Event management is the organization of large scale events, such as
festivals, tradeshows, conferences and parties, but can extend to large
scale wedding planning and other giant sized private ceremonies,
promotional launches or even sporting events. The event planner is a
master of logistics and booking, with a talent for making the most out
of their budget and venue. Often graduates of an event management school
must become a jack of all trades, adding handling selecting staff and
suppliers, organizing and designing decorations, or even promotional
materials to reserving the location, keeping track of expenses and other
more traditional aspects of event planning.
Picking a Venue
Every
event has to happen in a location. This means researching all the
possible locations in an area, and having an intimate understanding for
fire codes and liquor laws. You will learn to consider factors as varied
as acoustics and handicapped access, depending on the needs of the
client, including that it will accommodate all the other features they
want and is decorated properly. If you intend to do a lot of musical
events like concerts, you might also consider audio training. Thankfully
many places that teach event management also have a sound engineer
school for some extra classes.
Food and Entertainment
Catering
companies, or onsite services cover what guests or event attendees will
eat, but you will still be responsible with juggling dietary needs,
budget and quality. Similarly people will need something to keep them
entertained, and you will need to work to decide with the client if
that's a live band, a full dramatic audio visual show, or an amateur
with an MP3 player. Professional level even management makes the latter
unlikely, which means you'll be interviewing performers and finding out
what musical or DJ training or past experience they have.
The Paperwork
If
you've got the place and what's in it sorted out, you still need to
worry about tracking your budget, promotions, if applicable, and keeping
up good communication with your client. In this instance your event management school
will have needed to turn you into one part marketing guru and one part
eagle eyed accountant. Expect to be on the phone all the time and
pouring over mile long spread sheets, tracking everything from
individual forks to gas prices for your delivery people.
If all
this doesn't feel too much for you, you can make your first organization
project getting yourself into a school. While some programs are offered
as part of a specialty institute, often vocational colleges teaching
skills that also contribute to a fantastic event, such as a cooking
school with a focus on catering, will give you a great way to network.
Regardless of what you choose, picking where you study will be a first
chance to research, interview and budget, so have fun!
