all around the topic in a disconnected fashion? That's what happens when you lack clarity of purpose about the event.

Is the event meant to be a strategic planning retreat for top management? Is it a seminar to bring medical professionals up-to-date on developments in a specialized field?

If it is a product launch, exactly what outcome is the event expected to achieve?

Only when you and your team know the core objectives can you organize a focused event that meets those goals.

#6: Purchase event insurance

Think through what could disrupt your event and what your liabilities would be in such a case.

Disruptions can include strikes, natural calamities, speakers not showing up, drastically reduced attendance and more. Figure out the monetary and legal consequences. And get insurance to cover it.

#7: Triple-check everything

This is one of the most useful planning mottos you can think of.

Someone may have promised you three months ago that they'll serve exotic Japanese snacks at high tea. Closer to event date but sufficiently in advance, check again to make sure they remember the commitment.

They have many other things to do and may have completely forgotten what they said months ago!

That's why you need to triple-check everything as you go along.

These straightforward guidelines can save you endless trouble if you're planning and organizing events. Make them a part of your way of working.

Online Event Management - The Magic Mantra for Successful Events

There was a time when managing an event would be a nightmare for any organizer. A multi-person, multi-tasking job, event management used to be an elaborate affair with loads of complicated elements to be handled at a time; no matter what the magnitude of the event was. Ever since the concept of online event management evolved there has been a complete paradigm shift.

Today, every business entity, be it a company specializing in event management, a global corporate set-up with a chock-a-bloc events calendar, or a non-profit planning regular fundraisers, thinks twice before engaging itself in an extensive manual process of event management. Online event management has brought in a whole gamut of easy-to-deploy functionalities, which they can use to streamline time-consuming jobs like registration, marketing, and payment management thereby maximizing event attendance and ROI.

Many tools are available free of cost, online that make planning an event an easy task, provided it is a small one. There are online invitation sending portals via which one can send invites to the prospective guests, various GPS sites to inform the delegates about the event venue, events scheduling sites to bring down the actual event organization time, and social networking sites to draw in more number of attendees. However, all these tools do not seem to suffice when it comes to organizing a bigger event with multiple sub-events, featuring long lists of attendees in each category. What comes handy at this point of time is one integrated platform which serves as a complete package for all aspects of event management. An online event management solution does exactly that. Following are some of the functions performed by this system:

• Sending invitations, and RSVPs


• Managing attendees


• Managing digital waitlist to ensure maximum registration for a particular event


• Ensuring top class attendee relationship management


• Automatic syncing of leads, campaigns, and contacts in familiar CRM platform


• Providing connectivity to standard third-party tools and software


• Generating post-event survey reports

Online event registration is an integral part of online event management solution. Here a comprehensive registration package is offered by the SaaS (Software as a Service) provider, which enables the registrants to access the standalone webpage 24X7 from any part of the world and register for the event without any glitch.

Promotion plays a very important role in making an event successful. Using this solution an organizer can leverage the power of social media and get the word spread like wildfire. This way an event gets the much needed publicity and ropes in many registrants who eventually turn into potential participants.

Payment management, revenue generation and selling of tickets also become a piece of cake on using event management software. There are multiple online payment options and built-in accounting modality, which allow customers to perform self-service payment and transactions during any time of the day from any part of the world.

Use of online event registration and management solution is fast becoming the order of the day. With events becoming a regular event in today's corporate world it is sure to gain on further popularity in the years to come.

How Online Event Registration Helps in Reducing Event Management Cost

With the increasing popularity of internet technologies, the concept of event management has been changing continuously. The Web has now become the preferred platform of communication with your attendees. Hence, event organizers are extremely dependent on the online event management solutions to streamline the pre-programmed administrative jobs. Using the services of online event registration, you can attract your target audience in large numbers. Moreover, the online registration solution assists in promoting your events extensively. Spreading your message through social media builds up your professional credibility to the public, thus enabling you to maximize ROI. At present, it is the most cost-effective device supported by an excellent platform of sales.

A competitive event management solution not only speeds up your work, but also automates all manual processes. It ensures effective management of the event with improved organizational capacity. In this way, you can save on a good amount of funds, which otherwise would have been spent on additional back-office workforce.

Online event registration system helps in reducing costs in a number of ways. Check out, how you can organize events in a cost-effective way by adhering to these guidelines.

Using the system, you can host important information about your event on your website. Online viewing option allows your visitors to gather important information just with a single click of your mouse. As a result, you can reduce costs required for printing brochures, leaflets, registration forms, invoices, and so on. With the convenience of online registration, attendees can sign up online, 24x7, from any location. This additionally reduces the number of walk-ins. In this way, you can cut down on a huge printing bill.

The online event registration system comes with the facility of purchasing tickets online. It helps in diminishing postage and courier costs. With online ticketing, you can completely do away with the traditional mailing system. Moreover, all the information regarding potential attendees are stored online. Hence, event organizers can generate invoices and receipts directly online. It eliminates printing costs as well as the postage costs required for sending invoices through courier.

Apart from these, the online event registration system automates the process of signing up attendees and helps in reducing added expenses on manual labor significantly. Hence, you do not need to hire additional staff for handling back office jobs, such as registration, faxing, walk-ins, and data entry. Converting these operations to the online sphere ensures highest efficiency and an uninterrupted workflow.

Use online registration today for reducing event management costs and administrative time.

Georgia International Convention Center

The Georgia International Convention Center (GICC) is Atlanta's newest and most accessible convention center. Located just two minutes from Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport terminal, the facility is very convenient for convention attendees who are flying into town. The convention center is also convenient to the airport's Rental Car Center, MARTA transportation, and all of the airport area hotels. For those driving their own vehicles to town, the GICC has an abundance of onsite parking available at a flat rate, plus overflow lots across the street.

The conference center has a contemporary design and features 35 specially commissioned works of art inside. The artwork includes paintings, sculpture, glasswork and mobiles by local and internationally known artists. The roof design insures a quiet facility, even though it is so close to the airport. GICC is Atlanta's second largest convention center, with a total of 400,000 square feet of flexible meeting space. The facility contains 150,000 square feet of exhibit space, 16,000 square feet of meeting space, 40,000 square feet of ballroom, and 12,000 square feet of executive suites. The Georgia International Convention Center has hosted all types of events including corporate meetings, trade shows, sporting events, concerts, film shoots, and banquets. The convention center can provide all the audiovisual and staging services necessary to support its events. Available equipment includes custom sound systems, wireless microphones, and speakers. Lighting systems, digital video cameras, LCD projectors, plasma displays, LCD monitors, and computers are also available. The facility has a full time security staff to monitor the building and its entrances.

Memorable meals will help make any event a success. Onsite catering is done from the convention center's 9,800 square foot state-of-the-art Culinary Arts Center, which can prepare a banquet for 4,000 guests. Caterer CulinAero creates top quality meals, using the freshest meats and locally grown organic produce. Event planners can choose from their standard menus or request a custom tailored menu.

ATL SkyTrain, a free light rail train, links the conference center to the airport in a two minute ride. Those taking MARTA can connect to the airport via SkyTrain, and then ride MARTA ten minutes to downtown Atlanta. The airport's Rental Car Center is also on the SkyTrain route. The GICC is located at 2000 Convention Center Concourse in College Park, Georgia. For driving directions, take I-85 to Exit 72, Camp Creek Parkway. Turn left at the first traffic light into Gateway Center, and the GICC is on the right.

Team Building Events - How to Choose the Best Corporate Team Building Event

Team Building Events (and specifically how to choose the best, most appropriate, team building event) for your group or situation can be extremely difficult because of... Hello?! Team Building Event Companies! If you Google "Team Building Events," you will get results from every type of activity from classroom team training, to charity events, to outdoor scavenger hunts, to ropes courses. You will also get results from non-team building activities but fantastic shared-experiences that can be a fun way for teams to spend time together and can be a fun memorable event, but these types of activities are not really team building events -- meaning that the results of the activity will be fun and memorable, but will not actually build teamwork unless the team atmosphere is already pretty high.

So how do you choose the best corporate team building activity?

There are three different, main, genres of team building activities or team events. I have listed them below along with the situations that each will be most appropriate.

1. Small Group Shared Experience Team Activities: These types of activities include any type of shared-experience whose primary purpose is to just let the group have fun with each other. As long as you have a small group and a pretty good atmosphere within the group, these types of activities are fun and very inexpensive. You are only limited by your creativity here, so you can do the old standbys like go bowling play golf (or miniature golf). There are neat places like Dave and Busters where your team can have dinner and play pool or arcade games, etc. You could take a day off and go to a theme park or dinner and a show. Pretty much, any type of fun activity will work here. There are lots of "non-team building" organizations who specialize in these types of events. (When I say "non-team building," I really just mean that these organizations primarily do some other service as their main revenue stream, and team events are just a side revenue stream for them.) Organizations that specialize in these types of activities include big resort hotels, cooking schools, race tracks (racing schools), theme parks, bowling alleys, etc. Once your group size increases to more than 20 people or so, or if you have a specific challenge within your group that you want to improve like communication challenges, a new team leader, groups that have merged together, or other team issues, these type of team activities can actually be counter productive -- so be careful unless you have a small group and a pretty strong team atmosphere already.

2. Classroom Team Building: Many people think classroom=boring, because for most of our lives, if we are in a classroom, we are being bored to death. However, good team building companies and instructors are enthusiastic and fun. Teams who have professional facilitators come in and lead these classroom events can really improve a lot of team building activities in a very short period of time. Since participants learn faster when they are having fun, a group can really get fantastic results and feel like the activities were time well spent. This type of corporate team building event is best for groups where a specific team result is trying to be reached such as if an organization merges with another company, and the leaders are trying to create a new team culture or if leadership has changed and the new leaders want to start fresh. If you are having quarterly meetings or annual meetings at your office or if you have breakout sessions at you annual convention, then these types of events work really well in those types of time slots. You can also have these facilitators come out and do keynote speeches that are fun and funny if you have an open slot at your convention or meeting. Unlike the shared-experience events, very few companies specialize in classroom activities, so they are harder to find. Be careful, because if the company specializes in big events and not seminars or workshops, you can end up with a bunch of rah-rah activities that don't get you the best results. Try entering "classroom team building" or "classroom team building seminars" into Google, and you should get a nice shortlist of qualified companies.

3. Big Group Shared Experience Team Events: This type of event is very similar to the small group team events above, however they are much, much, much more challenging to pull off. For instance, if you have eight people in your group, you can go to a bowling alley and rent two lanes or have two foursomes at a golf course, and everyone will be active the entire time. However, if you have 100 people, or 1000 people, if you try the same activities, at any given time, a ton of people will be standing around watching (doing nothing and getting bored) unless the facilitators really know what they are doing. So if you have a big group and you want your team to have fun and stay active, this is where you really want to invest in a professional team building company. (Especially if your reputation is on the line.) DO NOT leave this decision to your event planner, by the way. Event planners are very good at getting great deals on hotel rooms, organizing complex events, making sure the food works for the group, etc., but many of them will do whatever it takes to please the customer (you). So if you ask them for a specific team building activity, they will give it to you, even if the event or activity is not the best result for your group. You will get a MUCH better result if you contact the professional team building company yourself, because these professionals will help you pick the absolute most appropriate event for your team. If you are making a mistake, the facilitators will tell you, however if you have an event planner as a go-between, and you are making a mistake, the team facilitator will tell the event planner. The event planner, because he/she wants to please you, will likely just find another company who will do what you want. Typically, you will end up with a group from category number one above. So be very careful when you have a lot on the line with a really big group.

The key to picking the best event for your group is to ask two main questions. Question number one is (1) Are you looking for a specific behavior change? If so, hire a team building company who specializes in classroom team training or hire a good team oriented keynote speaker. The second question is (2) Do you have a big group or a small group? If the group is small and you just want the group to have fun, some money and take everyone bowling. If you have a large group and you just want them to have fun, hire a company that specializes in big charity team building events or fun corporate activities and take charge of the hiring of the company and take their advice into consideration. They will save you a lot of money and make sure the event comes off without a hitch.