Are you looking to change careers? Do you think event planning could be the perfect job for you but your not sure how to get started? Then read on because today we are discussing what makes a great event planner and how to launch your new event planning career.
What does an event planner do?
The role of an event planner can be incredibly varied and can see you employed within a larger company/ agency or offering your planning services on a freelance basis or under your own brand.
As an event planner, you are essentially the project manager of an event. You will oversee each event from initial conception to the event itself, and often beyond.
The event planner is in charge of managing the event budget, timelines and schedules, sourcing and booking suppliers, overseeing venues and more, as well as the day to day communication and admin that an event requires.
It is an exciting, often fast-paced role with opportunities to work with a big variety of clients, on a range of different events, in locations around the world.
What skills and qualities does an event planner need?
Organisation
The most important skill required by any event planner is great organisation. As an event planner, you will be juggling several events at any one time as well as meeting and liaising with so many different clients and suppliers. If you don’t schedule, file, record and keep on top of all the elements you won’t be able to plan flawless events and you won’t be able to keep your clients happy. Good time management is essential to staying organised and being a great event planner!
Flexibility
You can plan the hell out of an event but throughout your career, there will always be things that don’t happen according to plan. Things can go wrong and your clients might be altering the brief and adding requests right up until the month of the event. Therefore you have to be flexible and open to these changes. The most organised of us aren’t always the most flexible so if this applies to you then this is something you will need to work on.
Creativity
You will need to have a good eye for aesthetics; colours, textures, materials and other elements that influence event decor. As a planner, you may work with an event designer or stylist or you may include design in your own services. Either way, you will need a good understanding of design, how to work to a theme and the decor options available to you.
Remember creativity is not just about the visuals. As an event planner you will also need to be creative about planning; brainstorming solutions, problem-solving creatively and constantly innovating to make the best use of the tools at your disposal.
Communication
Being bad at communication is not an option for an event planner. Communication is a HUGE part of the job. It all starts with your clients. You need to be able to fully understand your client’s needs and expectations for the event and to do this you will need to be able to listen and ask the right questions. You will need to be in constant communication with the event suppliers and as the person overseeing the entire planning, you will need to communicate all the relevant information clearly to all parties.
Teamwork
An event planner is nothing without their team. And when I say team I am not just referring to others in the event planning team, but also the wider group of suppliers you will work with on your event jobs. The teams will also be constantly changing as you bring on different experts to deliver on the different requirements of the events. For example, the team you’d need for a beauty product launch would be different to the team you’d need for a corporate conference for 2000 people.
Do you think you have what it takes?
How to get started
If you’ve got this far and your response is ‘sign me up’ then you are ready to take the first step in your new career as an event planner.
That first step is to get the training you will need to offer your event planning services. Yes, you may already have the skills and qualities listed above and you may have planned a few parties but to launch as an event planner you will need to take an industry recognised training course. The level of responsibility that goes hand in hand with event planning requires a qualified professional who really knows their stuff. And this is what potential clients will expect.
Our Certificate in Event Planning or Diploma in Wedding & Event Planning are the perfect courses for enabling you to obtain the skills and knowledge you will need to plan all types of special events with confidence. If you are interested in adding event design to your training then our all singing and dancing Advanced Diploma in Special Event Planning and Design is a great option and our most popular course. Plus with our Diploma courses, you will learn how to launch an event planning business and market your services.
All our courses are suitable for entry-level candidates and all you need to get started is a passion for events and a commitment to learning.
If you are interested in finding out more about our event industry courses click on your nearest campus below!
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