How to Plan a Thanksgiving Party in Your Office?

With the season of merrymaking knocking at the door and Thanksgiving waiting to strike the opening bell, invitations are being extended everywhere and menus are being finalized. Soon the holiday season will begin and the offices will remain closed; but how about organizing a party at your office just before that? The workplace is after all where you spend a major part of your day; so, why not make it a part of your celebrations too? With a host of modern-day event management solutions available it is not at all difficult to plan a Thanksgiving office party. Simply opt for the best Thanksgiving party registration solution, and the rest will simply fall in place.

Here are a few Thanksgiving office party tricks, which you may consider depending on the size of your workplace:

Let us start with smaller party plans. For example, if you are working in a relatively large organization with numerous departments, and you want to restrict your celebration to your own department, coordinate pot luck amongst your colleagues. Include all the must-have food areas such as turkey, cranberry sauce, assorted salads, drinks, and desserts, and your colleagues will just love it. You can manage the invitations and food arrangement on your own with a little help from a few of your acquaintances, but it always helps if you opt for a Thanksgiving event registration solution which also has an in-built emailing tool to send out quick invites.

The software makes the registration process much simpler allowing your guests to access the online forms at their own time of convenience. Online registration also makes managing the accounts more accurate and convenient. If you create an account with the solution provider for the Thanksgiving purpose, it will be easier for your guests to deposit their contributions online. If you are in charge of keeping accounts, this system will, in turn, enable you to keep a track on which of your colleagues have already contributed and who are still left to pay the amount fixed for the potluck.

Creating an account for a purpose such as this might seem like an extravagant investment, but then you should not forget that Thanksgiving is an annual occasion. Next year, when you will be assigned with the task of planning a similar event before the Thanksgiving Day, this account will come in so handy. So, go ahead with the plan and enable your guests to make the payment online, a mode they are most comfortable availing.

Now, coming to slightly large scale Thanksgiving parties, the event registration solution will surely be your best choice to zero in on such an occasion. You can create and publish a thanksgiving event and party registration page online with the help of the software in minutes. The page can be customized with signature Thanksgiving themes such as autumn leaves, a scarecrow's face, pumpkins, cornucopia, or a pilgrim's hat, apart from the usual office logo, and tiered pricing categories.

By accessing this page anytime during the day, attendees will be able to get the information about the party and the venue and make their payment decisions accordingly. The best part of the online registration software is that it includes an embedded email messaging and a host of other productivity tools. You will be able to send as many invitations, reminders, and RSVPs as you want to across the departments by using this application and set up an online calendar for your guests to regularly follow the updates. Finally, for promoting the event within your office to encourage maximum participation you can make use of the facilities such as the social media platforms, promo codes, discounts, and waitlist manager, which come embedded with the Thanksgiving party registration software.

5 Networking Event Mistakes That Can Cost You Prospects

Face to face networking is one of the best ways to find real prospects for your business. Most business owners hate these types of events because they can't see any real value in it. You spend all day away from your business and you go home with no sales leads, instead you have a bunch of business cards from people that want you to buy something.

A day or even a half day is a long time to be away from your business so if you are going to do it, be sure that it is worth your while. Below is a list of 5 networking mistakes that entrepreneurs and CEOs often make that typically keep them from finding qualified prospects or sales leads.

I Can't Believe I Attended That

Being in the wrong place is almost always the problem with face to face networking for business owners. Many of us (I have been guilty of this one) signup for the wrong type of event. Let's take the Virtual Assistant for example; it is not a smart idea to register for an event in which the key speaker will talk about Time Management for The Virtual Assistant if you are only going in search for new business.

This may be great training for you, but if you want find good prospects, you have to attend events in their industry. If your ideal client is a realtor, you should be attending events that are tailored to the real estate industry.

Weak Pitch

The first time you meet a potential client, you want to leave them with a great impression of you and your business. At networking events, you only have a short amount of time to let people know who you are, what you do and what makes you different.

Before you attend an event, you should already have a dynamic elevator pitch created. I will elaborate more on creating an effective elevator pitch at a later date but to get you started remember that your pitch should be:

1. No longer than 60 seconds, although I recommend staying around 30 seconds

2. Targeted to your ideal prospect

3. Focused on the outcome or results you provide for your clients

No Cards or Promotional Material

The tackiest thing I have ever seen at an event is someone writing their contact details on a napkin and handing it to me. That says two things; the first being that they are not prepared and the second is that they are not professional. I know that things happen but if you are going to an event, don't show up without some type of promotional information, even if it's just a business card.

If you ordered some items and they haven't arrived the day before your event, run to a same day printing shop and have 50 to 100 business or postcards printed up. Remember that it's all about appearances and you don't want people to assume that you are not capable of delivering professional, high quality work.

What Are You Wearing?

Dress accordingly, if it says business casual, don't wear sweats or a three-piece suit. The event planner should be able to tell you in advance what type of dress is appropriate. This may seem silly to some of you, but following the dress code says that you know how to take instruction and are reliable.

Be on Time

Do not show up late for an event, especially if it is an event where everyone is sitting down. You will get noticed, but not in a good way. Being late says to prospects that your delivery time will be unreliable as well.

There are tons of other tips out there that can help you make networking events a gold mine for your business, this list is a great place to start. I hope this information has been helpful and I wish you tons of success at your next event.

Sweet 16 Party Ideas For Your Precious 16 Year Old

Another important milestone in your daughter's growing up is when she is finally turning sweet 16. It doesn't happen everyday. She is about to reach her full bloom, something that we as parents fear as she is growing up. The little bud we once had is turning into a lovely delicate flower - and it is happening very soon and right before our very eyes. We sure want to make it worth remembering for our daughters.

Parents would most likely hire an events planner, something worth your every penny. We have to admit that we do need experts in planning something that happens once in a lifetime. A planner would host the event and be responsible for an awesome and electrifying theme for your Sweet 16 and her expected guests. The theme must be equally rousing to the party favors you are about to distribute afterwards. These party favors become symbols reminiscent of the sweetest event in your precious ones' life. Giving out party favors is optional but it is something the guests really look forward tot. Let me cite some sweet 16 party ideas:

• Fairytale Theme- This is the most probable choice of parents and celebrants for a sweet 16 party. Invited young ladies normally would give in extra effort dressing up to be enchantingly lovely. It can be expensive but it need not be. Simple gowns can be turned into really fine, elegant pieces with some additions to the design which any parent can and would definitely love to do. The party favor ideas that would perfectly blend in would be: handmade couture party dress cookies or chocolate, or personalized tins for collection items. Enough to reward the young ladies for dressing up.

• Slumber Party Theme- This is something that young ladies would love to do. It is more spontaneous and they would love the privacy of sharing stories to each other without the need of an adult around. Some party favors that would be perfect for this theme would be: personalized playing cards or lip balms that they would surely love.

• Retro Themed Party- Get the groove back to the 60's. It will definitely be a flashy day for your young lady and her other guests. Perfect colorful outfits would be a surefire hit and would make the sweet 16's album worth browsing every now and then. Top party favors to match this event are: personalized party goodie bags, personalized chocolate bars - all with colorful and big prints to highlight the theme of the party.

• Masquerade Party- Stay mysterious behind the mask while savoring the night. This theme is elegant and fabulous and very enjoyable. Masks may be ordered or fabricated for a more personal touch. These fabricated masks can be the best party favor for this kind of party, paste a tag somewhere unnoticeable to personalize it.

Engagement Party Checklist and Planning Ideas

This is a comprehensive engagement party checklist and some ideas to help in planning your engagement party.

Upon Engagement

* Engagement notice in newspaper, Facebook etc

* Arrange Engagement Party (easy to create an event in Facebook to invite your friends)
Engagement Party Checklist

* Date & Time (most Engagement Parties are held on a Saturday night, but a Sunday breakfast or brunch option is also a popular option. Always check any events held locally or nationally that may clash with your date, you don't want to find out you've chosen the football grand final - unless you want to include it in your theme!)

* Guest List (not usually as many guests as the wedding, but it's entirely up to you! Also don't forget about whether children can come)

* Location (usually a parent's home or your house, but venues can be great for fuss free entertaining, or even a River cruise!)

* Budget (it's hard not to get carried away when your excited by the wedding, but try and look at the entire amount you can afford and work backwards from there. For example if you have a $1200 budget and 40 people, then you have $30 per person, which will determine whether you can get catering etc.)

* Dress code - Casual/Formal/Black tie etc (remember to include on your invites)

* Theme & Color Theme (good time to introduce your wedding theme on a smaller scale and try out some ideas)

* Entertainment/Music (Hire a Band/DJ or even a jukebox)

* Food & Catering (another way to save money is to get guests to "bring a plate" instead of gifts, but there are many options such as a barbecue, or getting it catered for with a spit roast or cocktail style. Some caterers supply just platters of food, which can be a good option to "top up" what you may already be providing)

* Alcohol & Drinks (guests usually expect some alcohol, wine and beer are the most economical with some fruit juices. Also a good time to introduce a "signature cocktail" to be used at the wedding, or try a few out and get guests to vote on the best one!)

* Cake (to save money DIY, or enlist family or friends instead of a gift. Cupcakes are another option you can make yourself and freeze ahead of time, you can defrost them and decorate the day beforehand. Some bakeries allow you to buy "blank" cakes which will save the time in cooking and you can just decorate and ice. Fresh flowers are great for an instant and effective decoration on a cake)

* Invitations (a lot of people just email invites now, and you can get email templates or customisable printable invites from Etsy and Madeit, alternatively you can have them printed professionally)

* Decorations (add instant colour with balloons, most party shops can do custom helium designs quite economically, or hire your own cylinder, enlist some friends and do them yourself depending on your climate the later you have to do the balloons, the hotter the less time they last. Try to do your decorating the day before, it's also important that if the party is at night to see what the venue is like then, you may need to add in some hire fairy lights, uplights under trees, candelabras and bamboo torches etc to set the mood. Another option is flowers in vases, you can often buy in bulk at market sellers, and just sprinkling masses of rose petals around tea light candles on tables, gardens and the driveway can make a cost effective but amazing impact. Most party shops have disposable plates, crockery and cutlery which will make cleaning up a lot easier too! )

* Gifts (consider how far away from the wedding the party is, as you don't want to impose on guests too often. If you are already set up in your house, money in lieu of gifts is OK to ask for on your invitations. Guests will need some direction so making it easier for them on the invite is the best way, donation to a charity is another option)

* Organise any Hire items - such as tables, chairs, lighting, crockery & cutlery etc. (Party hire places have many options that you might not be aware of such as small, good for rain marquees, carpet runners for your entrance, archways, vases, lighting, eskies, fabric draping etc for decorating. Most have a price list you can download or get them to email you so you can find out all your options before purchasing items)

* Videographer/Camera (ask a few guests who have video cameras if they would mind videoing through the night, try and follow up with friends afterwards for photos. It can be a great regret later in life that you didn't capture everything that you wanted to on the night. If you budget allows a videographer can be a great way to capture memories. If you've found your photographer already for the wedding, a lot of them offer engagement photos as part of a package which can be great for invitations and keepsakes as well)

* Games/activities (depending on your guests and venue you can add in some fun activities such as wine and cheese tasting, karaoke machine, Trivia contests, Twister, Wii or PlayStation contests etc. If this is the first time your families are meeting, then you might just have to gauge the night as it goes along, but it's always good to have something preplanned if you may need to "break the ice". Don't expect to do everything you've thought of, but you might be surprised at how happy guests are to indulge in some fun once they've had a few drinks!)

* Contingency Plan (If your party is outside you may need extra cover for rain, or to move to a completely different venue. You can check the previous year's weather at the Bureau of Meteorology, but always be prepared no matter if it's "never rained that time of year")

* Do a run sheet (all event organisers have run sheets which is basically a time line of what's happening when, it also includes all your suppliers and contact details and numbers on one page of all the relevant and involved people. You will need an overall run sheet that has each item listed on a table with two columns, one for whether it's been organised and the second for confirmation and payment. A run sheet for the week and day leading up to the event is handy also (depending on how involved your party is). If you have friends/family doing (delegated!) certain things for you it's good to give them a checklist of their own if they have multiple things to do.)

For example:

1 week out - bake cake and freeze, clean driveway, hair cut, check RSVPs etc.
Day before - decorate cake, pick up hire items, check weather forecast, get flowers, set up lighting and check that night etc
Day of (this list needs to include the time as well) - Pick up balloon decorations, put drinks on ice, set up tables and chairs etc.

The easiest way to make a run sheet is to literally look at each item on your list and work out what needs to be done in relation to it - for example -

* Venue (Mum and Dad's house) -
1. Clean patio
2. Get Dad to fix the gate
3. Draw up lighting plan give to Brother
4. Put flowers and extra toilet paper in bathroom etc

* Me -
1. Find a dress and accessories to wear
2. Get hair done
3. Take emergency kit to Mum and Dad's (makeup, hairspray etc)

Notes - If you are doing a lot of the setting up yourself make sure you allow time to have a shower and freshen up before your guests arrive, and don't forget to eat and hydrate! If budget allows a Event Organiser is always a good option, but ensure you have solid ideas on what you want beforehand to save you money. A "mood board" of pictures you've found, cut out and placed on some pages to give them a visual idea of what you want also is a great help. You may find that family and friends want to "say a few words" at your Engagement Party, make sure you talk to those people first to ensure there aren't any surprises on the day. Most of all have fun, and see this as a "dress rehearsal" to the next exciting event - your wedding!

4 Steps to Follow While Undertaking an Email Marketing Campaign for Your Events

The much hyped about social media platforms have forced event organizers to set aside traditional, powerful means of event promotion and take on a modern approach to online advertising. Email marketing is one such effective method that can lead to efficient event promotions. Though, it might sound like an old school marketing method in this social media era, it is still considered a frontrunner when it comes to sending direct messages or an exclusive invitation. Executing a successful email marketing campaign is simple if you keep few things in mind like sharing valuable information, adding value and avoid spamming.

In this article, I have outlined a few tips that will help you to undertake your email marketing campaigns successfully.

Preparing a List and Choosing an Appropriate Timing

Even before you think of making a head start with an email marketing campaign, prepare a list recipients that you would like to target. Based on the type of event that you are hosting, you must also choose an ideal time to send out your message or invitations. If you are organizing a large event then you can start with an early 'save the date' email campaign as it will give your prospective attendees the date on which the event will be hosted. They can block the same on their online diaries or calendars. Emailing this information early on will have a direct impact on your ticket sales.

Deciding On the Content

You need to decide on what you want to promote via your email. Planning beforehand actually helps. Make the content interesting and engaging by adding insider information relevant to your events. It will help in quenching the insatiable curiosity within most people. While delivering such information you must be careful and diligent enough to send information that holds some relevance to your recipients. Information that you think may be relevant is sometimes considered unnecessary by others; so choose judiciously.

Resorting to an Automated Email Marketing Tool

Nowadays, there is a number of Cloud-based software that helps in effective streamlining of the various events related administrative tasks. Such software facilitates organizers with an email marketing tool that enables email blasts of individual invitations, reminders, or newsletters to thousands of contacts. It can even assist in tracking the success of your email marketing campaign by monitoring the email open rates.

Sending Repeated Reminders without Spamming

It is quite obvious that all of your recipients will not check their mails as soon as they are sent. Out of thousands of emails sent, may be 20-50% of your recipients will make an effort to check it on first receipt. It is therefore important for you to send repeated reminders from time to time. However, make sure that you don't send them too many emails with lousy content which may lead to spamming and force people to even take a look at what your mail is all about.

With proper strategy an email marketing campaign can lead to maximum exposure for your events.

Wedding Decorating Ideas Using White Wedding Decor

As a wedding event planner, it is always fun to unexpectedly come across a wedding or special event being set up. Recently, I was traveling in Spain and our hotel had one of the most beautiful outdoor wedding locations I had ever seen. I saw that they were hosting this wedding using white wedding decor which of course sparked the idea for this blog that describes various wedding decorating ideas.

First let's discuss outdoor wedding locations and why this site in particular stood out as one of the prettiest I have ever seen. Situated on the Mediterranean, the St. Regis Resort has a stunning view of the ocean from their large lawn where the wedding was held. They also have a path with bougainvillea archways that is beautiful for bride and groom pictures.

Other wonderful hotel features in respect to fabulous outdoor wedding locations is the grand patio where cocktails were held. This terrace is located just off of the main bar of the hotel and is beautifully furnished with outdoor furniture. Therefore, you can save some money and not bring in any of your own furniture.

Finally, as a wedding event planner, I felt completely at ease speaking with the catering department as they were setting up the event, and I got the sense that the hotel is very accommodating and understands the task at hand in making the wedding day special for the bride and groom. In addition, the food and service I experienced at the hotel were among the best I have had at any hotel.

Now for some wedding decorating ideas I picked up while watching the hotel set up the white wedding decor for this wedding.

* Use smaller tents and put them together creating individual spaces or rooms versus one large tent. Plus the bonus of using smaller tents is that you can leave off one corner and create an outside lounge or dancing area.

* Keep costs down with your lounge by using just votive candles on the coffee tables or simple white Cymbidium orchids in votive glasses.

As a wedding event planner, I really liked the idea that they used sand as filler for the flower vase instead of colored glass or rocks. This is a great white wedding decor idea incorporating the location with the wedding.

Other wedding decorating ideas include:

* Use different types of flowers and vases on the tables for an eclectic look and a contrasting color such as black for an accent color.

* Cover the chairs with white chair covers to give a clean and uniform style to the event.

* Bring in some fun decor pieces like these 2' diameter-sized large round candle holders and intersperse them around the reception area.

I hope you found these wedding decorating ideas interesting and can possibly incorporate them with your white wedding decor. As I mentioned above, the hotel in Mardavall was spectacular and I would consider one of the prettiest outdoor wedding locations I have seen. Until next time, remember the Budget Bash mantra: make it simple, delicious, stylish, fun & economical to all!

Golf Tournament Planning 101 - Choosing Your Venue and Contests That Generate Revenue

Choosing your golf course should be high on your list of priorities early in your planning. You will need to consider your golfers' budgets. But price isn't the only determining factor in your selection. Is the course challenging, yet fair? Is it known for being in excellent condition? Do they host several tournaments and have the resources to help make your event successful? Is the staff friendly, yet professional? Do they have facilities for your banquet? You will most likely approach several of your local facilities. When you contact the courses, ask if they have an in-house event planner. It's always helpful to have one person who will be your course contact. When a question arises, you'll want to have a decision-maker available. During your initial contact, ask for a cell phone number and an email address.

The golf course personnel will need to know your preferred date(s), the number of golfers you anticipate, your format (shotgun start or tee times), your program for the day (breakfast, lunch, refreshments during registration, dinner). You don't need to have all the details of the day planned for this initial meeting, but the more information you can give, the better understanding the staff will have of your goals and needs. Remember that most course event planners have had several years of experience with tournaments and can be a wealth of ideas & information that will help your event flow smoothly and without incident. You will want to have an estimated budget for what you expect the course to provide and be clear about your needs...don't forget beverages, lunch, prizes. Some courses will be willing to provide all-inclusive package prices while others will provide ala carte pricing. Don't forget to ask about fees for calculating scores, renting banquet facilities or service charges and tax. Ask if the course requires a deposit. This will need to be addressed in your planning. Are you required to sign a contract or will the course pout their pricing on paper?

Ask the course representative what services they offer that may set them apart from other courses. Do they offer discounts on pro shop purchases, coupons for return visits, rounds of golf for prizes? Are they willing to make a donation to your charity or sponsor a prize? Can they offer any assistance in your marketing? This can have a HUGE impact on your tournament! Do they have a website, online tournament planning or registration, social networking accounts (Facebook & twitter) or email lists for tournament players? Remember, most event planners have a vested interest in your success!

Many planners can also help you with signage and contest ideas. It's a good idea to discuss this several months before the event as some custom logo and special order items may be needed for the contests. Today, there are many ways that special on-course contests can involve the golfers in creative ways and add much needed $$$ to your donations.

Some of the easier contests for volunteers to assist with are:

Closest to the Pin, Longest Drive & Most Accurate Tee Shot & Skins

Beat the Pro

Pot of Gold

Putting Contest

Shootout

Hole-in-One Contests

Mulligans

Raffles, Door Prizes & 50/50 Drawings

Silent & Live Auctions

Blind Bogey

In addition, there are several unique ideas that a good planner can help you arrange. But remember... the course will need advance notice of most of these contests which may require extra volunteers tables, tables at the putting green or driving range, signage, measuring devices, volunteer carts, etc.

Ask if your course can provide sponsor signs. Some courses will print your sponsor ads and provide low cost tee signs. This can be an affordable option to having signs professionally printed.

Consider your golf course your partner. With an organized staff dedicated to serving your tournament's needs, your golf course can be a huge part of your success!

Event Planning for Parties, Weddings or Any Other Events

Have you got a big event coming up? Got hundreds of people turning up? Overwhelmed by all the responsibilities this brings? Or are you simply just stuck and do not know where to start? If you are looking to setup an event of some sort and are brimming with ideas but don't know how to implement them then maybe you need to consider an event planner to help you put this together.

An event planner will generally have large amounts of experience, knowledge and contacts within the industry to make you event go off with a bang. By contacts I mean people who could provide you with catering, lighting, drinks and anything else you make think you need for your special event. First of the best thing you could start with is getting all your ideas on paper for your event planner so they what you're thinking and expecting. Always be open to ideas though remember an event planner will have done this over and over again, so it would be folly not to use their ideas.

As well as getting your ideas on paper have your questions ready for the areas which you don't know how to deal with. For example if you are hosting a charity event you will more than likely have a lot of people there, you will need to know whether you need a toastmaster or extra bodies for crowd control. Ok so you may be thinking well all this is going to cost a lot of money especially if someone else is organising it as you will have to pay their fees aswell. Without a doubt this will cost you a lot of money however the organisation that goes into such an event will require someone independent to work on all the issues for example here is a list of things you may not have considered and need to:

• Invites
• Table decor
• Venue decor
• Chairs
• Tables
• Waiters
• Security staff
• Catering and drinks
• Lighting

Have you just been overwhelmed by the list. Even if you haven't then you have to consider that you probably don't have much experience in event planning and it could go wrong. Remember whatever your event you are looking to create an image or wow people and the best way to do this is to use someone with experience of planning such events.

Unfortunately it is very difficult for one person to not only be the host but to also be the event organiser. It is just not possible to be in two places at once and in majority of cases will cause the event to fail on large proportions. Hiring a competent event planner will ensure things go smoothly and with a bang, plus it will keep your stress levels as down as we can only assume they will be skyrocketing. Good luck with your event and future event you embark upon, hope all goes well and that you made the right decision to hire an event planner.

6 HOT Tips Dealing With Your Event Vendors!

No event is a deserted island. When you are organizing an event on your own, unless you are hiring an event planner, you will be dealing with at least 5 or more vendors per event. Sometimes it can be as many as 10 to 20 of them! It is therefore important to know how to deal with vendors. They can make or break your event!

1) Treat Your Event Vendors As Your Partners

In any event, you may have to deal with the venue representatives, caterers, audio visual suppliers, photographers, videographers, and many more depending on the complexity of your event. Great vendors are a source of expert advise - they can help solve problems for you and they have a wealth of ideas that you can tap on. If they are your partners, they will not hesitate to help you out.

2) Treat your vendor as if he or she is your friend...

If your vendor is a friend, they will go the extra mile for you. Sometimes staying throughout the event to ensure that there are no technical glitches without charging you extra. This helps ensure that your events run smoothly. Furthermore, depending on your event needs, you may have to run a pre-event rehearsals which you didnt budget for - as most vendors will charge for this. But if your vendor is your friend, its easier to seek for their "understanding"

3) Build a relationship with them

Even if you have a newly working relationship with your vendor - learn to build a solid relationship with them. Especially the good ones! I always make the point to know my vendors personally. I go to their office, have coffee with them and even attend their wedding!

Having said that, you must not take in everything they say nor take advantage of their "kindness" so to speak - you do not need to drive sharp bargains to get things done. If you are really in a tight situation, explain to them the real situation and know when it is reasonable to request for more.

4) The 3-Quotes Requirements - What not to do

Vendors hate to be treated like they are fulfilling your 3-quotes requirements. It wastes everyone's time and it is not productive at all. If you have not decided on your vendors, then by all means go ahead and get the three quotations. But once you have decided, it is not fair to get other vendors to pitch in just for you to fulfil your 3-quotes requirements. So always watch out for this as you will develop a reputation in the industry and no one wants to work with you.

5) Differentiate the good from the bad

Learn also to differentiate those vendors that just want to "make a quick buck!" If you are not careful, you may have one or two of this kind to deal with. Especially when you are not paying them much. Look at the way they handle your calls (no matter how frequent), listen to their comments when you ask for an opinion and observe how fast they respond to your requests. Vendors that don't bother to answer your calls and not return your calls without any good reasons are not the ones that you want to build relationships with. And those that they didn't show up when they said they would without calling back, warrant reasons to worry because on the event day itself - he or she may not show up and that's bad news!

6)Rewarding your vendors

As with all things, it goes both ways, if your vendor goes beyond his call of duty to help you then it would be good to reward him or her also. Pass him/her a business referral or two, give him/her a letter of commendation (if he/she deserves it). Be a good paymaster and pay him/her on time. Your vendor may not mind getting paid less if the payment is prompt and you treat him/her kindly. So even if you may not have big budgets to play with. You can still go a long way if you treat your vendors well!

穢2011 Maya Kuchit-Desjarlais, Convention Links (S) Pte Ltd

Top 3 Cool Girls' Birthday Party Themes For Teen And Tweens

Planning a teen girl's birthday is not as easy as it sounds. They probably are no more interested in the conventional princess parties and want to host their parties in their own way. Being a mother, you have to understand their requirements and address them well so that she can spend her special day the way she wants. Before you start planning her birthday party, sit with her and discuss every detail so that she can have her say. To begin with, decide a theme. Here are some cool teen girls' birthday party themes that you can consider for her.

Luau party

Tropical grass skirts, fresh fruits, Hawaiian music, and floral leis are sure to excite your teen guests and get them into the party mood. This colorful and exotic theme is sure to be a big hit among them. So say 'aloha' to a luau theme party and let the kids enjoy some relaxed time. Hosting this party at a pool side would be a great way to create a perfect luau atmosphere for your celebrations. The decorations and other preparations can be as simple or extravagant as desired by you and your lovely daughter. To quickly create a festive atmosphere, buy the luau themed Girls Birthday Supplies such as tableware, centerpiece, balloons, crepe paper, favors, pi簽atas, and much more.

Justin Bieber

This teen-idol is extremely popular among girls and if your lovely daughter keeps humming his songs, suggest her Justin Bieber theme party for her birthday. Hosting this party would be much easier with the help of Justin theme Girls Birthday Party Supplies such as the tableware, invitations, foil banner, crepe paper, balloons, VIP badge necklaces, and much more. Create a gig atmosphere for your party and let the girls feel as if they are the VIP guests of this superstar. Give away Justin theme favors that the girls will treasure for years to come.

Hannah Montana

If your teen daughter fantasizes being Hannah Montana, why not suggest her a Hannah Montana theme party on her birthday? This theme will give her and her friends ample opportunities to dress up and pretend like a pop diva. Teen girls love to dress-up and therefore, this is one of the most appropriate party themes for them. To organize this party conveniently, buy the themed Girls Birthday Supplies that will help you create a perfect party atmosphere for your little one.

These cool birthday party themes are sure to make your lovely daughter's day memorable. Once you have finalized your theme, sit with your daughter and discuss about the rest of the party details so that you plan the way she want.

Why to Hire an Event Lighting Planner

The five senses - sight, sound, smell, taste and touch. Ask anyone what the five senses are and sight is always first on the list. It is no wonder that light evokes such emotional responses in us. The right lighting can transform an area from dark and foreboding to warm and inviting. The best example of this is perhaps the sun appearing after a shower, bringing with it a beautiful and ethereal rainbow. Having the right lighting at your event can help make it a success. Which is why you should hire an event lighting designer. Lighting style and design vary from event to event depending on the nature and the venue of the event. A lighting designer will help you create the effect you want to with the right lighting scheme.

The key to great event lighting is to turn down the ambient lighting of the room by a factor of 20 to 30%. This darker area creates a canvas for the lighting designer to work on. Individual elements can be lit to draw focus on and your event becomes romantic existing and dynamic. For example you can highlight the bar with a soft blue or green hue, depicting it like a cool, refreshing oasis and bathing the buffet in a warm welcoming glow providing just enough light for the guest to see the food. In a corporate event the lighting can be used to showcase the item of focus, a new product for example. Dimming down the light will enhance the impact on the areas you wish to highlight and hide the less attractive elements.

Set aside a decent portion of the budget for the lighting. Labor is the main cost factor. Check the power availability at the venue. Factor this in when planning the lighting. The power circuits at the venue may not support a grand display. In this case you can hire a 25kw generator for about $800 a day. Also factor in loading and setting up time. The loading and setting up time is both labor and time intensive, but are inversely proportional to each other. If you require a quick setup hire additional labor, but check with your budget. Time is money, my friend.

Event management companies offer green exhibit lighting fixtures that use LED bulbs. These bulbs reduce the energy to achieve the same effect at a lower cost. LED also produces an insignificant amount of heat and since they produce no heat they can be packed up rather than waiting for the lights to cool down. In conclusion, the lighting at your event needs to have theme congruent to the purpose of the event. Highlight areas of importance like the bar, stage, buffet, etc. But remember to keep the lighting simple. Use different colors to draw focus to areas instead not too much lighting. If a lot is at stake at your event do not take a risk; hire a professional event lighting designer in conjunction with your event planner.

Do You Need Help From A Wedding Planner?

Wedding is an event that comes once in the life of an adult and every man and woman want their wedding to be the most memorable and joyful day of their life. Planning for this event is not very easy for everyone especially when you want your event to be special. You need to pay attention on many things at a time, from time management to shopping, everything requires your attention. Coordinating with different venders is a very hectic job. Many people have this talent to make all arrangements themselves but this is something very difficult for many people. In this situation the wedding planners are the best solution for you to handle the problems and make your event successful.

At times people who are busy in their jobs and don't get time for shopping, dealing with vendors and making appointments, so they require the help of a wedding planner; they can hire a good event planner that can find out about their requirements and arrange the event as per the requirements.

Many people have time and they can deal with different vendors but lack sense of style and are not creative enough, the wedding planners use their esthetics, bring new ideas and give a touch of class and style to the event.

At times you have friend and family members willing to help you but this doesn't mean that they will arrange things as per your style and requirements. It becomes very difficult to tell them to change things. If you hire an event planner none of your family members and friends will interfere and you will get the arrangements according to your style without breaking your love one's hearts.

Wedding planners have knowledge of different traditions followed in the weddings and they make arrangements for them. If you want to have your wedding in a traditional way you can consult the wedding or event planner about this.

Sometimes you have a fixed budget and want a lot done at your wedding; you can ask your event planner, they have different packages and they will arrange your wedding within your budget as they have contacts with particular vendors and get the things done on discounted rates.

Selecting wedding venue at times become difficult, take help from a wedding planner to solve your problem; they know of different locations, their traveling fare, resorts and hotels and their cost; event planner can make you a better plan within your budget and requirements.

If you have any such problem you can take help of a wedding planner to make your wedding event go smoothly.

Event Insurance: Why Do You Need Insurance Coverage for Your Events?

You are all set to host an important event, everything is in place when suddenly you receive a call from a friend who informs you about a hurricane expected to hit town the following day! You have very little time at hand to prepare a Plan B. What will you do?

As an event planner you put in a lot of effort and investment to organize an event. However, unforeseen factors may let you down and your work may go in vain. Adverse weather conditions, safety issues or any other risk factor may jeopardize your plans resulting in losses. It is therefore, imperative for you to undertake necessary steps to prevent any financial loss caused by a mishap or cancellation.

A few years ago, cancellation or postponement of an event spelled disaster for organizers who found their budgets going haywire. Fortunately, the situation is now under control to a considerable extent and you don't have to bear the losses if your event is not held on the scheduled date.

There are several private event insurance providers who specialize in offering affordable solutions to meet the requirements of different organizers. Notably, an increasing number of organizers are opting for these insurance covers to prevent monetary losses in wake of any accident or any other unanticipated calamity. There are a host of specialized insurance plans offered to the event organizers. For example, the cancellation insurance cover helps recover the money lost due to the cancellation of an event.

An event insurance cover helps you to minimize damages resulting due to any unforeseen factor. Some of these may include the following:

繚 Despite planning everything, you may have to cancel an event due to lack of ticket sales or sudden unavailability of the chief speaker

繚 Adverse weather conditions such as hurricanes or heavy snowfall may prevent you from hosting an event

繚 A mishap such as fire or damage to the property may also prompt you to call off the event

繚 Equipment is damaged or lost during the show or conference

繚 Attendees are injured during the event due to negligence

Considering the potential hazards involved in hosting events, several insurance covers have been introduced for event planners. These insurance covers extend several key benefits to the organizers. These include the following:

繚 With an insurance cover, you can insure any kind of event hosted almost anywhere in the world. From a fundraiser for your organization to a global convention for guests coming from different countries - you can insure all!

繚 Specialized insurance policies for event organizers have several key features and additional benefits. One of the chief benefits of such policies is covering the costs for damages caused to the venue, property and equipments in the aftermath of an accident or calamity.

繚 In wake of an injury that occurs to your participants, you will be required to shell out a hefty amount for the compensation. With the help of an insurance policy, the medical bills of the injured person can be covered effectively.

Irrespective of the scale of your event, selecting an appropriate insurance policy is extremely important to minimize the risk factors. An insurance cover can protect you from potential hazards caused by a host of factors. Considering that there are various kinds of insurance covers available for organizers, you can opt for a policy that meets all your requirements and protects you properly.

Why Is Mobile App Marketing Becoming So Popular Among the Event and Class Organizers?

Mobile app marketing has practically changed the way organizations connect and share their event or class-related information with the target audience. The conventional marketing strategies of advertising on newspapers and business magazines or distributing pamphlets have been taken over by more advanced set of promotional tools, such as the internet and various mobile devices. At present, a good number of organizations are using the Smartphone to promote and publicize their activities on a wider scale.

How Does This System Work?

This mobile phone application allows event or class planners easily send text messages (SMSs) as well as their website links on their potential customer's Smartphone. It lets you inform your target audience about the features of your conference and training programs and the advantages of attending them. Besides, the app also lets any interested individual sign up for the seminar or fundraiser by easily accessing the event registration portal and online ticketing site on his or her handset.

Allow me to share with you the advantages of using a mobile phone application to market your events and classes.

Go Viral

Mobile marketing increases the chances of sharing the news and information about your occasion with maximum number of people. There are over 95.8 million Smartphone users in the US at present, which means the chances for your organizational activities to be recognized are also as much.

Easy Accessibility of Your Event News

You can allow your target audience to easily access all your seminar or fundraiser news and information via their Smartphone.

Immediate Sharing of Information

Unlike advertising on print media, sharing information on handsets of millions of people hardly takes any time. Hence, the chance of receiving immediate response via Smartphone is also extremely high.

Adds Versatility

Marketing your products and solutions over mobile phones can help you take your business to the next level. It opens up a new channel to reach out to those of your target audience who use mobile phones more and is less computer-savvy.

Add a Wow Factor to Your Classes and Events!

Mobile apps are trendy and hence, popular among the new generation. Resorting to this type of marketing strategy will help you quickly share your new product or events information with millions of Smartphone users, not only in US, but also across the whole world. It takes only a few seconds for an advertisement or any of your website links to get successfully delivered on your potential customers or event attendees' handset.

Become an Event Planner and Create Events That Are Talked About!

The start of the new year usually prompts many people to make significant changes in their lives be they relationships, health, work, etc. With the lack of jobs, or unfulfilling jobs and careers, many people are coming to the realization that to make their dreams come true, they will have to take matters into their own hands. This usually starts with the decision to start a home based business. Event planning is one of the more popular home based businesses that continue to gain popularity. This article discusses how to become an event planner and create events that are talked about positively.

The event planning industry is a multi-billion dollar industry that continues to grow each year as more and more people enter this very successful field. Just like with anything, success or failure is determined by various factors starting with the person desiring to become an event planner. Event planner jobs continue to grow each year since people will always need various events to be planned whether they are corporate events, parties, weddings, showers, etc.

Your success will foremost be determined by the amount of hard work you will be able and willing to put into your event planning business. Without hard work, an event planner is doomed to failure. You will also need to be creative. If creativity is not suited to you, you may want to consider another home based business or employ a creative person.

To ensure that your event becomes talked about positively which will lead to more referrals and business success, there are various factors that go into making the event special. One of the important factors for event planners is to ensure you are able to get the supplies that you need and adequate assistance with the event.

After setting the date or being given a date by the client, you will need to determine the location and whether it will hold the amount of people that will be showing up to the event. The location should be appealing in addition to being comfortable for the attendees. The event planner will have to take the time to review various locations for the most suitable to hold the event.

Once you have a location, you will need to determine a budget and stick to it. You do not want to go over budget as this will only hurt the success of your home business. The budget should be enough to allow you get everything that you need. If it is not enough, you may determine whether you can make adjustments to any of the items you need while still being able to put on a great event. Creativity will be very important here.

If the event planner is planning his or her own event or even for a client, advertising is important to ensure that the event will be well attended. This can be done with press releases both on and offline, email, flyers, various media outlets, etc. There should be enough time allowed to RSVP so that you have a count of the people that shall be attending the event. This is your business and you want to make it a success so properly plan. Do not rush anything as it will only hurt your business. This is a type of home based job that depends a lot on word of mouth and you and your event planning business will want to be talked about positively.

Entertainment will be important for event planners planning an event. The right entertainment will make your event a success and you will have a great response. This entertainment should be appropriate for the people that will be attending the event and keep them interested and entertained.

You will need to keep organized both before and during the event. Being organized will ensure that you properly plan the event and ensure that the event runs smoothly with no dull or boring moments during the actual event. Being organized will ensure that you keep abreast of every small detail about the event with few or no surprises.

Become a Top Wedding Planner - What it Takes to Be a Celebrity Wedding Planner

If you're a potential or new wedding planner, you may be dreaming of planning elaborate, high-end weddings and weddings for famous entertainers, similar to the events you read about in lifestyle and celebrity magazines. While you can have a goal of being a wedding planner for the rich and famous, and becoming famous yourself, you need to start by planning weddings in your own area that have realistic budgets. Famous wedding planners and event designers started this way. They learned and perfected their skills before they approached, or were approached by, high-end clients.

For example, Preston Bailey, event designer to celebrities such as the Donald Trump, Ivanka Trump, Oprah and Joan Rivers, wrote in his book, "Preston Bailey's Design for Entertaining: Inspiration for Creating the Party of Your Dreams", that he started out being involved in fashion, as a model. He then realized his passion for arranging flowers and became a floral designer. He started using flowers as items of decor to enhance design concepts and soon clients began asking him to design their special events. He did a lot of studying on his own; reading books on design, horticulture, art history and architecture.

David Tutera, an event producer who has planned events for Jennifer Lopez, Sir Elton John, and the Prince of Wales, and is the star of his own show, "My Fair Wedding", wrote in his book, "A Passion for Parties: Your Guide to Elegant Entertaining", that he had actually dreamed of being a movie star. To make some money, he started a singing telegram company, delivering songs while wearing a chicken or gorilla suit. He branched out into balloon bouquets and was asked to decorate a party. To do it justice, he had his grandfather, who owned a successful florist shop, teach him floral design and purchasing. His business eventually grew to party planning then event design and production.

As you can see, both men first created a business doing something they loved, then they did a lot of hard work before they got the clients, money and fame that they have today. You want to do the same thing. You want to take the time to get experience successfully creating weddings on a budget, coordinating with vendors, managing a staff, and handling the emergencies that come up on a wedding day, before you plan an elaborate wedding. You also need to create your network of high-quality vendors so you are confident that you have a team that you can work with successfully.

Fairy Whimsy Party Ideas for Your Daughter's Magical Birthday

Every girl dreams to become a princess, who lives in a fairyland, among the butterflies, ladybugs, bumblebees, and lots of beautiful flowers. Let your daughter's imagination come true on her upcoming birthday by organizing a Fairy Theme party for her. This classic theme will fascinate your little princess as well as the other aspiring fairies. Give them a royal treatment and let them be in their imaginary world on this special day of your daughter. Here are some of the wonderful Fairy Whimsy Party Ideas that will help you to add flare, magic and fantasy to your daughter's party.

The invitations: Take a light purple cardstock and fold it midway. Decorate the upper side's border with pink sequins and glitters. Print a fairy whimsy scene and paste it inside the border leaving some space for the writing a message. You can write some magical words such as 'Join me at my fairyland to celebrate my birthday'. On the inner side, write your party details. You can also choose the readymade cards available with many birthday party stores. These cards are affordable, attractive and an excellent choice for busy mums. Ask the kids to dress up as fairies so that they can also fulfill their imagination along with your daughter.

Decoration:

• To convert the party venue into a fairyland, decorate the ceiling with Tulle, flowers and flower lights and tell them that they are under the magic canopy.


• At the entrance, set up an arch and decorate it with purple and pink tulle and artificial flower. Place a signboard at its center saying "welcome to the fairyland'.


• Give each girl a set of wings and a wand when they arrive. This will help to enhance their party mood.


• Choose pink, white, and lavender colors to decorate the party area. Hang streamers, wind chimes, and paper cutouts of stars from the ceiling.


• Fill a large glass bowl with glitters and glass beads to make it a centerpiece.


• Rent or buy a bubble making machine and keep it turned on the party area. This will be a magical addition to your party.


• Use themed party supplies such as paper plates, cups, napkins, foil balloons, blowouts, etc. to enhance your decor.

Part games:

For your fairy theme Birthday Party, you can have a butterfly game. Hide some plastic butterflies around the party area before the guests arrive. During the play time, ask the girls to find out the hidden flies and reward the one who find the maximum.

• Take some white construction paper and cut them out in the shape of large butterflies. Ask the fairies to decorate them.


• You can have a story telling session with the kids. Hire a story teller or you become the fairy mother. A quiz round will also be an educational as well as engaging activity.

Party favors:

The fairy headbands, wings, headbands, jewelry, fairy themes pencil boxes, story books, etc. are some of the best party favors that will go well with the theme. You can also gift them fairy costumes and wands.

A properly planned fairy themed party will be the best way to make your daughter feel special. Make sure you do not miss out anything that can spoil the fun.

How to Avoid a Corporate Event Nightmare

It's like the old dream where you're delivering a speech to a packed house - and suddenly realize that you're standing there with your trousers around your ankles. You've planned the perfect company dinner - and the caterer got the date wrong. Your keynote speaker didn't show up because his travel tickets were never confirmed. And the napkins at the tables don't match the tableskirts. Are your guests going to think 'Oh, their corporate event planners let them down? Of course not! When you plan a large scale corporate event, your company's reputation is on the line. Why would you leave that in unskilled hands?

The most successful corporate events are those that are well-planned and flawlessly executed. If your company is hosting a customer appreciation event, a team building day or any other type of corporate event, it pays to hire the best corporate event planner you can find to take care of all the details. But how do you choose the best event planners? Here's a checklist of criteria to help you narrow down your choices to those corporate event organisers that will deliver an event that your customers and employees will enjoy.

1. If you're new to planning corporate events, ask around among your business colleagues for recommendations. If you attend a grand opening or company dinner that impresses you as well-planned and well-organized, make a note of whether an event planner was used, and which one it was. Excellence has a way of being noted, and word of mouth is the best recommendation you can find.

2. When you interview a corporate event planner, pay as much attention to the questions that they ask as to the answers that they give. A professional will ask questions designed to gauge exactly what YOU want to accomplish with your event so that they can translate your vision into the spectacular event that you have in mind.

3. Ask the right questions to get the information you need to know. How often do they handle events similar to yours? What other corporate events has the firm planned lately? Do they have experience with the type of event that you want to run? How will they approach your goals for this event?

4. Always ask for references. A professional event planner will be happy to provide you with the names of other clients that you can contact. Just as importantly, they can provide a list of vendors with whom they've worked and have relationships. As in any other business, successful event planning is based on who you know as much as it is on what you know. An expert corporate event planner will have worked extensively with vendors and services in your area. They'll know which companies are reliable and which to avoid.

No matter what the event you're planning, it makes sense to turn to a knowledgeable professional for help with the details. A professional corporate event planner can make running your event painless - so that you can relax and enjoy the evening as much as your guests.

Fundraising Efforts Add Value to Church Event Management

There is no greater cause in the world than the cause of humanity. To be able to do that or simply pray for that, renders ample peace of mind and brings happiness that we keep looking for, in our everyday busy lives. Attending a church or an event organized by the same gives you that opportunity. However, it may not always happen so that a fundraiser is being organized alongside a church event, though inclusion of one definitely adds a different dimension to it. So, it is very important to include a social cause driven fundraiser while organizing a church event.

Church event management by itself is an extensive task. A lot of groundwork in terms of involving paperwork is needed to promote the main event, expand membership by facilitating easy registrations, and ensure maximum participation in order to rope in more sponsors or donors. When this entire suite of action is added to another associated fundraiser management then it becomes quite a lot to take on at once for an organizer to get them all done at a time. A fundraiser should be promoted on a wider scale so that its cause gets heard by a larger audience resulting in bringing in contributions in the form of donations. So, what is the best way to synchronize a fundraiser with an actual church event and guarantee success for both? All that needs to be done is to opt for an online church event management solution, of course.

Online church event management software boasts of a wide range of facilities. It streamlines all the day-to-day church related operations and collection of donations in addition to facilitating attendee registrations, payment processing, promotions via email and social media channels, and networking through private communities. There is no need to install separate software for each category of the jobs described, or bother about its further maintenance and timely upgrades. Availing the church and fundraising management solution cuts down on time and money thereby allowing church authorities to focus more on the cause and making decisive changes in the lives of the people around.

Arranging a fundraiser under the banner of the church does not mean that its promotions should be kept muted. The more a cause gets publicity the better, because only then there will be a steady flow of donors and the fundraiser will be successful. The built-in marketing tools within the system help to publicize the fundraiser in a very streamlined and effective manner. It takes it to the social media platform and goes in for widespread campaigning so that there is no stone left unturned. Same applies for email marketing as well. The comprehensive email marketing engine integrated with this platform works proactively to send out invites, reminders, and RSVPs, so that the maximum number of sponsors join the league.

Online church event management solution is very useful in terms of being an eco-friendly option that negates the usage of paper within a lot of administrative work processes. It makes every church event a resounding success. So, if you are a devoted church-goer and come to know that there is an event to be held in your church soon, then do ask your pastor or the church authority to opt for this solution and be a part of a great event.

4 Steps to Successfully Evaluate Your Event's Performance and Find Scopes for Further Improvement

Events do not end with the departure of the last guest. Post event analysis, or more popularly known as event evaluation, is a basic step that organizers need to adhere to in order to quantify the event and identify any scope for future improvement. The aim is to distinguish the mistakes and learn from them. The evaluation process is the answer to queries on whether you have been successful in achieving your goals or was your message properly conveyed to the target audience. Today, there are various Cloud-based software products which come with tools that ease the process of event evaluation for organizers.

Let me now discuss some of the steps that can help you to evaluate your events successfully:

Step 1: Meeting the Core Team Immediately Post Events

It is imperative to conduct a meeting with your core team immediately post the completion of the event. The time gap should not be more than a week at the most. Delaying the process often results in fading of the important details in the light of current issues and responsibilities. Moreover, the staff may also change from time to time. An agenda should be prepared before the meeting which should cover every aspect of the event like venue, entertainment, food and beverages, timeline for communications, invitations etc. This will help you to find out what worked well and what did not.

Step -2: Evaluating Your Financial Goals

This step is vital in terms of getting an impartial overview of the revenue and expenses. The analysis assists you to attain a clear idea as to why your expenses exceeded your budget, net revenue; additionally make a revenue comparison with last year and decide on the necessary improvements to be undertaken for the next year. Cloud -based software users are facilitated with tools that make such evaluation processes more logical, streamlined, simple and less time consuming. Since most of the reports are stored in web based standard formats so it helps you to generate fruitful results by identifying the pitfalls easily.

Step 3: Assessing Your Promotional and Marketing Objectives

A promotional or marketing campaign is crucial to the success of any event. If your event was unable to drive attendees as per your anticipation then you really need to think over what went wrong. Remember a failure to market your events can create major havoc. The first and foremost thing that you need to understand is whether you adopted the right marketing strategy. If it is the printed form of advertisements that you decided to employ then your strategies must be revised for your next event. A social media campaign could be a better platform to connect you to the millions of users and gives your event better exposure. Cloud-based software product users are however facilitated with a social media connector tool that helps in easy integration.

Step 2: Feedback from Clients and Attendees

Feedback is a great way to effectively improve and enhance your event performance. To get feedback from clients you can attach a feedback form as a part of the welcome kit. Attendee feedback can however be a part of a gift voucher which they can redeem once he/she fills up the form. Don't forget to fill your attendee feedback form with questions that will you to get views about the event, scopes for further improvement, problems faced, etc. Make sure you keep your questionnaire short and sweet so that it does not irritate the attendees. Additionally, if you have invested in an online registration system, it comes embedded with a Survey tool which you can use to generate online questionnaires post event completion.

Event evaluation can be at times quite challenging but the efforts are worthy enough to give a sufficient boost to your events.