The Importance of the Entertainment at Corporate Events

When you are holding a corporate entertainment event, one of the most important things to do is to get entertainment for the event. This may seem pretty obvious considering the fact that entertainment is part of the concept of corporate entertainment. However, many times companies will choose the wrong type of entertainment and the wrong entertainment can cause serious problems with any corporate entertainment event. So, what can you do to ensure that you get the right entertainment?

A successful corporate event is one that is not going to be forgotten and that is very important because you want your customers and your employees to remember the event for a long time. This helps to build business, improve productivity and get better morale within the company. There are many different kinds of corporate entertainment acts that you can choose from. Really it depends on what you want for the event and what you think the audience will enjoy. Some of the choices for acts that you have include:

繚 Comedians

繚 Bands

繚 Solo musicians

繚 Actors

繚 Circus Acts

繚 Contortionists

繚 Look-a-likes

繚 Magicians

A good idea is to talk with your employees and do a survey. Ask them what they want to see at the event for entertainment and then use that as a basis for what you are going to choose. When you get entertainment that fits the corporate event you get something that can make the event something to remember for many years to come.

As the organizer of the corporate event, you have the task of finding good entertainment and by talking with employees and customers; you will get exactly what you need for the event. Remember, the entertainment should not only be memorable, but fun as well.

Budgeting For Party Planners

Whether you are a professional party planner or a private individual hosting a party for friends you need to keep an eye on the money you are spending. To do this properly you need to create a budget. A budget is a written document, normally prepared using an excel spread sheet that forecasts the potential costs and in some cases income for the event. A well created budget that is updated regularly is an essential tool that will help you check your spending under control. It will serve as your money guide throughout the planning process.

A budget is important for many reasons, otherwise it would just be a waste of time. At the beginning of the process when quotes are been prepared it will help you decide whether or not to take on the job. Corporations, charities and individuals are all becoming very aware of costs and you need to be sure that the party can be organised within the proposed price point. Then once you decide to go ahead with the event the budget will facilitate the decision making process from start to finish. It is a critical toll in helping you to spend money wisely.

Any budget will have two main heading, revenue and expenses. You must not only know the source and date on which money will be received but also when you will be expected to pay for items. In other words cash flow forecasting, but don't worry you can use the budget template for both.If you are an experienced party planner chances are you are well aware of how to set up a budget but you will also need some "hard figures". That is where experience comes in very handy. By referring to past events you can be more certain about the cost of the various elements. For those new to the business it will take longer. Do not take short cuts when it comes to populating the budget template. You may have to make a large volume of calls or spend hours trawling the net for accurate prices but it will be well worth the effort.

The individual line on a budget should reflect the overall vision for the event. General heading such as Venue, Wine, Entertainment, etc will remain the same but once you get further into the detail the line items will change. For example the budget lines for a top end corporate event are likely to be very different to the detail for a 10K sponsored run. In the context of business events a budget is also a very effective form of internal communication. If you are an employee who has been placed in charge of the event you can use the budget to keep your line manager informed throughout the planning process and of any problems as preparations for the event get under way.

If you expect to receive money for the event then the budget detail should clearly show the sources of that revenue. Generally there are a number of revenue sources, own reserves, ticket sales, sponsorship or a combination of all three. The important point to note is that the revenue may not be received until after expenses have been incurred so it is essential that you confirm your suppliers terms of trade. If you have reserves built up from previous events then it may not be such a big issue. This point highlights the important of running an adequately funded business.

How Event Planners Can Reduce Stress

Stress is one of the major debilitating emotions facing most individuals in decision making, influential and important positions, where their actions and abilities impact not only them, but many others. Those who plan events offer face stress from many different "sides." There is often stress from the organization that hires them, from the organizers and the organizing and planning committee, from the venue, and from attendees. Those planners who are best able to cope with stress find event planning a far more enjoyable activity than those that do not.

My background and prior activities have provided me with a somewhat unique perspective about how stress and successful event planning are related. Having been a successful event planner, organizer, negotiator, etc. for about thirty years,. and having worked in the area of stress relief and authored a book, I believe that often stress can be quite useful, especially if handled properly and effectively. The Nobel Prize Winner, Hans Seyle coined the term 'Eustress' to refer to stress that is handled in such a constructive manner as to make someone stronger, more resilient, and better able to cope in the future. When we refer to stress, therefore, we are referring to an often debilitating, weakening conditions that often paralyzes certain individual's ability to act in an effective and viable manner. I have witnessed event planners crumble from the stress, and have seen their events nearly fall apart with them, while I have noticed that the best and most effective event planners handle the stresses, and their events come off as planned.

Some of the ways that event planners might best prepare for the stresses of their position include:

1. Preparation to the "nth" degree is essential. There will always be something that challenges your plans, but the better one plans and has contingencies (backup plans), the less stress occurs.

2. Event planners must be certain they have clearly understood the wishes, desires and needs of the organizers as well as the organization and the attendees. Before "taking on" an event, a planner should discuss the event in detail, and share ideas. Event planners should get these desires and needs in writing so there is no misunderstanding or any of the "He said, she said," that occasionally occurs. If organizers or attendees do not have their perceived needs met, the event planner has failed.

3. It is essential to create an efficiently organized group of committees, who clearly understand what their "charge" is, and what they are responsible for. That way there is far less confusion and needless anxiety. The planner should also schedule regular meetings or discussions with the committees (or at least the chairs of the committees) to make sure that all areas are addressed properly.

4. An event planner needs to be properly trained, and must have done his homework on the organization, the event, the potential and actual attendees, etc.

5. A clearly delineated budget should be created and agreed upon from the onset. Projections should be extremely conservation on the revenue side, and worst case scenario on the expense end.

6. The planner must build into his schedule "me time," so that he can escape and relax, and depressurize. Otherwise there is always the risk of burnout.

These are just the "tip of the iceberg," yet must be the starting point to assure both a successful event and a sane and healthy event planner. It may sound somewhat simplistic, but it startling how rarely these items are considered as part of the whole process.

Introduction to Business Strategy

It is a fact that organization's strategy gives us an idea about what the organization wants to achieve and the process how they want to achieve it. It basically includes the purpose of the entire organization, its goals and objectives?as well as the plans and methods that they are considering so that they can achieve this. A strategy also involves the determination of the entire basic long term goals as well as objectives of the organization.? At the same time, it adopts the courses of action that is necessary and the allocation of all the resources needed to achieve the goals. And then, here comes business strategy.

A business strategy is a report that shows the plans of the entire business. It is a plan that is often used so that they can attract financing from big investors as well as creditors. This is a plan designed to give information regarding a new venture so that they can convince financial backers to invest in the said business. It describes the market opportunities that the business intends to develop, the process on how they are going to do it and the resources that are required to make it possible.

Business strategies demonstrate the following roles:

1. It is applied to encourage people to invest in an enterprise.

2. It is also a tool used to assure creditors about the credit worthiness of the enterprise.

3. Another role is to persuade banks to lend or perhaps invest money.

4. Last, but not least, business strategy helps you stay focused on what's important for your business in order to achieve your desired results. It saves your time, energy and money.

And since this is necessary, a strategy needs to:

• Show the lender or the investor that they have a big chance of being repaid and that they will be getting good returns on their investment.


• Build the necessary confidence for the firm and the capabilities of the owner.


• Show the investors that there is a very good market for the service or product that you offer.


• Show you a clear picture where you're heading and how to get there.

A good business strategy is the base ingredient for a successful business. However, there are many different kinds of business strategies. The best business strategy should be able to guide your company into a direction wherein the expected internal pressure due to business continuity meets the great demand of the fast changing world for the revolutionary business plans.

There are basically three types of strategies in which business holders must concern themselves:

1. The plain strategy or the strategy in general. This refers to how a specific objective will be achieved. The strategy in general mainly concerns the relationship between the results we want to have and the resources that are currently at our disposal.

2. Next is the corporate strategy which defines the market and the business wherein a certain company will operate. Corporate strategy is usually decided through the context of being able to define the company's mission and vision. This is the same as being able to recognize what the company does, why it exists in the first place and what it intends to become in the future.

3. The last type is the competitive strategy which describes a given business the basic that is needed for it to be able to compete. This type of strategy is centered on the company's capabilities, its strengths and weaknesses. This is used in relation to the market characteristics as well as the corresponding abilities, strong points and weaknesses of the competitors.

If you need help developing your business strategy, we'll be glad to help you. Visit Magnetic Look site to learn about different ways how you can work with us.

Common Problems Faced By Event Organizers: What Is the Solution?

Event organizers are facing a lot of problems these days. Before the emergence of the internet, people had no concept of social media platforms or online promotion of events and activities. However, with the internet and the rapid popularity of social media tools, enterprises are now facing a tough challenge merging traditional marketing strategies with the more advanced online promotional tactics. Moreover, the present worldwide recession has led many organizations to seriously think of various cost cutting measures to manage administration within a limited budget.

Let's now discuss the most common problems of creating and managing events, irrespective of its size and complexities.

Decreasing Budgets

The basic problem of arranging an event is budget. Event planners must keep in mind the amount of money required to book and decorate the venue, print hard-copy invitation letters, send them to respective guests, manage the menu for the show, to name a few. Moreover, there is a dire need to recruit additional staff to manage the overall administration before, during and even after the program ends.

Falling Off Event Attendance

With the ongoing worldwide economic crisis, people are showing reluctance in attending corporate meetings and tradeshows. Hence, many organizers are failing to sell their entire inventory of event tickets or maximize registration in spite of putting in their best efforts to make the event successful.

Marketing and Promotion Aspect

Organizing an event is as important as marketing it. Organizers have to give their 100% in promoting the meetings, conferences, etc. to make prospective attendees aware of such happenings. Only then can one develop chances of a full event attendance and tickets sale.

Conference or Meeting Management Problems

It becomes almost impossible for a single person to manage the logistical aspects of a conference or a meeting for their attendees and guests. Therefore, companies are seen hiring external temporary staff to take care of such processes. It takes a lot of time in finding suitable staff for these temporary roles and making them understand the work flow system within the administration of the organization.

Social Media Integration

Individuals are no longer using social media websites for merely personal reasons - they are utilizing Facebook Twitter, MySpace, and so on to meet urgent business needs and objectives. Meeting or seminar planners, therefore, need to focus on this area to expand their reach beyond geographical boundaries.

To address these growing issues and effectively manage events, organizers are seen taking the help of various types of online event management solutions. Such solutions come at a cost-effective rate and is said to be extremely easy to use and time-saving. Online event management solutions/software's come integrated with a wide range of tools such as registration, payment management, communication, and marketing to help an organization host any type of event in a hassle-free manner.

Why Photo Booth Rental Is Becoming Popular

Throwing a party is not always easy, as there are just too many things that require your attention. You need to think about the menu, sending out invitations and even fun activities to help keep everyone happy. Of course, you can hire a caterer to take care of the food and let your local graphic arts company deal with designing the invitation, but think about the activities. To keep guests occupied for a long time, renting a photo booth can do the trick.

A recently introduced technological breakthrough, the photo place makes the most of the need to keep memories alive. Most personal and even corporate events benefit from photo booth services. It is now a common presence in birthday parties, weddings, and corporate gatherings.

Most photo booth providers involve setting up a high-quality camera and modern printer for image capture and fast digital printing. They also provide a tarpaulin with the logo of the company and the name of both the celebrant and the event. Another interesting addition to the picture taking session is the free use of fancy and playful accessories such as caps, eyeglasses, and colourful wigs. They also let you use other toys such as swords, shields, and even weird-looking masks.

Other than enjoying different poses in a wide range of themes, photo place are popular because the pictures taken are crisps and the images are digitally available in seconds. Most people also prefer hiring a photo place rental so they no longer need to worry about the responsibility of taking pictures of the event. With that task out of their hand, the party host or the celebrants can focus on having a good time themselves.

Price is also a consideration. Photo Booth providers normally charge per hour and the package already includes unlimited picture taking for the duration of the event, free photo printing, free use of tarpaulin, and access to fun and colourful accessories. Another benefit is that most companies upload all the pictures taken during the event in their company website. This allows for easy download and printing even after the event is over.

The type of package differs mainly on the add-ons. A higher-priced package may also include a dedicated photographer, while premium packages include a photographer and a videographer. There is little to no need of editing images to get rid of unsightly blemishes as the service often includes free instant editing. What you and your guests gets are great-quality, expertly taken photographs.

The photo booth business is rewarding enough to attract all sorts of enterprising persons. It is important to choose your provider wisely to avoid dealing with newcomers in the business, which could greatly affect the quality of the images. This is why you need to check established companies like Premier Photo Place to make sure you get quality photo booth services with all the freebies included.

Strategic Planning Essentials For Your Business Success

Strategic planning is essential to the success of any business. You have to look at strategic planning from a global perspective. That means the big picture - not minute details, but, its direction and scope. You start by thinking about your ultimate monetary goals for the year, product development goals, and workshop/teleseminar goals and more importantly, how you're going to reach those goals.

Then, use backward planning to develop your plan. That means you work with the end result in mind. It's a road map to get you where you need to go and where you want to go.

Strategic planning is critical to keeping a focus in your business. Again, if you don't have a plan, and you don't know where you want to go, most likely you're not going to get there.

Strategic plans can be long-term plans or shorter term plans, but typically, strategic planning is a longer-term plan. Ideally, you would have your current year plus a minimum of 6 months past that, or 18 months.

If that thought makes you cringe - hold on! Think about your marketing cycles for each of the events you schedule. The further out the events are, just "pencil them in". A strategic plan is not in set concrete. If you need to change or shift gears - do it! There is a lot of flexibility within your plan.

You will have other plans in place as well. Like your implementation plans and your specific marketing plan for each specific event. So your strategic plan is a global overview of where you want to go and the events that must happen to get there. Your marketing plan will include everything you need to implement, item by item. So the two plans work together, hand-in-hand, to bring you the business result you want.

But, hold on you say! I already have goals & objectives for my business - isn't that enough? That's a good start, but you need to take it one step farther.

Just having goals and objectives for your business isn't quite enough. Everybody has good intentions. Most entrepreneurs have goals - ideas and ideas and ideas. Few are implementer's, and don't really know what it takes to get the job done - they just want it done.

Developing a plan forces the entrepreneur and staff to come together and put some structure to the goals. Action plans, written down, with accountability systems, tend to get done.

So the first step is identifying your business goals and objectives. Your strategic plan is partly how you're going to reach those goals and objectives.

Here's an example... Let's say, your goal is to make $1 million this year. Your next thought should be, how am I going to make it? How many events, coaching groups, products, workshops and seminars do I have to do to get there? What is my marketing budget? How much am I willing to spend on getting a new client? How many staff will be required to accomplish my goals? The answers to these questions are key to making your strategic plan.

So while keeping the end result in mind, you may want to say, if I want to make $1 million this year, I can make $200,000 in seminars as profit. How many seminars am I willing to do? Five would get you there. You decide as the business owner and entrepreneur. You may also have product sales. Your product sales in the year may generate $300,000. Factor that into your plan. Get the picture? Brainstorm and write it down.

You can quickly see that by thinking about your strategic plan with your goals and objectives in mind, you can start to sketch out exactly what it's going to take to get you where you want to be.

The responsibility of developing your plan lies with you - the business owner and entrepreneur. After all, whose business is it anyway?

If you're the business owner, it's critical for you to decide your financial and monetary goals for each business year. You don't have to share them or delegate that responsibility to anyone because it is solely your decision. Once you have decided your monetary goals and your budgets, and all of those personal business decisions, you take your overall plan to key people in your staff to build out the details.

So the bottom line is, if you're the business owner, you make the decisions - you are in the driver's seat - figure out where you're going and your staff will help you get there.

7 Useful Party Favors for Girls

Choosing the right party favor can make your event memorable. Even though there are millions of products to choose from, you have to find something that the cuties would love to receive and use. Go beyond the classic goodie bags to make your party unique and memorable. Present the kids with some useful girls party favors that they have rarely received. Some of the best girls birthday party favors are:

- Jewelry: Girls, by nature, are fond of jewelry. Buy attractive themed jewelry sets for the girls attending your princess' birthday party. Every time they will wear it, they will recall your party! If you don't get themed jewelry, go for the generic ones that you can get at your nearby store or buy them online. You can also gift bracelets, gem rings, clips, bands, party purses, multi-color bow hairbands, and much more. These items are always a better option for girls than the candies.

- Tiaras: Have a royal celebration by giving tiaras to the girls. If you are having a princess theme party, this can be the ultimate option. However, the popularity of tiaras makes them the ideal girls birthday party favors for all themes. You will love to see the little ones looking like cute princesses.

- Books: Story books, coloring books or activity books are wonderful options. They are educational and therefore, will be appreciated by the parents. Buy books that match your theme, or else, make a list of guests and figure out who loves what. Give them books according to their choice. The kids will love to take home a book that is on their favorite topic. This educational gift is an excellent party favor.

- Miniature kitchen sets: Double the fun by giving them their own kitchen set. There are many adorable miniature kitchen sets available in the market. They are every girl's favorite toy! Let them be imaginative.

- A photo frame with a picture of the guest and the birthday girl can be a creative party favor. Buy some lovely looking photo frames that may match your party theme. Hire a photographer to take pictures of the birthday girl with each of the guests. At the end of the party, gift everyone a photo frame having their picture with the birthday girl. The photo frame will remind the kids about the fun they had on your daughter's birthday.

- Coloring book: Encourage the artistic spirits among the cuties by giving them coloring books along with some crayons. This simple, classic, and budget-friendly party favor will add a lot of adventure to your party. Buy coloring books that match your party theme.

- Change purse: The girls will love this. They can carry this in their pocket, backpack, etc. and can keep their change for snacks or lunch in school. If you don't get something relevant to your theme, buy any cute piece probably in pink, their favorite color. You can also gift them fancy kid's handbags but that will be an expensive option.

Choosing creative and useful girls party favors can be time-consuming. However, when carefully chosen, the party favors can serve as beautiful memories of your special occasion.

The Advantage of Having Corporate Hospitality Events

Doing business is always tough, and one way to let your best customers know that they are valued is by spending quality time with them at exclusive and memorable event. The event is an excellent way to spend quality time with your valued clients. They event offers huge benefits, and differentiates your business from that of your competitors. These events create a long-lasting influence on your clients and provide you the chance to win prospective clients. Hiring a company will allow you to manage your corporate event even in a number of countries. The advantages of hiring a corporate hospitality company are as follows:

Quality Time.

Hiring the services of a corporate hospitality company at a sports event or any other big event is important. This gives you a chance to spend quality time with your client and let them know how much they are important to your business. Now if you would have sit in the regular crowd then it would have been impossible to converse with them.

Creating Loyalty
Now, if you take your clients to special events like the high profile sporting events or to some glamorous parties, it will surely show how valued they are by your company. This will allow you to create a lasting memory, which will finally create loyalty between them and your company.

Opportunity to Network

The corporate events are not only stylish but they also give you ample opportunity to network with not only the valued clients but they also give you enough possibilities to meet like-minded people and companies. They provide you with innovative and valuable business contacts. A hospitality company provides numerous corporate hospitality events, which provide ample networking opportunities.

Launch New Products.

The event is perfect places to launch new products. A stylish event, can create exhilaration and engage the guests as well. It will maximize interest and create greater impact.

Motivate and Reward.

The hospitality event is a way to give incentive and rewards to the employees. Give your top performer an opportunity to enjoy a vacation from a corporate hospitality room. This attracts high performance from other individual in your company.

It does not matter what event you are running, it can be a training days, team building days, parties, or award ceremonies. Outsourcing is always a better option and they have handled the professional way. By employing the services of a professional, you will be able to get a lot of free time to concentrate on the core business activities. You will also have the peace of mind, and your day will be a success. You can outsource your conferences and meetings as well as your Christmas parties and holidays as well as other corporate events. They are aware of the venues and host parties within your budget. A corporate hospitality company can do wonders to work towards your reputation and can result in increasing revenue.

Event Cancellation Insurance Can Cover 100% of Your Costs

You can take the worry out of planning ahead in an uncertain world with event cancellation insurance services. They will be there to help, when things just don't go as planned. As an experienced event organiser, you know to expect the unexpected and the things that are beyond your control means you have to cancel or abandon your event. And you can't always rely on your business insurance to cover you if something goes wrong. If your event is canceled for reasons beyond your control, then these companies will reimburse your irrecoverable expenses, up to the limit you choose. They will also pay you up to 100% of your irrecoverable costs, should the event has to be rearranged for another day - some insurers limit this to a lower percentage of your costs.

1. Whatever kind of event you're planning, you can rely on event cancellation insurance companies for truly insightful advice and cover that is tailored to meet your specific requirements.

2. Whether it's an award function, a conference, a musical event, fashion show, an exhibition or a product launch, these companies are always there to help you. The cover mainly includes loss of, or damage to, the venue's buildings, fixtures, fittings and machinery. Your policy may also include power failure and any other eventuality like late or non-arrival of items essential to the event such as AV equipment, exhibit items and non-appearance of a large number of participants. You can also get a cover for injuries from food poisoning caused by food or drink served as hospitality by you.

3. When plans get disrupted, the last things you need to worry about are living expenses and the cost of return transportation. These event cancellation insurance companies can also help you, when flights are delayed, luggage is lost, or connections are missed. They may even help you with ticket sales. This may include cancellation prior to departure - unused ticket charges associated with your trip that are not refundable and which were incurred before your departure date.

4. By using these services, you can protect your investment, as bad weather can ruin your corporate golf day or other special outdoor event. Either the event has to be cancelled or abandoned or your golfers get drenched and do not enjoy the day. This type of insurance can be used to cover not just your costs and expenses but also the profit your charity would have made had the golf day not been canceled or abandoned.

5. This type of insurance can be also be a very helpful tool, especially if you want to run a special prize competition to promote your business. As many local businesses (particularly car dealers) like to be associated with charity events you may well be able to find a company willing to pay the premium for you by way of sponsorship.

Event cancellation insurance companies can help you make your event into a joyous occasion. You can insure against cancellation, abandonment, property damage and public liability, thus enabling you to enjoy the celebrations without a worry.

Event Furniture Hire Can Increase the Profits of That Special Event

Event furniture hire is the ideal way to have an incredible assortment of furniture to make an event successful without having to worry about what to do with the furniture after the event. It is the perfect choice for private parties, meetings, weddings, concerts and other events where furniture is needed for just a few hours.

There are certain pieces of Exhibition Furniture that is used at almost all events include items like tables, chairs and stands, among others. These make up the basic essentials and are not necessarily the only furnishings available for event furniture hire. The organizers of events recognize that Exhibition Furniture hire is the most important feature of planning a functions and that is why many of the are directly affiliated with furniture renting and Bar Hire companies

Companies that have Exhibition Furniture also have an uncompromising commitment to the success of the exhibition event for which they are hired. They have staff and support teams that are well trained to help the exhibiting company plan, design, install and remove whenever and whatever is needed. Other items like tables, casks and chairs can also be rented on a regular basis for yearly corporate events or for updating a home or office to keep the rooms looking updated and fresh.

Companies supported by highly experienced teams which offer new and fresh ideas and the choice of a short or long term contract will work hard to accommodate the needs of any family or company planning a special event.

Corporate Event Planning - Why Should You Hire An Agent?

You are excited for your next corporate event. During that day, you will be meeting new potential clients or attract new investments. You also want to introduce new products you have. Having these goals in mind, you think that this event must be executed successfully. To be able to do that, you need to accomplish the tedious tasks of corporate event planning and the execution of the plan.

In as much as you want to do it alone (or with your internal staff), you later will realize that you will be just overwhelmed by the responsibility put on you. You will need more helping hands and hiring an agent can be a big help.

There are a number of compelling reasons why hiring an agent can be a big help for event planning. Hiring an agent provides you a number of benefits including the following:

• Connectivity - a professional event planning agent connects you to best corporate event planning agencies in town. Being in the industry for so long, an agent knows which particular company to go. In fact, most agents are employed or affiliated to event planning companies so it is pretty easy for them to pick one that can give the best service.


• Experienced service - an agent's experience in the industry helps you to become aware of the dos and don'ts of staging a company event. You can avoid common pitfalls that can be fatal, which can possibly compromise the total event outcome.


• Resources - when you stage an event you will need things that are not commonly found in your place (because they are not commonly used in your company). When you hire an agent, expect that things you need for the event are readily available for use. For instance, you will need lighting equipment, audio-visuals, chairs and tables, etc.


• Rewards - a lot of corporate planning agents or corporate planning agencies give incentives and rewards to loyal clients. This can be in a form of discounts, tokens, and the like. If you are planning to hire an agent, be sure you check if he or the company he belongs offers such rewards, which you can take advantage of.


• Protection - when you hire an agent from a corporate event agency, you can get protection in a form of liability insurance. This is given to clients to protect them from potential disastrous mishap. An event agency can also create and execute sound and detailed back-up plans should untoward event happen.

Get the Best Value Out of Corporate Events

Corporate events imply not just investment of money. But it also signifies a significant amount of investment of time. In fact whenever, such event is organized at the corporate level, it takes up 1% of staff of the company's budget and total working hours.

There are certain outlines which need to be taken care of, when planning any such corporate events. These are some of the important features which is generally overlooked.

Objectives of the Events

It is important to be clear about the objectives when planning corporate events. These objectives should comply with the corporate goals. Thus the type of event that you host will be strongly influenced by the outcome of what you are trying to accomplish or achieve.

The objectives that the company is often trying to achieve is psychological. Hence it could either be something like trying to overcome departmental and internal barriers, or to reward an employee or a staff for some good work done. The main point is to realize whether the objective is a negative one or a positive one.

It is important to decide whether you are planning to build on the success in the past and thus reinforce much of the quality work that has already been done. Thus you can consider about rewarding the staff with some quality time away from the work floor.

This will not only motivate your staff to work hard but also provide them with some morale boosting time away from work.

The other main objective of corporate events is trying to get rid of the psychological barriers that leads to hindrance in communication. In such a case, you need to work with a completely different approach as you need to improve interaction between two people who do not normally interact.

Planning

After you have decided on your goal and general approach, you need to decide on the psychology of the event that you are planning to host. The psychology of the event needs as much planning as the logistics of activities, meals, accommodation, break times and transport does.

For instance through the corporate events you are planning to improve the management and employee relationship. One way of achieving this is by mixing them in groups at tables or during mealtimes. If you do not ensure that this happens more often then not, you will find them sitting with their own friends and colleagues. Thus you need to make an effort to ensure that they mix around as intended without it looking too contrived. This can be achieved by implementing the following methods like:

• Let everyone know beforehand that they need to mix with each other


• Introducing a formal seating plan


• Making random sitting arrangements based on criteria like date of birth


• making everyone to swap tables in between courses

You may have other ideas that you can implement and work on. You need to do prior planning for it as much as you would do when deciding something like wedding function venues.

10 Key Benefits of Using Online Registration to Make Your Event Planning Easier

A large number of organizations today are taking the help of online registration solutions to easily manage the sign up process before every event. The web-based registration software will help you easily enter all your contact details as mentioned in the form, without the need to stand in long lines to do the same.
Let's find out how the online registration process can be beneficial to you and your company.

Easy to Set Up

You can easily set up the web-based registration process, as it does not require you to purchase, install, or download any hardware or software. Besides, you don't have to be technically savvy to use this software.

Go Green with Quick and Easy Registration

Registration with pen and paper requires individuals to get hold of the form physically, fill in necessary details, and then submit it to the company staff. You can download a form as well, take a print out, and fill it up. However, that involves the use of paper. Online sign up is easy and fast, as it requires the registrants to just log in to your portal and complete it. Besides, there is no use of paper involved, thus making the process entirely environment friendly.

Customization Option

You can customize the registration pages to give it a similar look and feel as your business website. Providing the same color and format will make your registrants feel as if they have never left your website.

Secure to Use

This Cloud-based system is more convenient and secure to use than paper registration forms, since there is hardly any chance of loss or misuse of information. Hence, there is no risk even in providing the personal details in the online registration forms.

Automated Payment Collection

You can securely collect online payments made through credit cards and other payment gateways, such as PayPal and others, using the web-based registration software.

Track Your Online Registration

You can easily keep a track of the sign-up process by getting automatic confirmation emails, once each individual completes filling up the form.

Send Emails to Your Attendees

Send invitations, notifications, and RSVPs to event attendees regarding your present and upcoming programs. The online registration software will automatically send a follow-up email to the participants, notifying them once their payment is received and the seat is reserved.

Integrated Marketing Tool

The powerful, yet simple marketing tool can be used to promote small to large businesses on multiple online platforms. You can open accounts on Facebook Twitter, and similar sites to start a viral marketing of your solutions. You can even provide discounts or promo codes to any specific or all products to encourage and persuade customers to buy and use the same.

Built-in Reports Facility

You can generate hundreds of reports based on your ticket sales, registration status, and payment transfers. The online reporting tool helps you analyze and measure your event's performance data, and even store the reports in flexible formats to match your business needs and requirements.

Get an Instant Dashboard

The online activity dashboard lets you view and manage the events registration and payment system from a single platform. You can view the revenue and inventory status of all your ongoing events via this activity dashboard available with this Cloud-based check-in system.

Event Planning Skills

For every career, there is a corresponding skill for it. As for being an event planner, there are several skills that we need to possess in order to perform the job effectively. Listed below is the needed event planning skills.

繚 Planning and organizing skills

To be a good event planner, you must always good at planning and organizing events. It can be a party, a wedding, gathering, meetings, or so on. No matter what kind of event it is, you must always be able to adopt with the situation. Not only that, there can be times when you need to deal with a large number of people. Are you sure that you can handle all that pressure and still be able to plan and organize for it? If your answer is yes, then it will be a suited job for you.

繚 Enjoy working with other people

Event planners deal with people. It can be a lot, depending on the event. You are going to be relied upon in making the whole event perfect. We all know the frustrations of having a party. As the party coordinator, we like to make sure that everyone is having a good time and enjoying the event. As an event planner, all of these things are expected from us. People hire planners for their events because they want the whole thing to work out well. We need to give each one in the party that everything will go out the way as planned.

繚 Ready for the excitement

Event planners are always creating parties. That means you are always in a party. You are not only a part of it, but you are the one making it. Think of all those excitements. Are you sure you can handle them? You might be handling parties several times a week or maybe everyday if you are successful. You need to be able to handle all of those and make sure you have the energy for it.

繚 Work independently

People usually hire just one event coordinator. You need to make sure that you are self reliant enough to perform the job at its best by your own. You may be good at taking people's advice and guidance, but what if you are there and there is no one to call? You have to make sure you are competent with your skills and you can really do the job well even without supervisions.

繚 Good time management

You are required to manage your time well. There are so many things to be done when planning for a party. You have to make sure you do all these before the actual event happens. It can take up to weeks of preparation. Most of event coordinators do not only have one job for the week. If you have 2 or 3 clients for the entire month, you need to be able to comply with their needs all at once.

Those are all the event planning skills you need to have when you decide of becoming an event planner.

The Advantages Of Using Finger Food Catering In Your Event Planning

Regardless of whether you're a rookie or a seasoned veteran to the needs of event planning, this task will be very hard to accomplish. An individual will frequently find themselves being pulled in different directions as they move towards the ultimate goal of carrying out their event. Normally one of the very best pieces of advice found in the field of event planning refers to delegating few of the many tasks to other people so as to take on the vital supervisory role rather than placing all of the stress on yourself. Finger food catering represents a unique opportunity where an event planner can depend on the services of a professional company so as to delegate the highly complex task related to event catering.

You would find several opportunities which will prove to be helpful to you with finger food catering, this will even help to ease your mind off things. The first possibility which attracts most individuals relates to the opportunity of variety that is found with this service. When you are hosting a large number of guests it often proves hard to satisfy the palettes of every person, particularly when you have limited catering resources. You would soon discover that finger food catering features a wide variety of options varying from cold, hot and even gourmet selections. This will help you in customizing a menu or selection which could attract all of the interests of even the most fickle of eaters, allowing catering to not be a distraction during your event.

One more benefit you would discover with this resource refers to your ability to achieve immense budgeting opportunities. Budget often plays a huge factor in any event planning procedure and your ability to maintain this budget depends a great deal on the resources available to you. With finger food catering you would discover one of a kind menu opportunities which will grant you complete control over your budget demands. This would provide you with the opportunity to both save cash and allow you to transfer your budget to other areas or increase your budget when the chance exists. Personalization is the key advantage of this event planning feature and nothing provides greater opportunity in customization than finger food catering.

Lastly, by using the advantage of finger food catering to manage an aspect of your event planning you will discover a resource that features the staffing you'll need, the accessories you may need, the food you demand and the guarantee of clean up when preferred. It represents an all in one service where you would be able to discover your best opportunity to benefit in your event planning efforts.

Entertainment Options for a Corporate Event

In the long distant past, corporate entertainment usually only went about as far as taking a client out for a meal, or putting together a buffet for the office Christmas party. These days, a huge industry has emerged to service the massively diverse requirements for the corporate events of today.

On the whole, corporate events usually fall into three types: on site at the company premises; away days to major sporting or entertainment events, or off site, specially organised away days for a group.

Events held at a company's premises can range from the ubiquitous office party for employees, to events designed to launch a new service or product to customers. A typical example of the latter can be the launch of a new model at a car dealership, where the entertainment can range from a few cars and some food and drinks, to themed events such as a casino or virtual horse racing night.

Many major public events now rely heavily on the income from high paying corporate customers to make their profits. You only have to look around a modern football stadium to see the huge emphasis they put on hosting corporate clients in plush, purpose built hospitality suites. The range of events available to the corporate customer now seems endless, from football and rugby to ballet, opera or pop concerts. Although a company will have to choose the event to attend carefully, taking customer demographic and budget into consideration, the list of options available is endless.

There is now a large and growing industry with businesses hosting speciality activities for business customers. These are usually held at either the entertainment company premises or an outdoor venue. This is where the choice can be truly mind boggling with options available to fit every taste and budget. For example, clients can be taken go-carting, shooting, rock climbing, white water rafting or fly fishing. Alternatively, an event could include driving a super car, flying a light aircraft or riding in a hot air balloon. For the less adventurous, there are plenty of businesses that will bring the event to you in the form of simulators or more traditional forms of entertainment.

Corporate entertainment has certainly come a long way since all there was to choose from were singers, comedians or magicians to entertain the audience. No matter what the budget, and no matter how high flying the customers may be the modern entertainment industry has something to fit the bill for them all. The real skill is choosing the perfect option for the clients.

Event Planning - Oops! 5 Pitfalls!

Event planning can be difficult. You have to consider the major decisions and every little detail. In event planning, every problem contains its own solution - a lesson you can apply when planning the next event. Here are some common pitfalls to avoid during your event planning efforts:

1. Don't Sweat the Small Stuff - Keep your Head above Water

Getting too deeply involved in minute details can completely derail your event planning process. The bigger the event, the more vulnerable you are to getting overwhelmed with tiny details, wasting valuable time you should have invested in the major planning issues. During the event planning process, focus on the theme and colors, not the individual decorations. Sketch out the menu rather than planning each dish. Develop a general budget without creating a line item for every supply. Develop a schedule with milestones (caterer contract signed, facility rented, invitations sent, etc.). Don't plan the timing of every activity necessary or you'll spend all your time on your schedule! Consider bringing on someone to help you manage the process - a volunteer from your organization, a friend or family member, or a temporary worker.

Remember that you can't operate effectively if you are under severe stress. Having an emotional breakdown can ruin your event. An important aspect to event planning is keeping your cool. Keep your priorities in order. Use others to fetch, fix, and decorate. You're the planning guru. You're responsible for the smooth, successful accomplishment of major decisions, not the table decorations.

2. Invest Time in Planning the Food and Bar - Keep your Guests Happy

Big events, unless they're staffed by a big group of volunteers, should be catered. Catering includes both the food and the bar. When you select your caterer, be sure to have a detailed written contract that specifically identifies the menu, the bar setup, itemized costs, a clear schedule, and specific performance standards that could influence the amount you finally pay. If the caterer lets you down, you shouldn't be obligated to pay the amount you agreed to in the contract.

Remember that the caterer will be "invisible" to your guests. If the menu isn't delicious, the setting isn't attractive and appetizing, and the bar doesn't function well, it will reflect on you, not the caterer. If you're planning an event for charity or fund-raising, these things may be critical to success. Be sure your caterer is responsible and that you've checked out their recommendations before signing the contract. Your reputation depends on it.

3. Don't Rely on a Handshake - Get it in Writing

Almost every aspect of event planning should be documented in a contract. No matter what it is - Whether the tablecloths and napkins, the entertainment, the clean-up, the facility, or seating - make sure you have a written agreement with your provider that clearly identifies what you're paying for, what you expect from them, and the precise time they will provide their goods or services. This documents your providers' commitments to you and gives you a clear base from which to assess their performance.

Settling for a friendly handshake will set up you for disappointment and added expense. Without a written agreement, you may that your provider has overbooked his service or changed his price on you at the last minute. You can avoid this crisis by having written, formal contracts that cover your needs. If the worst should happen, a contract also gives you a strong argument in court proceedings over payments (or lack thereof).

4. Don't Go Bankrupt - Successful Event Planning Involves a Budget

Be sure that you have a clear budget for your event. If you're doing it for hire or for an employer, they'll give you a number to use as your planning base. Of course, they'll respect you if you save some money. If you're depending on donations or paying for the event out of your own pocket, you should have in mind a minimum and maximum amount that you're able to spend. Do enough research to have a realistic idea of what different event planning elements will cost (caterer, entertainment, facility rent, decorations, etc.). Some of these costs will be more flexible than others. You may not be able to do much about the price of the facility, but you can make menu choices that will influence the cost of catering. And you have a lot of room to negotiate for affordable entertainment - anywhere from an orchestra to a one-man band. Decide which parts of your budget are most important and fund those first. Try to buy decorations and other supplies from a discount outlet or in bulk. Do your homework during event planning, and you're more likely to get the most out of your money.

5. Don't Get Over-stressed OR Over-Relaxed

In successful event planning, much work is done far in advance. This helps reduce the organizer's stress level. It also assures that the best goods and services are available at a reasonable cost. But sometimes, when things are going great well in advance of the event, it's a temptation to sit back and take it easy for a while. But take care - just the time you think it's safe to sit down, the roof falls in. Keep up on event planning progress by checking in on others, offering to help resolve problems, or making a few important phone calls during those "down times" when things seem really quiet. Don't let things slide until tomorrow, or they may become much bigger problems that demand more time or money to fix than if you had been there to cut it off at the pass.

If you're event planning is thorough, and your schedule and budget are well thought-out, you should have some planned times for relaxation. Use them as scheduled, not as they seem to come. Otherwise, you may find yourself in a crisis with limited resources and few options. The time to slow down and relax is usually the day of the event. Everything's set up and in gear. You've done your job, and the event is coming off without a hitch. You can afford to relax and enjoy the event because you were on top of things in the earlier event planning stages.

How to Compare Pricing For Security For Your Corporate Event

Firstly you need to understand that not all security guards are the same

To compare security event pricing you need to understand the differences between the security personnel and what the legal requirements are for your security company. High fees do not translate to quality security personnel.

Security standards for corporate events

Event security is a crowd control function and this requires that all the guards at your event need to have the current security certificates and licences to work in crowd control.

Unlike nightclubs, the security at events need to have superior customer service skills and ability to control incidents without resorting to force unless absolutely necessary.

This means you really should demand security individuals with at least a certificate level 3 or higher to demonstrate their ability to work in functions outside nightclubs.

Comparing hourly rates

The security company will try and charge you the highest hourly rate for your security team, and then fill your event with whoever is available. This is not good enough.

Make it part of the event contract that you have final say on the security team that arrive so you can stop the company sending substandard personnel. You should check the following;

• their dress and appearance on the day


• ask some questions about the local area to see if they can help your guests with directions to banks, toilets, taxis etc


• test their ability to read, write and speak at a suitable standard for your event and its image


• request at least 20-50% of security personnel be females as they tend to limit the number of bouncer types sent to your event and enable comfort for your guests

The standard hourly rates should be between $35-45 for quality security staff. Keep in mind that you will need to pay more for events held on weekends, after hours or on public holidays. This is usually 2-3 times the standard hourly rate.

Minimum hours of contracted services will usually be 3 hours for shifts and up to 10 hours for longer shifts.

Safety in numbers

Most event organisers know that events held that require security also need to know their span of control. This is the number of patrons or guests at the event that security need to control.

Most security companies require a minimum of two security guards at any event for their safety and ability to perform a minimum service. If you have more than 200 guests you will require an additional security guard per 100 guests after the first 200 people.

In my experience, it will take 3-4 people to effectively control 200 guests at your event. This is because of the sheer nature of walking around, checking guests in at the door, and providing escorts to cars after the event closes for example.

It is also important to remember that during an emergency evacuation the security team will need to be able to safely evacuate panicking crowds.

Equipment costs

All security equipment should be provided by the security company at their own cost, so don't be tricked into paying for radio's or other equipment they need to do the job. This is part of their running expenses and is already included in the hourly rates they are charging.

Like any service contract, ask the security companies to give you a list of three previous corporate events they have managed in the last 12 months for you to contact.

Wedding Planning Courses for Beginners

There is no formal requirement for a wedding planner. If you are interested to be a wedding planner, you will need necessary knowledge. Education is important for you to be a good wedding planner. In the courses, you can gain the knowledge and support from other professionals within the industry who may at some point refer you to potential clients.

At wedding planning classes, you will learn the skills needed to organize weddings as a business or for personal enjoyment. The courses are usually offered in a certificate program in wedding, event or meeting planning. The wedding planning certification is important to show that you are a qualified wedding planner.

At first, the students will learn basic concepts of meeting management. It includes how to set an agenda and the terminology used in the industry. A step-by-step plan will be reviewed so that the students can organize a function that focuses on program delivery, room layout, multi-media integration, return on investment, speakers and other topics.

Wedding planning students will get a course to look at the event timeline and budget management. The use and understanding of fashion, styles, color, and ambiance to enhance the event will be also taught for the beginners. Other skills that the students will learn are directing and consulting with clients regarding personal choices in decoration, music, catering, program, entertainment and other areas. The students also experience to work diligently with vendors to make sure product and service delivery, negotiate contracts and resolve issues. Learning negotiations and contracts is important. They will get the usefulness of requests for proposals in hiring appropriate services and get the negotiation techniques, including leveraging, to get the best deal possible.

Besides, the courses cover everything from communication, organization, hospitality, and conflict resolution. The skill to succeed in choosing convention centers, hotels, conference centers and other sites will be included in the course. Through a tour of facilities, students will experience how to identify potential issues and ensure event needs.

In the course, students learn how to efficiently promote an event to reach and attract target audiences. The skill for marketing plan will be also taught. The course will discuss direct mail options, online marketing and other media.

In the management of food, beverage and catering, the students can learn how to put together the appropriate catering theme, menu and service for an event. Moreover, this course explores the specific types of food usually available at large events and the best foods to serve to different crowds of people. The service style which can affect the ambiance of an event becomes the focus of this course. The students learn techniques on how to maximize budgets and manage costs, as well as how to communicate effectively with catering staff.

Business Accounting - Is Our Company Office Party Going to Be Deductible?

Happy Holidays everyone, now it's time for your yearly office party, and yes, it is deductible. No, not everything can be deducted 100% as many have reported in the media. There are specific rules for both corporations and small businesses filing schedule C. Why not look this up or talk to your accountant about exactly what you can and cannot deduct.

In fact, there was a great article on this the other day in Hot Rod and Restoration News Magazine, a cool trade journal for those of us involved in the automotive industry. The article was on this very topic and titled; "How to Write Off the Expenses for Your Company's Holiday Party," posted on December 8, 2010 and written by the all famous Devlin Smith!

Indeed, there was another great article which was also referenced in that article by Roni Lynn Deuth which appeared in Women Entrepreneur Magazine titled; "Party On for a Tax Break - Show Appreciation for Clients, Customers, and employees - and Get a Tax Deduction, Too!" which appeared on December 2, 2010.

If you are a small business and file a Schedule C - then under the IRS Codes under "meals and entertainment category" is 50% for allowable expenses. Some people try to bury it and categorize it in an Office Meeting or Office Expense, but technically that is not really appropriate. Many companies will buy things like candy, coffee, etc, while at the office supply store where they sell it, and since that receipt is from an office supply store then it's customary to deduct it as office expense, which mean it is 100% deductible.

Big Corporations have different rules, and event planners and such work to keep the party items less than extravagant so they don't get into problems, like Tyco's Dennis Kozlowski's party for his second wife Karen's 40 TH B-party, which cost $2 million and he tried to have Tyco pay half or $1 million. That was obviously over-the-top and definitely not deductible, not even half of it.

So, for your little company please stay within the rules, and have a great office party this holiday season, and only deduct what is appropriate as per the tax law. Make sure your business accountant does it correctly, and check with them in advance so you don't mess this up, as it can be a "red flag" trigger at the IRS is those expenses appear to be out of line. Please consider all this.

Event Planners - A Close Look at The Job and Tasks Involved

An event organizer is a person or company in charge of promotional events. The job includes various phases, from the initial planning stage down to its actual execution.

In the planning stage, the organizer might first need to meet with the potential client. The job here is to ask the customer what kind of event he or she wants. Some clients want a party that doubles as an event kick off, while others might want a musical performance.

Once this part is over, the event organizer will now function as a master of logistics. This includes finding the right artists to provide entertainment that is in line with the product or company's image. It also includes hiring reliable receptionists and caterers who will welcome guests and serve food during the party. This individual will also work to find you the right venue. Part of the job also includes finding technical services to ensure that all audio and video equipment is working properly.

During the product or company launch, this individual will need to be on top of the situation. This means coordinating with the clients whenever possible. It also translates to attending to VIP guest requests for food, giveaways, and anything else in between.

What other services can they give?

Yet another part of the job would be to administer or coordinate surveys related to the event. Some organizers carry this out during the event by asking guests what products they liked. Others may send out a full-scale questionnaire that guests and participants will answer.

Will the person analyze costs in every activity?

Yes, the person might analyze costs but the client will still have a final say whether to continue with certain activities or not. Compared to say, accountants, event planners are not number crunchers. Their job has more to do with administration and implementation. If a client finds the costs burdensome, the organizers might suggest alternatives, but not ways to cut down on expenses.

What service types are available?

It depends on the company hired for the job. Some firms specialize in providing services only. What you get in this service is a person or a group of people working to get everything organized. You pay the firm and pay for everything else they hired or bought on your behalf.

A comprehensive package is another service available. In this setup, you hire a company that has essentially everything you need. They have the organizers, equipment, and possible locations covered.

How much will I spend if I hire one?

It depends on expertise and services offered. Popular firms may charge slightly higher than others, since they already have an established reputation. The main benefit, however, is getting experience and fame on your side.

Having a new or relatively new marketing company is another possible choice. The arrangement may cost less since these firms have yet to be famous. The main advantage is cost and services extended. Most startup ventures are eager to please since they want to have more clients.

Hiring an event planner is a great idea, but the process may take some time. If you want to hire one, get referrals from friends and family. Use the Internet if you want to find out about the latest packages and how much these cost.

5 Biggest Mistakes in Event Planning

Everyone wants to have the best of the best for their events, and of course, at their events. Therefore, providing a relevant theme is necessary, as well as the music, the food, and of course, a good crowd. Though it sounds all easy and fullproof, some events are planned poorly, causing an anticipated experience to turn into a huge flop. Though only five mistakes out of an entire production, these factors can make or break your function and even your reputation.

1. Lack of social media. Hello! Get with the times. To get attention from people you have to go where they always are; that's either their cell phone or laptop. Facebook, Twitter, and Linked-In are three of the largest social media sites out now, but there are plenty more. Get there, make an account, add people you want to reach, and share your message. The best part of this is that it is free! You can create your own buzz.

2. No Strategy.All our lives we are taught to brainstorm, create three or more rough drafts, and make outlines. Why lose that lesson when it comes to event planning? Start with an outline. Include the amount of people expected, how to get to the venue, the interior, and the supplies you'll need,. When planning, imagine as if the event is happening as you plan so when it is actually time for the event, you have worked through all of the kinks.

3. Over promise, under deliver. No one likes to be expecting one thing and end up getting the complete opposite. Do not hype your event to be the best thing since touch screen and it becomes a huge disappointment. Have confidence in your function, but do not over do it. Give it enough excitement, but leave room for your guest to coin it as the best thing ever. If you gas the event, it can backfire if it does not deliver. Disappointed guest will speak and you would not want your name tagged to anything less than worthy.

4. Following up. People have lives. Everyone you are trying to reach may not get the message at the same time so you have to follow up on your event. Do not sent out one post a week before the event and do not speak of it until the day of. Post daily reminders and key information that will get the guest you are attempting to reach prepared for the party. If they ask questions, answer them. They want to know that they are being considered.

5. Targeting a small audience. It is comfortable to invite just the people you know and a few that they know, however there is no gain. Expand your message and share your expertise. Do not just invite the same people you go out with. Reach people in other circles from other places, but who have same interest. Broaden yourself. This can open up doors for you and even more event planning. Network!

Make a checklist with these five tips and apply them to your outline to make sure you are in the right direction. Avoiding these mistakes by paying them close detail, can definitely bring you and your event great success. The better planned, the better outcome, the more events for your and your business!

Conference Facilities To Make A Successful Conference

Although people frequently meet with others but when they meet formally at a broader level to confer about a particular topic, it is called a conference. There are many types of conferences like: business conference, sports conferences, athletic conferences, academic conferences, news conferences, parent-teacher conferences and settlement conferences etc.

The ways of organizing as well as the requirements of facilities differ in all these types of meetings. All conferences are organized at particular venues. A venue is a place that holds the conferences and provides all the necessary facilities to the attendees that leads towards the successful execution of the conference.

As the conference facilities are linked with specific types of meetings, so the most important thing is to decide about the goals and the purpose of the meeting in order to avail the facilities accordingly. The requirements of conference facilities are dependent on the nature of the conference and vary from simple to complex. There is no doubt that the seminar facilities can make or break the image of a meeting; so it is very important to make sure the availability of the required facilities in the meeting venues.

To make a seminar successful it is very necessary that the venue has a fully equipped auditorium. The best auditorium is the one that has the required number of seats, audio visual equipments and the facility of air-conditioning. The auditorium must have the equipments to cater to the needs of disabled people like wheel chairs and hearing systems.

There are some types of meetings in which display and exhibition facilities are required. Some meetings also require seminar rooms that must have projectors, white boards and different set ups of the rooms. Some conferences require air-conditioned mini-theatre rooms that should be equipped with audio and AV systems.

In order to organize meetings during conferences, meeting rooms provide the appropriate space for organizing meetings in an appropriate environment. The ideal meeting rooms have plasma screens or hanging screens that assist the attendees in different ways.

For a successful conference, it is very important to have broadband internet access and computers for all those who need it. The availability of medical facilities is also vital for the participants. Some companies can provide different services according to the needs and demands of people so it is better to negotiate with the service providers to get the advantage of the advanced facilities.

There are some conference facilities that can only be provided by the event planners. Event planners are experts at organizing conferences so they can contribute a lot to make the conference successful. With their experience of many years to hold conferences, they can handle all sorts of situations in a better way. Car parking is also a requirement of the participants of the conference, thus the availability of this facility makes sure that the attendees do not face any problem while parking their cars. The catering facilities are also required in a venue.

How an Event Planner Makes Your Event a Dream

It is no surprise that people are hiring event planners in San Francisco to organize their parties and social events. These party planners have been known to make dreams come true and organize parties which clients remember for years on end. They have been known to think out of the box and come with creative ideas for parties. They have great themes and ideas for all kinds of parties and events. They have the best tips for kid's parties as well as adult parties. They can even handle your corporate events. They strive to make your party much more special.

A party is not just about a date and people getting together. There are a lot of factors you need to consider like caterers, your d矇cor, lights, sound, music and the theme for your party. These event planners' in San Francisco will take care of all of this. If you look properly, you can find companies that offer these services at very affordable rates and in a budget suited to your needs. Here is a list of a few of the services that these event planners in San Francisco offer:

1. Catering - These companies have an array of world class chefs who are experts at cooking all sorts of cuisines. Great food has always been called the essence of life and can be one of the key elements of your party. These companies are also tied up with the top caterers in San Francisco as well as San Jose. Good Food, Great Beverages will always delight your guests.

2. D矇cor - This is one of the most important elements of an event. These companies make sure they transform your home or venue into something out of a dream. They design the d矇cor to match your theme. And if you haven't thought of a theme as yet they can help you with that as well. They provide lighting, Space Shaping, Props, Center Pieces, Balloon D矇cor, large outdoor d矇cor as well as draping.

3. Event Rentals - These Companies would help you with all sorts of event rentals like Chairs, Tables, Linens, Glassware, Patio Heaters, Tents of all sizes, inflatable's as well as generators.

4. DJ's, Music and Bands - They would provide the best DJ's with a wide variety of music to suit your party theme. You can also get live performers and bands if that's what gets your feet kicking.

5. Transportation - Your planner can also provide great transportation services for your guests. They can provide a pick up and drop service for all your guests. They can arrange for Party Buses which would seat up to 40 people. They can also provide Stretch Limos, Hummer limos, Escalade Limos, Executive Limos, Limo Buses, Trolley Car Busses as well as tour busses.

These are just a few of the great services that are offered by a good event planner in San Francisco. So why not go a little crazy for your Birthday and have a party you will remember for a lifetime, I am sure with the help of these companies you can make that a reality.

Assessing The Suitability Of Banquet Chairs For Various Events

Comfort provided by seats or chairs play a large role in making any social event or occasion successful. Thus, the quality of the chair, including its design, size and the material used to make it, should always be considered.

It is common to find banquet chairs used as seats in many events. Organizers of events are seen to have preference over banquet chairs over other types of chairs in the events they set up. Aside from the fact that these chairs are known to be more comfortable than most, they can also be used in various events or occasions. It is also easier and simpler to maintain them and care for them. Of course, that would depend largely on the material they are made of. Overall, the chairs are a favorite because they have versatility in design and material used. They are easy to transport and you can easily store them by stacking them. Their transportability and portability also increase if they happen to be of the foldable design.

Events will definitely have a lot more substance if banquet chairs are used. The theme of the occasion should coincide with the design, shape and color of the chairs themselves, which is why a lot of planning should be made when making a choice of the chairs. Granted that all the features and attributes mentioned give the chairs a good image, but nothing lacks flaws. There are bound to be some drawbacks or problems, both major and minor, in these banquet chairs.

The first drawback you are most likely to encounter is the cost. If you run a catering business, or an events organization business, you will need a good number of chairs, and in a stock of different sizes and design. The cost of buying such a volume of chairs is not cheap, yet your budget will depend on the type of chair materials you will buy. An event would look really professional if metal banquet chairs are used, even if they are quite on the bulky or heavy side. You can also choose to buy plastic chairs, but they can prove to be more expensive than the metal chairs. They have the advantage of being lighter, though.

The positive side of it is they will be long-lasting business assets, which is if you handle and maintain them properly. When you have to host a big event, you will not bother will issues of hiring extra chairs if you have a good number in stock. You do not have to worry during the slower or off-peak seasons, too, because you can hire out the banquet chairs to those who need them.

As you focus on cost, you will touch on comfort and durability of the chairs. Comfort should most definitely be considered. After all, these are metal chairs we're talking about. It is no wonder, then, that cushions are often placed on these metal chairs. Your budget would increase considerably if you have to take into account the cushion covers that will have to be used. Compared to metal chairs, the plastic ones would prove to be easier and more comfortable to set up. They are rather expensive, though, and that's something you shouldn't forget. If you manage to find banquet chairs that are made of both metal and plastic, you already have comfort and durability covered. Metal tends to rust, plastic does not, and plastic will add that element of comfort in the chairs instead of have the expensive option of cushioned metal banquet chairs.

Storage will be the other issue of concern. You cannot expect the chairs to never require repairs. They become old, they get scratched and damaged from repeated stacking and storing. That is a flaw with the chairs that many need to come to terms with. You may put all preventive care and maintenance measures but still it would happen. But that doesn't mean that you should be careless in the storage and transport of these banquet chairs.

Event Planning Course - Advantages Of Event Planning Course

Event planning is increasing its popularity because every now and then different kinds of events take place and people want a class with perfection in their functions and for this, they seek professional event planners. So if you want to step into this field you should consider doing an event planning course to have success in your field. There are many advantages in doing such courses.

You can take admission in any good institution or go through online certification as it has become easy to get education in this profession; only you need to have an aptitude and interest. Event planning course will help you to boost your talent and bring more chances of success for you in the future. You can do an event planning course even if you are already in this profession; by this you can heighten your running profession by learning new things.

It is true that there is no certain degree needed to start the profession and you don't need to acquire a college degree for these fields but still there are many institutions that offer event management and planning diplomas and courses. But the question is why there are such courses when you do not need a degree in this field. Here you will get to know what the importance of these courses is.

If you start your profession through having an event management and planning course, you can groom your work and enhance your inner talent by their training. Such institutions teach you how to manage an event from every angle which common people might not think about. These courses tell you how to handle budget, time, place food and music arrangements.

There are many event planning companies who seek for talented and skillful staff; you can get job easily by having a certificate of event planning course. These event organizing courses give you a confidence to do work and experiments.

You can learn how to deal with clients; how to understand one's mind and choice so you can plan their event according to that. You can learn to make contacts with different dealers to arrange a perfect event in a reasonable budget.

There are plenty of professional event planners who are providing people with good services and much more experienced so undoubtedly there is a hell lot of competition in the market. So to prove your identity and have some professional skills you need to do event planning course. If you are certified by any authentic institution, you will have more chances to make your place in the market and flourish in your business.

Order Wholesale Trophies or Engraved Personalized Gifts for Sports Awards, Corporate Events and More

Shop online to get the best deal on engraved personalized gifts and wholesale trophies for a variety of events. Engraving allows you to add a personalized touch to wholesale trophies, awards and promotional products. Your recipients will display their trophies or engraved personalized gifts for years to come.

Trophies are the perfect way to recognize milestones and achievements for sports players of all ages. Whether you need trophies for one coach or an entire sports team, an online retailer offering wholesale trophies can make the process of customizing and ordering wholesale trophies affordable and hassle-free. Choose a retailer offering detailed, well-crafted wholesale trophies worthy of displaying for years. Your retailer's wholesale trophy website should provide online catalogues, and have the ability to overnight you catalogs to view full product listings. The site should include an option to message the retailer with your estimated order to request a quote for your event.

If you're looking to recognize the work or achievement of a teacher, employee or more, consider ordering personalized acrylic, crystal, glass or silver awards. These beautiful awards can be customized to fit any budget, and can be used for almost any occasion. Engrave with a person's name, company logo, meaningful quote, or whatever else you may have in mind. These engravable awards can be accented with additions such as different colored acrylic or wood trimming.

Engraved personalized gifts work well for multiple occasions, particularly for corporate events and for recognizing employee achievements. Order any number of useful gift items, including gold-plated brass keyrings, pen sets with engravable boxes or bases, desk clocks in a variety of finishes, or rosewood piano-finish jewelry boxes with laser engravable plates. Other common engraved personalized gifts include business card cases, picture frames and pocketknives. All engraved personalized gifts come in a variety of finishes, made of top quality materials. Order a set of business card cases with engravable leather tops, and gold plated cases, or picture frames with a beautiful piano finish and laser engravable brass plate. Order American Walnut quartz clocks, personalized with your employee, company name or more. Pocketknives feature wood or stainless steel finishes, and 11-function or 7-function varieties. Your recipients will appreciate receiving engraved personalized gifts and trophies for their hard work or achievements-these awards provide a since of accomplishment, and serve as keepsakes that last a lifetime.

How To Plan A Banquet - A Guide To Planning Perfect Banquets For Company Or Private Parties

First time planners are often stricken with complete fear! Even those that plan events over and over again still fear that something will go wrong and they will be the subject of ridicule. Hopefully we can allay the fears and quell the butterflies in your stomach by helping you through the entire project.

There are a lot of questions you need to ask. First timers probably don't have the foggiest idea what questions to ask, so, the first thing we'd better do is outline these for you.

Perhaps the easiest way to do that is to fill out a form. (I love forms!)
If you were to phone me and ask me to help you make arrangements for a special event, the first thing I would do is reach for a blank form, and over the phone we would fill it out. When I had all the information, I would be better prepared to help you.

Before you continue reading, you may want to print the banquet planning worksheet(PDF) from my website. That way you can follow along with the worksheet as I describe the planning process. I've also included a pre filled sample planning worksheet that you might help.

Let's begin with fact finding.

PURPOSE

The first question to ask is, "What is the purpose of the event?" This question should be really easy, but it's perhaps the most important. The purpose of your event will determine your event's agenda.

DATE

Break out your calendar to decide a date for your event. Look for possible conflicts. It might be tough to get people out to a Saturday night banquet if it's a three-day holiday. It would be unwise to put on a church social if your local school, where most of your congregation had children attending, were having an open house or play that night.

Pencil in a date and then try to think of possible conflicts. I know of one organization that booked a very popular and relatively expensive Jewish comic into the club house of a predominantly Jewish retirement community. Attempts to sell tickets failed miserably, because they had not realized they had scheduled his appearance on a Jewish holiday - a very expensive oversight!

BUDGET

There are many, many determining factors in establishing a budget. First of all, how many are expected to attend? You might have a pretty good idea for a company party, but in some cases you might just have to make a "guess-timate" until you can get more information. Make the best possible estimate based on what facts you have, and proceed.

TICKET PRICE

Another factor to determine before we select a location is how much your attendees are willing to pay. Sure, we can work the other way: we can pick a location, hire a band, select the menu, etc., and then add up how much it all costs and thus determine how much everyone needs to pay, but doing so will probably leave you hurting in the end.

If you expect 1,000 people, and you determine $25.00 a person is acceptable, then your entire budget for food, printing, entertainment, etc., is $25,000. If you expect only 20 people and you know they won't come if it's over $5.00 a person, then you know you're far more limited.

LOCATION

Determine the geographical area where the event is to take place. If you live in the area where the event will take place, you may already know of various hotels, country clubs, restaurants or catering halls that can accommodate your group. If you don't live in the area, be sure to go look at the potential location before you book it. If the event is in a distant city and it's not possible for you to travel there, and the event is a significant one, I suggest you hire a professional meeting planner.

I once attended a banquet in a quaint "50's malt-shop-type restaurant. The party planner had not gone there to look at the room where the party was to be. She had just taken the word of a friend. True, it was a great restaurant, but their "room" had about 5 permanent booths on each wall. Guests were facing in all different directions. This made it almost impossible for the magician they had hired to perform. To further confuse the issue, it was not even a private room. Restaurant customers could not get to the restroom without disturbing the party, and the 50's music continued to blare through the ceiling speakers throughout the evening because it was piped throughout the whole restaurant and could not be isolated from one room. A visit beforehand could have prevented this nightmare.

Many, if not most, facilities do not charge a fee for the use of the room but instead absorb the rental fee into the price of the meal. For instance, in our example of 200 people, a banquet facility would be delighted to supply a private room in order to sell 200 dinners.

Usually they will have several dinners to choose from - perhaps a chicken dinner, complete with beverage, salad and dessert, for $12.00 per person; or prime rib at $18.00 each; or sirloin steaks at $25.00 per person. In our example we are charging $30.00 per person. Let's select the prime rib at $18.00.

Does that include tax and tip? Oh, Oh! Find out if it does, or you may get a surprise at the end of the night. Let's say it does not. 15% tip and 8% (or whatever) tax makes the dinner a total of $22.14 per person. Our sample budget calls for 200 people at $30.00 each for a total of $6,000. If all 200 people attend, dinner will cost $4,428. That leaves $1,572 for all other costs.

By the way, the facility may ask you for a deposit and guarantee. If you guarantee 200 people, you will have to pay for 200 dinners even if only 175 show up. Generally, a facility is prepared to serve about 10% more people than you guarantee. So it makes sense to guarantee a lesser number than you expect. Even some of those who told you absolutely they would be there, maybe even gave you a deposit, don't show for one reason or another.

Just to be on the safe side, in our example of 200 people, I would guarantee the restaurant 185. If you're pre selling tickets, which I recommend, you can always adjust your estimate upwards with the restaurant a day or two ahead of time if needed. Ask the facility about their requirements in regard to a change in the guarantee.

AGENDA

The evening agenda is largely determined by the event's purpose. A typical event might go like this:

6:00 - 7:00 - Social or cocktail hour

7:00 - 8:00 - Dinner

8:00 - 8:15 - Meeting/Awards/Business

8:15 - 9:00 - Entertainment/Speaker

9:00 - 9:10 - Raffle/Door Prizes

9:10 - 1:00 - Dancing

Having an hour to "gather" is always good. You and the facility both will want everyone present when you actually sit down to eat. It's been my experience that almost everything starts late, so plan for it and don't be disappointed when it happens.

Will you be having a cocktail hour? A "Hosted" bar means that drinks are free to the party-goers. If you choose to host the cocktail hour, be prepared to spend about $1200 for our sample group of 200 people. Most organization-sponsored events have a 'No-Host' bar, in which guests buy their own drinks. It's appropriate to announce 'Hosted', or 'No-Host' in the invitation.

Some form of entertainment during the cocktail hour is certainly a plus. The facility may have music piped in through its sound system, which is certainly the most economical; however, for around $300 you could have live music. Most banquet facilities have a piano, sometimes on wheels, and will let you either rent the piano or use it for free. Fee for the piano rental should be around $50 to $100 and a piano player anywhere from $150 to $250.

Other cocktail hour entertainment could include a chamber group, a jazz or "society" trio, harpist, or a strolling accordionist. A strolling "close-up" magician, performing from group to group or table to table, is always fun. Other forms of entertainment for the cocktail hour could include celebrity look-alikes, mechanical or conventional mimes, a balloon animal sculptor, caricaturist, graphologist, palm reader, tarot card reader, stilt walker, or just about anything else you can think of! Again, your budget is your gauge.

DINNER

This is pretty easy. When the Maitre'd says dinner is ready, have your party sit down!

The vast majority of banquets have certain people assigned to sit at the head table while everyone else may sit where they wish. If you choose to have a head table, you should make small place markers for those assigned to sit at the head table, and don't forget to discuss table arrangements with the facility.

OPENING

Someone, perhaps you, should step to the microphone and announce that dinner is ready and ask everyone to take a seat. When this has been accomplished your President, or whoever is presiding, should welcome everyone.

It is appropriate at most banquets to have someone lead the flag salute, followed by a blessing on the food. People should not be called upon for these jobs extemporaneously, but should be asked in advance and their names and responsibilities should be listed on the printed program if there is one. Following the flag salute and prayer, your Master of Ceremonies (or who ever is conducting) should introduce the people sitting at the head table, introducing himself last.

THE PROGRAM

If business of any sort needs to be conducted, begin when dessert is finished, or at least served. Make sure that the facility knows that you do not want any bussing (clearing of tables) or coffee served after the program starts, as it can become an irritating distraction and take away from the enjoyment of the program.

ENTERTAINMENT

Following opening remarks, and/or other business, you could either introduce the main speaker, or present some form of entertainment.

This could be the highlight of the evening! There are many outstanding after-dinner performers and speakers. If you really want to have a successful event, hire a professional. At this writing $500 to $1,000 can buy you some pretty top-notch entertainment.

How about a comedian-magician who uses a member or two of your group and does some hilarious bits of business and audience participation magic tricks - 30 or 40 minutes of non-stop laughs!

Or picture this...the dessert has just been served and in walks "Lt. Columbo," complete with overcoat and cigar..."Oh, excuse me," he says, "I was looking for somebody else." All eyes are riveted on this familiar figure as he turns and starts to walk out. "Oh, one more thing, is this the Walker party?' Then for the next 30 minutes or so he does a comedy routine in the style and delivery of Peter Falk as Lt. Columbo, using names of people in your group.

That will rock your people out of their seats with laughter. These are just a couple of suggestions. Everybody loves to laugh, and a good professional entertainer can make you a hero.

How do you find that kind of entertainment? Again, watch out for the well-meaning friend. Sometimes hiring a friend of a friend who tells jokes or plays the banjo can put a wet blanket on the evening if they don't live up to your expectations.

Probably the best way to secure talent is to work with a professional talent agent that specializes in special events. Ordinarily there is no fee for his services. He can make recommendations and suggestions based on what your needs are, and work within your budget limitations.

Some entertainers may have special requirements, like a stage, spotlight, two mics or something else, and these items need to be arranged with the facility. There may be a rental fee involved.

RAFFLE/DOOR PRIZES

Giving away door prizes or raffle prizes should not be held until after the entertainment or main speaker. Perhaps it's an inducement for your guests to stay until the end.

If you're selling raffle tickets, again you need to make out a budget. How many tickets do you expect to sell and for how much money? Do you want to make a profit? Let's say you expect to sell 100 tickets to those 200 people expected to come, and we sell them at the banquet for $2.00 each. That'll give you $200 to buy prizes with. You can put this in your general budget or assign someone to take care of the whole raffle, including purchasing the prizes and selling the tickets.

DANCING

Following the raffle, the formal portion of the program is really over. Your people can now go home. If you've elected to have a deejay or band, they may stay for dancing.

The facility might charge to set up a dance floor. Sometimes this is a portable dance floor they build right on top of the carpet. A band will cost anywhere from $150 per band member to $450 per band member for four hours. A small trio of keyboard, drum and guitar could be anywhere from $750 to $1,500.

An $1,800 to $3,500 five-piece band, including a vocalist, is average. If you hire a band, you may be able to use one or more of those same musicians to provide cocktail hour and/or dinner music for a small additional fee. You normally need to make a deposit at the time you hire the band. Anything over four hours' playing time is considered overtime, and you should talk with the band or agent about the cost of overtime when you make the initial arrangements. Bands also need to take a 10-15 minute break each hour. Ask if the band will supply recorded music during their breaks.

MOBILE DEEJAY

Sometimes you might prefer a DeeJay playing recorded music instead of hiring a band. This gives you the advantage of hearing the original recording artist instead of a dance band's rendition.

Another advantage is that most mobile DeeJay units will set up before dinner and offer to play dinner music at no additional cost, and of course, a DeeJay does not take a break during the evening, so you have non stop music for your event.

Cost-wise, there is not a lot of difference between a 3-piece band and a DeeJay. Some DeeJays offer a full light-show that few bands do, and even with an additional charge, this could be a real plus. I think it's just a matter of taste. Some people insist on a live band and others are just as adamant about a DeeJay.

PHOTOGRAPHER OR VIDEOGRAPHER

Video taping an event, except for historical purposes, is unnecessary. Seldom will the video tape or DVD be watched more than once after the event. Yes, maybe a Bar or Bat Mitzvah will watch his or her recording years later when they grow older, and maybe even a bride and groom would watch a well-edited and condensed recording. A company or organization's banquet, however, will be seldom if ever watched.

I would recommend that you hire, budget permitting, a professional photographer rather than leaving it up to one of your guests or a friend of a friend who only takes photos twice a year. You can have the photographer deliver prints or a CD of digital photographs in which case you could print just the photos you want.

PROMOTION

Probably the most traumatic thing that could occur is that you planned the entire event and then no one came. If it's a company party and the food, entertainment, drinks and dancing are all free, I don't think you will have a problem, as long as you let everybody know when and where and that it's FREE!

But if that's not the situation, you may need to promote the event. Once you have all the facts (WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY, WHO, and HOW MUCH), you can create a flyer - a piece of paper with all the facts on it, designed to motivate people to attend.

If you're an artist, great! You can create the flyer yourself. If not, maybe someone in your group is and they can help you. Otherwise, you need to "rough it out" the way you'd want it and take it to a graphic artist to do the "camera-ready copy" for you, then off to a printer to print however many you're going to need. How many you need will depend on how you're going to distribute them.

The layout, printing, envelopes and postage all need to go into your budget. There are, of course, additional ways you can promote the event - word of mouth, bulletin boards, phone committee, club or company newsletter, posters. If your event will be open to people outside your organization, you might try using the publicity channels of other related groups, companies, schools, etc., as well as your own. Have a "brainstorming session" with your committee, if you have one, to think of all the ways you can get the word out.

And remember that if you want people to come to your activity, you can't just tell them. You have to tell them and tell them and tell them! Use all the resources at your disposal, and don't hesitate to repeat yourself. The more times you tell them, the more will come!

TICKET SALES

There are as many ways to handle this as there are ways to promote the event. If you have to lay out funds ahead of time (which is usually the case), it is good to get as much money as you can up front. Pre selling your tickets will help you do that. Of course, your publicity must state your requirements and deadlines. This also will help you get a handle on how many are going to attend. Remember though, that there will still be some last minute cancellations and additions, so stay flexible.

TABLE ASSIGNMENTS

As mentioned earlier, most organizations assign only the head table, and the rest of the attendees are left to sit where they wish. Some groups insist on drawing pictures of the tables on a sheet of paper, numbering them, and then assigning people to specific tables.

I think it's far more work than necessary, but if you must, then have at it.
Some banquets, especially those honoring individuals or groups, offer entire tables "for sale." 10 people per table at $30 each means that for $300 someone could reserve a whole table. Make sure you put a "reserved" sign on that table, showing the name of the host.

THE PRINTED PROGRAM

When all the facts are in, if the budget will permit, a nice printed program could be put at each place setting or handed out as people arrive. It should contain the agenda for the evening and credits given to all those who contributed to the event.

Many organizations have been successful in selling ads in the program to defray the cost of printing or even to raise some extra money. I've put $250 income under the income column of our example. Don't you think you could convince 10 people to give you their business card and pay $25 to be advertised on the back page of the program? Of course, this idea could be a little tacky if the event is to celebrate little Bobbie's 10th birthday. Use your best judgment.

DECORATIONS

This could be a big item or not - strictly up to you. If you picked a beautiful location, and it's not a special seasonal event like a Christmas or Halloween party, why not just enjoy the facility's decor? If you feel you need decorations and you have a sufficient budget, call a party decorator who uses balloons. They go a long way towards dressing up a room without spending a lot of money.

Centerpieces on each table look nice. You can ask someone to donate these or have someone clever make something for each table. Many facilities make such a nice table layout that a centerpiece is not necessary. Don't spend money unnecessarily, but do remember that the nicer the ambience, the better the memories or the event will be in the minds of those who attend, which means that they will want to come to your next event, too!

One note of caution. If you're having entertainment, be careful that large
centerpieces, particularly balloons, don't block the view of the performing area or even the people sitting on the opposite side of the table who want to see and talk to each other.

YOU DID IT!

Yes, you will fret and worry until the whole thing is over, but every party planner does. Just relax, do your best and enjoy! (Here's a secret: If you enjoy what you're doing, the people you are doing it for will enjoy it, too!)