Event planners are often in demand for all sorts of functions. These can include planning for home-based events such as birthday parties, receptions, or similar small-scale events. An event planner may also be called upon to arrange conferences and conventions, training programs for corporations, and a wide range of other occasions. In order to become an event planner, it is important to obtain the right combination of experience and training, and also have a clear idea of what types of event planning you wish to offer your clients.
One of the first steps necessary to become an event planner is to decide what kind of event planning you wish to pursue. As with many professions, you will have more than one career path open to you. Perhaps you would prefer to focus your attention on large-scale events. If that is the case, you will want to join the ranks of corporate event planners. Maybe you want to combine your love of baseball with your new career. A sports event planner can associate with a particular club or league and be in charge of making all sorts of arrangements related to the sporting activity itself.
If you prefer something more personal in scope, you may want to become an event planner that specializes in the creation and execution of local celebrations. These can include events such as retirement parties, holiday municipal events, or even celebrations such as birthday or engagement parties. While smaller in scope than corporate events, there is often a high degree of satisfaction with planning these smaller events.
Once you have an idea of the direction of your event planning career, it is possible to set about obtaining the experience and training you need for the task. This can often be accomplished by associating yourself with an established events planner. By working for someone else who is already involved in planning events, you have the chance to learn some of the basics that are not always covered in a classroom learning situation. You can also begin to get an idea of how to go about organizing your business model, establishing accounting procedures, and all the other details associated with starting an event planning business.
While there are some colleges that offer degrees in event planning, many people who choose to become event planners prefer to combine their practical experience with courses offered at local trade schools. This approach can help open the door to ideas and techniques that you are not exposed to as a result of your work with other event planners. At the same time, you will also learn invaluable information about how to create contractual agreements, how to market your business, and how to go about securing the financing needed to be successful with the events you plan.
The goal to become an event planner also requires the ability to be creative and adapt to various settings. Most planners have to work within a set budget, which can be challenging. However, if you are a creative type of person, you can often come up with novel ways to accomplish a great deal with even a small budget, thus increasing your chances for repeat business with your clients.
