An Introduction to Event Management

Event Management is a quickly growing fast paced career. The industry continues to grow, and it provides for a very exciting career. Event planning can include anything from working in a small hotel to organizing a huge event such as the Super Bowl or an Awards Show. The planning industry is a multibillion business with new opportunities available every day.

Event Planning companies provide a variety of service to their clients including corporate events, hospitality, weddings and bar mitzvahs. In the corporate world, managers are used to execute various events such as trade shows, press conferences and large market meetings. Corporate hospitality would include various awards shows, concerts and corporate parties. Personal managers would be handling the various aspects of a wedding including the ceremony and reception.

Getting an education through a four-year university or two year planning program can help you break in as an event manager. A variety of other certifications and courses are available. It is also important to have an educational background in Public Relations, advertising, catering and design. You will use a combination of all of these skills to put on various events throughout your career. Various certifications can be obtained including Certified in Exhibition Management (CEM), Certified Meeting Professional (CMP), Certified Trade Show Marketer (CTSM) and a Bachelor of Arts in Event Management. Event managers have many career options in a variety of industries including Advertising agencies, news media, hotel and hospitality and corporations.

The manager is a person who plans and executes an event. This person will be involved with every stage of preparation including budget, site surveys, scheduling, site and technical design. As the execution process begins the person will handle organizing the logistics, rigging, sound, light, video and security. Typically the event manager will assign a separate manager for each aspect of the event. This person will help execute the event manager's plans as previously designed in earlier stages. Managers are the main behind the scenes person who makes the entire event happen although they may also be involved with other more public aspects such as issuing press releases, giving news conferences or briefings.

Once an event has been completed it is also the persons job to do a post event analysis to explore if an event should be done again or how to improve the event for the following year. This will include analyzing every aspect including the budget, location and staff.

If you are interested in career as an event manager, it would be advised to try and intern with an firm to see if it is an area you would be interested in pursuing. There are many jobs available within planning, and it is likely that an area of interest to you is involved with event planning. Event planners not only play a huge role themselves but also in how these events impact the communities the events take place in.