Event Checklist

Organising an event is not as simple as it once was. These days' people expect more from events and as organisers try to compete, you need to ensure you have thought of everything.

As such, here is a solid checklist that you can use to organise your events and ensure that you have considered all of the options and covered all of the angles, before the event begins:

1. How many guests are you going to invite?

2. Do you have enough time to organise the event and publicise it in order to make it a success? (If not, push the date back).

3. Has a similar event been held in the past, and was it successful?

4. What would you need in order to make your event successful (people and skills, and can you arrange these things in time)?

5. Is your event going to entertain (party, meal or trip) or is it going to inform people (workshop, conference, lecture, AGM)?

6. How much space do you have available to you (take into account room for guests who walk around, a dance area if necessary, decorative arrangements and other things that will infringe on the floor space).

7. What menu are you going to offer, and will this be simple or complex to arrange in your local area?

8. Have you created the invitations and given guests enough time to attend (remember that your guests are busy and may have other engagements to attend to).

9. Have you considered what you need to hire and what you already have available (in terms of equipment and goods)?

10. Is the event going to be based on a theme (if so, what theme)?

11. Are you going to invite special guests or VIPs to your event?

12. What seating arrangements have you planned for, and which guests will be sitting together?

13. Is your event going to be formal or an informal event?

14. Are you going to need a DJ or a band to play at your event?

15. What cleaning staff do you have on hand, or do you need to arrange them?

16. Who is going to set up the venue (will you hire this out or organise it yourself)?

17. Have you found the best location for the event (easy to find, good parking, safe, and scenic)?

18. Do you need to buy extras such as balloons, hats, gifts, drinks, cakes, alcohol, cake, toys, writing materials etc.)?

Company Christmas Party Ideas

No one likes to talk about Christmas too early, but when it comes to organising Christmas parties, earlier is best. The earlier you start to organise it, more options are available for you to choose, such as, venue, food, music, entertainers, location, drinks and more importantly the dates for the Christmas event.

But the most important decision to decide is: what type of party does your office need?

Below is a list of the types of Christmas office events you could organise.

Exclusive Company Christmas Parties

Exclusive parties are perfect for companies who want to hold a private party. The food, drink and entertainment can be selected to suit your party needs. Large hotels market their exclusive parties at large groups but event management companies can offer you smaller and varied party venues.

Shared Company Christmas Office Party

For companies of any size where smaller groups can still enjoy the larger Christmas party atmosphere. These shared party packages have set packages which normally can't be changed. Most shared Christmas party packages include reception drinks, 3 or 4 course meal, live entertainment, DJ and disco.

Bespoke Christmas Parties

Bespoke Christmas events are perfect for companies who want their Christmas do designed around their exact needs. Plenty of themes and entertainment to choose from but don't forget the basics are the most important to get right on a bespoke event. Best way to organise this type of party is to speak to an event management company who have sent years in the event industry and know what is needs to add that extra wow factor.

Christmas Activity Days Out

Perfect for companies looking for some team building, adventure and fun. Plenty of activities to choose from such as paintballing, cocktail making, chocolate making, clay pigeon shooting, go karting and much more.

Tailor the party to suit your needs, whether it's for a couple of hours with a pub lunch or a full day of activities.

The Pros and Cons of Organising a Corporate Golf Day

It is common practice for companies to organise a corporate golf day these days, however, while many have great reasons for doing just that, others are unsure of their motivation, and may just be doing it because everyone else is.

There is no denying that there are some fantastic benefits to hosting a corporate golf day, but there are also other things you need to consider. In this article, we look at the pros and cons of organising your own golf day, as well as advice on how to make the most of your event.

First, the Good Bits

In the interests of staying positive, let us take a look at the positive aspects of hosting a corporate golf day yourself.

First, there is the opportunity to meet, and spend time with, your most important clients, suppliers, associates and potential clients. That's one of the reasons why a carefully thought out guest list for your event is so important - everyone on it should be someone who can help your business to grow, whether it's in terms of deals made on the course, or by sharing their expertise with you off the course.

Then there is the publicity and brand positioning that you can gain from a corporate golf day. This comes from indirect means, like the media coverage of the event itself, and from the status you gain from the companies and individuals you invite.

Finally, there is the golf itself. The opportunity to get out into the open, swing a club, compete in a friendly environment, and possibly even to pick up a few tips from your opponents and fellow players.

Now the Down Side

Not every corporate golf day is a huge success, and that could be for a number of reasons.

The first thing you should remember is that corporate golf days take a lot of work to organise, manage, and put together. If you do not have the time or the budget to create a full event, you might end up creating an event that gives prospective clients the wrong impression of your company.

Then there is the guest list. If you do not have enough valuable business contacts to fill up your list, you may be tempted to add a few people who are not strictly business associates, and that may dilute the effectiveness of the event.

Remember that just as a hugely successful business golf event can raise your profile, forge meaningful connections that will serve you for years to come, and create fantastic opportunities, a less successful one could damage your reputation and your prospects.

Hosting a successful corporate golf day is a huge undertaking, and it is not always possible, especially for new businesses and entrepreneurs, to find the perfect balance of players, business, and marketing.

The good news is that there are alternatives, one of which is to attend a third party corporate golf day, hosted by an outside company or person. These days take the planning and organising out of the equation, allow you to hand pick only the most important people that you want to play with, and often incorporate other types of networking and business growth activities.

Whatever you do though, remember that your corporate golf day's success relies heavily on you, to make the right decisions, and to organise a knock out event, so make sure you get it right!

Using the Best Corporate Events Caterers For Maximum Business Impact

There are hundreds of corporate events caterers in the UK, and a huge variety of services offered by them. Some event caterers may just supply fresh sandwiches, salads and cakes for lunches in the office or at offsite meetings. Other companies specialise in director's lunches, in offices or headquarters. And even more high end corporate caterers design and deliver every aspect of glamorous canape receptions, lavish five course banquets, and cool corporate garden parties, all aimed at wowing clients and colleagues alike.

The best corporate event caterers can of course deliver everything from one end of the spectrum to the other - a delicious freshly toasted sandwich for a clients' driver and personal assistant? Not a problem. Stunning seafood ice bars in designer marquees or remote French chateaus? Easily done. The finest vintage champagnes, the most incredible caviars, the freshest oysters and the rarest cuts of Kobe beef? All possible if your corporate organisation can afford it!

Corporate events (and indeed corporate events budgets) are now absolutely crucial to the world's big corporate hitters, and as the industry gets more and more competitive, the companies that really wow their clients are the ones that stand out from the pack.

The very best corporate event catering companies - such as The Admirable Crichton, Alison Price, deWintons and "rhubarb" - can make every corporate event a real theatrical production, with the best glasses and china, the most professional uniformed and corporate logo-ed staff, and of course the best, freshest and most seasonal food, served in the most stunning ways. If you work in events for a big corporate company, and if your corporate events budget fits the bill, then using this kind of event catering company means you can be sure your business strikes exactly the right notes. If you want perfectionism and professionalism, if you want to impress with attention to every little detail, if you want your corporate event catering to reflect and mirror your company's business image and reputation, then this is the way to go!

Of course if your event catering ensures maximum impact for your company, then every single one of your guests leaves your event feeling that they have been looked after in the very best of ways. Not only will they have eaten the most fabulous food and sampled the finest wines, but most importantly they will have been impressed. A memorable corporate events like this, with superb catering, can simply make or break the biggest international business deals.

Event catering companies such as Food Show, "rhubarb" and Alison Price have catered for numerous events for some of the UK's biggest corporate hitters, such as HSBC, Barclays Capital, De Beers, KPMG, Royal Bank of Scotland, Price Waterhouse Coopers, Deutsche Bank, Sotheby's, Citibank and Rolls Royce. And events for these kinds of companies can take place in some of the most amazing venues such as The Royal Courts of Justice, The Natural History Museum or The Design Museum. And of course with the best corporate caterers being accredited and recommended at certain venues, there is always fierce competition for the best corporate jobs. The companies that win are those with the very best product, the very best service and the most impeccable reputation - just like the corporate companies that win in business too!

Easy Tips For Throwing a Corporate Event

Depending on the type of message you want to send to your employees, you can book your corporate event at a four-star restaurant or at a neighborhood dive bar. Many factors should be taken into consideration when planning a corporate outing such as size, budget, and availability. The important thing to remember when planning a corporate is that this event should be used to show gratitude for the hard work of the employees.

There are a few things to take in to consideration, do you want to have a formal dinner party at a restaurant, do you want something more casual and relaxed? Some venues can host private dining for corporate events which can be nice for larger parties to keep them separated from the rest of the venue. Serving alcohol can be a nice way to let people let loose but it can also pose some issues. Your servers should be aware of how to serve alcohol and not to over serve guests.

If you choose to use a professional party planner, you can really put on a great event and have less of a headache than trying to plan the event yourself. Party planners typically have contacts in the area and can usually put together events in relatively little time. Planners know what it takes to put on a great event and have an existing relationship with area vendors. By using an established party planner, you can get some insider deals on venues and vendors.

Take into account the menu, do you want to serve steak, seafood, appetizers, buffet, etc. When putting together a menu, give your guests a choice in types of protein or vegetables. Let your guests know what will be served at the event ahead of time.

The biggest part of planning a corporate event is staying in contact with your planner and giving yourself enough time to plan for any unexpected bumps in the road. Throwing a great function is no easy task but when done correctly, can be a great time for everyone in attendance.

Catering A Corporate Event

Corporate life can be challenging. Particularly business meetings or larger gatherings where clients must be involved, fed and entertained can be a challenge to pull off, especially with so many other aspects of the business to keep up with. New Jersey corporate catering services are often selected in order to assure that the bigger business meetings and board meetings go forward without a hitch.

Employers and larger businesses tend to work harder and to play harder than any other set of people. Making sure that those parties are all they should be and that the food is reasonably priced, well laid out, and pleasing to the palate can be a challenge.

This means that a corporate party can be even more of a challenge since a wide range of people with different tastes, food preferences and backgrounds will all be together in the same place, and each will require careful handling. In addition to these considerations, religious preferences and sometimes food allergies need to be taken into account when preparing foods for large gatherings.

Corporate catering services are quite often the best method of handling an event that may prove to be more challenging. Even board meetings can be catered so that every attention is given to the small details that will keep the members pleased and the meeting flowing smoothly.

New Jersey corporate catering services not only provide outstanding meals and meal planning, but also excellent presentation. From larger parties to simple finger-foods and snacks to keep your team moving, it's often far more easy to use a catering service than to take orders and deal with the nightmare of having to pick up or have food delivered to you and then sort it out for yourself. Mixed up orders, massive deliveries and then sorting out your own meals can be a nightmare when it is all taking place during a business or board meeting. Aside from the massive interruption to the meeting, the food may not be what you want and the service is of course non-existent.

Your New Jersey corporate catering service can help you to find innovative ways to feed the troops during the meeting or late work session, as well as to proffer outstanding food and great service to be sure that everyone has what they need, when they need it. For your next board meeting or office party, avoid the slow delivery and the poor service that you've had in the past and put your meeting in the hands of the professionals.

Understanding the Supply Chain Management in This Corporate World

Profitable business is every entrepreneur's ticket to real success. The entrepreneur's career ladder always begins with an idea and then followed by selling that idea to the market. There is no shortcut to entrepreneurship. It is a continuous process. Every aspiring entrepreneur must learn, execute and study more the market that he wants to deal with. Selling products and services is business yet an entrepreneur has to exert more efforts in order to win and achieve the stability, profitability and dominance among competitors. The world of business is very challenging much more when business these days are beginning to welcome the modern marketing methods and systems of improving sales. Almost every company has its corporate office other than their main factory. Usually located on high rise buildings in major cities of every country, these offices aim to observe best practices on the Supply Chain Management (SCM) and as well as establish excellent Customer Relationship Management (CRM).

What's Happening Inside the Corporate World?
We all know the rules of business. From the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) going down to the lowest rank employee in terms of job role, the primary goal of every company or corporation is to deliver products and services that will give satisfaction to the customers to the highest level. Work, jobs, projects, issues, problems, delays and brain storming sessions are in between these two business operation end points. Oftentimes, we observe from the top news on TV, the internet, the newspapers and the media press conferences that business critics, economists and market analysts are discussing the latest moves of the company CEO and top executives. One company acquires this company. Two companies merge together. Sometimes, it's the bad news; a company files for bankruptcy. This is becoming a routine in the world of business or technically, the corporate world. Not all companies succeed. The competition is always there and it is always a challenge for every company to deliver their best moves in order to win the customers.

The Truth About Supply Chain Management
When it comes to the supply chain in business, there are three key performance indicators that dictate the game of winning and losing. They are the cost of products and services, the cycle time in delivering these products and services to the customers, and the quality that if delivered with excellence will make every customer happy. Supply Chain Management (SCM) is defined by Wikipedia as "the management of a network of interconnected businesses involved in the provision of product and service packages required by the end customer in a supply chain". The meaning is clear; it has something to do with managing the customer's needs. That is actually the purpose of entrepreneurship. The entire corporate world is battling for clients. And if we establish that link of one business operation to the other inside a company, there is no reason to say that they are not interconnected. Therefore, the failure of one process could mean the breakage of the chain and absolutely the failure to supply to the customers what they need at the right cost, at the fastest lead time and the highest quality.

SCM is About Winning the Market
We can relate SCM to the Law of Supply and Demand. The price of any commodity is dependent on the quantity produced and the quantity demanded. When a certain price becomes fixed on a given time, the competition among suppliers becomes stiffer because customers have the option to choose on where to buy the products or services that they want. The SCM is very much dependent on this law; reason why corporate executives always want their SCM team to be more sensitive to the movement in the market. Whenever there is a need for adjustment, it will be dealt with accordingly and timely until a final winning decision is made. This is why many companies and corporations invest a lot on acquiring best talents on SCM. Business analyst, financial consultant, and SCM specialist; their role is to help the company survive the competition and in whatever business way, win the market.

Excellent Supplier Relationship will Improve Profitability
One effective way of winning the market is to strengthen the company's supplier relationship. In fact, this is always the starting point of every company's SCM operation. From acquisition of raw materials, consumable items, new machines, or even services that will help deliver products and services to the customers, supplier will do it all for the company being their customer. If your suppliers are showing poor scores on these three key performance indicators, then it will surely affect your entire operation. Therefore, it should be your SCM's goal of ensuring that suppliers are in line with your main business objective - profitability for success.

Team Building Ideas For Event Management

Event management as the name suggests, is an activity that is used to manage various events. It includes the creation and development of festivals or conferences. It is not an individual task as it involves identifying the target audiences, studying the intricacies of the brand, devising the concept, logistics planning as well as coordinating various technical aspects before organizing them. Now, you can easily understand that these works can't be finished without involving a team which consists of different members. These members are experts in their fields of organizing various tasks or activities. Thus, team building is required for organizing an event successfully without any hurdles.

Organizing an event is one of the most responsible tasks for any team specially mega events which could be a family function or office anniversary. In this modern era, companies also use to show their status to the competitors as well as people by organizing it. Thus, it's also treated as a status symbol. There are various ideas for team building which can be used to it. Some of the categories may be as follows:

• Charitable Work
• Community Service
• Individual Training Development
• Indoor / Outdoor Pursuits
• Changes To Work Practices

Thus, team building ideas should be impressive and effective whether you are required to organize a conference or manage various activities. You should differentiate overall activities of teamwork from the start of an event to post activities. These things will help individuals or group of individuals in achieving a specific goal and thus, they combined as a team will achieve the ultimate objective. There should be proper understandings and coordination of team members in terms of their works and activities. Any kinds of misunderstandings between team members lead to failure of the project in terms of failure of event management.

There will be also need of evaluation of result and profitability of a business task. Hence, in case of organizing a conference or meeting, organizers should estimate their time as well as working conditions. After their completion, they should analyze their activities in terms of time and costing. This will help them in estimating their success and organize the next in a better way. Impressive and effective team building ideas can be helpful for building a professional team which can organize any kinds of event whether it's a family event or an official event in terms of anniversary or products launching or anything else. Thus, you can understand the importance of team building ideas for organizing any conferences or meetings.

Event Planning - A Worthwhile Tool to a Successful Event

In today's world where everyone is in a rush with not enough time on their hands for most of the things they want to do, event planning has become a popular recourse for people who do not want the headache of having to organize a special occasion or a business event. Event planning has recently enjoyed a boom as more people have come to rely on event planners to organize anything from a wedding to a music festival.

The planner of the event takes care of all the details involved in organizing an event. His job description will include selecting possible sites for the event for the client's approval and then reserving the venue for the required date, getting the necessary permits for the event if needed, establishing a budget with the client, booking musicians, speakers, lecturers, entertainers and photographers necessary for the event, arranging for furnishings for the event such as tables or chairs, tents, lighting, sound systems, catering, and the decor. The planner will also take care of hiring security and health care professionals if required and also arrange for parking, signage and even cleaning up after the event is over. They will also take care of invitations, menus, souvenirs, programs or any printed material needed for the occasion. For business events open to the public they will also take care of advertising the event.

With this scope of work that an event planner covers, it is definitely an advantage to a client to secure their services for all kinds of events. The planner takes out the tediousness, aggravation and stress usually connected with planning and organizing an event. All the client has to do is to give his approval to the choices presented by the planner, shell out the money and then show up to the event and enjoy himself without having to worry about anything. At the end of the occasion, he goes home without having to think who is going to clean up afterwards.

Many people have gotten the services of event planning for weddings, baby showers or bridal showers, birthdays, anniversaries, office parties, book signings, product launches, corporate events, bazaars, fundraisers and even election campaigns. By hiring these highly trained and efficient organizers, you are ensured of a successful event with the minimum of stress and a maximum of satisfaction.

Significance of Event Catering Companies

Catering forms an important part of any event whether it is a corporate event, gallery opening, wedding party, book signing, seminar, rehearsal dinner or any other event. Organizing a successful event requires plenty of time, dedication and hard work. Whether a person plans to host an outdoor event or an indoor event, he or she needs to choose the best possible catering services.

There are a large number of catering companies which have been helping individuals in organizing professional events as per their necessity and budget. Important role played by the catering companies for arranging successful events include:

Food and beverage services

No event would be complete without the availability of excellent food and drinks. This is one of the major services offered by the catering companies. They provide variety of food and drink options as per the demand and nature of event taking place. Apart from providing different food options, they also take care of preparation, presentation and delivery of food. Food is presented in an attractive manner so as to create a better impression on guests.

Event planning services

This is another major service offered by the catering companies these days. Appropriate event planning is necessary for smooth running of events. The process involves a number of essential steps starting from event site selection and reservation, budgeting, date selection to transportation and parking arrangements. The services are offered as per the individual preferences and requirements.

Decoration services

Catering today not only covers food and drinks but also involves decoration of events in a way to make guests feel happy and satisfied. Decorations, great music, and a striking venue setting add more value and charm to any event.

Thus, it becomes clear that the catering companies play an increasingly important role from beginning to the ending of the event.

Party Planning - Elements of Designing the Right Atmosphere For Your Event

There is No Business like the Party Business! The right venue will always lend it self to the right design as you begin your Party Planning process. Knowing that this is such a touchy subject as the very nature of Party Planning is the creativity that each individual Party Planner and their team brings to the Event, you must be aware of the pitfalls that lie in you path. Throw in the client who thinks the Party Planner is nothing more than someone that carries out THEIR orders and you have all of the makings of a crisis management situation that may even need the SWAT team called in. Too dramatic? Probably, but those Party Planners who have done their fair share of events, you know exactly what I mean.

There are many elements in doing a boffo Event and at the core of it all is the Party Planners ability to create a vision for the Event that takes the clients needs and wants and puts them into the total vision. Notice I said needs and wants. Two different criteria here but both need to be included in the Vision Quest for the Event. Needs are those elements that must be included for the Event to have even a modicum of success. Wants are those things that are nice to have but will usually hinge on a budgetary element in the Party Planning Process. The challenge is to use teachable moments to assist your client in knowing the difference. From any practical standpoint of an Event, the basic elements that you will be required to manage are the Goal of the Event, the Venue you will use and the Audience you are targeting. These three elements are at the center of all Events you will manage and will make all of your decisions mold themselves into these three factors. It is not to say that your creativity will ever be hindered, as it should not be as no matter what the venue and the budget you should always be able to create a great event because that is what Party Planners do.

In many ways, they are like great set designers, they can transform spaces you never thought possible into magnificent and magical realms. The key here is to manage each of these three factors superbly and if, at all possible, you can create a team for each to oversee, this will get you very far into the process of creating a great Event. How do to this is another entire article for each point, but know that these are the elements that never change. Lose control over one, or allow your client to have control over one or more of these three parts of your Party Planning and you may be relegated to nothing more than a freelance order-taker. The point is to have a battle plan for each part and be ready to show in detail to the client how you are going to manage these factors. The impressive nature in which you handle each part of the Event Planning process; The Goal of the Event, the Venue and the Audience, will garner you far more respect with your clients than any lavish marketing campaign you can market. In the end, the way you set your course at the beginning will play to your professionalism and garner your image as a Party Planner extraordinaire long into the future. Remember, Life is a Party, you just have to know how to Plan it!

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.

How to Host a Successful Event

Whatever the type of event - briefing, corporate meeting, team building or a private party - it needs expert event management to ensure the message is successfully conveyed. Events can vary in size from small business breakfasts to large award ceremonies attended by thousands. If you need an event planning, you'll need the help of a successful event management company.

Firstly, you'll need to ask yourself what the event is for, is it to make money, to introduce new clients to a new business or to promote a brand? There are certain protocols to follow for certain events. If it's a business briefing, a breakfast meeting would work well, but if it's a surprise party it wouldn't work well at breakfast time. The day you choose for your event is vital in attracting the right kind of people you want there. Mondays are usually out of the question as people are usually recovering from their weekend and want to relax. Friday evenings are the start of the weekend and people would prefer not to attend a work-related event in their personal time. Mid-week work-related events usually fare well - people will be more likely to attend during these days. You should also check for other events that are happening around the same time as yours. If you are planning an event for a product launch and inviting celebrities to promote the product, you can't clash with other celebrity events that will get more attention. An evening at the BRITs does not contend with a product launch when celebrities and business-people are concerned.

The location of your event is vital in attracting people, you need a venue that is close to the city/town and easily accessible. The beautiful Victorian mansion in the countryside may be the perfect venue but if attendees are going to struggle getting there, your turnout won't be impressive. People are busy and don't have time to rush around finding transport after work. If the perfect venue is a little out the way, organising transport links to and from the location is a way to attract more people. But it is advised to keep the location close to the main hub of the city.

The theme of your event must be relevant to the type of event it is. A product launch theme should reflect the product. For example, if you are launching a new alcoholic drink then why not find somewhere with a bar and a nightclub feel? Offering a free drink or even a free bar, if you can get sponsorship, will keep the attendees at your event. Who can turn down a free drink? If you are hosting a corporate meeting, or a venue for interviews, then keep the theme formal and professional - offer a boardroom setting with tea, coffee and water. The theme must be relevant for the event to be a success.

Finally, and most importantly, you have to make sure your message is perceived correctly and understood by your attendees. The whole reason for the event is the message you want to convey, it's all well and good hosting a glamorous event but if the message hasn't been received, the event will not have been worth your time and money.

So You Want to Be an Event Planner? Take Event Planning Courses

There is more to pulling together a great event then simply booking a venue and sending out an invitation, especially today. Event planning is one of the many industries that has been revolutionized in the past 15 years. It has been particularly affected by the rise of the Internet and growing interest from corporate quarters in social and environmental responsibility. Now, there are awards for the most sustainable events. The best way for a newbie to learn about these industry trends? Enroll in event planning courses. That way, when your future clients or employers asks you about your preferred social media tactics or favourite sustainability strategies, you'll know what you're talking about.

How to Find Event Planning Courses Near You

If you are a people person, and you think that you have the entrepreneurial spirit necessary to plan an event from beginning to end, then check your local business schools for classes in event planning. Many schools offer both full-time and part-time programs.

Skills and Diplomas You'll Need to Get Into the Program of Your Choice

Event planning programs are usually open to high school graduates. You may be required to take an interview to assess your qualifications. Some business colleges require applicants to have basic keyboarding skills.

What You'll Learn

Most event planning schools teach aspiring event planners how to:

• Write a CV


• Find customers or employment


• Give a PowerPoint presentation


• Manage worksheets on Excel


• Prepare brochures, etc., using programs such as Publisher


• Communicate with clients and employers: organize and write a business letter, Negotiate a contract


• Use the Web for pre-event marketing


• Do basic bookkeeping


• Manage a team

Your Career Options After Graduation

After finishing event planning college you will have to decide whether to start your own event planner service or find a job. Possible clients and employers include:

• Trade associations


• Tourism boards for your state, province or city


• Professional association


• Conference facilities


• Government agencies


• Event planning companies


• Business schools (teaching what you've learned)

Most event planning courses have free placement services for recent graduates, including professional mentoring and online job boards. This is a great way to break into the business, but remember that only you can make yourself stand out. Whether you become the local expert in experiential marketing, staging unique events for big-name companies, or the go-to person for socially and environmentally responsible events in your city, this is one field that could see a lot of growth in the years to come.

Event Planner Marketing - Go Online For Free to Attract New Clients

Many event planners are shy about self-promotion. They may be competent event professionals, but when it comes time to sell their services, they choke. However, success as wedding planner, caterer or special events producer has less to do with technical expertise and is much more dependent on your ability to sell yourself.

If you want to be successful in event planning, you need to sell your services. Word-of-mouth is great, but it's difficult to control or scale. Depending upon a handful of catering hall managers or country club general managers to refer business to you is a dangerous strategy. Often times, 80% of a planner's newly referred clients come from an unacceptably small handful of core clients. What happens if they retire? What happens if they close their doors, or move away?

When the economy slows down, your inbound referrals will slow down too. That's because you let your business become overly dependent on other people's success. You must have your own systematic method for generating your own leads at all times.

Creating a marketing system that generates event-planning clients does not have to be complicated or expensive. There are many free online tools that you can use to promote your brand, generate leads and book more sales faster than ever before.

Online services like Facebook, LinkedIn, Google, and Yahoo! make it easy for you to reach potential customers without having to spend a fortune. Never before has it been so simple for a small business owner to produce high quality promotional content and push it out across the globe without spending a penny. Social media sites make it possible.

But be careful. Simply publishing an online journal of your thoughts will get you nowhere fast. That's because you need to build your blog posts around "carefully chosen keywords."

Before you spend a lot of time on social media sites, be sure you are following an intelligent marketing plan.

Learn all you can about powerful social media sites and how they can produce profits for your business.

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.

Corporate Planning

Corporate planning is a term describing an approach or a style of management, an attitude of mind, which uses a systematic and integrated approach to all aspects of a company's activities. The idea is to treat the company as a corporate whole instead of a collection of departments. Treat a company on a long-term basis instead of a short-term one. The company is studied with precise definitions of its objectives functioning in its past, present and future environment.

Corporate planning is defined by Drucker as "a continuous process of making entrepreneurial decisions systematically and with the best possible knowledge of their futurity, organizing systematically the effort needed to carry out these decisions and measuring the results against expectations through organized systematic feedback.. "

In a study of hundreds of international companies, the reasons these companies introduced corporate planning were;

• effective diversification;
• rational allocation of resources;
• improved coordination and anticipation of technological change;
• increased profitability and the rate of growth.

Although annual profits are important, they are short-term factors in corporate plans. Manpower and new product development are examples of factors influencing the survival of the organization in the long term. Better results are obtained by companies adopting corporate planning methods. In reality the adoption of a style of management suitable to work in an atmosphere of change is the key to successful application of corporate planning.

Management systems and practices in all types of companies like banks, local governments and industries need to be revised to give more weight to strategic considerations. Competition may not be so much in products or markets, but through conflict with government and pressure groups in society in relation to matters such as pollution, safety and welfare.

Corporate plans are therefore needed to cope with social and political change. This needs careful thought in setting social objectives, policies and plans to ensure the gain of social and political acceptance of the company's ideas. The idea behind this is the strategic problem of adapting the organization to its environment and this will usually mean fundamental changes in management and the organizational structure.

The whole of the industry of which the company is part of should be examined like the supply and demand factors, possible future trends and new opportunities, threats or problems. A comparison should be made between the company's performance and that of its competitors. Trends in economic and political areas should be taken into consideration like government controls on mergers. Certain key factors should then be identified which appear likely to improve the company's position.

The final assessment would cover specific areas and their problems and opportunities:

• research and development necessary for the need for new products and product improvements;
• human resources necessary to ensure the availability of staff in line with the desired quantity and quality;
• sales and marketing which reflect the relevance of sales policies, share of market, suitability of quality, design and price of products, marketing mix;
• production which is needed to ensure adequate production capacity and other facilities and costs of production are acceptable.

From the above analysis the possibility of reorganization, merger, diversification, etc., can be considered.

The essential need is for the plans from the various areas of a business to be integrated so that functional plans are interlinked to form an overall corporate plan. A corporate plan, however, is more than just an interlinking of functional plans; it can be considered as a systems approach to achieve the aims of the business over a period of time. An interesting account of the various strategies which can be adopted and classifications of opportunities and risks is given in managing for results by Peter Drucker.

He points out two important strategies which have to be decided:

(a) To decide what opportunities or wants the company wishes to pursue and what risks it is willing and able to accept:
(b) To decide on the scope and structure and the right balance between specialization, diversification and integration.

His classification of opportunities (additive, complementary and breakthrough) and of risks are interesting and practical guides to help the formulation of strategies. One large company found out for the first time in such an analysis that 75 per cent of its profits came from one product and this market was slowly declining. Many other important factors can come from such an analysis like underutilization of financial assets.

A final point regarding this aspect is the measurement of 'synergy' which has been defined frequently as the 'evaluation of strengths and weaknesses'. The concept of synergy can best be explained by using the following example. If, for example, the return on investment of the company as a whole is just the return on the existing activities plus that of the new activity, there is no synergy (2+2=4). But where the new activity makes use of existing resources, the return for the company as a whole will be greater than average of the new and existing activities (2+2=5).

Plans range from those of a broad scope concerned with a long time span, which are the concern of top executives, to short run, day-to-day operating plans which are the concern of managers at lower levels in the organization. As the amount of innovation increase in a given period, the time available for new product exploitation diminishes. But it still takes the same it to develop and test new products; money has still to be spent on promotion and selling activities ands, as the life span of a product falls, profitability will be reduced. Long-range planning (LRP) enables management to anticipate difficulties and take steps to eliminate them before they arise and can help to bring about a more unified approach to the various factors in a problem. Plans, though, must clearly state which manager is accountable and for what results, i.e. it must be management by specific objectives.

The length of plans varies from industry to industry. The more fortunate can plan a few years ahead, like the car industry. Others may plan only six months ahead like the fashion industry. Different aspects of the plan will cover different periods of time like loans to cover certain expenses can be planned a year ahead while plans for a new car cover at least four years ahead. The LRP will of course contain the short-range plan (SRP) which for convenience will be assumed to cover one year. Freedom to change the SRP is limited and may be broken down into monthly commitments. It is important to realize that assumptions made in LRP must be specified and any change in them examined carefully.

Corporate planning is simply a formal, logical method of running a business, which is comprehensive or covering all activities of an organization. Individuals are responsible for planned results. Corporate planning is a tool of management to guide the business towards its agreed goals. Corporate planning can be said to incorporate long-range planning and management by objectives and has developed in status since its beginning in the USA in the 1950s.

The position of the corporate planner in an organization can indicate the status of the activity. The person usually has a staff role, to advise management; he generally reports to a senior person, sometimes the chief executive. He is responsible for:

• organizing the section;
• preparing an agreed planning system;
• ensuring all roles are known and everyone is fulfilling standards agreed;
• acting on behalf of chief executive in preparing, coordinating and controlling the corporate plan;
• preparing reports on progress.

His special responsibilities include the following:

• considering opportunities for growth and devising objectives and strategies to exploit growth;
• keeping abreast of business trends and developments in management techniques.

However, the corporate planner is also faced with limitations:

• only responsible for members of own staff;
• advises chief executive of events affecting corporate plans.

There are many advertisements for corporate planners and qualifications required usually include a degree with a good knowledge of mathematics, statistics and management techniques. In addition, he has got to have at least eight years experience in companies, or more than one industry and a personality that is acceptable to most people. Their role is to install and maintain a system; corporate planners do not plan the system; if they do, this will lead to many problems.

source: http://en.articlesgratuits.com/corporate-planning-id1432.php

Online Ticketing - Advantages of an Online Event Ticketing Software

It was not long ago when online ticketing was made possible. Today, it has become a necessity. From event management firms regularly organizing public events to individuals and businesses holding exclusive events with special appearances that are better off ticketed, online event ticketing software products have proved to be very useful for all. Online ticket selling has gone popular due to its advantages, which get conspicuous when we recall those days when tickets had to be sold through sales points located at different locations such as shopping centers, restaurants, etc. Let's have a look at what exactly online ticketing software offers:

Selling tickets on the internet using a software made for this purpose specially saves you the hassle of closing deals with public location managements/owners as well as the cost of stalls and the stall staff. Not to forget that if your event is going to have performances by someone with even a modest fan following in a country of 311,834,246 people (that's well over 311 million souls, according to the population clock of U.S. Census Bureau), there is likely to be quite a big queue at the stall, making it a bit inconvenient for your target audience to buy the tickets - something you wouldn't want to do.

At the same time, online ticketing allows you to reach every home and make it extremely convenient for your target audience to purchase the tickets.

Online event ticketing software are also a centralized system for seeing all statistics regarding your ticket sales such as the number of tickets sold, how many left, ticket sale earnings, etc, in one place - your computer screen.

Then there are some online ticketing software products that go extra mile to be of more advantage. They are the ones that come with Smarty Template Engine integrated in it. What the template engine does for the users of the software is it enables them to easily customize the layout and design of the event's online page in the software so that the event's ticket buying information and options be dynamically presented to the target audience. Then there are those online event ticketing software that contain the feature of inviting the event organizers to sell the tickets of their events online. This way the software's license holders not only earn by selling tickets to their own events but also earn money by getting a percentage from the sales of the event organizers that sell tickets of their own events via the user's copy of the software. Moreover, using ticketing software with this feature, venue owners can display the availability of their place online dynamically, increasing chances for getting their venue rented for a good fee and hopefully by the inviters of celebrity performers.

Ticketing software can also help greatly for selling tickets to multicultural events as some good ones have gone bilingual while few others support all those languages that have an installable language pack.

Online ticketing for events has reshaped the world of ticket buying and selling entirely. Its advantages are so weighty and compatible with today's fast-paced world that it will be a very apt decision of first-time event organizers to go the route of online ticketing.

Event Planning Guidelines For Your Conference

Event planning involves a whole lot of planning and administrative work. It's a very demanding job which needs proper forecast, scheduling and arrangement to have a successful conference. Even before laying the first written draft of your planning, you need to ask certain questions to yourself:

• What are you or your client trying to achieve out of this conference?


• Who are your target audience as in delegates and sponsors?

Once you have your answers, it's time for you to start planning your conference.

Decide a Perfect Date

It is suggested to have number of dates in your mind, so that if you have to cancel one date on account of unavailability of your chosen venue or anything else, you can switch to another. Avoid selecting a bank holiday because your potential attendees may not like to visit the conference on special dates. Make sure that you do not hold your conference on same date as other conferences held by your competitor or related industry. It is advisable to plan your conference just before or after another conference in your city, the topic of which is related to yours. Conference attendees most of the times attend conferences on related topics to increase knowledge or connections.

Decide on Budget

May be the most crucial part of planning is the budget, depending on which you will count your return on investment. The ideal way is to offer a financial limit in definite areas of earnings, including sponsorship, ticket sales, as well as expenses like printing, location, food, supplies and security.

Decide on a Venue

The location and the venue sometimes play a key role in increasing attendance. A location where attendees can easily reach is the most preferable option. For example, you can select a location near the airport, central station or the city center.

Book the venue for your conference depending on the number of attendees you are expecting. Good hotels come with very professional conference rooms which are ideal, as they provide workforce as well as a good infrastructure. Do not forget to scrutinize your venue well in advance in order to avoid unpleasant surprises later.

Speaker and Program

Good topics and speakers are the main attraction of any type of conference. Thus, schedule good speakers at an early stage to ensure the success of your event. Make sure to include as many big names as you can. Speakers are crowd-pullers and acceptance from one good speaker helps you get approval from other famous speakers.

Next, you need to set a jam-packed agenda even before you start promoting your conference. This is because speakers and the program schedule will be your main way of drawing attention.

Promote your Conference

The aim of promoting your conference is mainly to gain more volume of new attendees and invite the existing ones. You can use online event management solutions to make things easy for you. Besides offline promotion using relevant newspapers and magazines, you can get more attention by using online ways. Publish your event page with your corporate look, send automated invitations to last year attendees, post conference calendar on your website, involve social network websites like Facebook and post your conference in local event listings, conference calendars and relevant blogs and directories. Use powerful communications and calendaring features to intensify marketing and promotional activities. Use email communications, discount rules and gift cards to promote and sell your event online.

Online Registration for Your Conference

Easy to use solution with professional approach is what attendees wish when they go for registering for your conference. Use online event registration and payment solution to streamline your ticketing and payment processing. Completely customizable registration forms with auto fill facility protect and save attendee data. The built-in questionnaire adds value to the registration process. You get to know all the required information and their preference which you can use to ensure attendee satisfaction. This online registration form can be hosted in your event website where you can allow one person to register and pay for a group of people by event or by booking option. Your event website is not only an online registration form but also an online advertisement of the agenda, speaker, directions and some hotel recommendations where your attendees can stay during the conference.

Use online payment management solution so that you can offer your registrant the ease of secure payment transaction that support real-time authorization and processing for all major credit cards, PayPal, Purchase Orders and checks.

Finally, when 'The Day' comes, you get ready with a check-in list and bar coded name badges that you have created using the registrant data. If you use online event management software for your conference, along with numerous benefits, you can use the dashboard for generating reports on post-event results. You can also send targeted emails to conduct post-event surveys to know honest opinion of your attendees so that you can plan more successful conference next time. Use these tips for planning your conference, and you will see how you increase ROI and lessen your workload.

Don't Let Success Spoil Your Future! Steps Your Company Needs to Take to Avoid Obsolescence

Good strategic planning should lead a company to growth, increasing profitability and growing market share over time. But what happens when a company refuses or neglects to listen to and understand what is happening in the markets they serve?

There are many instances one may cite about companies that were successful for many years that relatively suddenly ran into serious problems. IBM was very successful in supplying and maintaining mainframe computers, to the point they ignored for too long the changes in the market place. Until Lou Gerstner restructured the company, they were declining rapidly in their performance because they didn't listen to what was really happening in the market place.

Polaroid went through a similar set of problems. RIM is suffering from not adopting the technologies of Apple. And, most recently, Kodak found itself floundering to the point where it had to file for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection.

Why do great companies like those above fall into such difficult circumstances? IBM did because it chose to listen primarily to those who had the most to lose if mainframes went away. Because IBM didn't look at the big picture, they nearly missed significant trends toward distributed processing.

Kodak is an even more troubling case. Kodak was a significant leader in the development and implementation of digital cameras, yet they almost blindly hung on to their film manufacturing business to the detriment of the digital camera until the competition outstripped them and they became a lower tier competitor.

When a company, particularly an industry leader like Kodak, weds itself too tightly to its current technology, and ignores industry trends because it has been so successful with its approach for so many years, the rest of the market, which is apparently so open to innovation and developments outside the current technology, can and often will pass the old technology by, leaving constantly diminishing returns and market share for that company. Unchallenged recipes for success can be the worst enemy of any company's future.

What should be the lesson learned from the companies' plights as shown above?

One should analyze how much risk one should take as seen from two different points of view. First: If the company stays with its current technology, what risks does it run to future sales growth, technological leadership, return on investment, etc.? Second: If the company invests in new technology, what should it expect in terms of future sales, competitive position, ROI, etc.? Included in the analysis should be looking at the upside and downside of each alternative and comparing the alternatives to reach the optimal decision.

Will the changes to be made be incremental, or will they become radical in nature and effect? What amount of risk can the company endure? What are the risks of staying put versus those of investing in change? What is the likelihood that the new technology will actually lead to the changes in sales, profitability and return on investment that the company is seeking? What will be the impact on the market place and how will competitors react?

While the approach above certainly is not complete, using it as a starting point should help your company select an approach which will help maintain your competitive position. Effective strategic planning can help your company select those opportunities which should lead to increased leadership in the market place.

If strategic planning is not helping your company as you want it to, please contact me at: baldwin@cssp.com for planning leadership and guidance. For more information on how to position your company in the face of changing technical trends please read: Xerox Positions Itself to Succeed in the 21st Century: What You Need to do to Ensure Your Company Does Not Become Obsolete.

How to Plan a Successful Corporate Event?

A successful corporate event is very important for your company. When it leaves a memorable experience for your guests, it can help to increase your company goodwill and branding. Therefore, it is very common to see corporations investing their money to hold annual events to help boost up their branding awareness.

So, suppose you have been chosen to organize your company's corporate event. What are some of the things that you need to do in order to plan out a successful corporate event?

The first thing that you will want to consider in the planning process is the food. Food is an integral part of any event. Often, the potential success of any event is determined by the quality of the food. You should hire a professional catering service company to help you handle this process. With the help of a catering service company, you can channel your energy and focus on other important details when planning a corporate event.

Before you set out to hire a catering service, there are a few important things that you need to take note of. You need to know exactly what the mood of your corporate event is. Is there a theme? Is your event elegant or casual? These are important information that you need to let your caterer know so that the theme of your event can be reflected in your cuisine.

You should also find out whether your caterer provides you with amenities such as tables, chairs, decorations, and linens. A quality catering service should provide all of these amenities so as to make your event as successful as possible. Another thing to note is the number of people who are attending your event. It is very common for people to not turn up on the actual day itself even though they have already registered for your event. Therefore, ask your co-worker to do an attendance check so that you will not over-order the amount of food needed.

Some points to consider when planning out your corporate event are:

1. What is your event's intention? Is it a thank you party for clients and vendors? Or are you planning to reveal a new service or product to your potential clients?

2. Set the time of your event. Often, 3 hours is appropriate for a corporate event. Then, prepare your guest list and send out invitation to them.

3. If you intend to serve alcoholic drink, you should hire a bartender.

4. Think about your menu options and discuss with your caterer. Are you preparing a buffet style or a sit down dinner for your guests? Also, consider your guests that may have special dietary needs.

With early planning, you will be able to organize a successful event for your guests to enjoy.

Charity Event Planning Tips

If you are in need of charity event planning tips, you must need to put on a charity event and raise some funds. We have some exciting, fun tips to help ensure a successful evening. We figure if you have an exciting event, your guests will have a great time and be more apt to open the wallets and loosen up those purse strings!

Charity Event Planning Tips #1 - You Ought to Be in Pictures, Baby!

Host a candid, thrilling evening for your guests by setting the scene with photo opportunities everywhere. Make it formal attire and have flashbulbs going off all over the place. Knowing they are going to get these pictures later, who wouldn't pay (donate) well for that?

Create different themes, such as a "Hollywood" theme. Ask the local drama theatre to donate a backdrop in exchange for some free publicity. Have a red carpet at the entrance with flashy photographers saying, "You ought to be in pictures, baby!"

Charity Event Planning Tips #2 - Mardi Gras in May

You can host this charity event in May or any month. Traditionally Mardi Gras is in February, but who cares? It will be a welcomed thrill ride.

• Who's Behind That Mask? Line up a few of your guest and let the others guess who they are. If your guests don't know each other, then supply the real names and let them try to match.


• Call Out That Dish! Serve some traditional, authentic New Orleans Cajun dishes and have a contest for who can name (call out) the most dishes. Then reward that culturally-knowledgeable Einstein with a prize.

Charity Event Planning Tips #3 - Post your event online. Make it festive and make it easy on yourself

How unique will it be for your guests to receive an email invitation with a link that takes them right to your page about the charity and its theme? Imagine a web page with flashy pictures and announcements on film. Or a Mardi Gras themed page with a feathered eye mask hanging down from one corner? You can allow for the guest list to be visible as well as displaying who's coming and who's not. You'll also be able to send out email reminders to your guests as the event gets closer to ensure you have a great turnout.

Another great thing about posting online? Being able to accept and manage donations online. Why not add an element to your page that announces up-to-the minute donation totals that all can see? Those contributing would love to see that as it directly gives feedback on something they've done. You will have access to up to 60 multi-media tools, you can even add video or audio to your page. How about video of the event itself and post it afterward to encourage your guest to network with each other online? The possibility with your web pages are endless. All online. All very simple. Now, have a blast and get some cash!

Event Management Companies

Event management companies are as the name suggests companies which are paid to do all of the work and organizing required in hosting an event. It is one of the fastest growing industries in the world and there seems to be no end in sight, as far as business is concerned. This is because an event management company will take care of all the little details in hosting an event or parties, while you concentrate on more important matters.

They provide skillful and professional staff to take care of an event you are planning.

There is no limit as to what type of event they are capable of handling. These include wedding and birthday parties, corporate parties and meetings, conventions, conferences, expositions, seminars and concerts. Some management companies will specialize on specific services. For example some will specialize in expositions and concerts, while others will offer wedding and private party management. Generally when the time comes to pick a management company the theme of the event will be the first thing to be considered. The theme of the party or event can be based on anything, but will reflect the mood and atmosphere according to what the event is being staged for.

A well staffed company will be able to advise you on every aspect of event managing, down to the last detail. This can include but not limited to venue finding, food, music and whatever product being promoted during the event. They will also go into careful discussion regarding budget. In fact, deciding on a budget is the most critical part of event management. This is the part where event holders and the companies need to be very clear. Ultimately it is the budget that will decide where and how it will be held. Shoddy budgetary management can make or break an event or convention.

Many event management companies will offer free service in certain areas. One such popular free service many companies provide is finding a venue for your convention or seminar. This is a great service as it will free you up to concentrate on other matters. Others may offer free service for other things such as advertising the event and so on. This is why it is important to do research well before going with a particular company. Find out what exactly they offer and read through the fine print carefully. In doing so, you could be saving a lot of money and time.

This does not mean that you should blindly accept whatever the company offers. It doesn't hurt to double-check on the venue yourself and make sure that it fits your needs exactly. After all, the location of the venue is one of the most important aspects of event managing. When it comes to food and other details it is good idea to set the parameters beforehand. It should not be necessary to go into every detail, but they should have an idea as to what can be served. This way all of the possible options available in the area can be looked into.

Have a Stress-Free Party With Event Organizers

Throwing a grand party or arranging a corporate launch can be stressful. With all the factors you need to consider like the caterers, entertainment, and costs, how will you even manage to have a good time yourself? It's a good thing there are professional event organizers who can help you achieve your goals for your event.

Benefits of Hiring Good Events Planners

If you need help in making sure your event runs smoothly, look for reputable event organizers. Here are some reasons why you should hire them:

-They are highly organized

Events planners are efficient when it comes to booking venues for your event. They do their research and reserve the venue months in advance to give way for other important preparations. They also make sure appointments don't clash with the schedule of the client so they can both actively participate in brainstorming sessions.

-They always have a back-up plan

Good event organizers always know what to do in case something goes wrong. They also know whom to contact and who can be available on short notice. Event planners have a plan A, plan B, and plan C at bay.

-Events planners are both creative and business-minded

They know the latest trends and styles in throwing parties. Plus, they should be willing to explore new ideas and see if they are good options for your event. For example, your planner may suggest throwing a foam party or a reggae themed party for your teenager's sweet sixteen. If you can afford it, they may suggest hiring a mobile bar with a great sound system. Of course, you have a lot of say on the amount of alcoholic beverages served.

-Organizers are professional, warm, and accommodating

Most event organizers have personalities that can give you a pleasant experience working with them. They are professional and responsive - suggesting ways to make your event livelier and fun. They can also accommodate your special requests. For example, you may have guests with special dietary needs; your organizer may coordinate with the caterer to make the necessary adjustments. It's important to hire planners who can connect easily with clients. They usually have a clear picture of what the client wants and needs for their event.

-They have a broad network

Events planners have connections with the best suppliers to make sure their clients get the best value for their money. There is usually a budget to maintain and endless details tailored to the event. They can save you a lot of time and effort in finding the best service provider offering reasonable prices and quality work. They are also in a better position to negotiate and get discounts from vendors they have worked with before.

-They help avoid disasters.

Organizers help their clients avoid disasters as they oversee all preparations down to the last detail. In case there is an emergency at the event, organizers are usually the ones who will deal with the crisis instead of their client.

These are some of the reasons you should consider hiring professional organizers. You may search online for those offering affordable rates. Make sure you do a thorough background check and contact past clients. Ask about the turnout of their events. If it was successful, you have found a good catch.

How to Dress Right for the Races

Horse racing is not just about big bucks and loads of galloping but also about high-end fashion and glamour. Fashion is a huge and vital element of the horse races. Each year the horse racing season brings out the fashionista in everyone and attendees fish out all their chic finery to drape and be noticed. Horse racing news and information dissipating publications do special features on racing fashion. No racing news or review is complete without a mention of the fashion and glamour at the event.

Fashion is what builds a connection of such events with the general audience because good looks never go unnoticed and are one of the most commonly discussed topics among people of any taste. There are several competitions also held to judge the glamour quotient at the event. Not just the horse racing news magazines partake in these competitions but popular fashion magazines also use these events for promotion and a way to engage with their audience.

So if you are planning to go for a racing event you need to ensure that you dress right and be at your glamorous best to let the shutterbugs come rolling in. Here are a few tips to help you dress perfectly:

Be sure of the dress code- Most of these events like to have a standard dress code and ensure that it is followed to the "T." If any attendee does not abide by the dress code, event planners posses all the right to turn such guests away. So it is always better to read that invitation enclosure carefully and thoroughly to avoid any embarrassment later.

Keep an eye on the season and the weather- Before choosing what to wear for a race always check the weather beforehand. Dress according to the weather for the day and always be ready for any weather emergency. Make sure that you read the weather section of the horse racing news publication before heading out. Dress keeping in mind the season and time of the day as well. If it is a bright sunny day of spring then go for bright tones of colors and prints while for a race in the autumn season go neutral with your color choice.

Be classy- For such events "less is more" norm is followed. Well-cut dresses with elegant falls and flow teamed with stylish and bold accessories help you to stand out. Classic suits with a quirky bend are also befitting for such occasions. But most importantly wear what suits you the best, compliments your figure and accentuates your looks, even if it is not the "it" trend for the moment. In most cases fashion victims in horse racing news and fashion magazines are the ones who follow the trends too closely.

Using a Light Rental Company

If you are planning an event, be it corporate or otherwise the most important decision is the color scheme. It is often overlooked or not considered important, but the right color scheme well set the tone of your event. Whether corporate or entertainment, the color scheme you choose is a reflection of you or your company. Sight is a sense that plays a major role in daily lives. Even though you do not consciously register what you are seeing, the brain takes a note of it and factors it into your decision. For example depending on the color, a room can be made to appear larger or smaller.

Hiring a lighting rental company will help you decide and improve on the theme you have selected. If you are having your event under a marquee, consider computer controlled lighting systems. These could be used to project captions on the ceiling of the marquee or be used as disco lights to change the mood between speeches and dancing. Experienced event companies have a variety of packages and themes to choose from and they will customize a theme package to fit your requirements.

Event planning companies are mostly hiring lighting rentals that use LED technology. Improving technologies have made LED lighting closer in costs to conventional lighting, though it may be a while before you see LEDs approaching the same costs as incandescent. LEDs offer a wide range of colors to work with at a substantially lower power usage. In fact so good is the technology that stadiums constructed now-a-days all incorporate LED lighting on the exterior. These lights are often programmed to fade and contrast in the home team and visitors colors. The small size of the bulbs makes it possible to design features and images that are not possible with traditional bulbs.

Up lighting is directional lighting and as the name suggests in the vertically up direction. It is also know as accent lighting and is used to create dramatic, highlighting and various other effects. For example pointing an up light at a wall produces a subtle effect by creating a shaft of light up the wall that is reflected around the room as ambient light. Uplighting is a wonderful way to complement the room rather than be the center of attention. A few other lighting options are lights for the DJ or stage, the gift table, first dance lighting, a custom monogram and pinspotting the table center pieces.

Event lighting companies analyze and study your event and come up with an action plan. This will tell them of the equipment they are going to need. Once they know what equipment and how much labor they require they start setting up at the venue. Most event planning companies have an event lighting branch of their own and using them is a good way to avoid chaos, delays and setbacks. Make sure that the company you hire makes arrangements for a full backup.

An Appropriate Venue - The Key to a Successful Event Planning

Finding an appropriate and perfect venue for an event is an essential task and needs to be performed with care. Going for monotonous spots and venues will not only make your event boring but also will fail to attract the attention of attendees who are willing to attend the event. A good choice of venue can result in a memorable and unique event. Here are some tips that can help you while choosing a venue for your event.

· Plan in Advance:

The initial step that must be taken in order to find out a perfect venue is to plan the event in advance. The best locations or venues are sure to be busy during the peak times of the year and you can miss out the chances. So to avoid risk of not getting the perfect venue, book it as early as possible. However if you are not able to manage the time, do not be disappointed as there are enormous variety of venues within the country, that can offer a good venue for your event.

· Identify the category of event:

The type or the kind of event that is going to be organized completely influences the choice of the venue. So you must have an in depth knowledge of what the event is and what can be achieved from it. Whether it is a trade show, business meet, product launch party, exhibitions, anniversaries or any other type of events, there must be a different venue for each kind so that the event does not become conventional.

· Track the size of the attendees:

Event planners must be aware of the number of the people who are attending the event. It is a very important task and must be dealt smartly. If you are expecting few people to attend your event and the budget is limited, there is no point of booking a big hall or auditorium. However, if you want to please your guests and attendees and there is no budget constraint, you can choose an expensive and more appropriate venue accordingly.

· Accessibility, security and parking facilities:

Reaching the venue is vital. As an event planner, you must ensure that there is easy accessibility to the venue and no security issues that can further hamper the event. Parking is also a vital part that must be considered. Indentify whether there are adequate parking spaces within the venue.

· Proper Budget planning:

Consider the budget while choosing a venue. Extra cost incurred can ultimately lead you to great problems. Ensure that your payments are cleared before the event gets started and there is a proper documentation. This will help you in situations like event cancellation and other such problems.

Thus, event planners can take the help of the above mentioned tips for finding out an ideal and affordable event venue, which can make your event successful.

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.

Different Types Of Corporate Events At A Glance

With the right support and a few good ideas, corporate events could be a big success with the customers, clients and staffs. The most important part of a corporate event is careful planning. Different organizations plan different types of corporate events for different reasons. Here is a list of various corporate events that the companies' typically have at various occasions.

• Seminars and Conferences- Seminars target a particular group of delegates and they are used to provide certain information to the delegates. The duration is usually few hours to half a day to full day. There may be single or multiple speakers and they keep the participants together at the same place. On the other hand conferences have multiple sessions. The most common place for a conference is hotel. They begin with keynote session and then hold breakout sessions by topic. The usual duration of a conference is 2/3 of a day, one day, two days or sometimes longer.


• Trade Shows- Trade shows are very popular amongst clients, customers and even rival companies. They are well known for creating brand identity. Organizations attend trade shows or host one to reinforce their image as an industry leader among those who attend, such as members, customers, prospects and suppliers. Event planning for trade shows involves negotiating sponsorship rates for trade show booth space, advertising and promotion of the event, and sometimes speaking opportunities at the event for the leadership.


• Executive Retreats and Incentive Programs- These programs often held at luxury hotels in exclusive destinations. The main agenda is business development and organizational planning. They typically last between three to five days. The arranger must have a sharp negotiation skill because these programs involve all aspects of event planning.


• Golf Events- An annual golf outing is a favourite event at all organizations. Sponsored golf days require a large number of event planning. They are ideal for building relationship with the customers. During the planning phase, it is important to keep internal clients on track, and not allow them to minimize the business time.


• Appreciation Events- these programs allows the event host to spend more informal times with its clients in a non- traditional environment. There are limitless possibilities and types of appreciation events that the organizers can hold throughout the year. Common programs include- dinner and theatre, holiday parties, day and evening cruises etc.

Event Planning Companies - Benefits of Hiring Them

Event planning companies have gained a lot of popularity over the past few years. A lot of events are being held in San Jose, this in turn has increased the demand for event planning companies there. These companies have teams that have been trained to organize any kind of event. They can help in the entire process and they actually make the entire event a success. Just preparing a guest list and inviting people is not the only thing that is required while organizing an event. Everything has to be taken care of, for example, the venue, lights, sounds, food, theme, etc. there are some things that you can do yourself, but for some things you cannot do without these planners.

If you look for event planning companies, San Jose online, then you will see that there are several companies established there. All you have to do is choose one that will be able to tend to your needs in the appropriate manner. This is not at all time consuming and you can browse through an entire website within minutes. You also have the benefits of checking out different event planning companies, San Jose and comparing their services. This will help you make a decision that will be beneficial to you. it is essential to know the services provided by these companies, as this will help you discern if they have what you want. You should also make sure that their fees are affordable. Productions Company Bay Area are being established on a larger scale on. Production Company Bay Area has also gained a lot of popularity for the services they provide.

Once you have hired a company, the planner will help you plan out and organize the entire event. They will relieve you of all you work and you will be able to concentrate on everything else. They are experienced in this field, so they capable of getting everything done with minimum supervision form you (the client). You need to give the each and every detail and give them all the required information.

Apart from all of their other services, at times they also provide transportation services to the guests if require. Planning an event is not done often, so you need to make sure that everything is being done in the right manner. Choosing the right event planning company will help you get the desired results. All you have to do is be a good host and the event will be a huge success. If you want the event to be remembered by everyone for years, then you need to make sure that you get all the necessary details right.

Hiring A Business Development Consultant - Mistake Or Opportunity?

I just finished searching the web for business and marketing consultants, and even as a professional Business Consultant, I was left confused and skeptical. The profession seems to be filled with those who over-promise, have little experience, and some who only want to sell you anything but knowledge based on experience. Fortunately, under the rubble, there are those who have spent a lifetime in business and who are practicing professional consultants with a great deal to offer the right customers. Since this is my business, I decided it might be time to offer my observations on why you might need a professional consultant, and how you can benefit.

I am a Business Development, Strategic Planning, and Marketing consultant. I specialized in helping small to mid-sized companies review their current activities and providing Critical Analysis, Strategic Planning and Implementation guidance in my areas of expertise. My goal is to help small business and mid-sized companies grow by understanding where they are today, where they want to go, and exactly how to get there.

With the disclosure out of the way, let me provide my guidance on hiring a business consultant, what to look for, and what to expect for your time and money.

1) EXPERTISE: The single most important reason to hire an outside business consultant is to bring in expertise that you do not already have in house.

Most people have a background in their industry, and many have experience in two or three industries. Some people even have experience with 10 or 15 products within that industry, but knowledge, experience and hands on management of a broader range of products, from over a hundred companies, and building marketing and distribution in diverse markets such as North America, Europe and Asia is experience few people have.

When you look for a consultant you want someone who has a breadth of knowledge and experience that exceeds that which you already have. Along with bringing a new or different perspective to your analysis and strategic planning, a consultant should bring knowledge that is outside the scope of your current environment.

By bringing in someone with a wide range of knowledge and experience in their area of expertise you supplement your current knowledge base. Most companies already have excellent people on staff performing their duties in the areas of business development, marketing and sales. Limitations occur because of the 'box' in which we work. You and your staff are running full speed ahead to keep up with the demands of your business. In many cases, you are putting out fires as quickly as they ignite (if you're lucky). This environment dictates that you focus on the job at hand. When you and your staff meet, you are discussing real problems that need immediate solutions. There is little time to research what other companies are doing and what is successful or not for them.

A consultant should bring an 'out of the box' perspective to your table the moment they walk in the door. They may not understand the minutia of your business immediately, but through discussion and some research they will bring new perspective and ideas to your problem solving and business planning process. Their expanded world view will open new doors of opportunity for your organization and offer ideas that have proven successful in other environments.

2) ECONOMICS: The second most likely reason to hire an expert business development consultant is saving money.

Hiring the expertise you need for every aspect of your business development process is not only impractical, but impossible.

When we need professional expertise we either outsource or bring on new staff. Today, in this economy, hiring new staff is a luxury most small business cannot afford. Outsourcing is a good alternative, and in the case of consultants, a highly cost effective alternative.

In addition to bringing immediate knowledge, consultants bring all the benefits of outsourcing. Taxes and Benefits are the responsibility of the consultant and never carried as overhead by the company. Costs are controlled and can fit your budget. Hiring and firing are as simple as picking up the phone. No job search, no severance. Consultants are usually available when you want them and expendable when you do not. For many that description is a little uncomfortable, but a professional consultant is an independent business person (or company) who works at the pleasure of YOU.

In addition to all the benefits of outsourcing, a professional consultant brings immediate payback. Duplicating the expertise of a good consultant might require 3, 5 or even 8 different positions to be filled by experienced managers. Each position requires training and integration into the organization. One expert not only provides the knowledge-base of those positions, but also hits the ground running.

Finally, regarding a good consultant's hourly or daily fee. My experience is that they are usually priced at the level of a senior partner in a law firm or regional accounting firm. When compared to the cost of hiring that same expertise on a long-term basis, they are almost always a bargain.

When hiring a consultant, clearly define your objectives and identify the deliverables he or she will provide. Always receive a firm bid quote. Then consider; can we do this in house? If so, what is the cost in using our own manpower, including the cost of pulling that manpower off other projects? If not (which is usually the case), then ask if the deliverables and benefits are worth the cost?

3) USABLE DELIVERABLES: You want a deliverable that can be used over a long period of time throughout the organization.

In most cases, you hire a business development consultant to help you solve a specific problem or more often help you define a plan of action for taking you where you want to go. In such cases, you want someone who can deliver in writing a road map for future activities. To do this, they must be able to guide you through a careful and thorough review process in which both you and the consultant identify what is working and what is not, and where the holes are in your present plan.

A good consultant will then be able to lead a strategic planning process in which the consultant, you and your staff collaborate on developing an expanded plan in which your ideas and wishes are combined with the consultant's to create a plan that is much better than anyone alone could create.

Finally, a qualified expert consultant will be able to create a written plan that includes a full marketing plan and budget that can be used as a guide, a road map if you will, to take you where you want to go.

This document should not be an academic study, but a dynamic real-world document that reflects the hands-on expertise of your organization and the consultant, and is used, reviewed, and updated on a regular basis.

4) OBJECTIVITY: You must have objectivity that ensures the advice you receive is in YOUR best interest.

You want a consultant that is objective with no conflicts of interest or hidden agendas. In order to give you the valuable information you're paying for, your consultant must have only one allegiance - you.

This doesn't mean that the consultant you hire hasn't, or won't in the future, work for companies in your industry. In affect, that experience and diversity of knowledge is what gives them value. It does mean that they sign a confidentiality agreement; they do not discuss or disclose any proprietary information to anyone outside your organization; and they are not obligated to another company in any way that would degrade their work for you. 簫簫簫簫簫簫簫

What you want is someone who has the experience to be called an expert, and professional ethics to match their expertise.

5) HANDS ON EXPERIENCE: Finally, you want someone who has experience in the field. As a small business manager or entrepreneur you need experts who understand the challenges you face, and who have had to meet and solve those challenges.

As a small businessman in my first company (a drafting and engineering company) I hired someone who had been a high level manager with a very large engineering firm. I thought they would bring expertise in how to run my business. What I got was someone who was used to managing assistants and departments, but who had no real knowledge of how to get the job done. In other words, he understood big business and big budgets, but he didn't know how to roll his sleeves up and deal with my problems. After spending much time and money, I finally realized my mistake. After that, I made sure the advisors I hired had the hands-on experience of an entrepreneur and knew what running a small business was all about.

When you hire a consultant you want someone who has been there, built and managed companies, analyzed markets, and implemented and managed business development, marketing and sales campaigns in a wide range of markets for diverse products, for small to mid sized companies. You want a professional consultant with hands-on experience who understands your problems and can offer real world advice and solutions.

The best way to ensure you have an experienced professional that can truly help your organization is talk with them. A qualified consultant will have a history that speaks to your market, will have references, and will be able to communicate with you in a way that tells you they know what they are talking about. You will hear their competence in their answers to your questions and in the questions they ask you.

What I suggest is after you read their materials, visit their website, and complete your due diligence, call the individual(s) you think are qualified and talk with them. Ask questions specific to your business and industry, and listen carefully to the answers. If the answers are full of fluff and hyperbole know that the service you receive will likely be the same. If, on the other hand, you hear information that feels real, has substance, and reflects an understanding of the subject, you may have found someone who can truly help you shortcut the learning curve of building your business, help you reduce costs, and help you significantly move your small business or mid-sized company forward.

Some final comments about hiring a business development consultant:

Consultants may be experts, but they won't know everything about every industry. In most cases, you will know your industry and business better than they ever will. What a good business development consultant brings to your table is a diverse range of experience that can apply to your situation. They bring new ideas, and the ability to think outside of the box, which, when combined with your specific company knowledge, catapults your organization forward. Don't expect them to know upfront all your industry statistics or demographics, that they can obtain through research. What they will know is how to solve the broader questions of where you want to go and how to get there.

Professional consultants are full time and have been for a long time. They are not part time consultants and not 'between jobs.' Their expertise is born of long term work and effort, and it is displayed in the service they provide you.

The best consultants work on a fee basis, with costs quoted and known upfront. Proposals should be in writing and itemized to identify a projects objective, scope, and timeline. Transparency and no-surprises are exactly what you're looking for.

Good luck and good marketing.