Event Management Service: Appoint Judiciously

Your boss has assigned you the task of selecting the best event management company for organizing the annual conference of the company, which will be followed by a grand dinner? You are a young entrepreneur, who wants to congratulate your stuff on their success and so you want to throw a lavish party? As it is not possible for you to organize the party, you have decided to take the assistance of the professional services. Nowadays many people do not want to take the responsibilities of planning and organizing the parties all by themselves and seek the assistance of the professionals. There is nothing wrong in it.

If you want to appoint an agency for organizing the conference or a dinner party or any other corporate event, you need to take care of a few important factors. One of the most important factors that you need to take care is the reputation of the service in this field. When you want to get the best assistance and want to impress your guests, you should take the assistance of a group that has positive reputation in this field. If a group does not have positive reputation in this field, they will not be able to provide you with the best assistance.

When you are considering assistance of a management group or agency, you should also collect necessary information about their staff members. All the groups do not appoint trained and experienced professionals for their work. Therefore, you should ensure that the service you have selected have appointed experienced members for serving their clients.

To serve your guests in the best manner and to make the episode successful, you should always take the assistance of the event management U.K companies that assures professionalism. As you are planning for a conference, a corporate dinner or any other corporate programs, it will be better for you to take their assistance, from one that works professionally. Your entire effort for organizing the event will be lost if the staffs of the event management companies do not maintain complete professionalism during the occasion. So, you should always give importance to the professionalism of the staffs.

It is obvious that the professional service which will take the responsibility of organizing the entire affair will charge money for their work. The rates of these services depend on their reputation as well as their expertise in this field. To avail the best services, you should never make compromises on the quality of their work for the money that they will charge. However, to save your money and to get the best value of your money, you can take quotations from some of the services. Compare the quotes of a few different services and appoint the one which offers best service at an affordable price.

10 Best Reasons Your Company Needs a Corporate Event Planner!

Getting individuals together for the purposes of brainstorming, motivating and other business-related concerns demonstrates the high-need necessity of a well-planned, well-organized, and well-run conference to produce a remarkable outcome. To handle this weighty job, companies are seeking help from third parties for their corporate meeting planning rather than selecting someone from their staff to accomplish this task.

One major problem of selecting an event planner from the company's staff would be that they are actually taking on two things: the planning of the event as well as their other assigned tasks within the company. Even a person designated to handle small, occasional events could be overwhelmed by anything more major than that.

Corporate meeting planning needs can be comfortably handled by these professionals and here are ten of the best reasons your company should consider a third-party corporate event organizer!

1. A corporate event planner is fully accountable for all details. They can focus on things such as site selection, contract negotiations, the whole reservation process, and basically manage the corporate conference from start to finish.

2. Your company can hold meetings more often in different venues and your company can even decide to take the gatherings to another country.

3. Doing corporate meeting planning for 10 participants is somewhat the same workload as holding conferences for large numbers and the company can get these workloads done efficiently and professionally with the help of a corporate planner.

4. Although most companies don't have any problem in getting their executives together for meetings, giving them the most convenient gathering sites and fulfilling their logistical needs can best be handled by a third-party planner service.

5. About a decade ago, the majority of businesses could spend large sums for luxurious convention venues with first class airlines and other incentives for their executives. In contrast, the present economic crunch finds most businesses trying to lessen costs for every meeting. When a company uses the services of a corporate event planner, research has shown this helps significantly lower the whole budget cost of the company's annual conference.

6. A company can turn over the assembly specifications to a professional event planner and get the information when needed and expect the best results.

7. An event planner will handle the hiring of entertainers or vendors best-suited for any of your corporate events. So whether the event needs a stand-up comedian or a good band, these professionals will handle all these concerns for your meeting!

8. Especially if your company has a short amount of time to plan for a meeting, a third-party event organizer can get all the details worked out and still deliver to you the best venue and assembly management services. In addition, event planners work on every detail of the event with flexibility, understanding that planning sometimes needs to be accomplished in a shorter period of time and be subject to last-minute changes.

9. Your company is guaranteed that everything about your meeting event will be appropriately accomplished as these professional planners are persevering and will work hard for the company's best interest.

10. Corporate event organizers have undergone training and accreditation and are professionally equipped to handle an event and fulfill your corporate meeting planning needs - big or small!

Planning your corporate gatherings is the key for a wonderful yet inexpensive business conference experience for your executives or key personnel - and getting a corporate event planner is the best choice you can make now for your next business meeting and other corporate events!

Corporate Events - A Company's Selling Campaign

Events and different affairs are integral parts of a growing business organization. Success and failure of the events can produce positive or negative effects on the industry position of a firm. Knowing how to prepare one social gathering is very vital; whatever type it is - massive, fancy or simple events must be prepared to please the guests.

The guests in a company affair can differ in size and in the types of attendees. It can have thousands of guests or just a handful of important dignitaries. The guests could be people of the high echelon of the business firm such as board of directors and investors or they can just be simply the workers, customers and suppliers. The aura could be lavish or just intimate.

But the variety does not extend to the result. There should be just one outcome - a successful gathering. This will largely depend on the planners. There are companies that assign their employees to do the planning, with occasional consultation with the boss. But this could be a risky approach. Even if the employees are good and talented, the approach of an expert is very much different and more reliable. It is then advisable that every company should consult a company event planner. Experience and talent of these professionals are always a guarantee for a successful social undertaking.

Celebration of any company affair entails a number of things -the theme, the purpose and the general objective of the event. The expert planner will be able to devise the strategy to make the event conform to the said theme and objective. They suggest the venue options, the food and the activities.

The food usually is one important aspect of any party's success. The event planner will meticulously attend to all the details of the catering. This does not only involve the food, but the crew as well. Past experiences disclose that failure of social events happen because catering fell short of the expectation. In any party, small or big number, there must always be enough or even more than enough food for all the guests. The timing of serving the food is also crucial.

The venue should also be just right for the number of people -not too big to disperse the guests. It should be noted that there should be enough room for them to circulate and socialize. The decorations also create an impression. Therefore, these should conform to the chosen event theme. As a party coordinator has expertise, she can synchronize the decorations, the theme and the program of activities.

Event designing has much to consider and only an expert in the field can do the job perfectly and flawlessly. If the company consistently hold social functions, it is best to have a regular events planner. This way, the company is sure to render variations in style which will make their parties enigmatic. Thus invited guests would come to savor another experience extraordinaire.

How Can an Event Management Company Help?

Organising a party or other type of function takes much work, time and dedication to the task. With guest lists, catering arrangements and types of menu, or designing the d矇cor and styling of the venue, there are a million and one details that need to be coordinated and scheduled.

Who Hires Event Management Companies
Companies or organisations may need help in putting together conferences or learning events for employees or business partners, or to oversee the arrangements for product launches or trade congresses. Event managers will often also undertake tasks such as brand building or marketing.

Private individuals often employ management companies to take care of organising complex events such as weddings or simple events like a local birthday party. Depending on the company, events as small as ten people or as large as thousands, or even millions in a prestigious event held in the media's eye, can be contracted out to experienced management companies.

Tasks Undertaken
Menu planning, venue or marquee booking and erecting, and the hiring of live entertainment is all part of the service. The management company will meet with the client to discuss exact requirements and will tailor hospitality packages within a given budget range.

For large or corporate events the management company will also oversee such things as cash flow control and the procurement of specific or specialised items or equipment. In the case of community events, festivals or concerts where crowd control may be an issue, the company can also undertake the management and efficiency of the movement of people.

Not every client needs total event management. Companies are willing to take over the organisation of just a part of the event, for instance the catering or the booking of entertainment. Initial discussions will cover what areas of the event are best professionally organised and which the event holders can manage themselves. Many times the division of labour is governed by expense and the relative expertise of the client.

Type of Events Managed
Events generally fall into one of four categories: organisational, personal, leisure or cultural, with each having particular needs with regards to organisation and objective.

Any time a group of people gather in celebration, for a conference or community occasion the event needs to be managed effectively if it's to be successful. From festivals and fetes to birthday discos or elaborate weddings, event managing companies exist to take the strain out of organising and leave you free to enjoy the party.

Being a Good Party Planner Organizer Doesn't Happen Overnight

Trying to become a great party planner organizer doesn't happen overnight -- there's no way to get around that. You don't have to have any advanced degrees or anything like that, but you do need to step back and think about what would make you a successful organizer in the first place. It all comes down to a few basic principles -- if you can master the following points, then you'll be designing parties in virtually no time at all.

First and foremost, you will want to make sure that you start thinking about when the party will be. Think that you have plenty of time because the party is really only a month away? Think again! Depending on the number of people that will be coming to the party, you might not have as much time as you think. That's because you need to budget for having things shipped to you, and if they aren't the right items you need, you may have to take things back. If you wait too long in getting this done, you could run very close to the deadline of the party.

Thinking about the theme of the party is very important. You want to not only match the theme to the event, but you also want to think about the type of people that will come to the party itself. If you're throwing a party for children, you will need different decorations than what you would get for adults. Children's decorations tend to be much more brightly colored, and even come with more eye-catching accessories -- like streamers and ribbons.

Getting the word out about the party in advance helps you figure out how many people you want to invite, as well as how many people will actually come. Buying food in advance can be tricky, because you don't want to buy too much and have it spoil before the party begins. Most things can be bought at the last minute or even frozen in a deep freezer and pulled out to thaw. Yes, even cakes can be frozen if you prepare them properly!

Learning how to organize a party can come from trial and error. As you get better, you'll throw better parties. If your guests are the type that will give feedback, don't be surprised if they let you know what they liked and didn't like. This feedback will give you good insight into what people really want to have at a party, which means you can only get better from here!

Throwing great parties could just be a hobby for you, or you could even turn it into a career. Everyone needs someone that can organize an event well. Whether you're thinking about doing this personally or professionally, mastering the basics of good party planning is critical.

The time is right to get interested in becoming a successful party planner and organizer. Why not review these tips and take action on them today? Once you see how happy your future guests will be when they attend your party, you will definitely be glad that you did!

Successful Event & Meeting Planning: How to Boost Attendance

Consider the fact that the annual meeting is the single largest source of non-dues revenue for most associations. Also consider the fact that most exhibitors view a sizable base of interested, qualified buyers as the linchpin of a successful trade show. Consequently, it's in the best fiscal interest of your organization to ensure that as many delegates as possible turn out for your event. Meeting planning should include promotion which is the key to increasing attendance figures, provided that the rest of the "Four Ps" -- product, price, and place -- have been properly developed.

Planning a Meeting? Do Your Homework

Before drafting the marketing plan for your next meeting, ask yourself the following questions:

o Are you certain that you're offering the best educational program to your audience? Do you ask your attendees and members (including those who do not attend) what they need to know and learn to prosper professionally and personally? Are you responding to their needs? Do you actively seek grants, partnerships, and sponsorships that will help you afford to bring the best to your delegates?

o Are the cities you choose affordable and accessible? Are the room rates suitable? Are your registration fees reasonable and competitive while yielding acceptable profit margins?

o Are the time of year and the day of week pattern easy to sell to your audience? (Educators are usually free in the summer, while entrepreneurs of any ilk may have a hard time pulling away from their source of income on weekdays.)

o Is your event scheduled so as not to compete with other industry (public and private) events or your own organization's regional events?

o Is your marketing database the most comprehensive and accurate it can be? Has it been tested, corrected, and USPS-certified? Have you captured the names of all potential attendees from Web inquiries, product purchases, membership inquiries, exhibitor surveys, and marketing alliances with related associations?

o Are your conference mailings frequent enough and timely? Do respondents have sufficient time to budget for the event, get permission to attend the event, and benefit from the early-bird registration cutoff date and the hotel cutoff date in general? Is your program printed far enough in advance to allow you to take advantage of the significantly cheaper, yet slower, nonprofit or bulk mail rates?

o Are you missing opportunities to promote your meeting? Frequently missed opportunities include e-mail signatures, broadcast fax cover sheets, letterhead, ads and articles in every newsletter and magazine you produce, inserts in dues renewal letters and all other outbound correspondence, announcements to the trade press, and splashy unveilings at the previous year's convention and all mid-term events. Do you provide your local chapters and exhibitors with turnkey packages that enable them to support the marketing of the national meeting?

Keep in mind that many activities are competing with your conference for a share of a potential attendee's time and discretionary funds these days. Less personal time; shrinking educational budgets; and an increasing number of educational opportunities available locally, regionally, and on the Internet are forcing meeting planning managers to create a more sophisticated, quantifiable approach to marketing than ever before.

Do the Math

According to the Professional Convention Management Association's Ninth Annual Meetings Market Survey, marketing and promotion account for 11.1 percent of event expenses. Compare this figure to the amount that you are spending to promote your event. Are you spending enough? Too much? Let's calculate.

Assume your attendance goal is 1,500 -- an increase of 5 percent over the previous year -- and your registration fee is $500. If you achieve your goal, you would generate $750,000 in gross revenue. If you spend the industry average of 11 percent to secure this attendance, your out-of-pocket marketing expenses would be $82,500 or $55 for each registered attendee.

Given that the acceptable rate of return for direct mail is at most 3 percent, you would need to mail at least 50,000 total pieces to net 1,500 attendees (.03 x 50,000 = 1,500). With a budget of $82,500, your cost per mailer would be $1.65 including postage. But since research has shown that people need to see your message at least three times before they respond, your cost per mailer would drop to 55 cents. Since this is a low unit cost, you would need to be creative with your distribution costs by including the piece with your monthly newsletter or as a polybagged insert with your journal to save on postage. Advance planning is key.

Create a Timeline for your Meeting

The development and utilization of an annual marketing plan and timeline is a meeting planning tool that will help streamline advance-planning issues. If you rely heavily on board members and volunteer committees, a timeline is a particularly valuable tool. It contains all deadlines so that both staff and volunteers know exactly what is expected of them. It serves as a volunteer recruitment device, allowing prospective volunteers to either commit to the time frame outlined or decide that their schedules won't allow them to participate. And it empowers everyone -- volunteers, staff members, and potential speakers -- to be on the same page at the same time.

Create the timeline with all deadlines and cutoff dates backed up from the date of the event, including sufficient time for development, layout, printing, and distribution in order to avoid rush fees. Following are a few examples of the elements of a bare-bones timeline:

Initial mailing

The purpose of an initial mailing, most likely a postcard, is to prepare the recipients to act. It should inform them to mark their calendars, prepare travel budgets, check the organization's Web site regularly for updates and prepare them to be dazzled at the upcoming event. Destination promotion can be included here along with information about any new educational elements resulting from last year's evaluation. Be sure to send the initial mailer during budget planning time for your industry, typically six to nine months out.

Second mailing

The goal of this mailing is to encourage early registration. The piece, mailed four weeks before the early-bird cutoff date (or eight to 10 weeks before the hotel cutoff date), should include registration and housing forms in addition to finalized information on keynote speakers and seminar topics and presenters.

Final mailing

The purpose of the final mailing, sent out a minimum of three weeks before the hotel cutoff date, is to ask for the order and close on it. It should include all the information that potential attendees need to know to commit -- final agenda, list of exhibitors to date, names and photos of all speakers, airline and car rental discounts, optional tours, registration and housing forms, and anything else that will entice them to attend.

You should be able to determine whether an additional marketing push is needed by figuring out the date, historically, by which half of your attendees are usually registered. If the numbers are lagging at that point, you may want to add another mailer, broadcast e-mail, or fax to the mix.

For each element on the timeline, provide a final copy approval deadline, final layout approval deadline, blueline or press proof approval deadline, and mail date. All dates should be realistic, firm, and shared with all parties as early in the marketing cycle as possible. When all elements of the event -- from site selection to program planning to exhibit sales -- are promoted via a well-oiled marketing machine, the inevitable benefit is increased attendance and satisfied delegates and exhibitors.

Sample Marketing Timeline

14 months out --

Select graphic design/marketing firm. Prepare meeting theme, logo, and introduction for unveiling at current year's event. Prepare exhibitor pre-prospectus. Prepare call for speakers. (Note: All information should be placed simultaneously on the organization's Web site and in vendor newsletters. Public relations team has parallel timeline.)

12 months out --

Unveil meeting theme, logo, and introduction at current year's convention. Provide preliminary destination information. Host committee and CVB should exhibit at event. Update media contacts in press room. Place call for speakers on Web site and hand out to speakers who will be returning. Program committee evaluates current year's speakers. Renew booth space on site using exhibitor pre-prospectus.

10 months out --

Distribute meeting dates to press and affiliated associations for their informational calendars. Begin exhibitor marketing and continue speaker acquisition. Thoroughly analyze current year's exhibitor and attendee evaluations and adjust program to address the issues.

9 months out --

Send out initial mailer (or broadcast fax and/or broadcast e-mail) to members and prospects, asking them to prepare their budgets, mark their calendars, and make plans to attend. Announce keynote speakers and entertainment if possible. Promote destination attractions. Create and approve registration and housing forms. Create PDF and/or interactive forms for Web site. Prepare confirmation letterhead, envelopes, and fax cover sheet.

9 to 6 months out --

Education committee updates members and exhibitors on key speakers and vendors signed up to date via Web site and newsletters. Prepare early-bird registration mailer. Prepare press releases and contact lists, complimentary trade show passes, and marketing materials for inclusion in exhibitor service kits. Send event logo to general service contractor for kit covers. Place event promotion ads in affiliated journals and association's publications.

6 months out --

Send out early-bird mailer. Include registration and housing forms for attendees and exhibitors. Develop preliminary program. Update Web site.

4 months out --

Mail preliminary program, providing specific information on speakers, educational sessions, and the destination as well as registration and housing forms. Post registration and housing forms on Web site. Develop final program mailer. Send list of pre-registered attendees to exhibitors for their pre-event promotions.

3 months out --

Send out final program mailer. Organize public relations efforts for venue and local attendance. Prepare/place ads in local publications if appropriate. Send last-chance broadcast fax or e-mail if necessary. Prepare promotional splash for next year's event for closing ceremony. Prepare materials for your own booth in exhibit hall or welcome area.

Immediately before meeting or event --

Prepare directory, proceedings, and on-site materials, including art for signage, sponsor banners, at-a-glance agendas with room assignments, miscellaneous attendee instructions, message boards, emergency contact information, and other bag stuffers as needed.

Ideas For Family Outings, Friendly Gatherings and Corporate Events

Finding an appropriate outing to suit the whole family or a large group of friends is often quite difficult. With people of varying ages and tastes and abilities, it can certainly be a challenge finding an activity that will please everyone. But what can one do? Catching up with family and friends is so enjoyable. Luckily, there are some great options out there that everyone is sure to enjoy. Getting outdoors and enjoying what your city has to offer can be highly rewarding and very enjoyable.

Picnic in the Park

This is a fairly obvious choice for both family and/or friends but often it is easy to forget about the many beautiful parks that your city has to offer. If the weather is nice then meet for a picnic at any number of parks across the city. Be it a small local park or a larger city garden, it is such a relaxing way enjoy each other's company and take some time to enjoy the beauty of nature. Get everyone to bring a dish of food for a simple, fresh picnic in the sun. Every age group will love a day out like this. This might seem like an odd choice for a corporate event but on a warm summers night, instead of Friday night drinks in the office, why don't you consider a late picnic in the park, something different from the standard office or a bar will definitely be appreciated.

A Day at the Beach

This is such a popular activity. Try and organise this outing far in advance so that everyone knows when it is and can join in, often you might have to drive an hour or so to get to a really nice beach away from the city. Then you can relax and really enjoy yourselves in the sand and surf. Be prepared and pack all that you will need for the whole day, you might even like to make a weekend of it. The beauty of a day at the beach is that there are a range of relaxing and exciting activities that you can do in the one place. Whether it's beach cricket, swimming in the waves, exploring rock pools, walking or relaxing with a book, everyone will enjoy this day together. This might be too hard to coordinate for a large corporate event but could be a great company initiative for team bonding with a 'bring your family to the beach' theme with lunch and transport provided. Employees are sure to like this unique idea.

Go Karting

This may be something you had not considered but you should definitely think about a day of go karting fun. Most large cities are likely to have two or three go karting facilities to choose from and some are more suited to large groups than others but what can be guaranteed is that everyone will love the excitement and the challenge of go karting.

Go karting adheres to strict safety rules and is enjoyed by all ages from young to old. Your track should provide you with all the required safety equipment such as jumpsuits and helmets. On a day with pleasant weather, an outdoor track s definitely preferable, often tracks will have viewing areas so that even if you aren't racing, you can still watch the fun unfold.

A good track should have a range of different powered karts, slower ones for the kids and faster ones for adults seeking a bit more of a thrill. Your track should be big, wide and have a number of challenging S curves, sharp corners and long straights so you can go fast.

Go karting corporate events are becoming increasingly popular for the fun, excitement, team building and bonding that they encourage in workplaces. Go karting venues will often have catering available, kitchen facilities, or a cafe; the good ones should have a barbeque that you can hire so you can spend a good amount of time and bring your own food on the day. Some tracks even have night time racing and great value packages available to make your day cost efficient. This is a great option for your gatherings and something different to the norm.

Country Escapes

Do some research and take the opportunity to get out of the city and enjoy the surrounding country. The more you look, the more you will find; country towns and regions have so much to offer and you are sure to find something to fill your day with. Getting away from the usual routine is a great way to share experiences and bond with family and friends and you should always try and get to know your state or country better.

A wine tasting day in the country is one of the more popular corporate event ideas. It offers a great chance to get out of the normal office environment as the combination of beautiful countryside, quality wine and time spent away from work is great for nurturing friendships rather than just 'working relationships.'

Three Executive Corporate Gift Ideas for Special Occasions

Coming up with three executive corporate gift ideas, even with a fairly large budget, is not always as easy as many people first imagine. In fact, it is quite difficult because at this level there really should be a realistic attempt to fit executive corporate merchandise to particular customers, clients or prospects.

Presenting executive corporate gift ideas have their own quite special problems. The cost is usually quite expensive and, perhaps, for a multi-national corporation might appear to be a drop in the ocean. Alternatively, for a smaller local concern, a similar expenditure might seem exorbitant and appear fairly close to an inducement or an out-and-out bribe. It is true that in some areas of the world and cultures, inducements are a way of life and without these very little would happen on time - if ever.

However, for the purpose of this article we assume that all is as it should be. For this reason, many companies and organisations have their own rules and regulations as to what is acceptable and what is not. Therefore, before embarking on an exercise investigating executive corporate gift ideas it would be prudent to find out from your intended recipients, what is allowed.

For this reason it is perhaps better to restrict management corporate gifts to the upper echelons to specific occasions such as Christmas or a special corporate event. Many organisations run customer information days at different executive levels such as company dinners, executive golf days, theatre days or new product announcement meetings. These events are often quite tight-knit affairs and restricted to the cr癡me-de-la-cr癡me of the customer base with perhaps only a dozen or so invitees.

These occasions are usually blue chip affairs and there is an opportunity to get away from the usual advertising giveaways, promotional items and business gifts and come up with something rather special in terms of executive corporate gift ideas. In considering what to give it is a good idea to think in terms of luxury and items seen as unique business gifts. Even though the executives attending this style of function may appear to have everything there are, nonetheless, some articles which they would welcome.

Depending on the function and the budget there are some executive promotional gifts which always seem to hit the hot button. Personalised pens, executive watches and multi-tools are among the perennial sure-fire winners every time. Not every senior executive is able to sign his or her name with a Mont Blanc Meisterstuck Collector 100 year anniversary edition roller ballpoint pen which is the ultimate in elegant writing instruments. In fact, it is almost an insult to refer to such a piece of stylish craftsmanship as a personalized pen.

Spending, or investing, even more money you might consider a quality watch which is distinctive and has the right ambience of luxury and quality. Away from the super watches there is none better than the Rado Ceramica matt bracelet watch which will certainly impress the recipient that he or she is an honored guest.

Both the Mont Blanc Meisterstuck and Rado Ceramica are unisex gifts and are suitable for male and female guests. However, Rado go one better and make a female version of the Rado Ceramica watch.

Depending on the gathering and the budget the final suggestion is a Leatherman Charge TTI Multi-Tool - surely a king amongst multi-tools although it's a special kind of woman who would appreciate this as an executive business gift.

These are all rather special promotional items which are not for everybody but represent three executive corporate gift ideas for special occasions.

Event Backdrops - Not Just a Square Design

Backdrops can be used in many different event designs. For an upcoming event planning article on backdrop rentals, I considered what tasks and requirements event planners have when decorating an event. We are very fortunate to know many planners that have warehouses full of unique decorations that complement events and we are amazed with how they creatively use backdrops as one aspect of the decor. Whether the venue has a stage or just an unsightly wall that hinders the ambiance of the event, planners have been using backdrops as room sets successfully.

For example, I think of Progressive Events and how they utilized just a section of the black and white abstract backdrop. Before seeing many pictures of how event planners utilize backdrops, I imagined that backdrops were used in a square space, like a stage. With sharp corners, I considered a backdrop as a very large, square frame. Progressive Events' creative use of the abstract backdrop, encouraged me to expand my scope of backdrops and design. They used a portion of the backdrop to create a circular design with white columns to shape the view of the backdrop and to satisfy a clients desire for a more unique look. This created not only a visual space, but also a practical space for attendees to sit. And though I am not surprised by the creativity trait in event planners, I am often amazed by the impact of a creative design. What unique ways have you implemented backdrops in your events? How have you utilized decor in small venues?

Giving Your Kids the Most Memorable Kiddie Party - Importance of Hiring an Event Planner

Any parent would hope and want to have their kids remember their parties as fun and exciting. Unfortunately, not all parents would have the luxury of time and perfect skills to plan and execute the perfect kiddie party they envision. If you have been grueling yourself to find out ways in making your child's birthday bash memorable or you just have a very little time off from work then hiring an professional event planner who specializes in children's parties may just help you make your child's party one event to remember.

A lot of things have to be considered in the process of event planning for your kid's party. From food, entertainment, games, activities, invitee list to the overall theme of the event. The ages and genders of guests are also important for you to be able to finalize the games and activities. If you are looking at inviting a bigger group, then tasks may get too overwhelming. This is the time when you have to consider of getting the right event planner that can give you advices on all the details and assist you on the day of your kid's dream party with that suitable themes, activities, games and entertainment for the kids' age group.

Hiring an event planner for children's parties would basically provide you a professional service for the big day of your child. Entertainment is also included usually in their packages so you can choose from the different of types of entertainment and themes such as costumed characters, princesses, superheroes, clowns, magicians and a lot more. The good thing about the top performers they make sure to give the children a good show. Some cheap entertainers will just do a fast show and then leave. But if you hire an events planner, you are guaranteed that the entertainers will be the life of the entire party from start to finish.

In reality, there are parents who still feel a bit apprehensive in getting a professional entertainer since this person may be tough to manage. On the other hand, the right performer may just truly lessen the stress that usually goes along with throwing a party. The experienced entertainers are attuned to dealing with big groups of kids. Moreover, they can manage varying types of character and personality. They are skilled in handling the attention span of young kids. Apart from these, they are experts in handling children activities to run smoothly, on time and keep the kids happy. Parents will just have to enjoy the party while seeing the children having a great time and keeps them from being too busy and stressed out with the other details of the party.

The services of an event planner do not end with entertainment. They also cover other important details in making the day even more exceptional. A variety options include magic shows, pony rides, costumed mascots and inflatable bouncers. In addition, they can provide catering services as well, releasing you from all the hassles of cooking in the kitchen.

It is very important to do your homework too when finding a party planner. The best way is for you to ask your network of friends and colleagues who may have hired event planners in the past for references and recommendations. It is important to choose a service that specializes in events for kids. Anything unexpected may happen when it comes to having kids around. This will be the primary reason why the entertainers and event planners you have to hire must be capable of handling kids while having fun and excitement.

If you have done all the details right, then you are set to have an extra special party for your child and will surely be remembered in the next years to come. Parents may initially feel that they are up to handle all the tasks needed to be done by themselves, but not until they realize that they can completely benefit from all the possible resources and expertise of a professional event planner. Only if you have hired the right event planner to address your needs, then you can relax and have a good time while planning and during the party. You can trust that your kid's special day is being taken care of by a professional which is considered to be the greatest gift to your child.

Corporate Hospitality Services Companies

In the United Kingdom, corporate hospitality refers to all and any such event that entertains and takes adequate care of staff and clients at the expense of the company for its larger benefits.

Modern day business activities play a crucial role in the success achieved by companies and are a major factor behind their sustenance in the midst of tough competition. But success is not always guided by the fulfillment of policies. There are several other aspects that are not only important but need careful attention as well.

One such aspect is that of corporate hospitality. There are two ways of defining it here - one that is aimed at keeping the employees and staff members happy and the other is aimed at extending cordiality and entertaining business guests and clients of a company.

The approach for the first is aimed at gaining better working environment and work culture within the organization. The approach for the second is to develop healthy and successful business relations with collaborating corporations and prospective clients for the benefit and growth of a company.

Corporate Hospitality Services

If you have a company that is on the verge of signing a significant deal with a client, you may need to consider employment of experts to entertain and take good care of your guests at work.

This is an area of expertise which corporate hospitality companies are well known for. These are professionally managed companies who take such jobs on a professional basis and carry them out with a touch of finesse and personal care.

There are several companies dealing in corporate hospitality in UK that offer a wide variety and quality services when it comes to organizing such events.

Corporate Hospitality Ideas

These events are usually specific and purpose oriented. There are several considerations that are taken into in the planning and organizing of such events especially when they are on a large scale.

Innovative? ideas are the key to its success among the patrons.

Here are some of the aspects that are considered with utmost care.

Arrangements - Whether you are taking care of accommodation facilities of clients or planning a banquet for them or even hosting a press conference to introduce partnering companies clinical perfection in arrangements are very important. Everything needs to be in order and booked and organized ahead of time.

Food and Beverages - This is what can make or even break the success of any corporate event. If the food and the drinks served are not appropriate and up to the standard, people do tend to remember them for quite some time in the future.

Entertainment - An event of any nature should always be followed by some entertainment that would lift up the otherwise dull ambiance at times and bring smiles on the faces. There can be parts of it that can involve the audience in some ways to make it more interactive like a game.

Gifts - This is always appreciated and even remembered. The gifts will have to be carefully selected and even wrapped up in attractive packages.

These are only some of the ideas. There are events like cricket matches or informal gatherings on a working day that could also yield better results for your company. It all depends on the reason for organising a particular event.

Preparing a Brief Catering Company Business Plan - 10 Key Parts

Similar to any other business, a catering business also works on a business plan and having one ready before you begin a catering business will make sure that you start well and go in the right direction as planned. As with any business, a catering business will also have goals and tools to measure progress as a part of the catering plan. In short, having a solid plan will make sure that you remain focused on your objectives.

A business plan, not only to keep track of your business but also helps when you look for help from outside, especially financing. If you are looking for investors in your business, the first thing that an investor would like to see is a very solid plan - be it your future business partners or financial institutions (banks).

Writing a plan for your business is not as easy as it sounds, it does need a fair amount of research and a good bit of thinking. In fact, you can get a sample business plan from a well-run catering company and use it to write your own by inducting your own parameters. The business should consist of the following components:

a. Executive summary: This part of the business plan should explain your business and consist of a brief outline to the reader.

b. Objectives: this part of the business plan should describe the short to long term goals of your catering business (ideally for the next 4 to 5 years) in financial terms. These goals should outline the objectives to be achieved with a time-line.

c. Mission statement: This part of the business plan should define and explain the catering company's values and ideals (in short, business ethics and ambitions).

d. Ownership: this section go the business catering plan deals with ownership structure of the catering company, whether it is a proprietorship, partnership or a limited company and the details thereof.

e. Start-up requirements: This section should contain information about the catering company's start up needs. What is the cost of start-up? What is the working capital required? What is the equipment required? Etc.

f. Market Information: A catering business also has competition and it is necessary to include the information pertaining to the same in this section of the business plan. This would contain a brief summary of the competition along with analysis and the plans that would be followed to get ahead of the competition along with details of new markets to be explored and services to be offered.

g. Strategy: This part of the catering plan should contain the marketing strategy that is to be followed to achieve the objectives. This section would also include forecasted financials for sales.
h. Management: For your catering company to succeed, it would need a highly skilled management with hierarchical control. This strategy and working needs to be integrated into the business plan in this section.

i. People: Hiring would be a key factor in the catering business and therefore the plans for hiring and man power costs need to be estimated well in advance and put forth into the business plan in this section.

j. Finances: Last but the most important, the financials of your catering business needs to be put on as per in this section of the plan for your catering business. Projected profit and loss statements need to be prepared depending on estimated costs and revenues for the nest 4 to 5 years. Understood that the market is never consistent, however having some optimistic as well optimistic estimates would help plan your business better. Once this is done successfully, it is easier for you to understand and underline the break-even point for your catering business. Once you know this, the objectives are frozen and all you need to do here is to put your best foot forward.

A lot of generic business plans are available; you can always grab one and customize it to suit your catering business. Although this is easier, it is always good to begin from the scratch and make your own catering company business plan since it would help you to understand your business better and will surely put you on the right path to success.

Online Event Planning With Social Media Tools

Planning an event becomes a lot simpler when you use social media tools. Social media, as we all know it, have changed the way individuals and companies plan, organize, implement, and promote their products and services. Here, I have shared with you a set of highly powerful social media tools that will help in successfully planning events of any size and type.

Tools for Invitation

One of the first steps of event planning is creating a tentative invitee list. The invitation can be designed with the help of a number of invitation tools which are currently available in the marketplace like Doodle.com, an efficient tool for finding common, free meeting times for a group of people. With the help of Doodle, you can overlap a number of schedules within a group of people who need to meet.

Organization Tools

After the invitation is out of the way, the next big thing that comes to play is organizing and managing an event. Organizers need to take care of a lot of key aspects such as registration, payment, communication, and promotion to make their events a great success! Now, managing small events may be easy but handling large scale events having a large audience volume may require additional staff and added resources. Under such circumstances, organizational tools can be of great help.

Wikis can help event planners organize multiple programs at different venues along with accommodating a large number of attendees. Google Maps is also a great organizational tool that enables people to locate the best of hotels near the event venue.

Online Marketing

Online marketing has become the buzzword today. Free social media tools such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. are being increasingly used to promote events to millions of online users.

You can create an "Events Page" on Facebook to start posting your information on you current and upcoming events along with the registration details. You can also explore the "invite your friends" feature to add more friends and colleagues to view and register for your event(s). Furthermore, you can continuously keep on updating people via live chat as and when your event lead time progresses to a close.

Live streaming is becoming more and more common these days. There are a number of free live streaming tools such as Ustream that can be used to market your products and events. For example, use Ustream to interview the speakers before the start of the event to create a pre-event buzz. You can even use Twitter or Facebook to chat with viewers to add more spice to your events.

Legal Considerations When Planning Events

You've booked the speaker, hired a hall, recruited a team of volunteers and prepared a marketing plan. If that wasn't enough, you must also ensure your event does not fall foul of various legal issues. Exact legal requirements vary from place to place and the rules that apply depend on the type of event. The list below points out the major issues you need to think about, but you should also take advice from the administrator of the organisation(s) involved in your event. If you're not sure about any of these items you can discuss them with your venue, as they should have experience with them.

Premises Licence

If you are going to invite the public to see a play, watch a film, or listen to live or recorded music, or something similar, you need to do so in premises that are correctly licensed. The licence will determine exactly what activities are permitted and between what hours. Don't assume you can have a concert run beyond 11pm without checking the licence permits it. If the premises don't have the correct licence you can get what's called a Temporary Event Notice, which is effectively a short-term licence. For more information contact your local council.

Serving Alcohol

Selling or supplying alcohol is also regulated by the premises license. Not only do you need to have the correct license arrangement in place, you also need to ensure someone present is a Personal Licence Holder. The penalties for breaking the rules around the supply of alcohol can be very severe so take great care in this area.

Health & Safety Requirements

It's essential to understand who is responsible for health and safety matters and to perform the correct risk assessments.

The venue will be responsible for premises-related health and safety, such as trip hazards from worn flooring, or emergency evacuation. But event organisers take responsibility for event equipment, such as trip hazards from power cables for speakers or other equipment brought into the venue.

You will need to perform risk assessments and document them. Think about what sort of things might go wrong and the possible outcomes.

Public Liability Insurance

You need to have public liability insurance in place for your event. What happens if an elderly visitor to your event slips in the car park and breaks their leg? Or if a piece of equipment falls on someone and injures them? These things do happen so you need to have the right insurance in place. Liaise with your venue to see what is covered by their insurance, and what isn't.

Noise Levels

Usually you will only have issues with volume if your event features a particularly loud band or will take place late in the evening. Some premises are subject to noise abatement orders, meaning they're legally obliged to measure noise and keep it below a certain level. Other premises need to give due care and attention to their neighbours.

Disabled Access.

All newer premises are required to provide full access and facilities for disabled people, but older premises are not. Event organisers do not have to ensure access for disabled people, but it's good practice to do so wherever possible. Where it's not possible the publicity should point this out.

Food Hygiene

If you are serving food to the public it needs to have been prepared and stored in accordance with food hygiene regulations. Someone with a food hygiene certificate should take responsibility for managing the catering.Premises that are regularly used for food preparation are inspected by the local council from time to time.

Parking

If you are planning a major event and do expect to have enough car parking space it is wise to talk to the Police about what other arrangements might be possible. If you need to keep kerbsides clear on certain roads you can hire traffic cones from the Police for this purpose.

Child Protection

Your organisation should have a Child Protection Policy and your event should comply with this. If it does not, or if this is a privately organised function, you need to be aware of child protection issues. At the very least any volunteers working with children must have had a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check.

Wonderful Barnyard Birthday Party Ideas For Your Kid's Special Day

Kids love animals and therefore, a barnyard birthday party can be one of the funniest ways to celebrate your son's birthday. To plan an unforgettable farm party, you must arrange everything according to your theme including the animal themed games and barn themed food. Here are a few tips to help you in planning for your little one's big day.

Location

A petting zoo or a local farm can be the best place to host your party. The kids would love to play with the animals. However, if you want to host the party at your home, make sure you give special attention to the decorations to create the perfect barnyard birthday party environment.

Invitations

You can make your own invitations using white cardstock and stickers of animals. Cut the cardstock in 12 x 8 inch sizes and fold them in the middle to form cards. On its upper side, put some stickers of animals such as pigs, cows, ducks, ponies, etc. and write your invitation message such as '(your kid's name) is turning two, let's celebrate it'. On the inner side of the card, write the party details.

If you are hard-pressed for time, you can buy the prepackaged invitations that are available with the online or physical party supplies store.

Decorations:

Buy the barnyard party supplies and use them creatively to celebrate the perfect farm-style birthday at home. Apart from the regular supplies such as farm-themed paper plates, cups, hats, etc. you can use innovative ideas to impress your guests.

• Buy hay bales and place them around the party area and transform it into a barnyard! You can put your child's stuffed animal toys on them.


• Put some scarecrows across the party area. You can get them from craft stores.

Activities

• For small kids, buy farm themed coloring books and ask them to color their favorite animal.


• Pin the tail on the pig: Draw a pig on the poster board. Give each child a curling ribbon tail, blindfold them, and ask them to pin the tail at the correct spot.


• Hide some plastic animals around the party area and ask the kids to find them.

Party favors

• The farm animal coloring book can be used for activities as well as a party favor. Wrap these barnyard party supplies with cowboy printed papers.


• Buy favor bags in animal shapes and fill them with lots of candies, small animal shaped toys, etc.


• A pair of sunglasses to wear out on farms can also be a good option.

Play some barnyard music in the background, have some farm food such as raw vegetables, fruits, lemonade, etc., and let the kids enjoy their fullest. Plan your barnyard birthday party properly to make it a super hit among the kids.

Girls Birthday Party Themes for Teens and Tweens

Organizing a birthday party for your tween and teenage daughter is little more complicated as her wants and interests have changed. Like any other girl of her age, she is certainly more demanding and wants to have the best party of the town. Dora and princess party themes probably don't interest her anymore but you still have a wide variety of options that are sure to suit her needs and give her the special treatment that she is longing for. Here are some girls' birthday party themes that you can consider for your princess.

Luau party

Even hard-to-please teens and tweens will not be able to resist a luau party. Therefore, say 'Aloha' to this theme and bring the feel of a tropic Island to your home. This theme will be great for summers. Send out exciting invitations and buy lots of leis, Hawaiian skirts, tropical decors, and the themed girls' birthday party supplies to organize this party conveniently. Have a limbo contest to get the things rolling. Play some luau music, ask the girls to put on their grass skirt, and do some traditional dance moves. Your guests are sure to love this.

Justin Bieber party

Ever since the release of his debut album 'My World' in 2009, this singing sensation has stormed millions of hearts. Teen and tweens are crazy about this hottest rock star. A Justin Bieber theme party is therefore, an ideal theme for your Bieber fan. Send out the pre-packaged invitations designed as VIP backstage passes and buy the themed girls' birthday party supplies featuring this teen idol to make the girls feel his presence at your party. Have a theme pi簽ata game to keep the kids busy and send them home with favors that they will love to have.

Hannah Montana

Miley Cyrus's alter ego is a hit with the teens and tweens. This is the reason why Hannah Montana is a captivating girls' birthday party theme for your child's birthday. To set the stage for a rock star party, encourage your guests to dress up like their favorite character, decorate your venue using the Hannah Montana party supplies available with the party supply stores, and play Hanna Montana music during the celebrations. Thank your guests for their time and efforts by giving away feather boas, rock star sunglasses, makeup kit, etc.

While planning your party, consider your daughter's preferences. Keep her likes and dislikes in mind so that you don't disappoint her or even her guests.

Corporate Team Building Techniques

Corporate Team Building generally refers to the selection and motivation of teams for fulfillment of organizational goals. Our society is increasingly becoming a multi-cultural one and you are required to work with different groups of people and expected to get along with them as a team. This is more in the case of transnational and multi-location conglomerates. Corporate Team Building Techniques are methods to help people adapt to these new requirements. Your corporate team building skills are critical for your effectiveness as a manager. Even if you are not a manager, your understanding of team building makes you an effective member of the corporate team. Corporate Team Building Techniques can make your team accomplish objectives as a team rather than working on their own.

There are certain factors that are critical to Corporate Team Building. You may have a strong fusion of individual contributions. Diversity of skills and personalities are quite effective in Corporate Team Building. When all members of the team contribute to their full strengths, they compensate for each other's weaknesses also. Different personalities and skills complement each other. Corporate Team Building Techniques involve good communication between the team members as well as harmony between the members.

Corporate Team Building - Versatile Practical Tools

Putting a group of people together does not automatically equal a team. Corporate Team Building starts with getting the people in the team to know each other. The technique involves in learning to get along with each other, develop interpersonal trust, and communicate well. This helps build team spirit. On a daily basis, members of a corporate team need to develop habits to function as an effective team.

There are a number of ways to Corporate Team Building. Each member of the team could take a course on how to work collaboratively. This is an individualistic approach and may, or may not, help in forming a cohesive unit. One other way could be to employ Corporate Team Building professionals to help train your corporate team in functioning as a cohesive unit. This is a great idea, but may not fit into your budget.

You could find your own techniques for Corporate Team Building. Put your corporate team members into new challenging fun activities that will require contact and communication between them. Organize events where they get together for fun activities, such as fly-fishing, sailing regattas, road rallies, snowboarding, interactive seminars, etc.

These activities go a long way in improving communication and interaction, and help Corporate Team Building.

Selecting the Best Business Catering Company

Any large scale business or corporate event requires the services of a business catering company. It is essential to treat all your valuable clients and customers with the utmost attention, and there is no better way than treating them to a deluxe luncheon. However, this might become a bit troublesome when you have a large group to deal with. In all such situations, it is best to hire a catering company that specializes in business events.

Business catering service allows you to treat your clients with high quality meals without the need to visit a restaurant. All the activities, right from decorating the buffet table with the best of linens and cutlery to spreading out a sumptuous feast, are taken care of by the catering company itself. Hence, instead of going for boxed lunches, which look dull and boring, an elaborate food spread consisting of all kinds of food items and drinks is a better way to add an element of elegance and class to your meeting, which is bound to impress your clients. You can have all this with the help of a business catering service provider.

In addition to this, most of the organisations make use of business catering for in house meetings or training sessions as well. A nicely laid lunch or tea party keeps your executive staff happy and keeps them interested in your training sessions. Business catering can also be used for holiday celebrations, staff appreciation events, company anniversary or birthday celebrations of a staff member. Hiring a business catering company to celebrate such events, and treating your staff with a special meal will make them realise how much their company values them.

Most of the organisations hold occasional evening events such as a meeting with the shareholders, a fundraiser party or an annual party. It is a smart idea to have a catering provider look after all arrangements of these events. However, you must make sure that the corporate caterer you are hiring has enough experience to take care of such formal events. A highly professional and experienced business catering company will be well aware about the food quality, appearance and level of service which is required during these events.

The best way in which you can select a reputable and credible corporate catering service is through word of mouth recommendations. No amount of advertising can work as a substitute for a good recommendation that comes from somebody you trust. This is because instead of hiring the services of a new corporate catering company, it is best to go for a tried and tested one.

Hiring a professionally experienced business catering company will relieve you from a lot of worries with regards to the staff and equipment required for a big corporate event. What is required out of you is to fix the venue, give the exact number of guests who need to be served and the food items that must be a part of the menu. In order to ensure that your business catering service provider is able to deliver the best performance, it is better to work along with them.

Hiring Venues For Organizing High Profile Corporate Events

How about organizing your official conference in a venue overlooking the panoramic view of the Wales hills and the Liverpool waterfronts? And all this from the air conditioned comfort of a gallery provided with comfortable seating arrangements. It's possible at the Liverpool auditorium. You can hire venues at Liverpool to give your team and guests an exotic experience, which they would never have experienced anywhere.

The Liverpool venue can give you a vibrant experience which cannot be found in any other place. It has multiple screens with large auditoriums offering a seating capacity of more than 300. Guests can always enjoy the refreshment corner which is laid with hotdogs, popcorns, and drinks as special attractions. You can find some entertaining mixes at the DVD sales counter as well.

The auditoriums provide a completely secure environment to the guests. They are fitted with CCTV cameras that keep monitoring each and every corner of the venue. Corporate companies can make their events reach their global partners and stakeholders through the satellite link facility at Liverpool venues that are available on rent. To make a grand product launch, the screens of the auditorium are more than enough to make a striking effect on the audience. You can make full use of the High Definition and audio-visual surround systems to add life and substance to your product launches and conferences.

Numerous other events like fashion shows, parties, international and political conferences, award ceremonies, video gaming events, church groups, so on and so forth can be organized at the venues. You can in fact reap many benefits from the different facilities provided by the auditoriums. They have the capacity to hold an event of any magnitude, be it a simple presentation or an international conference of global value. You can discuss and design a customized package event suitable for your requirements and budget.

The Liverpool auditoriums are unique in its myriad features that make them stand ahead of any other venue. You can organize informal meetings and parties inside the multiplex private bar of the venue. Other facilities include ATMs inside the venue, from where guests can easily buy tickets for enjoying the cinema experience. Mostly the cinema and all the auditoriums are installed with Infra Red loop system and compliant access facilities for disabled individuals. Additionally, the guests will never find the vicinity of the venue short in attractive restaurants and bars. There are numerous shops and entertainment facilities within walking distance from the venue.

You can easily reach the Liverpool venue as the train stations Moorfields, Wirral Lines, James Street and Central are within walking distance, while all the bus routes go through the bus stations at Queens Street and Paradise Street.You can email or call the staff of the respective venue at Liverpool to make further inquiries You can request for a call back by dropping your message online.

Important Steps to Planning a Corporate Event

Corporations and businesses occasionally find the need to hold events with the goals of either rewarding business partners or employees for their hard work, or entertaining perspective and current clients to drum up additional business. This event may be a great night of music, dancing, and spectacular entertainment, but the meticulous planning of the event with the goals of the business in mind is what is most important.

Some businesses may conduct these special events in their office, while others may conduct the event in large hotels, convention halls, or theaters. This is so the guests and employees can be easily and comfortably gathered under one roof. These types of corporate events can have all employees from various locations attend so that it is easy for the host to convey the corporate messages regarding their jobs or future projects of the organization. The definition of an organization itself states "group of people working together towards a common goal". The event organizer should plan the event according to the company motto, or ideology. The company holding the event will need to hire a professional event planner to organize the events. A professional event planner takes into consideration many variables and meticulously plans every minute to make sure the event is as successful as possible. It is also the responsibility of the planner to make sure all the guests attending the event have a clear view of the corporate message through entertainment, team building exercises, and meetings. Corporate events were originally introduced to create better relationship between employees, clients and companies. Now they are also used to strengthen team work and reward hard work. When the event is put together correctly long term success can be achieved by the event.

As mentioned above the entertainment could be as large as a grand stage magic show, or as small as a mobile DJ to get the crowd dancing. The entertainment plays a huge role in the success of the event. The event should not just be business related, but it should be highly enjoyable for all the attendees. Your guests will be more receptive to the information provided if it is presented in a fun and entertaining manner. Make sure and speak with your event planner and find out how the entertainment will be integrated with your requested corporate message. Keep all this in mind and you will be on your way to a fun and successful corporate event.

Party Planning Software - The Magic Wand for Party Planners

Planning a party successfully is not everyone's cup of tea. You need expertise to do that and if you are not meticulous and systematic in your approach you are sure to mess up occasionally. To avoid these hassles, most organizations or even individuals nowadays hire professional party planners when they are contemplating the idea of throwing a party. The party planners are well versed of the latest industry trends and technology solutions. They follow those trends and use these solutions to organize a party successfully. Among the numerous applications that are available to the party planners presently, the party planning software is surely the most striking one.

Why do we call the party planning software the magic wand? This is because, with the help of the software application party planners, who are out modern-day event wizards, can streamline almost all of the back-end procedures of party planning in a swish!

The party planner software automates the following key functions:

繚 Create multiple online party registration web pages/forms using pre-built, customizable form template

繚 Provides round-the-clock availability of the online party registration forms for public access in any part of the world

繚 Provides multiple, PCI-secure, online and offline payment options, via which party registration fees can be sent using various credit cards, wire transfers, or PayPal

繚 Enables organizers to track every online transaction in real-time using the online payment management solution

繚 Sends out bulk email invitations, RSVPs and notifications in a "set it and forget it" manner using the automated emailing service

繚 Promotes the party online using a number of free marketing tools such as online event calendar and promo code engine

繚 Makes social media connector available to those who want to promote their parties on social networking sites directly from the software interface

繚 Enables waitlist management by the organizers to make every event/party a sold-out success

繚 Provides latest mobile applications using which party updates can be texted to the invitees

There are many more user benefits of the party planning software. If it is a premiere club, house party or corporate dinner, and if there is a need to track business leads after the party is over, then the software application provides the organizer with the feature to design name badges that may be emailed for "print at home" to the event attendee in advance.. They printed badges may be used for instant check-ins on the event day and instantly capture the attendee information resulting in a quality business lead. The software application allows the organizers to use their Smartphones to scan these badges instead of heavy and outdated scanners to speed up the check-in procedure.

There are facilities to analyze the overall performance of the party as well if there is a need to calculate the return on investment.

The party planning software is not an expensive application. It is Cloud technology based and very reasonably priced. Plus, it is easy to deploy and user-friendly. So, if you are a party planner and seeking the most efficient way to streamline your back-end administrative operations or are running short on manpower then do take advantage of this technology solution.

Virtual Assistant Certification

It is not 100% necessary to be certified in order to become a Virtual Assistant but it does help with building up your credibility. Depending upon your experience, skills, and education will determine your ability to start your own professional virtual business. To compete in an industry that is growing quite quickly your services are still high in demand but you must show your potential clients you are that much better than your competitors.

Certifications/Schooling

There are many companies advertising their certification programs that may not necessarily be reputable and provide the courses or certificate you need to add to your professionalism. Do your research, ask other VA's, ask potential clients what their needs are and what is the best way you can serve them. That will give you the information needed to determine whether you need upgrading or training. Just because someone touts themselves as offering a certificate program does not necessarily make them good.

A small sampling of reputable schools or training organizations include:

1. The International Association of Virtual Office Assistants (IAVOA): They are dedicated to the professional education and development of member of the Virtual Assistant profession. They are also interested in educating the public on the role and function of a VA.


2. Red Deer College VA Certificate Program - this Canadian College has an excellent program and is highly recognized.


3. The International Real Estate Assistant Assoc. Training - for those who wish to specialize in working with Realtors this organization should be researched.


4. REVA Training Center


5. University of Virtual Assistants


6. Vaclassroom - this is an excellent resource for targeted programs that relate strictly with this profession. Examples include social media specialist and event planning.


7. VBSS - this is a start up system that guides you from beginning to end in starting your business. This comes with a mountain of material that is extremely helpful from creating your business name to finding clients and learning how to market yourself.


8. Virtual Assistant University - Technology changes at a rapid pace and it's important to stay up to date with classes that will help you improve your services. The most used programs of administrative assistants or office clerks are MSOffice - Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Bookkeeping programs, Simply Accounting or QuickBooks are extremely popular and useful both for your own business and potential clients.

Other related classes may include event planning, organization, photography, time management, WordPress, web design, social media, HTML code, accounting, graphic design, desktop publishing, and anything else remotely related to providing a service or assisting the VA in her own business.

Although certification is not necessary a business owner who wishes to succeed should believe in continuing to better themselves and give themselves the tools to provide better service to their customers. Certification or any training that relates to operating a Virtual Assistant business will only enhance your professionalism.

Why Event Planners Must Explore Social Media?

From planning a large 20,000 attendee conference to a small and intimate wedding for 200 guests, event planners are finding new ways to promote different types of events through social media. Social networking sites are easily available plus they don't require any additional expenses in terms of purchasing a plug-in or hiring a maintenance man. Most importantly, you get a whole new channel for effective promotion to millions of people out there who may be very much interested to attend. Most importantly, this platform is such that you can repeatedly inform your target audience re updates on your upcoming events which is not the case when you advertise through traditional means like newspapers and magazines.

Every other man in this world is aware of social media and its uses; to read, post, and chat with peers and business contacts on a daily basis. Event planners should therefore explore social media to build up a rapport with potential attendees, trying to bring them in the loop with what they are planning and organizing.

Engagement

Social networking websites, including Facebook, Twitter, and more, offers tremendous possibilities of reaching out to prospective participants very quickly. The basic difference between offline promotions (newspapers, magazines, etc.) and online advertising (through social media platforms, blogs, etc.) is that the later provides room for a two-way engagement in terms of instant interaction and responses from the target audience. In case of printed adverts, event planners have to wait for individuals to contact them either through a call centre service or via email.

Create Event Pages

Try to create event pages on Facebook and add relevant information, images, and hyperlinks relating to that specific category of events. For example, if you specialize in planning both formal and informal events then you can develop two separate pages; one for formal occasions such as meetings, seminars, tradeshows and other containing schedules of all your current and upcoming informal events like weddings, birthday parties, etc.

Interaction

Event organizers can post numerous types of questions with regards to their plans and way of executing meetings, conferences or dinner parties on the Facebook wall or Twitter profile page. Fans and followers can come up with suggestions and comments on how a party or function be organized and managed in an innovative way. In this way, you can dig out unique ideas from engaging with experts online.

Use the Content on Blogs and Wikis

Try to spread out the event news on other popular social networking platforms, including blogs, wikis, podcasts, YouTube, Pinterest, and so on. Promoting your events on different social media websites will increase the chances of catching the attention of a vast number of people likewise developing chances of maximum registration or ticket sales.

Why Are Virtual Events Becoming Popular Worldwide?

Virtual events enable your attendees to gain access to valuable resources before, during, and after the program, even if they are not physically present at the venue. Not only the big corporate, but the smaller companies have also embraced this new technology. Web-based events are mainly held on the Cloud or over the Internet. Just like any other trade show or meeting, individuals or companies organize these events to exchange valuable ideas, information, and resources with their customers and company executives.

Easy to Set Up

It is extremely easy to set up a virtual meeting or trade show!

Extremely Cost Effective

Online functions can cut costs to a considerable extent. According to industry experts, these types of events require 75% less money as compared to the budget required to organize a live occasion. Hence, virtual programs are ideal for companies with limited or small budgets.

Increases Attendance

These types of functions promise high attendance in your conference or product launch party. A 2011 research conducted by the Event Marketing Institute found that "increasing event attendance and awareness" is the top-most priority for 50% of the marketing executives. A large number of companies host virtual events to build a strong attendance base at a minimal cost, thereby ensuring a steady ROI.

Helps to Deliver Quality Leads

People across the world get the privilege of attending your virtual tradeshow. How? Well, virtual seminars (or webinars) are Cloud-based and hence can be accessed from anywhere and everywhere, provided you have a computer connected to the Internet. Hence, they offer you the scope to attend a meeting without being physically present at the location. People can actively participate in your exhibition through online chats, audio, and video simulation. This, in turn, increases the scope of producing quality leads from your festivals.

Highly Interactive

These web-based gatherings offer an excellent platform for attendees to interact with each other, share important ideas, and exchange documents and excel sheets, even when their physically locations are different. As an event organizer, you can easily host a global virtual occasion to showcase your latest product to your present as well as new customers from across the globe.

Thus, the cost of booking a hotel or location is saved once you decide to host a web-based event. Selling tickets for any type of shows and functions also becomes extremely easy once you organize these types of activities on the web. The web-based ticketing software facilitates online booking of passes for any number of people.

Getting Ready to Throw a Party? Use Event Planning Software!

Are you getting ready to organize a party at the beginning of this New Year? You must already be feeling the pressure of arranging a perfect event! Planning and managing an event is a daunting task. If you are new in this domain of work, the job is even more challenging. While you must have seen many organizations hiring experienced event planners to do the work for them, I feel nothing can match the satisfaction of performing the tasks yourself with the help of an event planning software.

You can be really smart by investing in an event planning software. Actually, the investment that you make to access such a software is negligible compared to paying the fee of an external event planner. Organizations of all sizes can utilize it to come up with a memorable event experience. Let's look into the features of such an event planning solution.

Registration Solution

Its built-in registration solution can be used at anytime to setup professional looking party registration forms. You can also create multiple registration forms if you are organizing a number of parties within a short span of time. You can browse through the registration portal to monitor the progress of every event registration status; you will automatically receive notification of every successful single or group registration made on the website.

People who find it difficult to go in person to register can log onto your online party registration webpage to perform the task of filling up and submitting the form from just about anywhere that has web connectivity.

Easy Payment Processing

The built-in payment solution makes the task of sending and receiving of funds a hassle-free affair. There are a number of methods through which you can accept online payments - credit cards, PayPal, Authorize.net, and many more. Such platforms ensure that the fee reaches the recipient quickly through a secure environment.

Email Communication

Gone are the days when people used to communicate solely via a telephone or through fax. In the age of the internet, you have access to a multitude of communication channels (emails, social media, blogs, etc.) Emailing application provides direct messaging opportunity; you can send invitations, reminders, RSVPs, etc. to individuals in an automated and scheduled manner.

Marketing on Many Platforms

You should explore popular social media websites such as Facebook and Twitter to promote your parties and similar events. At just a nominal amount, you can purchase an external social media plug-in to use it with an event planning software for convenient publishing of your event news and updates simultaneously on Facebook, Twitter, and so on.

SWOT! What Are Your Company's Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats?

Is your organization equipped with a SWOT analysis? If not, perhaps it is because you have never heard of it!

A SWOT analysis is a basic technique that is often used in strategic planning, improving company success, organizational development and identifying competitive advantage. Evaluating these four factors will help you make better decisions and keep your company on the road to success.

Start by conducting a brainstorming exercise with a group of individuals within your organization who are charged with the same or similar goals. Remember, a good SWOT analysis takes effort and the more you put into it, the better you will understand your company and how it operates today.

STRENGTHS: First, write down the strengths of your company. What do you do well? What makes you better than your competitors? What do you have, or do, that sets you apart from your competition? Here are some things to consider:

• 
  The size of similar companies in your industry


• 
  Perception by clients of your products or service


• 
  Perception in the industry of your "brand"


• 
  Advantages you have over your competitors

EXAMPLES:

Accountability, integrity, strong staff loyalty, strong management team, outside-the-box problem solving, flexibility, camaraderie, sense of urgency, communication, always seeking best practices, moving employees to play to their strengths, respect for clients/one another, high energy, positive atmosphere, high level of client service and solid reputation in the industry.

WEAKNESSES: Now that you've determined how wonderful your company is, it's time to look for the weaknesses. The same questions should be asked when looking for weaknesses. What do you do poorly, or not so well? What are other companies doing better? What is keeping you from greater success?

It's important that you don't gloss over this section. As a SWOT analysis is a brainstorming effort, don't discount anything that comes to mind and don't be afraid to point out a weakness because it may hurt someone's feelings. If a weakness is perceived, list it. The weakness you fail to list could turn out to be the reason some aspect of the business turns out poorly or fails in the future.

Some areas of weakness to look for:

• 
  Poor perception of your company's brand


• 
  Advantages other companies have


• 
  Lack of management or other employee talent

EXAMPLES:?

Lack of automation, getting bogged down in minutia/cumbersome processes, managers doing staff level work, micromanagement, managers not asking for help until they are overwhelmed, need for measurement of employee work, i.e. quota system, disgruntled or unhappy employees.

OPPORTUNITIES: Let's shift the focus to external factors when you look at opportunities. Try to identify areas of business you think your company should evaluate - opportunities to gain market share from competitors, and/or grow your market to include new customers.

In addition to external factors, opportunities within your company must also be considered. Can you streamline duplicate costs and/or move employees to different positions to play to their strengths? What kinds of things can you do better?

Some opportunities to look for:

• 
  New markets for services


• 
  Financial or legal trouble for competitors


• 
  New technologies you could adopt


• 
  Internal shifts to become more efficient

EXAMPLES:? Empower employees to reach higher, maximize use of technologies, streamline activities between departments, analyze and reposition employees to play to their strengths, gain more business from existing clients, continue to stand out as being different your industry, cross-train employees, build your brand to attract both employees and clients.

THREATS: Finally, consider threats to your company. Again, threats can be internal as well as external. In fact, sometimes internal threats come first, which opens the door to external threats. Therefore, it's very important to do a good threat analysis.

Internal threats aren't usually classified as such, which could be a mistake. Any internal issue that is a threat to the well-being of your company should be evaluated alongside the external threats.

Some possible threats are:

• 
  Internal inefficiencies


• 
  Cash flow


• 
  Competitors


• 
  Technological advances in the industry (are you keeping pace?)


• 
  Employee/department weaknesses

EXAMPLES:?

Leadership becoming divided, not living up to mission statement, managers becoming territorial, teamwork giving way to individual agendas, managers being overwhelmed/burned out, taking or continuing with business that is not profitable, not understanding the competition, falling behind in technology, maintaining employees who will not contribute to success, not managing aggressive growth well and failure to keep fees/prices competitive while still being highly profitable.

After you have completed these exercises, assign a leader within the organization to each category who will be responsible, along with their team, for maintaining it (such as Strengths); repairing it (such as Weaknesses); acting upon it (such as Opportunities); and guarding against it (such as Threats).

The group should then reconvene every six months to analyze the SWOT and revise it according to the reality it faces at that time.

Do you know what your company's SWOT is? If not, now is the time to find out!

7 Important Party Tent Details to Remember

Many details may go overlooked when planning a tent event, simply because there are so many factors to consider. It's important to discuss every detail with your event planner or representative at the tent rental company to ensure that nothing is forgotten, especially if this is your first time planning a tent event.

An important factor to consider before you begin planning is a tent permit. More frequently, cities are requiring tent permits that could range anywhere between $100-$300 for residences and corporate locations. As you begin budgeting, speak with a representative from the rental company or your planner to understand your responsibilities as the renter.

Here are 7 important tent atmosphere details to consider:

1. Tent Pole Drape Covers - This is an inexpensive way to dress up your tent without spending too much money. Pole covers are recommended especially for weddings or upscale events. They are not necessary for graduation parties, family reunions, or children's parties.

2. Tent Water Barrel Covers - If your tent needs to be water barreled, tent water barrel covers are a necessity! Water barrels can be unsightly, so no matter the formality of your event, it is worth the extra expense.

3. Tent Perimeter Lighting - If your event is in the evening, you will need lighting. Ask your party rental company what type of lighting your size tent will necessitate. Perimeter lighting will work for tents up to about a 40 x 40. If your tent is larger, you will need an extra lighting source.

4. Tent Flooring - Tent flooring is only recommended for extremely large events, such as corporate galas or university graduations. Do not expect to use tent flooring if you are hosting a party at your home.

5. Tent heaters - Depending on your location, tent heaters will be necessary if the weather is volatile in your location. You do not want to take any chances that your guests may be uncomfortable.

6. Fans - On the contrary, if your event is in the summer, fans will help circulate the air in a tent if you are using side walls.

7. Drill & Fill Tent Filling - If your tent will be set up on asphalt, tent hole filling will eliminate holes in the cement.

There are more factors to consider, but these 7 details are the most overlooked until the last minute. The more informed you are ahead of time, the more successful your event will be.

Wedding Planners Event Coordinator

Any event, wedding inclusive can be a day one would like to remember, but this can only be if it has been well planned and coordinated. Those who have wedded have said that their wedding day is the greatest day of their lives. Despite this, some of the minor things that may have been ignored can cause much havoc and dissatisfaction, some of which can be long-lived. One may not want to imagine what would happen if during the d-day, the photographer or the driver does not turn up. Another tragedy can be if another group had already booked the venue that had been planned for.

An event coordinator does the work of organizing and coordinating public or private events, appearances and events. This entails organizing participants, securing appropriate venues, notifying those who may attend and organizing them, acquiring the relevant tools, equipment and materials and finally to organize and delegate duties to those assisting him or her during the day of the event. On the other hand, the wedding planner also referred to as the wedding consultant is the mediator, the money manager and the facilitator.

There are several character traits that a planner should posses. Obviously, he or she should be patient and calm even when things seem to be going asunder. He also very importantly should be a good negotiator as he would be the one who does all the orders and the purchasing on behalf of the bride and the bridegroom such as buying the gown and the other attire, get the catering team, hire the venue, musicians, public address system, photographers and so on. This is because only the best is required but at the cheapest rate. He must also be somebody who can network meaning that he or she handles differently people and issues at the same time. A good wedding planner should also be one who has a sense for proper fashion, which includes the color, the flowers, the music and the clothing. It would be so embarrassing if there were no color coordination in the clothing or the flowers and the decorations. This means that they must take their time in studying on the topic from the magazines or the internet.

The event planners must be prepared to work for long hours especially just before and during the event which may include much traveling and moving up and down to make sure that the purpose of the meeting is achieved. Therefore, the first thing that the planners need to know is the nature and the purpose of the meeting. That would then motivate delegates or the audience. All the work ranging from bookings, reception, stationery issuing, vehicle parking, accommodation, decorations among others should be done focusing on that aim.

One of the companies that specialize on the Sasha Souza of the United States that offers services such as, destination weddings and the green They have a large team that can handle different events at the same time.

7 Useful Technologies for Organizing Events in 2012

According to experts, the year 2012 will see the usage of many new trends and technologies that will help event organizers streamline their event needs in the coming years. Millions of event organizers across the world are taking the help of advanced Cloud computing, mobile applications such as LTE and WI-Fi, and social media tools to enhance their brand image and create a repeat attendance.

Cloud Computing

It is one of the most highly used technologies of 2011, and its demand will increase all the more in 2012. Cloud computing refers to freely sharing of products and services over the Internet. Event planning organizations can adopt this technology to offer registration and payment management solutions to the global audience.

Social Media Tools

An increase number of individuals will start using social media tools in 2012. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Google+ already has millions of users and the number of new members is rising with each passing day.

Free HD Video Conference Tools

Many organizations hold events across multiple locations throughout the year. Now, it is impossible for the same person to be present at different conference or meeting venues at the same time. Skype and Google Hangout helps you easily interact and share valuable event-specific information with your members and customers over the Internet. The tools help you attend the meeting or seminar without being physically present at the location.

Free Collaboration Tools

Collaboration tools such as Google Docs helps you share documents and other resources almost instantly with your customers. You can also store documents on your computer desktop and allow your team members or customers to view and share the document as and when necessary.

Mobile Applications - LTE and Wi-Fi

LTE (3GPP Long Term Evolution) accelerate the process of data transfer over wireless devices. LTE uses the new latest DSP (Digital Signal Processing) method to offer customizable high-speed bandwidth across numerous networks. Tablets, Smartphone, and video game console are based on the Wi-Fi technology. It allows you to connect a mobile device to the Internet via a wireless plug point.

Use of Hybrid Events

A hybrid event helps you host a product launch party or conference on the Cloud. You can chat with your attendees, share important documents, and exchange ideas without being actually present at the event. To sum up, a hybrid event means holding a meeting in a virtual environment.

Increased Use of Social Publishing Tools

You can use YouTube to freely upload your event videos for quick viewing by your target audience. Event organizers can also use WordPress to write and post interesting articles about your events and festivals. Finally, Flickr.com can be used to share event photos with your present as well as new customers.