Event Management and How to Hold a Successful Ceremony Or Celebration

Events can come in many forms, and include product launches and press conferences attended by a few key representatives and journalists, right up to televised parties and award ceremonies that are attended by hundreds or thousands of celebrities and industry guests.

All kinds of events need to be managed, including corporate hospitality, company functions, Christmas parties, movie or theatre premieres, team-building away days, business lunches, drinks receptions, summer garden parties, street shows and art exhibitions.

Event management is the act of managing any one of these gatherings, at a specific time and place. All aspects of an event need to be managed, and include details such as choosing the right venue, producing invitations, arranging decor and catering.

Organising an event can also involve hiring any necessary staff such as entertainers, waiters, cleaners and security. Holding an event for a product, or to celebrate an occasion, sends a message that the product or occasion is important.

The work beings with choosing a location. If the people that are to be invited can reach the location easily, then they are arguably more likely to attend. Although a remote location might dissuade some invitees from attending, if it is an exclusive and unusual location - such as a stately home in the countryside - that might prove to be part of the event's attraction.

The venue must have the facilities needed, or be able to provide them. If it's something as simple as a press conference, then a podium, PA system and some chairs might be enough. If it is a New Year's Eve party for a thousand clubbers, then the venue will need DJ equipment, a cloak room, A VIP area, at least one bar and sufficient toilet facilities.

If the venue in question does not have the facilities your event requires, you will need to find a cost-effective way to have them installed temporarily.

If the event is launching or promoting a product, then branded decor will be a wise decision. Branding can go anywhere, from banners above a doorway, to logos on wristbands to promotional t-shirts.

Decor and branding provide the visual impact that helps to burn memories of an event into the minds of the attendees, long after the taste of the food, the words of the speaker or the sounds of the music have faded. This is especially true if press photographers might be present.

When providing refreshments, it is probably more appropriate to provide the likes of tea, coffee and water for a daytime function. A party at night is a different situation, and might require either a free bar, possibly sponsored by a drinks brand, or for the event organiser to pay for it. Something like a nightclub event is naturally exempt from this, as clubbers are used to having to pay for drinks.

If promoting a brand, consider sending the revellers home with a goody bag containing either samples of your product, items that contain your brand logo - or impressive designer freebies, if it is a particularly high-profile event.

Having the right Health and Safety documents and procedures are important to any event. A promoter should complete a risk assessment form, and have public liability insurance in place. The venue must also have the appropriate paperwork regarding safety measures, such as fire doors and information on capacity limits.

Portable Outdoor Shelters - Perfect for Events and Celebrations

Portable outdoor shelters have many different uses. Whether you need a simple tent for a small party or a serious shelter for a big celebration such as your Christmas work party, there is something for just about everyone out there. When you're planning any type of celebration, keeping it safe from the weather is definitely a must. Parties outside are great, but with the unpredictable nature of the weather, it's always best to have a backup plan. Marquees and gazebos are ideal for protection from both the wind and rain, and heat of the day. With a portable outdoor shelter, you can guarantee that you're going to get the most from your special occasion or event, no matter what you have in mind.

With portable shelters, it should be simple for you to get everything that you need. You can find them in all shapes and sizes, making it perfect whether you are trying to accommodate 20 people or 100. These shelters can be used for birthdays, special occasions, weddings, and even corporate events and business celebrations of all kinds. It doesn't matter what you have to celebrate because a shelter like this can serve many different purposes. They come in all types of styles, as well, making it easy for you to get exactly what you need, no matter what the event might be.

Portable shelters don't have to be expensive, either. Too often, people are consumed by the budget that they have for their celebration, and that's understandable. However, you should never rule out portable outdoor shelters as something that you can afford to purchase. If you follow the storage and care guidelines required to keep your pop up covering in top condition, you will have it for many more celebrations and events in the future. These shelters aren't expensive if you take the time to look for the most reputable, affordable shelter available, thus making them a great investment too.

Many companies and corporations have yearly events and celebrations that they like to attend and support. The presence of a branded company marquee or gazebo will help your corporation stand out from the crowd, build brand awareness and help your customers/clients easily find your tent. A reputable retailer of outdoor marquees and gazebos will be able to arrange for your outdoor shelter to be custom printed with your brand name and/or logo. It adds a touch of class and protection from the elements, while giving you a great space to accommodate your guests.

Insider Tips to Help You Ace Your Event Planning Courses

Event planning courses will help you find your way in this emerging industry, which is in constant flux, but it is a good idea to also pay careful attention to the event management trends that are developing around you as you pursue your studies.

1. Relieve guest anxiety. Tell them where to sit.

Assigning seating at formal events can help graduates of event planning courses make event guests feel comfortable quickly.

Learning how to draft seating plans in your event planning courses will serve you well the length of your career. It is an old tradition that is being revived for good reason.

2. Hone your social media skills.

There is a new wedding trend in town, so new that it might not be mentioned yet in the textbooks for your event planning courses: tweddings! Tweddings are weddings that are broadcast on Twitter.

Although you may not learn about the many ways to use Twitter in your event planning courses, you can do your own research and bring that knowledge into the projects you carry out for school.

Ways graduates of event planner courses are currently using Twitter include:

• encouraging guests to take photographs of your events with their cellphones for uploading


• having guests vote on d矇cor, meal plan, music, etc., over Twitter


• some graduates of event planner courses go so far as to have a bride or groom pull out their phone during the ceremony to update their virtual guests on their marital status


• One UK couple lost their wedding deposit when the venue they had arranged closed without warning just weeks before they were due to tie the knot. They sent out an SOS on Twitter and photographers, etc., came forward, willing to offer their services for free. Who knows, maybe there was a graduate of event planner courses in the bunch!

The etiquette regarding tweeting and social events is still in development. There has been debate lately about the practice, for instance, of tweeting during theatrical productions. Some theatre companies have embraced this practice as free promotion; others view it as disruptive. In the future, one can expect that social media etiquette will form a module in most event planning courses.

As anyone enrolled in event management courses knows, this is a young industry that is undergoing rapid change.

3. Keep up with photographic trends.

There is a trend towards more realistic, less seemingly staged wedding photos, as evidence by the new practice of catching on film that first moment when a groom lays eyes on his bride on their special day. Impress your fellow students in your event planning courses by referring with ease to the new "first look" tradition.

4. Make a notebook of all your coolest tips.

As you pursue your event planning courses, you are going to come across a million great ideas. Get into the practice of writing them down in one place, whether:

• a reminder that bird seed is a more environmentally friendly option than confetti


• some resourceful graduates of event planning courses are expanding the ranges of services they offer: there is a new trend, for instance, towards proposal planning services. Wedding planners can be "engaged" (pun intended) to help the besotted stage the proposal of their dreams.

Keep your eyes and ears open. By the time you graduate from your event planning courses, you should have a host of good ideas to share with your clients.

Marquee Hire

A marquee is like a portable venue. Where your marquee goes, your party goes! These flexible structures tend to be very versatile in terms of style as well as functionality. They can cater to any kind of event, including weddings, birthdays and other family functions, as well as corporate events, markets and fairs.

There are a number of advantages to hiring a marquee. It is a flexible structure, so can be placed absolutely anywhere. It is a venue that you can dress up as you like, so you are free to create any interior design you require. No matter what the theme of the event, you can create the appropriate atmosphere inside a marquee. They are available not just in a choice of sizes and shapes, but also a variety of styles as well, from exotic Bedouin tents to modern wireframe structures.

Before hiring a marquee, it is important to know exactly what is needed. Two factors are integral to what type of marquee you will need. Firstly, the number of people it needs to accommodate, and secondly, the site where it will be place. The reasons for this are that people need to fit inside the marquee and that marquee needs to fit on the site!

Traditional marquees, the ones that are pitched using guy ropes, tend to require some leeway around the actual structure to pitch. Frame marquees, however, do not need any more space, as there are no ropes involved - a frame made of poles is what holds the structure up. Apart from these, more stylised marquees such as Bedouin tends, Tepees and exotic Arabic tents are also widely available and becoming more and more popular.

A marquee is like a blank slate, or should we say a canvas, upon which one is free to create anything by way of interiors and other embellishments. Many suppliers combine marquees with other services, providing options for flooring and furniture, as well as lighting and soft furnishings, which is very convenient.

It is advisable to book early, as marquees are quite popular. Many good suppliers have bookings for up to a year in advance, so it's best to start searching as soon as the date for your event is finalised. Like with most things today, a good place to start looking is online. Local event planning companies may also have a useful database of suppliers. Suppliers should be able to offer useful advice about the interior layout, size of the marquee etc.

Also, before you hire, it is useful to know exactly what it is you're paying for. For example, would the cost of hire include heating services, transportation fees, as well as service to erect and dismantle the marquee? This can avoid last minute glitches, which are usually caused due to simple misunderstandings.

Events can be great fun to plan, but they can also quickly turn into a nightmare, especially if things start snowballing out of control. While some things are out of our control, more often than not, the root cause of the problem is poor research. So lastly, make sure all your suppliers, whether it is for the marquee or anything else, are reliable and have good track records!

Become a Scrapbook Event Organizer

There are retreats, crops, getaways, cruises, conventions, and even scrapbook expos being held every single weekend now! Scrapbookers love to connect, and you can help provide the connection. If you're well-organized and can put together the kind of event that will generate excellent word-of-mouth, an event planning company could be a profitable venture for you.

While this is along the same lines as teaching a class, events are meant to be all day affairs - even multiple day affairs. So many women are hankering to get out of the house and get away from the stresses of every day life. A weekend scrapbooking retreat would be right up their alley!

One website I've found gives an account of her "Scrap Camp" that she hosts where a camping experience combines with scrapbooking to provide attendees with not only a getaway, but a way to talk and interact with other scrapbookers and get ideas from each other.

Just like the classes, you'll need to set a price and decide whether or not supplies are included in the price. Obviously, the cost is going to be a bit higher, but often times, your attendees won't blink an eye to paying it.

Concentrate a multiple day event on putting together an entire custom scrapbook. Encourage your students to bring along as many pictures as they can find and then show them how to organize them into beautiful layouts.

An event might require you to spend more one-on-one time with those attending, but personal service could be the difference between you and your competition.

Contact scrapbooking suppliers and let them know about your event. See if they would be willing to donate supplies in exchange for liberal advertising at your event. You might be surprised at how many companies would be happy to sponsor T-shirts, flyers, and even supplies. This is especially true if you really play up your event and have great attendance.

If you can find a company willing to donate toward your event, you want to keep them on your valuable contacts list. The best way to do this is to send a follow-up after the event is over to show how successful your event and their products were.

You can do this in many ways. We would suggest having all participants sign an over-sized card with personal comments and include pictures of that company's products being used. They'll surely appreciate the advertising and are more likely to sponsor one of your other events further down the road.

The best part about scrapbooking events is that you can plan other activities to go along with classes to enhance the experience. After all, you really don't want to spend 12 hours doing nothing but scrapbooking, do you? It would seem too much like work.

Even though scrapbooking is the main reason for the event, networking, sharing ideas, and making friends is also important. This is an excellent way to promote scrapbooking in your community and share your love of the hobby.

How iPad Hire Will Enhance Your Next Corporate Event?

The concept of computer hire for corporate events is not new. For a few years now, large corporations have invested a lot of money with event equipment hire companies to ensure that the IT systems they provide will add to the professionalism and efficiency of the corporate event. From PCs and flat screens to the latest laptops, the computer hire industry has produced countless successful events. Since the introduction of the Apple iPad over a year ago,events have changed shape for good. Now, we cannot look at event equipment hire without at least considering iPad hire as part of the package.

What can iPad hire do for you and your event attendees?

The endless possibilities offered by an iPad will enhance your event threefold. Recently, US company Freightliner used iPads to share product and sales information with over 500 dealership representatives at a conference. The company had also developed a special application to help dealers interact with potential customers. This was to promote a new era in the technology of event equipment hire through the innovative and cost effective use of iPad hire. Dealers received their own iPads which were especially configured with the new application and were taught how to manage the device itself. Apple representatives were invited to discover how corporate companies are using their technology.

This is just one example of how corporate events have integrated the iPad into their 'show'. Apple's new gadget continues to excite people with its range of features and abilities and therefore will make a fantastic addition to your next event if you want to impress the attendees. iPads are compact, durable and most importantly, they can take care of most of the information needed for your conference. You can create new applications to support the goals of your company and guests at your event will be able to learn and enjoy the information in an interactive and technologically advanced way.

Organising a corporate event or private function can be a daunting task. There is so much to organise, from catering, to guest lists, but the crucial part of any event is the technical equipment and furniture - two elements that will determine the success of the day. You do not want to cut corners on event equipment hire so it is necessary that you find the right company that can be relied upon for your every need.

Still hesitant about using iPad hire?

You may be hesitant to incorporate the use of iPads at your next corporate event for various reasons. Most common hesitations flow from unfamiliarity of the device itself. Like all new technologies, iPads will take a bit of getting used to. Of course, there is the issue of different hardware for the iPad 1 and iPad 2, however most event equipment companies will provide the latest versions for both and even someone who brings their own iPad to the event will be able to download the specific software and applications needed for the event.

The most important thing to remember is that the company who provides the iPad hire will also provide you with advice on how to install certain applications and organise the wi-fi setup for the conference room.

iPad hire is extremely popular among large companies, for this reason, especially in the case of corporate events. With the right technical assistance and large discounts for bulk iPad hire, your event will be up to date on technology and generally more professional in its nature.

Subcontract Equipment or Services? Then You Need Contracts For Event Planning

Contracts for Event Planning may very well save your day if the worst happens. Imagine you have an event at a local hotel. It is a corporate event for a local company and this contract will not only pay you very well, but also bring you lots of work in the future. This could be the one you have been waiting for.

It is a large affair with over 1000 guests coming, mostly VIP's and other top management and they will be having a sit down dinner and lots of great entertainment and you will be providing lights, sound and the catering!

It all sound absolutely great. Everything is going nicely and the guests start arriving. VIP after VIP taking their seats and waiting excitedly for the event to begin.

Suddenly, there is a massive crash as one of the speaker stands falls onto the table and lands right into the sitting VIP's. An ambulance is called and two of the guests are injured and taken away to the hospital. It looks like this could be a disaster for you.

Later you find out that the guests are ok, but they want to seek damages for their hospital bills and they are probably justified in wanting that.

But who is responsible?

Well there are at least 2 questions to ask:

Who supplied the equipment?
And
If it was subcontracted, do you have a contract with them?

If the equipment is your equipment, then you are liable and your insurance company will probably have to pay up the costs.

If the equipment is subcontracted you may still be liable. How so as the equipment is not yours? Surely the owner will be liable?

If you have a back-to-back contract with the owner of the equipment that states that as the owner, they will assume responsibility for all damages or claims against that specific equipment, then they will be liable. However, if you have no contract that states that they are liable, sadly to say you are, even though the equipment is not yours.

Contracts for event planning are essential, not just with the venue and the caterers, but with everyone involved in the event. You are not qualified to draft contracts (probably) so make sure that you seek professional advice about your contracts.

Did you know for example, that you may be in breach of copyright if you just download a contract from the internet and use it for your event? It is essential that your lawyer draws up your contracts for event planning.

Memorable Corporate Events With Luxury Yacht Charters

Impress clients, reward staff, or provide the best backdrop for this year's awards ceremony or team-building event. Chartering a private luxury yacht for your next corporate event will make it memorable for years to come.

Exciting events such as the Monaco Grand Prix and the Cannes Film Festival are held near major ports, making them prime yachting opportunities. During such events, yachts turn into private entertaining zones, where business and pleasure co-mingle. Guests enjoy the yachting scene as much as the event itself, making for an unforgettable trip.

The Monaco Grand Prix is not just one of the world's greatest car races; it is also one of the world's best yachting events. The Principality of Monaco is well worth the visit of its own accord. Its location on the Mediterranean Sea provides it with warm, dry summers and mild winters. Even when it is hot in the summer, the cool sea breezes that constantly blow create the perfect yachting weather.

The Grand Prix de Monaco is held every year on the Circuit de Monaco. This Formula One race, which has been held since 1929, is one of the most prestigious in the world. The cars race through the streets of Monaco, overcoming steep hills and deep valleys, tight corners, as well as a tunnel.

The next Monaco Grand Prix will be held from May 24th through the 27th in 2012 and will undoubtedly attract billions of viewers from across the globe. Monaco becomes overrun with racing fans during this event. Hotels are booked. Restaurants are crowded. What better time to be aboard a luxury yacht, enjoying a meal prepared by a chef to your tastes. You can sleep peacefully with the rocking of the boat on the waters. You can get away from the crowded streets if you so choose.

The Cannes Film Festival is another event that draws a large yachting crowd. This event, which was founded in 1946, celebrates the art of film-making and cinematography. Occurring annually in the city of Cannes in France, the gala has launched many acting careers and made popular movies. What began as a casual get-together for international filmmakers turned into a worldwide event for the rich, famous, and those who just want witness it all.

The next Cannes Film Festival occurs from May 16-27, 2012 and is the start of the yacht charter season in France. This legendary event is the perfect showcase of creativity, passion, and talent in the movie industry. It is also the perfect time to rub elbows with A-list celebrities and network with clients onboard a private luxury yacht charter.

One of the benefits of choosing a yacht charter for corporate entertaining is that the yacht, which can be branded with your company name and logo, becomes a highly visible symbol of your organization's presence. Whether holding meetings or cocktail parties, a yacht charter will exceed your standards in hospitality and elegance.

Decorative Painting Services For Wedding And Event Planners

Are you planning a wedding or are you a special event planner? What a great way to dress up the occasion by providing your guests with hand painted dessert plates. Maybe even hand painted center pieces for each table, that matches the theme and colors for your event.

You may even find that something painted such as a wine glass can be used for the event and taken home as a reminder of the occasion. What a neat gift for people attending your wedding! If you prefer something else as a party favor or gift, other suggestions can be made.

This is a wonderful way to make your event stand out from the rest. It does not have to be expensive to provide this little extra touch either. It will be worth the little extra spent to make the gathering more memorable for you guests. If you are a wedding or event planner this could even assist you with getting more events to organize.

By allowing a decorative painter to assist with your plans you are allowing a little art to be a part of the gathering. It also makes for a pleasant and appealing atmosphere, while adding a color to the surroundings. Colors can have an affect on our moods and can play a big part in how we feel. Adding color to the decor is a wonderful way to encourage a happy and fun filled experience. Is this not what you clients are looking for?

Why not give it a try? It is free to check it out!

Trade Shows and Corporate Events Use Interactive Displays and Data Cameras for Post Event Marketing

Whether you are generating leads or measuring the performance of your upcoming event, trade show or marketing campaign, you need to capture correct data from your audience for effective post promoting. This is a very vital task to set as a precedent while planning your company's advertising event: People can engineer a wonderful occasion, but once the crowd leaves, the final success is truly based on how you will be able to regularly communicate with them about your services or products.

Today's technology offers a great wealth of promoting solutions, but one must carefully select proven components to combine and then hold a highly visible and successful event, trade show or promoting program. The event must create attention and capture an audience. Secondly, the next important and most crucial phase is keeping the product or services you are promoting "alive and exciting" and in the client's minds during the following months and even a year after the occasion is over.

Before we continue, let us outline the first steps: The key to successful trade show, event campaigns.

1) What design can we use that will draw people to our event and captivate them?

2) How do we gather valuable data from our visitors without being intrusive or aggressive?

3) What type of visuals must be added to create "staging" and strong appeal?

4) How do we get visitors to participate, "connect" & "engage" with our team passively?

5) How will we manage the data we receive from our clients for post merchandising and communications?

At present, a great deal of trade show promotion is "hit and miss"- hoping that your company and its presence along with brochures, etc. will make some type of impact on the customer... hopefully they will read your brochure or contact you later - odds are quite low using this dinosaur method.

Traditional techniques of email accumulating typically results in a list of unreadable scribbles or false names and addresses. It is imperative to capture, collect, organize and analyze all data. It is also very important that you find a creative, entertaining method to integrate proven data capture programs at your next occasion. There are many data capture systems and we will discuss this in this article.

Many promotions or trade show events have utilized various methods in "engaging" customers using games, magic, music, prize drawings, the wheels of fortune, etc. However, people are bored by these methods and their motivation to involve themselves is usually weak as the prizes are the same old - pens, trinkets, magnifying glasses and other useless promotional items not worth standing in line for or talking to a sales representative to get one of them.

Times have changed and jaded people want something uncommon if you want them to stop and listen. Plan to appeal to their emotions and or needs. If you can present an entirely unique and exciting occasion you will be successful in gathering a crowd while being excellent and memorable. Without solving this first step, the ability to grab and stop potential clients to easily gather data will be next to impossible.

The use of "interactive displays" is one of the most unbeaten tools used in the front end of occasion data gathering. Once you "engage" your clients with an interactive display, you can set in motion the data gathering process that will be non-intrusive and passive all at the same time.

New hi-tech, special data gathering cameras that take photos of people "interacting" with the fun displays you have are highly effective and proven to work in gathering accurate emails and other data. Once the specialized, data camera takes the unique, interactive, staged photograph of the person - surfing down a 30 foot virtual wave, a business card is given to them with a code that they enter when they go to your website to download their unique, fun image.

If you carefully map out the interactive, creative demonstration in which they participate in, the motivation to acquire their picture from your website will increase - most studies prove that 70% of the people who use the data camera system combined with a unique interactive show results in great rates of return from their trade show or occasion with post promoting campaigns.

Here is a perfect and proven example of a highly, winning occasion with "interactive shows" that includes data gathering potential: " Virtual Video Interactive Surfing Displays". The Hawaiian, tropical paradise theme seems to be a very popular designed occasion that never gets tiring. The colorful, laid back party theme meets the psychological needs of today's trends - people love the vision of Hawaii as it is laid back, relaxing and fun. So how do you bring a Hawaiian beach to any event with an interactive wave of action? Easy. There are several "interactive displays" that a business can rent and set up in minutes.

One specific company from Hawaii rents interactive displays and surf simulators to locations worldwide - comes complete with backdrop wave and a highly specialized photo camera assists in collecting client data. Clients like Microsoft, Nike, ABC Television, CBS Television, Sony Entertainment, Cisco Systems and many more have used these video surf simulators for their highly successful events, trade shows parties, team building or promotions.

Here is the scenario: Imagine the sounds of beach boy music and the peaceful rhythm of waves breaking on a white Hawaiian sandy beach. Then as you get closer to the event, you notice someone standing on a real Hawaiian surfboard in front of a large screen television. You will also notice the crowd watching this "video surfer" laughing and sometimes screaming in exhilaration - trying to surf a large wave on the video monitor and get points by not "wiping out" all while avoiding great white sharks and other obstacles in the water.

Off to the side of the surf simulator you also notice a line and of people waiting to take a memorable picture. People stand on a mini-surfboard positioned in front of a huge eight foot wave mural with a palm tree. A special camera marks each photograph with a digital code and time stamped for later ease of retrieval - gone are the days of instant printers, etc. The code allows the holder to log in and go directly to their photograph for downloading or pasting on their desired social network. Of course, before they get the memorable download, they enter their exact email address which you use for post advertising.

Case studies have shown a 70% accuracy rate for emails provided due to the motivation to get their unique photo. As you can easily see and comprehend, the mixture of an interactive exhibit plus the special digital bar coding camera, offer the perfect model for an event that pays off in the end for post advertising. If you are planning to spend any money for any occasion, trade show or party, you will have to use this proven combination of components to better guarantee your overall trade show, party, event or marketing efforts..

Party Planning and Execution With the Help of Event Planners

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

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

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

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

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

Tips For Starting an Event Management Business

Staring an event management business is all about creativity, decision making, and organizational talent. This kind of work is more than what the terminology defines; it even has the way across the stretched boundaries of the work perimeter. This is because creativity and imagination has no boundaries at all.

If you have the talent and a creative mind, then you can successfully get over this business with just a few tips and ideas. Following are some of the effective tips to help you start your event management business:

• Learn well about the profession and about the market. This is a vast business that requires lots of learning and understanding. You can read books, magazines, and online articles to know as much as you can about the profession.
• Analyze the market and discover what the clients in this market need. Synchronize your interpersonal skills, organizational talents, resourcefulness, and creative ability to get the best out of you so that you can deliver the best.
• It's advisable to attain a degree in event management as it will help you to have a better understanding of the related markets and industries. There are many industries including hotel, tourism, hospitality, human resources, food, and marketing closely linked to the profession.
• You can have a better hold by gaining some experience with an event management company. For one year or two you can do a job in some good company and once you feel you are ready to kick start your own, quit the job. This will help you better learn the market and know the clients as well.
• Self-employment is not an easy task as you have to face various challenges in the field. In the job you just have to accomplish your assigned responsibilities but in your own business you have to take care of the financial matters, legal issues, and other documentary work as well. So, be well prepared for all the challenges.
• You also have to face a tough competition with companies who have already made their mark in the industry. Discover those companies and learn about their key points.
• Market your business through newspaper, media, and personal contacts. A strong networking is really beneficial in such a case.
• Search for clients that hold the power to bring you success. Target groups and companies where there are higher chances of events and shows. Most of these companies sign a contract and you have to be smart enough and impressive to grab their attention.
• Last but not the least; you should always be clear about the objective, purpose, theme, and scope of the event. This will give you a fairer idea and picture of how to plan the event.

Ten Top Tips For Perfect Party Planning

Planning for a small gathering or a house party is something everyone can do quite easily. However, not everyone can organise, or has the spare time and can put in the concerted effort to organise, a big bash such as a wedding or charity ball.

It is in organising these kinds of events that party planning companies can come in to their own. Not only do these party planners ease the administrative burden of the host or hostess in the run up to the event, but they can absolutely take responsibility for the smooth running of every last detail on the night too. Invaluable if you want to enjoy the event yourself!

So, how do you find the perfect party planner? Let's take a look at our list of ten tips to consider when looking for the right party planning company:

1. Type of party planning

Identify what type of party planning is needed. Make a list of the various jobs and responsibilities you want people to look after. Talk with the party planning companies and find out which services they can provide for you. Some party planning companies just offer consultancy for example, or ideas. Then there are others who offer a full service and do all the preparations for the party too. Make sure what you need is clear from the very outset.

2. Budget

Be absolutely sure what you want to spend and on what! If you want to blow the budget on getting your event planned to perfection, but you want the food to be a fish and chip van, then make sure your party planner knows where to apportion your spend!

3. References

Always request references or a list of the company's previous clients and their contact details. Contact them and ask for relevant feedback. If the party planning company refuses to give you references, don't waste any more time and move on to the next company on your list.

4. Arrange a meeting with the party planner

Once you have chosen a party planner who can provide the services that you are looking for, in budget, and with recommendations, meet with the prospective planner. Make sure you get on - you may be speaking to each other ten or 15 times a day in the weeks to come so you need to get on!

5. List of services

Make sure your party planner sets up a list of services that you will need and get them to get to grips with the terms and conditions of all of them. Are they planning on using a caterer that needs to be paid 90% up front for example? Find out what payment schedule the planner has and of course find out what happens if you (or your guests) aren't satisfied.

6. Value for money?

If your goal is to get the best value for money from your party planning company, then always avoid planners, which have to contract certain establishments or vendors for the party's needs. Often it can be a bit like paying the planner twice.

7. Leadership

Always check that the party planner assigned to your event has enough leadership ability and is competent enough to coordinate the event itself. It may be a huge team of hundreds of staff on the night - can they run things how you want them to be run?

8. Food tasting

Make sure your party planner lets you taste the food! Whilst they can book the caterers and order the wine, you need to make sure you like what is being provided. Good catering companies like Alison Price, Moving Venue Penni Black and "rhubarb", should invite you for a client tasting. Remember it's your party not the planners!

9. Communication

Always encourage first class communication with your planner at all times. If you haven't worked with them before they may not make quite the decisions you would. If on the other hand you know they will make every detail as you would like it, then you can just sit back and plan your outfit.

10. Pick the right party planner

And finally, just remember that planning for an event is as important as the event itself. While hiring a professional party planner might be a wise step to make the gathering flow smoothly, it is important that the client also maximizes his money's worth by selecting one that best suits his needs and specifications. In short make sure you pick the right party planner for you.

Outdoor Event Insurance Can Cover Anything From a Sunday Cricket Match to a Large Convention

In theory, brokers can access the whole outdoor event insurance market to find the best cover (which may be from combining a number of separate policies). In practice, however, the special deals for non-profits are more likely to come from one particular insurer. It is quite possible, these days to obtain cover to make good the loss arising from fraud or dishonesty on the part of any of the employees where they are handling any cash or other valuables. It may even be possible to extend the cover to include also fraud or dishonesty on the part of any of the trustees or volunteers. This type of cover cannot a substitute for sound financial and personnel risk management and is usually provided only if the company can demonstrate that its administrative arrangements are both adequate and properly supervised.

• Your outdoor event insurance companies insure almost any event taking place almost anywhere in the world. Whether your event is a Sunday Cricket match or a global convention, they have the capacity and the expertise to protect your event. These companies can offer single event insurance, multiple event insurance or even annual event insurance - whatever your needs.

• Your insurance cover may include event cancellation insurance, event liability insurance and event all risks insurance. The failure of key, utilities or equipment like power, lighting, heating, kitchens, sound and fire safety equipment are all the risks, with the potential to make the venue unavailable.

• Most policies are easy to understand and simple to buy. They are underwritten by one of the most reputable insurers and claims are handled quickly and with sensitivity. Your outdoor event insurance cover may, also be obtainable at a reasonable price against the cost of repairing items which are damaged, or against the cost of investigating theft and of attempting to recover stolen items. Security measures should be reviewed in order to reduce the risk of loss and this might make insurance cover easier to obtain.

• As specialist providers, these companies offer you insurance that are truly relevant to your needs. They know the right questions to ask about your plans and can tailor your insurance to suit your requirements, perfectly.

• Whether you are planning a party, staging a large rock concert, or organising a national flower, motor or music festival, you need to ensure that you are covered for all possible events that may spoil the enjoyment of you and your guests when the big day arrives.

In a worst case scenario, the whole event operating budget could be lost, or you could incur additional costs such as rebooking at another time or another venue, extra accommodation and subsistence costs, venue penalties for not vacating on time, plus the profit you might otherwise have generated from the event. Because all this is at risk, your insurance needs to be on the agenda early in the event planning process. You can quite easily buy all the elements of your outdoor event insurance in one easy package, with absolute confidence.

Food is Only One of the Many Responsibilities of a Caterer

ADDITIONAL SKILLS NECESSARY FOR AN EXCEPTIONAL CATERER
 
According to Webster's dictionary, to cater is to serve food or to supply whatever is required or desired. Catering to someone's needs can be many things. Finding your niche, what you're really good at, is key to being a good caterer. Food isn't always necessary to fill a need for someone's party. Sometimes, the caterer can function as more of an event organizer.
 
I've found that the more events you attend, the more ideas and networking you achieve. One birthday party for a 10 year old was just going to be cake and ice cream. I was not asked to make the cake, but to supply the paper products, music, presentation of food, cutting and serving and clean-up. Not a bad job, actually. This took minimal knowledge of where to find paper products and to organize a DJ.
 
When you speak to the client, verify all aspects of the event that may  be needed: tables/chairs, wastebaskets, drinks, bartending, posters, easels, games, etc. Sometimes, helping out from an organizational stand point brings more client satisfaction than the food. That's why wedding planners are in demand. This type of organizational assistance can apply to any type of gathering. A professional meeting may only be for 20 people, but, audiovisual equipment is needed along with note paper and pens. Any way that you can help out your client makes your service unique and valuable.
 
As variable as client requests can be, make sure to organize all your networking names and numbers for easy access. Several years may go by before a similar request comes again; give yourself more than one of every vendor type in case one is unavailable or goes out of business. Any time you experience a quality vendor, get their information. The worst thing is using some vendor you know nothing about and having upset clients.
 
Always think of different ways to serve your client because the best marketing is word of mouth. The more memorable you are, the more your name will be mentioned. Please visit my blog at www.homebasedcatering.blogspot.com

Free Party Planning Software

MyPunchbowl is one site that offers some great features in party planning free of charge. They have a date decider which allows you to plan your party date based on guest input. This will allow for a better guest turnout and possibly warn you of a competing event on the same date. The site offers save the date functionality so your guests are alerted in advance to secure the date for your event.

MyPunchbowl also offers the convenience of sending invitations online including stress free RSVP. They offer photo upload, easy importing of email address for your guest lists, and invitation sharing on Facebook and Twitter. They also have a message board specific to your party allowing you to socialize and communicate with your guests prior to the event.

Amiando is another party plan software package that offers a free version. It allows you to create an event website without any programming experience. Amiando also allows you to send email invitations and reminder follow-ups online. You can also track guest RSVP's easily.

Party Planner 1.0 is another great party planning tool that allows users to enter basic input concerning their specific party and easily create shopping lists. This useful tool even estimates quantities of the items on your list. This package was designed by a professional restaurant owner with extensive experience in catering and menu planning. Party Planner can save you a lot of worry and time when you plan your next party.

Partysynch is another great website to help you plan your next party. This site will help you create and follow a party budget. You can also easily manage your guest list, create an event website, effectively create seating arrangements, and locate suppliers and professionals to assist with your event if needed.

Planning a party properly does require a bit of time and effort. Many tasks are involved such as setting a date, creating a guest list, making a budget, planning a menu, inviting guests, managing RSVP's, selecting a party venue, shopping for food and decorations, and many other tasks. These websites are designed to make the entire job process easier and much for fun.

There are party planning software packages that are not free. Many of the free planning websites previously mentioned also offer upgraded paid versions. The non-free packages usually offer more advanced features than the free versions. If your budget is tight, you should give some of these free websites a visit and see if they can help simplify your party planning tasks.

7 Tricks to Use Facebook for Your Events and Class Promotion

Companies across the globe use various online and offline tactics to ensure maximum attendance and event ticket sales. Advertisements, banners, billboards, pamphlets, and similar other promotional materials are printed and distributed in large numbers to attract people's attention toward an event or class. However, at present, the process of promoting using the internet has also gained ground. Organizations are using various online promotional tools to make the global citizens aware of their softwares and solutions.

Currently with more than 800 million active users, Facebook is creating a buzz in the online social world. Individuals are using this site not only for chatting or sharing photos with friends, but also for promoting their businesses to the users and beyond. People interested in your product or service will automatically share the information with their friends who, in turn, will share it with his or her acquaintances. To summarize, this social website provides a world-class platform for viral marketing to produce brand awareness across continents.

Non-profit organizations should use Facebook to market their fundraising campaigns. The social networking website offers a great scope to raise money for your cause. You can build a strong network, produce loyal followers, and recruit staff via this site.

Create an Event/Class Group on Facebook

This is the first stepping stone toward generating a successful promotional spree. You can create an event or class group and allow persons to join it.

Invite Friends to Join Your Group

Invite all online friends to join your group. Facebook "feeds" will automatically notify your friends once you create one.

Join Similar Groups

After you create your own group, start searching for similar interest groups. You can either like (by clicking on the "Like" button) the page or join the group by simply sending a request to the moderator. Besides, you will find many open, public groups on the site for anyone to join.

Update Your Events/Class Page Regularly

You should update your events and class page as often as possible. Post about your events and classes on your wall on a regular basis. Additionally, upload your past and present event and session photos on your profile page for your online audience to see and share with their friends and family.

Connect with People

You should try to connect with maximum Facebook users. This will lead to greater promotion of your events, fundraisers, and sessions. However, it is advisable not to ask anyone to join your group or visit your page directly on the site. You should select people whose interests and personal liking matches with yours.

Involve Your Friends and Followers to Support Your Cause

You can involve your friends and supporters to organize the charity show or such other events and courses. Ask for their suggestions and feedback on any specific events.

Tag Your Event or Class Program Photos

You can easily tag your event/workshop photos on this popular networking website. By doing so, your uploaded image will automatically appear in your member's wall. This is how you can generate an interest among others to check out your events page and eventually get connected with more people.

Travel Agents Event Management

It does not matter the size of the conference or where it is, travel agents can be a major help in their planning. Travel agents can be especially helpful if it is an international conference. Travel agents can have knowledge of the area as well as such things as transportation, accommodations, and hospitality issues. One of the main hassles when planning a conference is taking care of the needs of the people attending.

It doesn't matter if it is a press release, convention, training seminar, or product launch, travel agents can take care of many of the needs of the attendees so that the people attending or the people running the conferences do not have to worry about those details. The larger the conference the more travel agents can be of service.

One of the main ways that travel agents can help with conferences is with transportation and travel needs. Many times if the conference is international the people attending the conference will need a way to get there. Travel agents can help with flight, train or bus information as well as procuring tickets. The larger the group traveling to a conference the more travel agents can be used and many times they can also get better deals. Travel agents are in direct contact with airlines, train lines, and bus services so they can find out if there is space available as well as the best price for the ticket. They can also contact charter services, as it may be cheaper to travel this way for larger groups. Another advantage of using travel agents is that they can be available to coordinate travel times so that it can be easier, once the people arrive, that they do so around the same time making it easier to either get to accommodations or to the conference itself.

Another beneficial aspect when using travel agents when dealing with conferences are accommodation issues. Much like travel issues the travel agent can have direct contact with hotels and inns as they can find accommodations for people that are travelling to the conference. Also much like travel they may be able to find better rates than if the people travelling to the conference booked accommodations themselves. One thing that travel agents have as well are information about package deals, which can save people, or a company, a lot of money as travel, accommodation, and transportation services can all be packaged in one deal.

When people travel out of town to go to a conference they will also have transportation needs so they can get to and from the conference itself. They can also help with such things as arranging for car rentals and taxi services to and from the conference. Travel agents can also find accommodations that are closest to the conference site. If a travel agent is working with one group of people there is also a better chance that they will be staying in one location, or, at least, close to each other. This is a crucial aspect of a conference if many people from one organization or company are in attendance.

While travel agents can be used for many types of conferences one of the most important ways in which they can be used is for companies that need to have many employees in attendance. For example, if the company is having a training seminar for hundreds of employees their main goal is to make sure that the seminar runs smoothly. The company needs to find a conference site and deal with the information that will be presented at a seminar. If the company uses travel agents there is a huge amount of time and resources that can be saved that can be used in areas of more importance. Any time that the company needs to take care of the travel needs of the people in attendance travel agents should be used.

Travel agents can also be of service when dealing with hospitality issues as well. If the conference runs more than one day they can find out information such as where to eat and what there is to do in the area that people are traveling to. If the people that attend the conference do everything for themselves they will not be as informed, as if a travel agents took care of them. Travel agents can find restaurants, make reservations, book lunches, and rent out halls, just to name a few things they can do.

The hassles that can arise when traveling to conventions can be great for the people traveling to them and the people running them. By using travel agents many of those hassles are taken care of. When dealing with conferences, especially international ones and ones where many people will be in attendance, the things that travel agents can take care can be invaluable to both the company and/or the traveler.

Answering Your Event Planning Questions

There are many big occasions that require event planning. It might seem easy when you first decide to tackle the event yourself but in reality it can be far more difficult than you think. It takes someone who is very coordinated, can stick to a schedule and definitely stick to a budget. Many people opt out of this situation by hiring an event planner.

That way everything is taken care of for you without you having to worry about the little details. If you want to hire a planner or even if you want to do the planning yourself, this article is for you. It may not answer every question you have about event planning but it can answer some of the basic questions that you need to have an understanding of before you begin.

What does an event coordinator or planner do?

An event coordinator or planner will undertake the event planning and schedule all of the necessary vendors or people that are to be involved in the event. In the case of a party the event planner will plan out the menu, follow the budget, get the party supplies or hire a supplier and will make sure that the event comes to fruition. It can often be a very hectic job trying to keep to the budget and still have all of the necessary pieces in place for the event to take place. The even planner must be well coordinated and be able to work on a timeline.

What type of events does a planner cover?

An event coordinator will cover a huge variety of events. It may be a small cocktail party for a business or it may be a huge, lavish wedding. Some people hire event planning coordinators to plan baby showers and even meetings. If there is an event that is set to take place, chances are that an event planner will be able to cover it. Event planners are vital to making sure that everything is planned and every detail has been covered. The planner has a lot on his or her plate. Even small events can sometimes take quite a bit of attention.

How long of time should I budget for event planning?

That is a very hard question to answer. As an event coordinator you may only be given very short notice. Sometimes the event had a previous coordinator but for some reason the person quit the job or was fired. If you are going to be an event planner you need to be prepared to tackle seemingly impossible deadlines and budgets.

If you are given quite a bit of time to prepare for the event, you still should not squander your time. Being an event coordinator comes with the responsibility of being able to budget your time effectively. If you wait until the last minute you could find unforeseen troubles popping up. It is better to budget your time wisely and make all the preparations you can within the time than to wait until the last minute.

Event planning takes supplies and contacts. What do I need?

The supplies you need will all depend on what even you are planning. As an event planner you will need to make contacts in the floral, food and beverage industries. You will also need to make contacts with people who can provide tables, chairs and linens. It also would not hurt to know tailors and seamstresses just in case you are planning a wedding and you find yourself in need of one.

The more contacts you can make that will help you accomplish your job goal, the better off you will be. As far as supplies go, you will definitely need office staples such as paper, a printer, a computer with internet connection, post it notes and a detailed planner.

New Year Party Game Ideas to Keep Your Guests Busy Till Midnight

To keep your guests entertained and engaged at your New Year eve party, you have to plan a bunch of games and activities apart from some finger-licking food. Planning some age-appropriate games will keep your party rolling along with keeping them excited for the midnight. Here are some New Year Party Ideas that will keep your guests in the party mood.

Games for Kids:

Happy New Year banner decorations

Why not let the little ones make a banner for the much anticipated New Year? Make some 'Happy New Year' banners using white card-stock and ask the little ones to decorate the banners as they want. Give them all the required supplies such as crayons, glitter glue, ribbons, etc. and let them try their artistic skills while you entertain the adults.

Pin the hat on Santa

This traditional variation of 'pin the tail on the donkey' is sure to be enjoyed by your little guests. Download a picture of Santa and use an image editing program to remove Santa's hat. Take a printout of this edited image, paste it on a wall, give your guests some hat shaped cutouts, and ask them to pin it at its exact place. Instead of pins, you can use Velcro. You can buy this game from any store that sells New Year Party Supplies.

Activities for adults:

Dancing couple

While the kids are busy making the banner, you can have this funniest party game for adults. Ask your guests to pair themselves, spread some newspaper on the floor, make the couples stand on the newspaper, and let them dance on it. After every minute, fold the paper and let the couples dance on the folded paper. The couple that falls off the paper will be out of the game. Continue this process until you are left with just one couple who will be the winner.

Merry Cherry

This is a messy game but that's what your New Year Party Idea is! Get some bowls and place one cherry in each bowl. Fill the bowls with whipped cream and ask the participants to eat the cherry without using their hands. Your guests are sure to have a hard time finding the cherry. Make sure you click some interesting snaps of your guests with their faces covered with cream.

These party games will help you to bring in the New Year with lots of excitement and noise.

Customized Company T-Shirts For Your Corporate Events

Consultants who have studied businesses and corporations all have the same opinion - the better a company understands teamwork, the stronger that company will be. Having a sense of community is important to the growth, prosperity, and functionality of a company.

The core of "community" is "unity", and what better way to provide that sense of unity than to have symbols of that unity displayed by every employee? This is why company shirts for corporate events can be such an important part of corporate success.

Allowing your employees to wear the corporate logo on their apparel is a great way for them to show company pride. Coats and hats are good, other carryalls like luggage and key fobs are good too, but when it comes to standing out in a crowd, or showing a presence at a function or facility, nothing beats that huge sea of color that having all your employees' wearing the same shirt can provide. You are not only promoting a sense of unity to your employees, you are also showing that unity and solidarity to your clients and competitors.

With the economic situation that we are faced with today, finding inexpensive ways to promote unity and solidarity are challenging. Customized t-shirts are a very inexpensive way to promote that sense of community. Events planned on a tight budget are still capable of sharing success and making a truly memorable event. And as inexpensive as t-shirts are, any event can become an excuse to add to the employee's wardrobe with a corporate logo emblazoned on a t-shirt.

An added advantage of having a permanent memento of an even is that they can be useful long after the event has ended. Not only do they add to that sense of corporate unity during the event, but they are reminders of that unity and atmosphere long after the event has taken place. Memories are tied into that simple shirt whether the shirt is discovered in a drawer or hanging in a closet months after the event.

And let's not forget the benefits of the walk-around advertising those shirts provide. Employee's wearing these shirts outside of work are a great way to get the corporate name out there in the community. It also allows the employee to show their sense of pride in their job. T-shirts purchased for corporate events today will still be bringing in sales and inquiries next year and the year after.

So, why not add a few extra dollars to an event budget for t-shirts? Or move dollars ear-marked for entertainment or decorations and allow those dollars to become decorations for your employees and the entertainment of the distribution take the place of some other form? It is a great investment in your corporate community as well as an investment in the companies future. A very inexpensive investment that will reap rewards for years.

Make Your Corporate Event Super Successful

When planning an event you should always be clear on what the purpose of the event is. Why are you holding the event? What is your single biggest goal or intention? Write this goal down and refer to it often. A good idea is to include a written statement of this goal as a signature or footer on all emails regarding the event.

Make sure the goal of the event is important. Don't squander time, energy and money on an event that the attendees do not think is worthwhile. And certainly don't hold an event simple because you think you should.

Your goals and objectives will shape the planning and content of your event. For example, if the goal of your event is to get media attention for a product launch, then you should focus on ways to get the attention of journalists. Teaser emails, attention getting invitations, mystery gifts could be sent before the event. An exclusive "media only" reception could be held for reporters, their guests, and celebrities. Assign someone to meet each media personality, greet them, show them around the event, and introduce them to key people.

Avoid setting too many goals or objectives for an event. I always recommend having one single goal for an event. If you try to set more than one, you risk not achieving either. For example, with a non-profit agency, you may say your goals are to raise money and raise media awareness for your cause. It is important to know which is most important. Ask yourself, if I could achieve only one of these goals, which would it be? Focus on that goal and leave your secondary goals for a later event.

Once you have the objective of your event clearly established, you should begin visualizing you event.

Visualization is the most important factor in holding a successful event. You should mentally walk through your event step by step from start to finish. In your mind's eye, you should see every single detail. The clearer you can imagine your event, the better your event will be.

Visualize your event from different perspectives. First, imagine you are a guest:

• Think about the invitation you receive for the event. Are all the details clear? Does the invitation make you want to go to the event? Are you excited? Is your curiosity piqued? Is the purpose of the event clear?


• Consider your guest's arrival. Is there room to be dropped off? Is there adequate parking? Are the parking areas well-lit and safe? What will happen if it is raining or snowing?


• Walk through the reception process. Do they have to register at a desk? What if all of your guests arrived at the same time - can you get them into your event quickly and comfortably? Do they have to check their coats? How many lines will they have to stand in and for how long? How can you make this process faster? If you can't make it faster, how can you make it entertaining?


• First impressions: Once they have checked their coat, registered, and entered the event proper, what is their first impression? First impressions are crucial for an event. They set the tone for the rest of the evening. What do they see and hear? What will they smell? What will draw them into your event and break the ice? What will cause them to socialize with other people rather than simply talking with the people they came with?

Continue to walk through the event step by step in your mind from your guests' perspective as they get their drinks, to when they sit down for dinner, etc. Think about each stage and how you can make it special. Remember, your event is a reflection of your company's image. Look to add "wow" factors wherever you can. Think about what memories of the event you want your guests to take away.

After you walk through the event from your guests' perspective, walk through it from the perspective of those working at the event. Make a list of each person that is volunteering at the event. Go through the event from start to finish from their perspective. Do the same with waiters, bartenders, musicians, photographers, entertainers, and other staff working the event. Understand exactly what they will experience. This allows you to see potential problems before they occur. It also allows you to try and make the experience a positive one for them too. Remember, many events have been spoiled by cranky waiters.

Keep the primary goal of the event uppermost in your thoughts when you visualize your event. Make sure every stage of your event reinforces your goal. By doing this, you will have a truly successful event.

Help Your Business Grow With Corporate Events

With the competition between global players sharpening its teeth and ready to bite each other corporate world is always on the lookout for ready measures to be taken up to promote themselves. Corporate events have come to solve this issue to a very good extent. They are the best available strategic as well as effective tools to make the corporate meetings more promotional and effective ones. The importance of any corporate gathering be it a conference, an official meeting or formal get together, or product launch, is something of grave degree to the company organizing it. The management of the best available resources in order to complete the function in a well scheduled manner is very important and needs to properly handled.

The decisions to be taken when you are organizing a corporate event would definitely influence the way the programmed function proceeds. These events mostly include dinners, meetings and conferences, interactive events and many other sort of corporate conferences. For a successful completion of any such event the number of factors to be considered in depth would definitely outnumber the factors that we consider in the first place. Since almost all the corporate events includes a large number of invited guests and members it would be a tedious task for the organizing company itself to take charge of every minute details involved.

This is where the role of event management teams and event managers comes to forefront. There are a number of such event management teams ready to offer their services available to the corporate now. These managers are specialized in organizing and planning for such big scale corporate events and add to the fruitfulness of such functions in tune with the desires of the organizing company. We could readily call these event managers as experts in handling such large scale functions related to the corporate promotions and advertisements. These management teams apart from offering their services to the corporate players also offers a helping hand in organizing small scale parties and functions at homes and offices.

Many of the minute details that might evade our eyes when we are organizing an event would definitely be considered by these specialized event mangers and they would take all the necessary preparations to meet unexpected situations that might crop up during the function. These unexpected surprises could sometimes be even in the form of accidents. Event managers know how to evade such bitter situations and if by ill luck something crops up they know how to handle them and secure the function from getting spoiled due to them.

Corporate events are mainly focused on promoting products and services from a particular company organizing the event. This means the invited guests and members should be given proper care and taken well care of. This could be easily performed by the event management team who knows it best to contact whom to get things done at the best affordable rates and yet with good quality service. However the responsibility and the freedom to choose the event management team rests on the shoulders of the corporate before signing an agreement with the team.

The Secret of Great Team Building - Use Corporate Entertainment Events

Corporate team building as a concept has been around for decades, but it has moved on a long way from the early days. Ask a middle aged person what the phrase 'team building' brings to mind; they will almost certainly cold and wet outdoor activities in Wales or Scotland lasting for a weekend. Or possibly they will talk about problem solving tasks involving planks of wood, old tyres, milk crates and a few empty oil drums.

Ask a twenty something the same question and they will probably describe something quite different.

Why? Because smart team builders realised that their craft needed to move on. So they came up with a whole host of far more interesting events, often taking corporate entertainment events as a starting point, modifying them to create a team building situation.

How? The principles of team building have remained the same. The following sequence was coined way back when certain people were setting themselves up as gurus of team building ...

Forming - Storming - Norming - Performing

But all this boils down to in plain English is that the team members need to get to know each other. They need to gain confidence in each other and need to learn to work together, efficiently as a unit in order to solve problems. Hence the simple 'stick and string' problem solving challenges using cheap and cheerful materials in the early days. Yes, sure, that worked, but there were two flaws. Firstly, the activities all needed similar skills, involving lateral thinking, communication skills, manipulative skills and team work I.e. quite a narrow and rigid set; secondly, people today tend to have more sophisticated tastes.

So that's where the corporate entertainment comes in. Take a purely entertainment based activity, add some challenge to it and there you have it - a fun team building exercise. One which staff will enjoy but still bond, develop trust and lateral thinking. Team building by stealth.

OK, some examples to help you on the way.

The treasure hunt started as an office social event when a couple of people (or social committee if your company was lucky enough to have one) got together, spend several weekends driving round the local area, writing clues and organising a buffet or disco afterwards. That has now evolved, there are many corporate entertainment companies who have taken the treasure hunt a step further. They not only provide all the clues in a ready made package, they supply a variety of challenges such as word games and shopping lists. Plus they provide a professional event manager to ensure the hunt runs smoothly. The added challenges require high levels of team work plus organisational skills in order to achieve success thus developing the essential skills needed for a successful team - cooperation, lateral thinking, negotiation, problem solving ... all in a fun atmosphere. Learning in a fun atmosphere is always more efficient, at least for the majority of people as they are more receptive.

Themed days or half days are another popular corporate-entertainment-cum-team-building idea. There are a whole host of these such as spy themed events where your employees will work together on espionage themed tasks such as surveillance, weapons handling, identification, crossing a room full of laser light etc. Or at the opposite end of the time scale, you can find medieval themed events that include jousting, archery, building a trebuchet, storming a castle and more.

So how do you decide on which event is the best for you? Look for one that offers challenges that need a wide range of skills in order to achieve success; look for events that will be inclusive; it is easy to alienate staff by pushing them way out of their physical comfort zone (remember, that's why the wet weekend away raises groans and dissent!) and also look for companies that offer novel and interesting themes. To find these events is now fairly easy, search Google (or your favourite internet search engine) for corporate treasure hunt, spy themed corporate entertainment, medieval themed corporate event and so on and you will be sure to find plenty of alternatives.

So good luck with developing YOUR team!

The Key Benefits Of Implementing A Customer Relationship Management System

A customer relationship management system that is properly implemented can bring substantial benefits to any organizations. The advantages are both direct and indirect and are intended to perpetually improve the overall client experience. Below are some of the benefits of using the CRM software in your company.

The system enables you to store company information in a convenient way. The enterprise resource planning system is quite helpful because it accurately stores customer information. This enables the company to contact their clients easily and also documents their ordering history. An excellent system will enable you to retrieve important information about your clients when necessary.

This system will increase the satisfaction and loyalty of the customer. Regardless of what your business offers, you must deliver the best products or services. All clients value a well-organized and customer friendly environment when they are purchasing something. Therefore, they will certainly come back to you in the near future and vouch for you to others if you offer a perfect and efficient approach to communicate with the clientele.

The CRM software enables the company to share and distribute data. Customer relationships happen on several levels and not through web presence or customer service only. Therefore, the company should share any available information to all the different departments. The system will enable the business to make informed decisions and customer follow-ups to all the different business levels.

The system enhances communication in your company. When data is shared among different departments, the staff can work more competently as a team, instead of working as isolated units. Every department has a specific specialty however; the business will become more profitable if these departments work together. This enterprise resource planning system allows businesses to convey important data from one part of the company to another.

When a company adopts this system, the profitability and the revenues of the firm will increase. Every organization is concerned with increasing its revenues and reducing expenditures. This software is regarded mainly as a revenue enhancer however; expenditure savings are similarly factored in the marketing and other areas. The application enables the firm to focus on the most lucrative clienteles, directing the revenue-driving actions to that particular group.

This business application tends to empower the clients. This is because it makes the clienteles to feel that they are in total control of the process when conducting business with your organization. The enterprise resource planning software aids in developing enhanced communication networks between the client and the company such as websites or interactive Voice Response Systems. These communication channels give the clients an option of picking the best mode of communicating with the company.

The system will also help the company to save time and expenditures. The CRM software will enable you to handle your clients in a better way. It permits the clients to carry out more of the responsibilities that should be done by your employees, for example, obtaining basic data and placing orders. This saves the company lots of time and money. A quality Customer Relation Management system will aid you in all aspects of your client relations. However, you should always get an application that is uniquely suitable for your organization.

Custom Silicone Wristbands - Best for Event Planning

There are several reasons why usage of wristbands is so common today. Amongst these numerous reasons, event management is the foremost reason for wristbands increasingly gaining its popularity. Whether you are planning a function of hundred or thousand gathering, a wristband is an invaluable identifier that alleviates a number of potential problems from occurring during events and makes sure that it runs smoothly to completion.

Moreover, with a variety of custom wristbands to choose from like Tyvek wristbands, vinyl wristbands, paper wristbands, silicone wristbands and plastic wristbands; you can use some excellent products for different kinds of functions. Which band material you use however depends upon your event budget and the type of event that you are planning to host. Here are a few examples of the numerous ways that you can use these visual identifiers:

1. 
   As age and height identifier: A tyvek or a silicone Wristband can be used at events to identify minors and avert them from alcohols. These can also be used in children's amusement parks when there are restrictions to certain rides for people above/below certain height.


2. 
   Admissions: Use wristband in place of tickets/passes for events. If you are organizing a conference meeting that spans for several days, you can use these identifiers of different colors for each day. This way you can tell at a glance whether an attendant is permitted for a given day's events.


3. 
   Child-Parent Protection: Use twin wristbands when it is necessary to recognize parents of children. Whether you run a daycare center, a preschool or an amusement park; you would need these identifiers to ensure that a child is leaving with his/her respective parent or guardian.


4. 
   Group Day Trips: A school field trip requires identifying those in a particular group. Using custom wristband ensures that proper boarding of buses and easy head count can be done.


5. 
   Commemoration: Issue custom wristbands to those students who have committed to a social cause.

Best of all, a silicone wristband can be easily customized according to event. Pertinent details like the name of your company, its logo, the reason for organizing the event, the person's name who would be wearing the wristband and even his/her position can be imprinted on them.

So try out some funky custom made silicone wristbands and make your event management a grand success!

How Can Event Planners Take the Work Out of Company Picnics?

Employees of the larger corporations, due to their massive size, rarely have the opportunity to mingle within the confines of corporate walls on any social level. The heads of corporations have discovered social gatherings are beneficial by the way of personnel meeting and mingling in a relaxed atmosphere actually improves company moral and productivity. Planning a luncheon or year-end office party is a relatively easy task, performed by only a few people who can prepare a menu, arrange for a catering service or simply arrange for a banquet dinner held at a local establishment. However, an event such as a company picnic, on a grand scale, requires the skills of a professional events planner.

A professional events planner will meet with you, and obtain as much information as possible about your staff and event ideas. For instance, a company picnic may include family members of employees. Therefore, children of various ages will require activities which will be appropriate. The finer details of possible locations, entertainment, food, activities, seating arrangements, possibly even transportation arrangements will be required. Every detail will be taken care of by the event planner, within the confines of your budget. Event planners often charge up to $250.00 per hour. The industry leading event planners include any consultation fees in the event package and do not charge by the hour.

With the goal of providing the ultimate experience for your company picnic, from the initial consultation, to the very end of your event. There a park areas, private and public facilities to serve as the perfect location for company picnics Orlando style. Reservations are usually required for large groups. The large grassy areas will provide ample space for relay races, volleyball, maybe even pony rides or face painting for the kids. A DJ for background music outdoors is a plus. Your event planner will arrange every detail for you from reservations, to ensuring there is enough comfortable seating for everyone. Not only will the top companies arrange for your BBQ, they will work with you in menu planning, provide the food, all of the necessary equipment for preparations and serving, including any needed picnic tables. There staff will cook an all you can eat, outdoor banquet comprised of fresh food on site. If you would like to end the day with a trip to a water park, or family fun park, the necessary arrangements will be made by your events planner as well.

Some companies will even provide a detailed event plan for you, and attend to every detail of your event, or only those events, you choose for them to attend to.

Event Management Tools: Custom Applications for Events

Organizing an on-site event involves strenuous work. Whether it is a paid event or a free entry program, you have to take care of aspects like planning the budget, preparing a guest list and sending out invites. However, the task doesn't end here; there is the larger responsibility to now successfully host and organize the meeting, conference or dinner party. It includes looking after the registration process, managing payments (for paid ones), setting an attendee check-in system, marketing the event well to get maximum attendance, and the list goes on.

To get rid of such colossal tasks and of course restrict the budget to a minimum, event organizers have started taking the help of online event management applications. These Cloud-based applications come at a minimal cost - you don't need to spend money on buying or installing any software. The event management solutions providing company will send a staff to help you set up the process and start operating the system successfully. Their customer service teams are available 24x7 to assist you with any technical glitches in the implementation process.

The online event management solution includes a set of tools to let your organize one or multiple events in a hassle-free manner. One such tool is online registration. This process has gained immense popularity because of its cost-effectiveness and ease of use. You can log onto the registration portal, 24x7 to create customized sign up forms and immediately publish them to initiate the event registration procedure. Individuals looking forward to attending your program can access the forms, 24 hours a day other than getting the freedom to edit a submitted form of course prior to the event date.

Another major pre-event task is collecting the registration fees manually. Organizers have to hire people to manage the payment collection process; accept money from people and keep a record of the payment collected each day. Online payment solution allows instant sending and receiving of money via credit/debit cards, PayPal, wire transfers, etc. Many large enterprises that have a merchant account with the bank can print instructions on the registration forms to let individuals deposit money in their account.

Your best efforts of trying to have a fully packed house may go in vain, until and unless you promote your events well. The online world has opened up new avenues of effective marketing Platforms. For example, there are these extremely popular social networking websites (Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus, etc.) to publicize your events and services to millions of their users. Then, you can create event websites and blogs to write about your current, ongoing and upcoming programs, posting images of guests, and videos with full action, capturing every moment of the event.

Calling All Christian Event Planners

Christian Events are big business and event planners who cater to this specific niche are today's trend setters and industry directors! These types of Conferences and Conventions are growing at an astounding rate with thousands in attendance. Lucrative careers in the Christian Meeting Planning and Event Management industry offers leadership positions and executive level rewards!

However, advancement in this market is not a random occurrence that happens by chance. This list of seven strategies combines years of experience and biblical principles blended with sound business techniques to create the perfect synergy for success!

1. Commit Your Plans -

The essential principles for successful meeting professionals include knowledge, skill and the desire to achieve. Meeting professionals that remain on top must understand the evolving needs of the Christian Event client to keep the collaborative efforts fresh and on target for a mutually beneficial relationship. Allow the LORD to help you create the "Wow" for your next event!

Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. Proverbs 16:3, NLT.

2. Check Your List -

Organization and attention to detail are crucial to the planning and execution of flawless meeting experiences. The checklist can be achieved through project management software for complex multi-faceted events and should be updated consistently throughout the planning process.

Let all things be done decently and in order. 1 Corinthians 14:40, NKJV.

3. Count The Cost -

Fine-tuning negotiation skills for attendee management, event site selection, marketing consulting, supplier preferences, technology strategies, trade show management and venue contract analysis, are fundamental. Compiling these factors will help develop a budget with the best pricing advantages. This will also minimize costly contract penalty errors when negotiating event amenities.

But don't begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? Luke 14:28, NLT.

4. Choose Your Team -

Think BIG and inspire others who work with you to embrace a philosophy of excellence by your example. Your team will consist of leaders who will have groups of people cooperating with them to achieve specific components of the overall event. Regular meetings and communication keeps these leaders in-sync with you and each other to pull it all together.

Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Romans 12:10-11, NLT.

5. Consider Contingencies -

Recognize that the more you know about what it takes to be successful from a logistical perspective the better you can understands your executive role. Some include banquets, concerts, entertainment, exhibits, keynote speakers, luncheons on-site registration, prayer breakfasts, workshops and worship services. Therefore, it is important to expect the unexpected and plan for unlikely possibilities that might occur.

And now to him who can keep you on your feet, standing tall in his bright presence, fresh and celebrating--to our one God, our only Savior, through Jesus Christ, our Master, be glory, majesty, strength, and rule before all time, and now, and to the end of all time. Yes. Jude 1:24, MSG.***

6. Create Your Time Line -

Know the time requirements for all aspects of your event. Nothing is worse than waiting until the last minute to order services that can result in failure to deliver and cost overruns. The successful Christian Event Planner must be on time, in time and without time delays.

TO EVERYTHING there is a season, and a time for every matter or purpose under heaven: Ecclesiastes 3:1, AMP.

7. Confidently Complete Every Task -

The implementation of your event must be completed in excellence. Refer to your checklist to make sure that every person, every place and everything necessary happens as planned. The confidence you exude as you check off every completed task will assure a stellar event!

So you see, we are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone. Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works. James 2:24 & 26, NLT. Afterwards when you access the strengths and any mistakes made, use that knowledge as a stepping-stone for your next event. Remember, the resourceful and proactive professionals who take the responsibility for the success of their events are the ones who will garner the respect and the rewards in the Christian Events Marketplace.

Charity Event Tips: Best Auctionable Items for Your Charity Event

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

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

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

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

5 Key Benefits of Planning Greener Events

The idea of 'going green' is gaining recognition not only among individuals or households, but among the corporate organizations as well. Arranging an event involves the direct utilization of electricity and indirect consumption of harmful gases, such as carbon monoxide, methane, and so on. Emission of these harmful gases causes a great deal of damage to earth's ecology. To address this critical issue, most of the organizations today are shifting toward planning greener events. Such events help you reduce carbon emission and educate customers as well as vendors about this grave issue.

The online event management software helps you arrange greener events in the most cost-effective way. This software comes integrated with a set of highly useful solutions and tools, such as those for registration, payment management, communication, and marketing to name a few. This event management software enables organizations to host the best of conferences, meetings, and seminars in the most sustainable manner, thereby eliminating the emission of carbon dioxide and reducing its impact on human beings.

Let's discuss the top benefits or arranging a green program using the online events management software.

Reduce Excessive Use of Paper

Non-green events involve too much use of paper, right from the registration process to post-event surveying. Excessive use of paperwork can be eliminated by utilizing a web-based event management solution. The online registration solution will enable individuals to easily log in to the portal to fill in their names, address, and mobile phone number.

Use of an Easier Registration Process

The online registration solution provides an easy way of registering your name for attending a conference or new product launch party. This software provides an easy way to registrants for purchasing carbon offsets during the registration process. Companies buy carbon offsets to comply with caps (carbon emission limit) on the total amount of carbon dioxide they are allowed to emit.

Send Invitations Online

We use large chunks of paper for sending invitations to all our target audience. To eliminate the use of paper and save money in the process, you can use the online email communication tool. This integrated tool will let you send invitations, RSVPs and reminders to all your target audience in minutes.

Use Web-based Marketing Tools

Instead of printing paper-based leaflets, banners, and other components, you can use the events marketing tool to promote your functions and festivals online. This easy-to-use, highly powerful tool will help you market your fundraisers, meetings, or similar other activities on Facebook, Twitter, and practically on every popular social networking websites.

Easily Manage Payments

The online payments management solution will let you happily receive money via credit cards, checks, and wire transfers. This web-based solution will also allow your event attendees to pay you via their PayPal account. You can even take the help of "Use Your Own Merchant Account" service to let registrants directly deposit fees or donations to your account.