Beginners' Guide on Planning the Best Baby Shower Decorations

Since baby showers are one of the most meaningful parties, it is just necessary to give enough attention to each of the important party elements. One of the most important elements of a baby shower, as well as of many other parties, is the venue decorations. Similar to most parties, the baby shower decorations should also be matched to the chosen theme of the event. To do this, you have to prepare enough time for the plan and preparation. You also have to spend time in searching for unique ideas that will improve your plans on decorating the venue.

Many baby shower plans fail to end up with a momentous event because of some misconceptions on the decorations. One of these is the thought that the venue decorations should be similar to that of a children's birthday party where there are colourful backdrafts and lots of props. Although it is valid in a baby shower, you have to remember that this is not an important requirement. Instead, you should give more emphasis on the thought that the guests should gather and spend quality time with their family member or friend who is about to give birth to her first child. To do this, you have to focus on how the chairs are to be arranged according to the number of guests and the physical dimensions of the room. The games should also make the mom-to-be feel the support of the guests for here upcoming life-turning event. Meanwhile, another popular mistake by some planners is that they ignore the plan on the technical equipment to be used in the event. They tend to think that the more special effects, the better. As exciting as it seems, it is still important to consider the relevance of the electronic facilities to be used with the theme of your event. Plus, you should also prioritize the safety measures in using any of these.

Upon the finalization of your initial plans for the baby shower decorations, you should present and discuss it with your clients - the parents-to-be. If they agree on it, then you can proceed on planning for the further details of the decorations and start the preparation. It is best to visit all the nearby party stuff shops that offer the items you have to buy. You should not buy instantly. Rather, you have to determine first the pricing of all the considered stores and take time in making comparisons. You may also contact some stores and ask for discounts on your purchase to make great savings.

The best way to start the actual decoration of the venue is to focus on the entrance. Important objects in this area are the welcome sign, guest book, and a pair of enticing baby shower decorations such as a topiary shrub or a life-size doll. Next area to be focused on is the pathways. You should allocate enough space and put a path guide such as a rope with flowers and ribbons. It is also nice to put some candle lanterns along the way. After that, you can focus on the table sets, the center table, and the food table. Again, proper arrangement is necessary to make the venue spacious.

Top 5 Ideas to Help Sell Out Your Events

As an event organizer, your primary aim is to secure the maximum number of registrations for your events, because it directly impacts your ROI. However, to secure registrations, you have to convince event participants that attending your even will be the best utilization of their time and resources. Even if your event is free and intended for fun, you have to convince your attendees that attending your event is the best possible idea rather than doing anything else.

Many a times, event organizers make use of mailers, emails, in order to communicate the value of an event to their prospective attendees. However, getting a lot of attendees for event registration is a difficult task. Here, we have come up with simple tips to assist in sell out events long before the scheduled date.

State the benefits of attending an event

Let people know how they will benefit by attending your event. It is the best way to encourage people to register. In order to make people aware of your event, write descriptive benefit statements, which can be easily comprehended by your prospective attendees. Take the following as examples:

1. "Explore ten new strategies for motivating your staff that will result in fewer employee turnovers."

2. "Learn what makes software A better than software B for your business. Take the right decision for your business today. Avoid a product that will cost you time and money and deliver no results."

Write a good and catchy title for your event

Try out an event title, which can instantly grab the viewer's attention. Event titles like, "2012 Annual Convention" sounds a little drab and are likely to frustrate your prospective attendees. Such titles will tell you what the event is all about but not actually catch your attention. Instead you should look for words that will catch the reader's attention and at the same time tell people what the event is all about. In this way, you can keep your audience engaged. For example, you can try out "2012 Annual Convention -Explore new technology that will keep you competitive in the market".

Be transparent about the registration fee

You should be transparent and lenient about the fee structure of attending your event. You may introduce different fee structure for different group of attendees. Let people know what benefits they will be getting against registration fee.

Talk about the food

Any event is incomplete without food and other sorts of refreshments. So in order to keep your attendees interested about the event, you can give them a detailed list of meal and dinner options. Instead of listing the meals as "Monday Lunch" or "Dinner and Awards Banquet" create something interesting around it. For example, you can tell people what is for dessert, how fresh the ingredients will be, and so on.

Use testimonials

Testimonials from previous events can be a powerful motivator for your prospective attendees. However, the testimonials should be descriptive and clearly communicate how the attendees were benefited by attending your past events.

Event Planning is Getting Better Than Ever Before

Event planning in the Bay Area seems to have escalated to some delightfully novel heights. With event management having become an integral part of doing things in style and making them bigger and better than ever before, companies and private individuals are hiring the best to outdo each other in an effort to snag and impress the best clients, have a satisfied set of the cream of the higher echelons of society whether they are friends, sponsors or a step up on the social ladder.

The fun part is the hosts of the event are satisfied having produced something classy, fun and entertaining that has made the day, evening or night event a success for their guests. The guests are of course, happy. They've just had the best food, liqueur and music in a fabulous setting somewhere, met people they wanted to be able to count in their acquaintances, spent time chatting up, criticizing and gossiping with their friends, set a new fashion trend, and generally feel toasted and divine because all of this was for their benefit.

The event planners anonymous from wherever in the Bay Area are happy too. They have satisfied their clients, their client's guests, handled and managed the talent, the staff and this event's fair share of crises and pulled off their ambitious plans with the food and entertainment successfully. Everybody is happy, and they are too. Another corporate slash social evening has come to an end. That is another notch on their belts and the curtain falls on a set of people finally retiring after weeks of pulling strings and favors with admirable negotiating skills that now have champagne bubbles in their dreams and peace in their hearts.

The sociological aspects of the evolution of hosting these eclectic and exclusive events as a regular social phenomena and as an arena where gladiators of the business and social world best each other and are temporarily kingpin, top of the heap and the cyclic pattern all of this follows is fascinating, no doubt. History, culture, psychology, anthropology etc all add their unique twists to it. What is interesting though, are the event planners. They are more or less a development that is born of our civilization.

Away from the musings and back to micro studying event planning in our home ground, Bay Area. From having kooky fun with entertainers like jugglers, mimes, stilt walkers, fire breathers, sky dancers (I heart), balloon artists, hula dancers, street magicians, electro-luminescent dancers, contortionists, tarot card readers, face painters, caricature artists, fire dancers, impersonators and Vegas showgirls to adding glamorous flair with bar tricks, bars carved out of ice (I particularly liked this one), ice sculptures, chocolate fountains, casino parties that have individual Las Vegas or Monte Carlo slants, customized audio- lighting systems by designers & technicians and having access to hundreds of unadvertised, unusual affordable sites... They transform the event or party into a different world that attendees and host alike can escape into away from the 'real' world.

One would think event planning from the Bay Area on this sort of scale would only be affordable by corporate biggies or a millionaire. The surprising thing is that it is not at all that unattainable. Event planners in the Bay Area seem to work with the budget, fluidly understanding their client's needs, designs and the finer nuances of aesthetic and etiquette that a particular event requires and they deliver accordingly. There is innovation, knowledge and a fine attention to detail with professional ease from the agents that makes one wonder how much experience they must have already had in this business.

After Selling Tickets - Avoiding the Pitfalls of Event Check-In and Registration

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

Make it Obvious!

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

Check Internet Connectivity

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

StreamLINE Registration

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

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

Seven Skills to Be an Event Manager

There are many different important skills you find in job descriptions. Whether it is while looking for a job or an internship, all of these skills are essential to getting the job you want. Each particular area of Sport Management requires different types of skills and different types of people. Seven of the important skills you will need to work as an Event coordinator are as follows.

1. Communication Skills
Every post you will see for event management positions includes this skill. Working well with other people and being able to communicate effectively is one the most important skills for making sure an event runs smoothly.

2. Customer Service Skills
Customer service is an important skill for almost any job. When planning events and trying to promote them it is obviously necessary to be able to make your customers happy and comfortable at all times.

3. Computer Skills
Most job postings require you to be skilled in Microsoft office, specifically Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and in some cases Publisher and Outlook. All of these computer programs are useful in organizing information for events being planned.

4. Organizational Skills
Being organized is important for almost all business related jobs, but especially for handling and booking events. You have to always be on top of making sure everything gets done specifically as the customer wants it and it gets done on time, it is important to always be organized.

5. Management or Leadership Skills
In order for events to run smoothly there always needs to be people who can be strong leaders and use business management skills effectively. It is important to be able to help keep everyone on task and make the end product come together perfectly.

6. Physical Work
This skill is particularly surprising, however obvious, that putting together a function or event requires some physical work, all of these job postings specifically said you need to be in shape and able to lift objects from ten to twenty pounds.

7. Practiced in Sales and Presentation
When trying to plan an event or function you need to be able to pitch the product to sponsors or the people who you are planning the event for. It is important to be able to present effectively and smoothly and have some practice in marketing the event and selling it.

In conclusion being and Event Manager or Coordinator requires some very specific skills that are important to this field. Each job or internship description has a lot of similar features. Having a lot of these skills and those strong points are what point people into this particular career path, but now you can see what more specifically will be required of you in this field.

Top 5 Event Planner Services

Event Planner Service Number One: Venue Finding

Whether you are looking for the perfect location for a traditional wedding, or a quick fix for a last minute business meeting, event planners will be able to find the venue for you. Professional planners have contacts with a wide range of venues suitable for all occasions. They are usually also familiar with the venues, whether locally and further afield. Planners will often have carried out quality inspections, and this ensures that you hire high class, professional venue.

Number Two: On the Day Support

On the day a planner will provide you with a delivery team, as well as logistics and delegate management. They will also manage accommodation, catering and dining, if applicable. The key benefit of this service is that it removes the stress of running an event. Whether party or conference, hiring a planner ensures that you are free to focus on the most important thing, your guests and delegates, without having to worry that the day is running smoothly.

Number Three: Financial Budgeting

Whatever the size of the budget for your event, be it big or small, an event planner will be able to ensure that you get as much for your money as possible. Planners will handle all price negotiations on your behalf, guaranteeing that you secure the best deals available on all venues, facilities and services. As previously noted, a planner should have excellent contacts to make this possible. This service is crucial as it makes sure that your event is the best it can possibly be.

Number Four: Marketing and Promotion

With the support of professional marketing and promotion teams, hiring a planner ensures that your event is branded and publicised to a professional standard. This facility includes services such as the creation of a branded event website and high quality design and printing. Effective marketing can often some of the most difficult parts of organising a successful event for.

Number Five: Entertainment

Whatever the event, it is likely that you will require some form of entertainment, and professional planners have links to the best in the industry. From general entertainers to motivational speakers, your planner will be able to provide high quality entertainment at the best possible price. As well as this, an event planner will organise all audio visual and staging for the event, meaning that all you need to worry about is enjoying your event.

The Benefits of Catering Companies

There are many benefits to hiring a catering service for your special event. No matter what type of event you are hosting, if you are expected to provide food and drinks for your guests, such a service can be extremely beneficial. Most special events go off best when they provide food and drinks to the guests, and catering services can provide this along with some serious peace of mind. If you do not want to stress about food and drinks, then hire catering professionals to help you out.

Food catering involves the preparation and delivery of food and drinks. Some catering companies will simply drop the food off with you, while others will serve the food to your guests. This really comes down to your own personal preference and the type of event that you are hosting. If you want to serve the food in a buffet style, then the caterers can drop the food off and leave you to your own devices. Otherwise, they can stay and serve the food for your guests. This is especially beneficial for really elegant special occasions.

Caterers can create any food that you like, though most companies will have special things that they specialize in. For example, a catering company may specialize in Greek food or Italian, while others may be able to create anything but from a specific menu that they provide. Make sure that you are choosing caterers that are going to provide the right type of food for your event. Surf and turf might not be the right choice for a wedding, for example. There are many food options to choose from, but pair the right food with the right event, and choose a caterer that you know can deliver the service you expect.

Plan your catering needs ahead of time so that you are not dashing around at the last moment. Whether you are throwing an anniversary party, a wedding, a dinner party or a business event, the quality of the catering can really play an important role. To get the right catering services for your needs, you should shop around early, make plans and preparations long ahead of time, and then sit back knowing that your food and drinks will be covered. This is the best way to benefit from everything that a catering company can provide you with. So if you are planning a special event, start looking for your catering company today.

How to Start a Wedding Hall

A wedding reception hall can be a fun and lucrative business venture when you carry out the proper amount of planning to start and operate it. Putting some thought into how you'll run the venue and rent out its space can be the primary determinant in whether or not your reception hall is booked regularly or empty weekend after weekend.

Supplies Needed:

Facility with commercial kitchen

Tables and Chairs

Curtains and wall decor

Brochures

Step One:

Create an atmosphere that is conducive to the elegant and celebratory nature of weddings. Because your facility will be focused on wedding receptions, you should decorate the center in neutral colors with graceful artwork and finishing touches. This center should be functional, but it should also attract the eye of the bride looking for a beautiful venue.

Step Two:

Build relationships with vendors. Find vendors you can outsource to for the details you don't want to handle yourself. Some vendors include linen companies, party rental companies for tables and chairs, caterers, wait staff, flowers, bridal shops, party stores, etc. In order to build these relationships, make personal visits to the companies to leave information about your wedding reception business. Ask for any brochures or other information they can give you and pledge to pass it along to the brides and grooms with which you come in contact.

Step Three:

Create your rental packages. Put together different reception packages your clients can choose from. You may wish to offer a low, mid and high-level price point package as well as a la carte items customers can choose to add to their packages. Creating packages helps you to showcase what you can offer customers, and it can also help you stay focused on your offering. In a wedding reception center business, you may offer a basic package with just the hall, tables, chairs, and the use of the kitchen. A more all-inclusive package option might be one that includes catering services, linen rentals, an event coordinator, and other party details.

Step Four:

Apply for licensing and operating permits. Contact your city hall to inquire of the necessary permits. These will be unique from state to state and will cover requirements for the facility, food, liquor, and operations. This process may require inspections.

Step Five:

Hire staff. Generally, a wedding reception hall requires a manager, an event planner and one or two sales people. Higher volume reception halls may require more staff than ones with smaller volumes. Decide on what staff members you need to help you run the center effectively and hire them.

Step Six:

Have an open house. Since you have the party space and some of the other details for throwing a party, a great way to showcase your reception hall is to throw an open house party. Invite potential customers and potential referral sources to an open house party where they can preview the wedding reception hall and enjoy some refreshments, dancing and more. Advertise your open house through local newspapers, online city events calendars, and through the vendors with whom you have already spoken. Make sure your reception center is well-furnished and looks impeccable for the big day.

Step Seven:

Advertise. Contact bridal magazines and websites to ask about advertising space. Research local bridal shows and plan to host a booths at the events. Print full-color brochures with pictures of your reception hall to give to vendors, prospective clients, churches, bridal shops, and rental centers. Contact your local newspaper and ask for an interview about your newly opening hall.

Tips:

During the wedding off season (January, February, and March are the least popular wedding months), you may consider reaching out to other rental clients in order to fill your calendar. Corporate events, reunions, or other large gatherings will bring in cash while you build excitement for the coming wedding season.

Hot Party Franchises For the Fun Entrepreneur

People have a tendency to draw a stark line between who they are in their personal lives and who they are in business. While many businesses operate this way to create a high level of professionalism at the work place, some businesses function better when the atmosphere is more casual and relaxed, and it can often be very lucrative to choose a job that utilizes your natural personality and passions. One great example is the party industry. The person who is instinctively able to see the big picture for an event, organize people, and throw an exceptional party is not at all restricted to only doing so for friends and family; their services are in high demand in the marketplace, and not just in the specific business of party planning. There are a few different avenues with plenty of business opportunities for someone who loves having a good time and ensuring that other people have a good time too.

Party Planning

Obviously, there are party franchises opportunities in the realm of party planning, because folks of all walks of life enjoy a good party, but not everyone has both the time and talent to organize a fun and functional party. There are two franchise businesses in this $500bil industry that have made their mark by organizing the best events.

One such business is Plan Ahead Events, a franchise opportunity that is known for organizing everything from simple meetings to conventions and trade shows with a solid sense of both professionalism and style. This work from home business takes people with the natural focus and ambition necessary for a good event planner and teaches them all they need to know about finding clients and orchestrating resources to make a great party. Depending on the city you want to operate in and what resources you will need access to from the outset, prices can range from $26,000 to $33,000, which is a reasonable price for entry into what is one of the 50 best industries, according to CNN/Money Magazine.

One Hour Parties is another exceptional name in party planning, in part because they specialize in a corner of the market that few do: the one-hour office party. Birthdays, successful business deals, expansions, promotions, there are a number of great reasons to throw a quick party in the middle of a work day. It keeps up morale without costing anyone a good deal of time, except for the person who has to organize the party. But if a company can outsource that part of the event, business-as-usual is not interrupted. That is precisely where this home based business steps in, arranging the party on the company dollar, not the company time. Very low overhead and shorter timeframes for events make this the perfect opportunity for an entrepreneur who likes to be able to bounce quickly from job to job.

Party Facilities

Party planning is great for some, but others prefer something a little more regular than a business that varies greatly from party to party. For such a person, opening an entertainment franchise for people to come and party on your terms is a great alternative.

Most of us have been to some form of a kiddy play land, designed to engage and entertain children of all ages with various games and attractions. It's a profitable business because kids are always interested in having fun, and parents are always interested in throwing birthday parties without having to clean up afterward. With a Recess franchise, parents, kids, and the franchisee get to "go bananas." There are three different investment levels to choose from that represent different designs that each include a wide array of inflatable attractions, redemption games, and even toddler entertainment. Depending on what will work in your area and what you're capable of investing, there is sure to be a right choice for you.

Sometimes, however, party facilities are a little more specific as to the kind of entertainment they provide. Laser Nation and Monster Mini Golf are two such examples. Laser Nation franchises take advantage of the growing trend of laser tag. The concept is simple: people come in to a location and pay money to play various games built on shooting each other with high-tech laser guns, which is surprisingly fun. With the franchisor helping throughout the establishment of the business and continuing to give marketing resources, a franchisee could easily be set up to schedule birthday parties and family outings for people every week. As fun as laser tag is, though, some people find no party more fun than a classic round of miniature golf, or putt-putt, and none is more fun than Monster Mini Golf, the only place that mixes ghouls and goblins with golf balls. The family entertainment industry is one of the largest and most steadily growing markets available, and with the balance between self-determination and oversight that only a franchise can offer, this may be the perfect way for you to enrich the community, entertain the masses, and make your money all at the same time.

Party Retail

Finally, if actually planning parties or providing the space for them is not your idea of fun business, perhaps offering the equipment and tools for them is. If so, a Discount Party Store retail franchise is an excellent choice that brings parties and retail together. Considering themselves the "Cadillac" of party stores, Discount Party Store helps you make your business all that it can be for the needs of your particular area. Depending on what you can afford and what your store needs, there are plenty of options in size and merchandise that you can choose from, and the merchandise is always second to none, because the franchisor keeps in constant communication with product providers to ensure quality. The words franchise and franchisor here are somewhat deceptive though, because this is not truly a franchise: from day one, the owner is completely in charge of the operation and never has to pay royalties. By and large, it's a good deal.

Whichever aspect of the party industry is your personal favorite, there is a franchise that undoubtedly works with your natural propensity to prepare and throw noteworthy parties. Anything can be a money-making tool, and nothing more so than the business of fun.

5 Tips For Planning an Amazing Corporate Banquet

So you've been placed in charge of planning your next corporate banquet. Here are 5 tips to make that corporate banquet planning go smooth and the event an amazing success and to have your boss smiling ear to ear at you for a job well done.

The first step to corporate event planning is to determine an approximate budget. Some considerations are location of event, meal expense, corporate entertainment expense, and awards or recognition costs. Keep in mind this is to be approximate so you have a rough idea of what management is at least minimally going to agree to spend. This can always be negotiated with them down the road once your ideas are in place.

The second step is to survey the people at your company to find great ideas of what they'd like to see or have at your upcoming corporate banquet. Simply send out a short email blast with a survey form asking your fellow employees what they'd like to see in the event.

Some typical categories for a survey are: banquet location, meal choices, corporate events or corporate entertainment. By soliciting ideas from all employees from the top to the bottom, you've given everyone a chance to take some ownership over the event, which can help boost attendance.

The third step is to select potential locations. Most banquet and convention centers will have package pricing with a variety of meal choices to choose from. Some companies have outdoor events that require a catering company to provide the meals onsite. Whether you choose an outdoor location such as a park or an indoor convention center, talk to past clients of the service providers to ensure you go with a location, and catering group that has a track record of successful events under their belt.

The fourth thing to procure is corporate event entertainment. Some ideas to consider are djs, bands, and live entertainers such as stand-up comedians, magicians, comedy hypnotists, or motivational speakers. Budgeting in this area can sometimes be tricky. Many planners think you can get by with spending a few hundred bucks on this area. Some will even make the disastrous mistake of trying to have all the corporate entertainment be done in-house. Nothing spells a bored, disappointed group of mumbling and upset employees than when a convention planner tries to skimp in this area. You should plan on spending at least $2000 - $5000 in this area to ensure you get quality entertainment.

Another mistake is to do the same thing every year - such as having the same dj or band every year. Try something new, such as a corporate comedian or a corporate comedy hypnotist - mix it up to help ensure you always keep your events fresh and exciting to attend.

To find a good live entertainer can also be a challenge - especially if you think you have to get the local guy or gal. You may have to bring an entertainer in from another state if there are no good local choices available. You must also make sure the entertainer is squeaky clean and politically correct. While you can't always make everyone happy in every audience, do your best to find someone clean and funny. It can make your job simpler to work with an entertainment agency that has many years of helping companies just like yours bring good entertainers in for events.

The fifth and final tip is to make sure you present the choices for your event to your final budget approval team correctly. Never simply go in and pitch your ideas simply on price - especially if you think management may balk on the total event price. Always sell your ideas with the benefits to the company. This can be especially true when it comes to corporate entertainment. Common benefits for brining in good quality entertainment are: 1) an entertained crowd is a happy crowd, 2) exciting events boost attendance - because people like to go have fun 3) it's a lot easier for management to make employees feel good about their jobs and companies, when they've seen that management actually cares enough about them by letting them know it's not all about working together but they can actually play together too.

How To Avoid Common Mistakes When Choosing Training and Conference Venues

Organising such a key event is daunting to many people. There are so many things to consider such as coming up with an unforgettable menu and suitable training and conference venues. Renting a venue can be tricky. One step in ensuring that you are choosing the right venue is to avoid making some critical mistakes.

One mistake you should avoid is renting the wrong size of venue. Before researching and looking for training and conference venues, you should do event planning with coworkers to determine how many people will go to the event. The company should set a limit to the guest list or just come up with a guest list themselves. When the guest list is finalised, you can start looking for a venue that will fit the number of guests you have with more room to groove.

See to it that the space is large enough so the guests can roam around freely. If the event involves dancing, you should look for a space with a suitable ballroom or dance floor. However, you do not want to rent a space that is too large. Not only is it costly but it might also make the party look dull and lifeless. It prevents the guests from interacting easily with each other.

Another thing to consider is if there is ample parking space. The venue should have a large and well-lit parking area for the guests vehicles.

The second mistake you have to avoid in event planning is renting a place without checking the accommodation facilities. The place should have a restroom or a powder room. If there is a lounge area or a balcony, this would work better for the guests who want a breath of fresh air. Make sure there is a smoking area as well. Safety facilities should also be available such as a fire escape. The fire escape should be accessible. In the accommodation facilities, you might want to check if there are smoke alarm systems and proper ventilation systems. During winter seasons, the place should have a central heating system. When conducting the party during the summer season, make sure air conditioning systems are available.

Aside from accommodation facilities, also check technologies and sound system facilities. You might need a place to put projectors or install speakers. These are the things you need in corporate events. Most training and conference venues already offer such facilities and amenities but you have to ask the venue coordinator to make sure.

Another mistake you might want to avoid is renting a space that is too far. This cannot be helped if it is the only venue available at the moment but as much as possible, consider proximity before sealing the deal. See to it that guests can easily find the space. It has to be somewhere safe and close to the hospital or the police station in case something untoward happens.

Do not rent a space that is lacking in amenities and facilities. Try to look for those venues with complete services already so you do not have to spend more money renting speakers, podiums or sound systems. Find a venue where you can save the most money.

Do not make the mistake of planning the event with just a few days of leeway. You might have a hard time finding a venue especially if it is the peak season. Many people and companies are having corporate events, weddings and parties during peak seasons. If you are planning the party during busy seasons, plan way ahead. Make sure you already look for a venue and have it reserved months before.

See the potential in the venue. Those that have already been adorned tend to cost more in rent. Take into account the possibility of decoration. You would want the decoration to match with the concept of the event. If the place is already adorned, you might not have that flexibility. It is better to look for an empty venue so you can work on the decoration.

Suitable training and conference venues are available today. Make sure your event planning is done weeks before so you can reserve an ideal space for your event. Check the accommodation facilities of the venue before sealing the deal.

Plan Your Event Management for 2011

If you are involved in planning event management for your company, you must already have started looking around for your next year hopefuls. The hospitality calendar tends to fill up pretty quick at this time of year, so you will need to have all of your dates ready to go if you do not want someone else to snap up all the best places at all the best events.

For the best corporate hospitality events next year, of course, you really need to place the fate of your nights out and weekends away in the hands of an independent event management company. Independent companies are the only ones you can really trust, because they do not choose and promote events on the basis of sponsorship, affiliation or commission. Using an independent company to co ordinate your corporate hospitality for the year ahead means getting the top picks of all hospitality events available to UK companies: without ever having to worry that some of these events are being offered to honour a contractual relationship between the event management company and the company or companies putting the event on.

There are some stellar happenings waiting for all British companies next year. Not least of which is the Monaco Grand Prix - always a winner, and this year there are plenty of track side rumours about independent corporate hospitality companies that have managed to gain unprecedented access to drivers' night clubs, celebrity parties and after race bars. No client can fail to be wowed by getting the true VIP treatment at one of the most exclusive sporting events in the world. So if your event management company is lagging behind on the starting grid a little: think some more about changing to an independent organisation, which will be capable of getting your all important guests in where they want to be.

See, one of the things about corporate hospitality - the main thing, in fact, about corporate hospitality - is this. It is basically all about impressing clients so they feel disposed to spend a bunch of money with your company. As such, you cannot really afford to let your hospitality events be anything other than top of the class. That means finding an event management company that is capable of getting your guests in where they need and want to be. You are, after all, spending the money in order to make money - and you will not make any money if you do not make the right impression. Your clients are looking for the best and they will notice if what they actually get is just a little less than it could have been; particularly when they meet participants from other corporate junkets at the same place, whose own event companies have got them access to the places everyone else wants to be.

Remember that and you will be well served. Other companies have other event management assistance. If your event organiser is not up to the task then your customers are going to find out that pretty quickly.

Event Planning - Is Event Planning Industry Likely To Flourish?

Today the event planning industry has extremely outgrown and people can find many different posts in this area. This is one of a modern concept because only some couple of years ago, people was not aware of it. If someone had to arrange a party or corporate business meeting back then, they had to arrange everything themselves. Beginning from deciding the place to the food items on the menu, they had to take every decision. Some people might enjoy organizing their parties on their own, however it is a very difficult and lengthy process and you are not certain whether you can please your guests for not. Moreover, now people have become so busy with their difficult professional and family lives that it has become impossible for them to arrange any type of event.

This is the part where an event planner plays its role. They can make your event come alive and last forever. Event planners are professional people who know very well how to make an event successful because they take their jobs very seriously. Once you will handle the task of arranging any type of occasion, you will become highly relieved because they will transform your event into what you only dreamt.

This is the reason why everyone appreciates event planners so much. They have all the required resources that can make the arrangements quicker, they have all the latest information on what decorations are in right now and what are out and whatever budget you will provide to them, they will make the best out of it. Ordinary people do not have all this information, if they even try to find all this about event planning it will take a lot of time and they will never be satisfied.

Now there are different institutions that are offering courses and certifications related to event planning. People who have interest in this business, when acquire these programs then they become more skillful and hard working. Their roots become strong and they perform their tasks like nobody else.

Therefore, the event planning industry is definitely flourishing. We can see many famous event planning businesses that are making profit in millions and there are many more that are that are expanding. So if you have also decided to pursue career in this path or start up your own event planning business, then it is a very wise decision and by working hard you will gain a lot of benefits.

Want To Know More About Wedding Planners?

Today, Norm Goldman, Editor of Sketchandtravel and Bookpleasures is pleased to have as a guest Judy Allen. Judy is the author of Your Stress Free Wedding Planner (Sourcebooks, Inc.), as well as five professional books on event planning (John Wiley and Sons).

Judy has created-produced-orchestrated special events in over 30 countries for up to
2,000 guests.

Good day Judy and thank you for agreeing to our interview.

Norm:

Judy, could you tell us something about yourself and how you became involved in wedding planning?

Judy:

I started out in travel and managing one of the highest producing offices for a national chain. As part of my office's growth, I developed corporate business, which evolved into handling all of their corporate events such as incentives, conferences, conventions, product launches and social corporate branding events.
Subsequently, I joined one of the leading incentive houses to design custom one- of- a kind events around the world for corporate clients.

Over ten years ago, I opened my own special events company. As a result, I have created-produced-orchestrated corporate and social special events around the world for over fifteen years, including the gala theatrical opening for Disney's Beauty and the Beast and the co-ordination of Oscar winning director Norman Jewison's 25th Anniversary Celebration of Fiddler on the Roof.

In addition, I am also the author of five best-selling professional books on event planning that are being used around the world by industry and business professionals, and as teaching tools by Universities and Colleges.

The foreign rights for my second book, The Business of Event Planning, have been sold to China and Russia, and Harvard has deemed my third book, Event Planning Ethics and Etiquette, a "must read" for event planning and small business professionals.

The event planning series of books came about as a result of my being called "to run and rescue" non-profit gala events days before an event was scheduled to take place.

I noticed that many charitable organisations were clueless as to what to be aware of and wary of when planning events. I found this most disturbing.

The same situation occurred with wedding planning. Clients or their friends began to consult with me regarding their personal wedding plan needs. I kept hearing from them as to how stressful they found the process to be- the hidden costs and surprises they kept encountering along the way. Because of the direction I am taking my company, I do limit the number of weddings that I personally become involved in.

I wrote Your Stress Free Wedding Planner as a means to provide couples with what they need to know from a design, budget, implementation (logistics) and orchestration perspective - not etiquette - when they go to plan their wedding. I wanted to give them a wedding planning tool that would held them enjoy the process, lessen the stress and show them how to create a wedding day that is meaningful, memorable and magical.

Norm:

Could you tell us something about your book Your Stress Free Wedding Planner?

Judy:

I have shared with readers the ten key planning steps, that when followed in sequential order, will allow the bride and groom-to-be to create and co-ordinate a wedding that will exceed their expectations and stay within their wedding budget guidelines. It does not matter if a couple has six weeks to plan their wedding or a year or more, the event planning principles I have designed and the order of the steps which be followed for optimum results, remain the same.

Your Stress Free Wedding Planner simplifies the wedding planning process and allows everyone involved to relax, and enjoy the festivities that lead up to this very special day, secure in the knowledge that everything has been attended to.

What is unique about Your Stress Free Wedding Planner is the wedding design questionnaire that will show the bride and the groom how to combine their individual wedding visions and take them their personal idea of a dream wedding to one that will become "our" dream wedding. I also show couples contract red flag areas - that can cost them thousands of dollars more than they expected - that they need to be aware of before they sign on the dotted line as well as areas of negotiation and terms and conditions that they need to have amended on their contracts.

Norm:

If you had to choose 5 of the most romantic wedding destinations in the world, which ones would you choose and why?

Judy:

For me 5 of the most romantic wedding destinations in the world would be

· Greece/Greek Islands for their beauty, ambience and history - you can relax, sightsee, and have fun exploring as a couple:

· South Pacific (Bora Bora) - getting married on the beach and honeymooning in an over the water thatched bungalow with glass bottom floors - perfect setting in a romantic paradise

· Bali - staying at the Four Seasons that come with private plunge pools and secluded outdoor showers - a romantic hideaway from the world:

· Egypt (getting married with Pyramids as the backdrop) then on to the Valley of the Kings/cruising the Nile (honeymoon) exotic and a trip of a lifetime:

· Italy - Rome, Venice, Tuscany, Capri, Florence - so many romantic choices to choose from. You can hold your wedding reception in a castle, rent a private villa in Tuscany, hold the wedding and reception there (and honeymoon for the rest of your stay), take-over a medieval hamlet or be married or hold your wedding reception in a winery. Italy just has the air of romance.

Norm:

You have indicated that you have sailed on all types of yachts/ships. Which yacht or ship did you find to be the most romantic?

Judy:

Failing to afford chartering your own private yacht and set your own course, I personally found Windstar Cruises to be more romantic than larger cruiselines. I liked the more intimate feeling aboard ship.

Their guest count ranges in the low hundreds (148 to 308) as opposed to the in the thousands and they are not geared to having children onboard. I also like that you have the luxury of eating meals at your leisure and not at set times, summoned by a bell.

There are no formal seating table assignments - you can dine or your own or with couples you have met, there are no jacket and tie requirements and should you chose dinner can be served to your cabin. I also like the tucked away ports of calls available to you - due to being on a smaller sailing vessel -- and the easy on and off of the ship. And sitting out on deck, under the stars when the sails are unfurled is extremely romantic.

Norm:

What is a wedding planner and how do you separate the good ones from the incompetent?

Judy:

What is a wedding planner and how do you separate the good ones from the incompetent?

In the planning industry there are two types of planners: Event Planners and Wedding Planners.

Generally, event planners handle designing and producing corporate, social and non-profit events. The types of events they are involved in can be quite diverse -- from complex one-day entertaining events strategically planned to meet business objectives to corporate learning, performance, motivational events and elaborate arrangements of incentive or product launch theme productions that take place over the course of a week around the world. Some event planners handle not only event design, but also education and entertaining components (transportation, accommodation, food, beverage, decor, entertainment, themes) but also multimedia stage production. This is the type of event planning that I have been primarily involved in.

Wedding planners work with newly engaged couples to help them create the wedding of their dreams. They take over all the wedding planning and operation requirements, consulting closely with their clients along the way. They are compassionate, caring and adept at handling the emotional elements that are tied to planning a wedding when nerves are frayed, couples get jittery and help find areas of compromise between couples and their families when there are opposing ideas on how the wedding day should unfold. Wedding planners co-ordinate the weddings from beginning to end and are on hand on the wedding day to oversee that all goes as planned. Some wedding planners also handle social events as the two event planning styles are closely aligned whereas event planners who mainly work with corporate and business related social events generally do not cross over into wedding planning as juggling the needs of these two very different clients does not tend to mesh.

If couples are considering hiring a wedding planner, I suggest they first read Your Stress Free Wedding Planner.
With this in mind, they will immediately be able to spot the level of competency of a wedding planner, and they will be able to discern if the wedding planner is experienced or not.

Experienced wedding planners are able to fully answer questions pertaining to the budget, contract and logistical problems.

Check references- not only other wedding couples that have hired them. Also check the venues in which they have held their events.

Find out their level of ability e.g. if the wedding planner has only done events for 50 guests or less and your wedding is for 500 or more, there will be a learning curve for the wedding planner - don't let it be at your expense.

Norm:

Have you ever planned weddings for any celebrities?

Judy:

No, not weddings, but social events with Oscar winning guests and celebrities in attendance, such as the theatrical gala premiere of Beauty and the Beast and the co-ordination of Oscar winning director's Norman Jewison's 25th Anniversary Celebration for Fiddler on the Roof.

Norm:

Could you tell us which wedding celebration you had planned that was the most memorable and why?

Judy:

They are all memorable - each is different and unique.
However, the one that was most memorable was one where I was a guest but got involved when there was a slight glitch.

It was an outdoor reception and the staff carrying the wedding cake out to garden for the cake cutting ceremony, tripped over one of the small children that was attending the event.

The child was okay as was the wait staff but the wedding cake landed upside down. Luckily a cloth had been placed over the cake for the reveal and guests were not aware of exactly what had taken place.

The cake was carefully righted and I went into the kitchen to meet with the chef to see what the damage had done. The top of the cake was totally smashed. I quickly gathered the bridesmaids' bouquets that matched the flowers the bride was carrying and with the chef's help, some plastic wrap (to protect the cake from flowers as flowers were not edible etc.) and icing.

The flowers were artfully arranged on top and fresh icing was skilfully applied to mask the dents and damage. The cake was made picture perfect without guests being any the wiser and raves were given to the floral topping on the cake. The bride and groom had been advised of what happened and were trilled with the results.

Norm:

What is your idea of a unique romantic destination?

Judy:

The amount of time it takes to get to the Seychelles can be quite daunting with airline connections and layovers (depending where you are travelling) but after arrival, there was never one moment that I regretted the travel time. What is a wonderful romantic combination is doing an African safari first and then flying to the Seychelles for the rest of your stay.

Norm:

Is there anything else you would like to tell our readers about wedding planning, romantic getaways or wedding destinations?

Judy:

Should you decide to combine your wedding with your honeymoon, there are now bridal registries that handle weddings and honeymoons at upscale hotel properties around the world.

Instead of giving a toaster as a wedding gift, family and friends celebrating your nuptials can contribute to your destination wedding. As an example: the activities on your honeymoon stay, or a couples' massage or a private romantic dinner for two after the wedding.

These individuals work with wedding specialists at the location to pre-arrange all the wedding and personalized honeymoon details.

They also advise couples on the legal issues that being married in a specific location will entail.
If couples are planning a destination wedding they need to make sure that all is in order for them to get married and to file their marriage papers after their wedding.

One couple that flew to the Caribbean for their wedding did not check into residency requirements for weddings. They did not allow sufficient time and were unable to extend their time on the island, as they had to return to work. Unfortunately, they ended up posing for wedding photographs on the beach and then getting married at home.

One last comment, I have a second wedding planner coming out in 2006 called Engaged to Married in Three Months or Less (Sourcebooks, Inc.) and I will be covering destination weddings in the book. Stay tuned!

Thanks Judy and good luck with all of your future projects.

Anniversary Events Key to Success of Company or Non-Profit Marketing

The event or events you use to celebrate your company or non-profit anniversary may hold the key to the success of your anniversary marketing program.

What kind of an event you choose to do, where you choose to do it, and whom you invite to attend all are critical to the success of your event and your anniversary. Most important, why you choose to do what you do and how that is based on the marketing programs and needs of your organization will almost certainly determine the success of your anniversary marketing.

When we recently helped the College of Nursing at the University of Rhode Island celebrate "65 years of Preparing Nursing Leaders", we focused on the critical need for additional scholarship funds. The anniversary became not just about celebrating 65 years of achievement, but about the college and its plans to continue to meet the challenges of nursing education into the future.

Choose your event carefully

To choose the best event to celebrate your company's or organization's anniversary look at your overall marketing plan and at your audiences. For the College of Nursing we wanted to connect with as many of the graduates of the college across the country as we could, which we did through multiple channels and with further assistance from the University's Alumni Association.

Although there were several 65th anniversary events during the year, the main one was 'Denim 'N Diamonds', a gala event at which were would celebrate the college's history, reinforce existing relationships and create new ones within the medical community, lay the groundwork for future fundraising approaches, raise funds for student scholarships and, not incidentally demonstrate that the college is relevant and that its history has prepared it for its continuing leadership role in nursing.

This theme was chosen to pique interest, which it did, drawing comments as well as financial contributions from far and wide. The theme also suggested that the event would be fun for those able to attend and a buzz developed among those who were planning to attend, many from several hours distance.

Construct your committee with care

A planning committee not only spreads out the work, but also creates widespread commitment. Our committee was broadly based and included people in nursing, nursing education, a student, healthcare administration and business. The honorary chairs were asked to participate because of their visible positions in healthcare, but also because of their long-time support of nursing and nursing education, and the URI College of Nursing in particular, and because they were willing to commit both time and effort, as well as their good names, to the cause.

We created an event that allowed the maximum amount of interaction between our guests, while we fed and entertained them. People attend events to see and talk with others. Many events do their guests, and themselves, a disservice when they unintentionally isolate them by the event format.

The message was clear from the start

The first marketing message was the need for scholarships. These scholarship funds will help students pay for books and lab fees, sometimes even transportation costs to access clinical placements, all costs that are not usually covered by many scholarships available to students.

We created a pre-event buzz that carried over to the evening and got stronger as our guests arrived outfitted in denim and 'bling.' Nursing students greeted everyone at the door and staffed the silent auction tables so that guests could see and speak with some of the students who would benefit from their generosity. The speaking program was kept short and a brief video highlighted students who had received scholarship assistance, again allowing our guests to get up close and personal with the funding recipients.

Throughout the preparation for the event and during the evening itself, we never forgot our anniversary marketing imperative. The anniversary was not just about this one evening, not just about funding scholarships, and not just about having a good time.

Denim 'N Diamonds was about building relationships with donors, potential donors and others in the healthcare industry that would endure. This evening was about continuing to harness the broad-based support necessary for the College of Nursing to continue to do an outstanding job of preparing nursing leaders, as it has done for the past 65 years.

Cheap Investment Ideas - Throw Parties For a Living As an Event Planner

Are you well organized? Do you enjoy budgeting, planning and arranging events with your family and friends? If so, then you might also be interested in your piece of a $500 billion dollar pie by staking your claim in the Event Planning industry.

There are two ways to attack this business. You can run a business that specializes in planning events and thus becoming an Event Planner or Event Choreographer. On the other hand, you could open a business that provides a unique service or approach to sell to event planners. For example, use of special costumes and actors to serve appetizer during the event. How about an actor dressed as Ninja for an event with an Oriental theme or perhaps something for the action film industry. The more creative you are the more money you can make. You can make thousands of dollars per event.

The secret to staying competitive in either market is to be unique and creative. What makes you stand out? You want to be the frog in the fruit bowl. You want to be easily remembered -preferably for your positive benefits. With 20 events a year, you can have a thriving and successful business. Can you book two gigs a month to ensure your success?

Event planning takes advantage of the fact that some people do not have the time or expertise to arrange events and or prepare for an event that will be unforgettable. In order to remove this headache from their mental closet that already has too many tasks taking up space, they will pay a pretty penny to have the problem solved by you and your team of actors. You can double up your business by being an event planner and have a group of employees that work for you to do the acting and or handle special requirements for events. Alternatively, you can outsource and hire people as you need them. Being an Event Planer or an Event Actor are just a few cheap investment ideas to kick-start your life as an entrepreneur.

Halal Catering And Corporate Events

Regardless of the nature of your event, food is first is the list. The venue may not be as important, just as long as people can use the necessary facilities such as parking, toilets, waiting area, chairs and tables and carpets. But when it comes to food, nothing is more important.

Some corporate events are for small numbers. We managers of events have to be aware of the attendance and have to know peoples choices of food. I am talking here about board meetings or panel meetings. If you are having an annual general meeting, film premiere, product launch, shareholders meeting, product information day or any other kind of event, then the stakes are higher. You may be offering hundreds of food options, but if your guest is unable to eat meat due to faith requirements, then they will only be able to eat the vegetable dishes. If your guests are of the Hindu or Muslim faith, then halal catering is a good option giving a large range of food choices.

Halal catering in corporate events are just perfect to cater for the Muslim faith clients. If you have a garden party, then a halal BBQ will be just perfect for your Muslim guests. In many corporate events I have witnesses a halal corner of food counters serving only halal dishes with the guarantee halal certificate displayed. It is very useful and enjoyable to have this halal corner, and it satisfies customers, clients and guests alike. Muslim faith guests will feel they are very much welcomed and part of the event, know they can pick up almost anything from the plate and enjoy it as much as anyone else around the table.

Nowadays most commercial or corporate events covered by Muslim caterers are not only for Muslim guests, since many people love Indian curry and rice, daal, biryani, chicken curry and naan, samos with mint sauce, pakora with yogurt, chutney and papadum. These are so popular at corporate events now that they will often turn the event into an Indian themed event, with the waiters dressed in traditional clothes and the decor altered, to no huge expense.

If you are attending a corporate event, then don't take a sandwich with you. In fact you might not need dinner later because you will be full of very satisfying Indian Halal food.

Plan Out a Trendy Event With an Event Management Agency

Are you a newcomer in business? Do you intend to extend business horizon and capture new market? For both, a launch pad is required. A grand launch event is that launch pad, giving you market base and spreading a word about your company product or service.

The Focus of Event Agencies

Event agencies streamline their activities on the following:

• Event Management: On the final day of the event, dedicated professionals of the agency toil it out to provide full-fledged event support. The support is based on arranging of materials, equipment and personnel, and any other thing required for the event.


• Design Management: On the first go this seems out of sync, but a closer look will reveal the importance of aesthetic designs in event ceremonies. Creating banners, hoardings and flex are important from the point of view of promotion. Through these you can spread the message of your company in a visually evocative way. The designers team work in tandem with in-house audio-visual team, so that the audience and guests get the flavor of an unforgettable experience. Leaving the best impression on their minds matter the most - creative designs kind of hammer the brand message.


• Event Marketing Assistance: Planning an event is the first step. The second important thing is spreading a word about the event your company is about to host. You need to draw attention - otherwise what's the point in having an event with few footfalls? Large crowd will always garner massive social interactions. Hence, crowd pulling is important, which can be done by marketing the event and creating the right buzz.


• Post-Event Evaluation: This belongs to the post-event stage. Nonetheless, its is crucial to judge the success of the event; whether it has been able to pull crowd and make an impact. Evaluation is also a learning process and it creates scope for improvement. Event companies go for evaluation by collecting guest feedback as well as that of clients and staff. Scientific analysis helps in in-depth assessment of the company event.

Apart from these, event companies provide many other supporting services like planning of budget, project tracking, database management, creative write-ups services, news analysis, and liaison with end users.

Benefits of Hiring an Event & Production Agency

Event management needs knowledge and management skills. Hence, event agencies never shy away from recruiting the best talents. Event organizing team can offer you a flurry of beneficial approaches pertaining to planning of an event and tuning it up with other organizational requirements. They work to create an impact for your business on one of the most important days of your business. They create a buzz by their constant marketing efforts. Hiring an event company is also cost-effective because you get value for your money by splurging money only on effective planning and marketing of your event.

To sum it up, create an impact on your D-day with right kind of assistance from a top class event management agency.

Top 4 Corporate Hospitality Ideas and Possible Mistakes

Corporate entertainment or hospitality has become something essential in a hectic corporate life style. An outing or a gala event has become necessary for the employees to rejuvenate their productivity and burst their stress. There are many other reasons why corporate hospitality services have mushroomed up.

Such events help building teams and strengthening the relationships between the employees. It also forms a good launching pad for promoting new products to customers and potential clients. Hence, it helps build relations and make a good impression. It is a good change of pace from the hectic schedule and for those who cannot afford to take time off, this is like a jackpot gift holiday card.

Top 4 activities

Sports events

Outdoor sports events such as quad bikes, hover crafting, car driving, etc. are all time favorite corporate hospitality events. Outdoor activities are great for casual office outings. Sports tend to increase oneness among the members of the teams and this in turn can be diverted while working in the office for incredible results. Sports help people coordinate well.

Quiz

The young generation just loves quizzes. You can arrange for a company quiz or work related quiz to see who scores the max. Here again people can be divided into teams so that focus is on team rather than individual success.

Team building activities

Cooking classes and dancing are some of the rare forms of artistic team building activities and are perfect for a change in routine. Getting such an exposure lets people get a different perspective of things.

Entertainment activities

Activities such as fun casino, games, problem solving etc are not just entertainment but also give avenue for people to try their office skills at something different.

Top 4 Blunders

Repeating the same events time and again will take the charm out of that activity. Try to keep the ideas fresh and avoid monotony in the events.

The purpose is to make them come together. Stick to that fact and make sure everybody participates in the fun activities. The purpose is not just to be a spectator enjoying the food and music.

Choose ideas and activities that will be fun to most of the employees and will actually do something good to them. Challenge is an essential factor to be kept in mind while choosing. A mix of indoor and outdoor will give everybody a chance to show his or her talents.

Since you are spending, do not ruin it with a tiny budget. Make it big so that people can actually enjoy the events. A namesake party does not serve any purpose and it will just bring ill repute on your and company's name.

You can design your own event or choose one of the corporate hospitality packages offered by the event managing services depending on your budget, crowd and event.

Low-Cost Business Promotional Efforts for the New Year

Many businesses have a fiscal cycle that follows the calendar year. These companies are currently wrapping up their 2013 budgeting process and preparing to implement strategies to achieve their financial goals. Each year, there seems to be less money and more things to do with it, putting a business in a difficult financial position before the year even begins. Take heart that there are many ways to make 2013 a promotional success without going into the red.

Saving Money With Promotions

Many entrepreneurs find themselves in a pickle when it comes to marketing. Creative tactics like including advertisements in invoice mailings and putting coupons and flyers in customer bags at the point of purchase reduce postage costs. Neighboring businesses can share costs for advertising in local newspapers and businesses with complementary services may reduce expenses by sharing distribution channels.

Going digital with promotional efforts can also save a bundle. It is easy to build an email list of customers and prospects by requesting email addresses from website visitors. Design a monthly or quarterly electronic newsletter filled with useful tips, information about new products or services, and coupons that customers can print and use. Encourage recipients to forward the newsletter or link to it from social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. Reward customers for referrals by offering a discount or a free gift.

Consider Different Promotional Avenues

Television is commonly noted as the most expensive form of advertising. However, local cable channels offer many reasonably-priced advertising time slots during both day and night. These may not be in prime-time but they will reach customers while they are at home and paying attention. Community bulletin boards are also posted on local cable channels and represent free or low-cost ways to advertise a corporate event that is open to the public.

There are plenty of special interest groups and finding them is as easy as going online. Corporate representatives should also participate in newsgroups that target their audiences. Many entrepreneurs attest to the power of online newsgroups as marketing tools. These groups are also excellent sources of information about improving business processes. Entrepreneurs can even find inspiration for innovative products or services.

Toot Your Own Horn

Do not rely on customers, prospects, and the company website alone for promoting the business. Include important contact information on letterhead, business cards, employee uniforms, and within the email signature line. If the company has a fleet of vehicles, make sure the business website and telephone number are included in a prominent location on each one. Personalized corporate gifts can even be imprinted with the company URL and given away at community events and trade shows.

Corporate leaders can position themselves as subject matter experts by speaking at community meetings, teaching classes, and writing articles for local newspapers and magazines. Press releases can be published and distributed online through many publication services. Joining associations is another way to make the business more visible to potential customers and it improves relations with fellow business owners in the process.

The Essential Event Planner's Business Marketing Tips

Events planning are a people business and there is no better way to get people involved in your business than by the right ways of marketing it. The methods outlined in this event planner's business tips don't need to be expensive, but you do need to use your creative streak to make sure that it comes out right.

There's nothing that says you have to forgo the traditional marketing mix of TV, radio and print in order to bring your company front and center. But instead of just taking out ads, why not do something different? Market yourself directly to these companies and actively campaign to do their events. Not only will you get paid, but you'll get insider promotion that will be worth much, much more.

Don't forget the internet in your campaign mix. Make sure that your website and professional blog are attractive and updated frequently, and that you have a social marketing face on face book or my space, and create a following on Twitter. It may be more work but create an article at least once a week to be submitted to online lists. Keep your professional name and face front and center.

In this regard, you may not have the time or expertise to carry on a full-on marketing campaign. There's nothing wrong with outsourcing this type of work. You can hire someone to maintain your blog and website for you, and also supply them with topics to write on that you can submit after reviewing and editing to your liking. A dedicated online marketer will also have the know-how on creating a great campaign for you using the latest SEO techniques to make sure you're kept on the first page of search engines.

Keep a close eye on your personal marketing apparatuses as well. Make sure your logo is well designed and memorable, the colors are eye-catching and your slogan catchy. Have these on everything from your calling card, your folders, as a bumper sticker on your personal vehicles, and on your personal stationery. If you hand out corporate giveaways, make sure that they're on it, too. A nice and memorable touch is to put it on your thank-you package after the event. Just that in itself is unusual - how many planners thank their clients for giving them an event to handle?

Planning The Main Event

Does this sound familiar? Once upon a time you were the life of the party. Then you became famous for throwing the best parties and events among all your friends and families. In school, you loved volunteering on committees, and this continued right into your professional life. You are a people-person with fantastic organizational skills. You have an eye for detail and an open mind to the suggestions and whims of others. You love to network and bringing people together to create new networks. You want to channel all these skills into a fulfilling career, but how?

Convention and event planning is an integral part of the hospitality and tourism industry. Becoming an event planner is the best way to combine a passion for organization with a flair for hospitality. One of the many fascinating aspects of this career is that it allows you to work with people from many different industries while learning all about them. From international trade shows, to business conventions and industry conferences, planning these events lets you delve into new territories to meet each specific clients' needs.

Working in this field is not only limited to business conventions and trade shows, there are many opportunities outside the corporate world, such as festivals, ceremonies and even smaller functions such as weddings and other personal celebrations. These opportunities could lead to interesting interactions with the arts communities, as well as give you a more intimate connection with customers.

Whether for business seminars, cultural exhibitions, or personalized celebrations, the first step to working as a planner is to dig into some event planning courses at a tourism college. There are many skills that are taught in these schools which are key to your success. Some are obvious, like planning the scope and format of an event, establishing and monitoring budgets, and negotiation contracts. Less obvious but equally important duties could include hiring and training staff and volunteers, preparing promotional material and ensuring compliance with by-laws and any other local or social considerations. The convention and event planner oversees a huge diversity of organizational areas.

An important factor in selecting a school to study event planning is how much the school focuses on readying their students for an international career. Because so much of this business is centred around bring people and industries together from around the world, a program should emphasize its standard for international compliance. There are many global certification institutions which grant certificates, like the American Hotel Lodging Association (AHLA). Find out if your program is recognized by such an institution. This will guarantee that your education will make you among the top competitors when breaking into career market as an event planner.

For an exciting and profitable career that lets you travel around the world, meet new people and learn about new industries, it doesn't get more into the heart of the action than being a conference and event planner.

Integrating Event, Incident and Problem Management

Change, Change, Change. What needs to change as IT organizations move towards sophisticated virtualized infrastructure? Event/Incident and Problem Management integration of course!

We have been conducting polls of our customers and of IT professionals at technology trade shows for the past two years and the results are in: Pulling together all of the management pieces and processes is even more crucial in a virtualized environment.

So what does this mean for you? You will need to refine your incident and problem management processes with new technologies in order to reduce downtime and maintain end user performance. But of course even the most basic technologies are not well integrated even in today's world.

I recently participated in a Gartner Conference and watched to my amazement a real-time electronic survey of the audience. To my disbelief, the audience, filled with 300+ people from Fortune 2000 companies provided real-time responses to the question:

What level of integration does your IT org have between event management and service desk applications? None: 10%. Manual Phone call from IT ops to IT service desk staff member: 46%. Manual click button on event manager to open trouble ticket: 20%. Automated event management system automatically opens trouble ticket without requiring human oversight or approval: 24%.

Unbelievable - still very few of the survey respondents have yet to formalize problem management systems with event management systems. For 56% of the audience the process is still manual!

Another interesting real-time survey question at the Gartner Conference was: Who in your organization is responsible for critical problem processes and resolution? IT Service Desk 13%. IT Operations 49%. Process Team 12%. Other 9%. Responsibility not formalized 17%.

Virtualization adoption and the speed with which things change in a virtualized environment require automation and will transform Incident and Problem Management. Clearly with this new technology we are required to re-think Organizational, Behavioral and Cultural Challenges required to take advantage of the opportunities that virtualization provides.

Incident and problem management processes and metrics must bridge organizational silos that have been the norm within IT. With virtualization, people have to work more closely together in the different silos than ever before. IT leaders need to break down the walls between the technology-centric silo mentalities.

Business Imperative Action Plan:

What can you do today? Understand the impact of virtualization on incident and problem mgt. workload, provide technology training for helpdesk/service desk staff.

What can you do in the next 12 months? Formalize problem management processes, metrics and personnel.

Invest in tools and processes for systems on virtualized servers. Long term: On the Radar Screen!Instill teamwork into all groups responsible for the virtualized environment service and support. Map components and configuration items directly to end user services.

Final Thoughts: Know the management pieces and ensure that they fit together. It's great to buy new technology, but be demanding to ensure that your vendors show you have they will help to link all these pieces together - Change, Inventory, Incident, Problem, Server, Capacity, Performance, Configuration, Event, and Integrated Workflow.

Corporate Picnic Planning - The 10 Most Important But Overlooked Issues

After producing literally hundreds of picnics for every size company, I have found that there are issues any savvy admin must address. Below are some of the most important and often overlooked issues in planning a summer picnic for your group:

1. Cost: If you do not have at least $50 per person to spend for a company picnic (of 75 people or greater) than I strongly suggest putting that money aside for your holiday party and creating something that much nicer. Keep in mind, the sole purpose of a company picnic, or for most other corporate events, is to make your guests walk away with a warm fuzzy about your organization, and hopefully connect having fun with your company. That won't happen with a cheap barbecue and no entertainment. Our always successful picnics run from $50 to $300 per person, with most of them averaging in around $60 to $110 per person out the door.

2. Entertainment at your event: The first question is are you having kids? If you are, you need the staples: A balloon artist and face painter. A balloon artist is entertaining, gives the kids something to play with long after the performer is done with their creation, and adds color to the event. Face painters are, well, face painters. They are a time honored tradition, and as long as you are able to source a good one, your guests will be pleased you brought them. The next question is how many for how long. The rule of thumb is a balloon artist can make one creation every 2 to 5 minutes. That is about 12 to 30 kids an hour. 15 to 20 kids per hour is a safe bet. Face painters generally take 5 to 7 minutes per child, so figure 8 to 12 kids per hour, but not all kids want their face painted. Other performers that work well for kids and adults that you should consider are caricature artists, chair massage, magic shows, strolling jugglers, stilt walkers, airbrush tattoo artists ( good for groups with a few kids and lots of adults), and company games.

3. Other event elements to bring: Who are your employees? What is their education, ethnicity, age? What is the company culture? Most admins consider a company picnic a boring have to, that they must get out of the way. There is a huge world of amazing elements to bring into your picnic. Consider inflatables: Do you want combative ones such as Gladiator joust, bungie run, or Giant boxing? Or do you want more team oriented ones, such as Giant bowling or Giant twister, or a huge obstacle course? How are your people going to interact with each game? Are you going to offer prizes? Are you going to make sure the vendor staffs each game to avoid any liability issues? That will cost more, but is a good idea.

4. Teens: If you have young employees or older employees with teenagers, consider a package for them: foosball, basketball shoot out, air hockey, and /or interactive inflatables. Teens often get forgotten at picnics, and you will find the grownups often sneaking over to the teen area to get their game on.

5. Site selection: How do you find a park? Isn't anything close that has a spot that fits your group size adequate? The answer is a resounding NO! You need to ask these questions:

A. Do you want amplified music?
B. Do you want inflatables?
C. What else is going on in that park that day?
D. What is the neighborhood like?
E. Do they allow generators or have electricity onsite?

There are three main types of parks: city parks, county parks, and private all inclusive parks. City parks often are more lenient on sound requirements than county parks, but not always of course. Private parks do everything for you, and you usually end up with a canned experience that is mediocre, but easy to plan. The advantage of working with county parks (if they will let you do what you want) is there is usually one number to call for the whole county with a central reservation system. If you get someone who knows their stuff on the phone, they can walk you through every park in the county system and help you select the perfect venue.

6. Fun in the sun: You can't have too much fun, but you can have too much sun! Make sure the park you select has enough shade so you don't need big $$ on tents or tables with umbrellas. Visit your park at around the time you plan on having your picnic. If you are planning 2+ months in advance, arrive at the park a little later or before your picnic to get an idea of shade. Also does it have adequate tables/chairs? If not, add a few hundred to a few thousand for tables, chairs and linens.

7. Choosing your vendors: as with all vendors you have not worked with before, either get 2 to 3 corporate referrals from them, or use an agency that guarantees you won't look bad when a performer you hired doesn't show. There is an old saying in the event business: A planner is only as good as their vendors.

8. Why should you do company games? If you can locate a professional, dynamic company games group, they can add unmeasurable value to your picnic, helping to cement positive relationships and bring your company together in a way you could never do in the office. Get a bad company games group, and they are an embarrassing nuisance. Feel free to call for recommendations if you are in California. Cheaper is not better in this department. You really get what you pay for! Plan on about $1200 to $2500 for dynamic company games, depending on group size.

9. Give aways: Consider using promotional, imprinted gifts at the picnic. This is one of the few times you will have access to your employee's families and can offer good will, and promote your brand and company loyalty throughout the family of your people. For as little as $1 per person, your guests and their families can walk away from the event with a gift they will enjoy and help promote your business!

10. Vendor information: Don't forget to give your vendors detailed directions including the name of your picnic area. Parks can be huge, and you can compromise your event if you do not remember that detail. Make sure you get the cell phone number of both an office staff and the driver. There is no worse feeling than having no one to call when your vendor doesn't show up on time.

11. I know I said 10 items, but I can't leave you without these on your checklist:

-Adequate garbage cans?
-Is the caterer providing tables/linens for the buffet?
-Are you cooking onsite, or are they delivering pre-cooked?
-Ask for lots of ice for drinks from caterer!
-Make sure they double bowl the condiments with ice under the cheese, tomatoes, lettuce so you don't end up with a fondue and -salad soup!
-Remember, no fried items. They won't make it to your plate in a palatable form, as they do not travel well.
-Did you remember a vegetarian option?
-What is the access like for caterers/inflatables?
-Do you have a table and chairs for the face -painter?
-If there just isn't enough shade and you don't have the budget for tents, are you setting up a lotion station?
-Is the caterer leaving waters and sodas if they are only serving food for 2 out of the 4 hours you will be at the park?
-Will the caterer leave the food to snack on when they leave?
-Are you having alcohol? If you are, make sure you have an insured company buy and serve it. Your company will not want that liability!

I am sure you will find this as informative as daunting. However, as with all events, if you break down each element and track those details, you will be a star! Alternatively, call a qualified event planner in your area and make them do the heavy lifting. Because of their vendor relationships, they can often bring you a turn key picnic at close to what it would cost you to do it all yourself.

Organizing a Church Conference With Online Event Management Solution

Church conferences are not mere faith based events. These are full-fledged, informative events that are organized by churches in order to enlighten their members on topics related to healthcare, finance, personal growth strategies and skill enhancements. Many conferences are women centric that are hosted to encourage women to develop self confidence and experience personal growth. Renowned speakers share their expertise, knowledge and insights into areas that have immense social significance. Organizing such an event takes time and a lot of preparation. An online event management solution can simplify this task by streamlining numerous administrative jobs.

Churches mostly host all day Saturday or weekend conferences that usually begin on Friday nights. Several classes and workshops are conducted throughout the weekend and are interspersed by short session breaks. Each of these sessions is attended by many members from different walks of life and with different interests. Hence, while planning a church conference a separate registration system should be in place for each sub event, so that managing the entire process is more methodical. However, with an online event management solution handling registrations is not at all a complicated affair.

Online registration and payment management

The software application comes with a series of pre-built templates in order to design the registration form. One just needs to customize the selected template with the Church's name, logo, event information, and pricing details to come up with a complete conference registration form which can then be uploaded on the internet to be accessed by all the members and non-members at any time during the day. As they fill up the form they are required to pay a registration fee towards event participation. The online registration software enables them to do that by paying via a number of online and offline payment gateways all conforming to standard security guidelines. Church authorities can keep a track of these transactions in real-time with the help the online payment management platform which is an extension of the event management solution.

Communication via bulk email messaging

Communicating with the members of a church prior to a conference is not an easy task. The sooner it is started the better. However, resorting to postal communication may result in delaying the entire process, and costs incurred may also be high. By availing an online event management solution both these issues can be dealt with effectively. The software application comprises of a robust email messaging tool. It can be used to send out bulk email invitations, notifications, and newsletters in an automated manner thereby saving cost and time simultaneously.

Conference promotion via social media

Promoting a church conference is a must so that maximum people get to know about it and benefit from the workshops and trainings to be held. The easiest way to reach out to the masses is by promoting the conference via social networks. Today most people are social media addicts; so, once they come to know about such an event, they make it a point to visit the online registration page and sign up subsequently. A church authority can popularize their conference this way by investing in a social media connector separately in addition to the online event registration solution. They can even build and maintain a private community network with the help of its member management solution to further generate interest amongst its members about the conference.

Online event registration software provides many other facilities. On availing these services any church conference management procedure becomes really simplified and absolutely hassle-free.

Planning Your Company's Off-Site Event

Organizing company events or training sessions can be a difficult task for many small businesses. In many cases, small businesses do not have the space required to host an all-company meeting or training session. Hotels offer large spaces for rent, but the prices can be difficult to swallow.

A suitable meeting space is only one of many factors to consider. All day events will require catering, projectors, Internet and other technology items. When organizing an off-site event for your organization, there are three main things to consider. When these items are in place, the rest will be a cinch.

1. A Meeting Space
First, you will need a meeting space that fits the needs of your event. Consider the style of event you wish to host and what types of activities will take place. For some, a large boardroom will be ideal. For others, a much larger classroom will be required. Before making any decisions, you will need to know the agenda for your meeting and of course the number that will attend.

Once you've decided on the type of room you will need, the difficult part can often be finding a space at an affordable cost. Hotels can be an easy option, but they can also be very expensive. You may want to check with non-profit business organizations in your area. These organizations often have room rentals for very efficient cost savings.

2. A Catering Service
Unless you're willing to see your employees pass out during the event, it's a good idea to arrange some type of food service. Many event centers with room rentals will offer breakfast and lunch catering for all-day events. Independent catering services are also easy to use.

If you intend to hire an outside catering service, be sure this is allowed by the meeting facility. Some have very strict requirements regarding outside caterers. Hotels for example will require you to use their in-house catering service. Unfortunately, this can be reflected in the price. When shopping for your event, be sure to compare different combinations of room and catering options.

3. Technology Requirements
Before deciding on any meeting facility, you will need to determine what technology equipment will be required for your meeting. Most room rentals give the option of projectors, televisions, wireless Internet access and more. These items usually carry an extra fee, so to accurately price your event, make sure you get exact quotes for each of the necessary items.

You may also want to ask if there is a per-device charge for Internet or if the entire room will have unlimited connections available. This can drastically change the price of an event, as many hotels and other spaces will charge an individual fee for each connection. The more details you can gather on technology needs, the more accurately you will be able to price the event.

With a space, catering and technology taken care of, the rest of the event should prove relatively simple. While it can take some time pricing out options, a little research will go a long way in saving costs for your business.